Hepatitis C Support Group

Hepatitis C is a blood-borne viral disease which can cause liver inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancer. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread by blood-to-blood contact with an infected person's blood. Many people with HCV infection have no symptoms and are unaware of the need to seek treatment. Hepatitis C infects an estimated 150-200 million people worldwide.

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ElleeB 09/21/2015

Last week I had my 6 month post treatment labs and appointment. All labs were normal and I am undetected. I have been with this doctor for 23 years and he released me! I am happy and feel blessed!

Today I was diagnosed with shingles. I had the shingles vaccine a few years ago. My doctor said that sometimes folks still get the virus if their immune system is down but that it should not be as bad as it would have been without the vaccine.

I have some thoughts about this. I am wondering if anyone else has contracted shingles. I am thinking that the Harvoni weakened my immune system. I am okay with this as the outcome has been amazing. I am also wondering if the Harvoni might have done something to the shingles vaccine.

Thanks for listening to me!

MrOSO 09/22/2015

Sorry to hear of your shingles diagnosis. The people I know that have had it say it can be very painful.

I got the vaccine last year, my insurance wouldn't cover it until I turned 60. I was also told that getting the vaccine doesn't always prevent shingles, but it lessens the severity.

I wonder how they measure and quantify that statement? For some, shingles is a mild annoyance, and in others it can be extremely painful, a truly life changing event.

Best of luck with your recovery, hope it goes well.

ElleeB 09/23/2015

Thank you for your comments. I am miserable. Hopefully the mediation is working. I am resting the next few days and hopefully healing My blisters go from my navel to the middle of my back. They are nasty ad burn. I am also feeling back pain.

ElleeB 10/15/2015

I posted this on Sept. 21. Since then, I ended up getting a severe case of the shingles. The blisters continued appearing for days that first week. I ended up with over 35 blisters. They were uncomfortable. Eventually, they scabbed over. Then, the nerve pain set in. It is brutal and I have little relief with meds.

I have read a lot about shingles. I have learned that it is common when one has another disease or has had treatment like chemo.

I did have the shingles vaccine a couple of years ago. I think I was more susceptible to this because of the Hep C and the Harvoni treatment.

I have read and heard stories of folks having the nerve pain for weeks or months.

I am really miserable!

lovefall 10/17/2015

Elle - I just read this after I contacted my insurance about how to get the Shingle's vaccine as I need it paid for 100%.

They told me how to go about it and now I am concerned. I am done with treatment 1 year - but my body I think is still recovering.

I did 6 months of treatment and prior to that I did the interfeuron, so my body went thru He@@. I am a little skeptical now. Maybe I should wait a little longer.

I am so sorry to hear this - that is what I am trying to avoid...
God Bless!!

ElleeB 10/17/2015

Hi Lovefall! I do not think the vaccine had anything to do with bringing on the shingles. I do think the vaccine is a good thing. I just got the shingles in spite of the vaccine and I think it was because of the Hep C and the Harvoni treatment. I, also, had the interferon and riba treatment in the fall of 2008. I was a non responder.

I am a relatively healthy person. I do not drink and have been very careful with foods and meds. That is another reason this is so surprising to me.

I did have a lot of stress this past year. But, the worst is over and I feel like I have that under control.

I am thinking that I might look into getting the vaccine again in the future.

Right now, I am miserable and the nerve pain is brutal!

Trissa01 10/17/2015

I am sorry to hear you got the shingles despite having the vaccine. I know it can be painful & debilitating. Does your doctor say the vaccine may have prevented your case from being worse?

ElleeB 10/17/2015

Initially, the doctor thought the vaccine would lesson the shingles. However, I ended up with a very severe case. One of my doctors thought the Harvoni might have lessened the effectiveness of the vaccine.

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