Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...

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Shingles vaccine/ what would you do?

cassie2u2
cassie2u2
I may not be on top of things but I do know that I should not get a shingles vaccine as it is a live virus... On my last trip to my rhuemmy he says."you know you would be a good candidate to get the shingles vaccine.. they are doing testing on people with r.a...I said NO that is a live virus and with a compromised immune system I don't think that is a good idea....He just smiled and said well someone will call you...Think about it....
i have had the shingles when I was in my early 20's before r.a. It is a nasty disease.....

Why when they know how bad r.a. is would they even suggest such a thing..? If I get a call I am going to ask the person if they have r.a., have they ever dealt with someone with r.a. and have they seen how painful r.a. is and how dibilitating it is? Then they will get a huge NO. from me.
cassie2u2
cassie2u2
51..I am on mtx and now a pain cream Voltaren..That seems to be helping, but has lots of side effects.
Sk8ingjudge
Sk8ingjudge
I have read about a study testing the shingles vaccine and RA patients. So far the results seem to show that there is no increased incidence of RA immune compromised patients contracting shingles than the average Joe.
Good to hear they are still continuing with the study. Might be helpful for all of us in the future!
MetalChic
MetalChic
So, would you say that those of us only on Methotrexate should be safe getting the vaccine? I'm hesitant but open to your thoughts.

Cassie2u2 - I use Voltaren as well. I was prescribed a compounded cream that was stronger but so greasy and messy that I didn't use it as often as I should have...went back to Voltaren.
lynnedavidson3
lynnedavidson3
Oh No! I thought that I could not get shingles again! Yuck.
GabrielAngel
GabrielAngel
I got the vaccine a few months before I started Enbrel. I didn't get the chicken pox until I was in my 20's and had a very bad case of it. My one grandmother already had shingles. My doctor told me to get it because of my chicken pox experience and my grandmother. I jumped on it. She has the constant pain now - don't want that added to my already crappy pain. Good luck.
littlepinkpigsaysmoo
littlepinkpigsaysmoo
My doctor recommended it to me, but my insurance will not cover it because of my age...and its about 200.00...so I will not be getting it.
LyndaSJ
LyndaSJ
My Dr. said no to the shingles. She gives me the flu shot every year.
trishcorsi
trishcorsi
All I can say is I am lucky I had the vaccine before my diagnosis. My sister had shingles and not pleasant! Trish
nonightshades
nonightshades
had my RA visit on Monday. he's starting me on MTX this weekend and suggested that i get the shots for shingles and pneumonia. i said i'd already tried but BC/BS wouldn't pay because of age and he said, "They will now that you are on MTX, there is an exception for people taking certain drugs". I shall see and if covered will get them.
con2
con2
I am scheduled to start Enbrel but before I do, my rheumy has me getting a shingles shot, flu shot, pneumonia shot, tb test, and chest xray. She says I need to do all this before biologics.