Re: Shingles and RA

[Guest guest]

Two or three months after my RA started, I got shingles. If you think

you have shingles, you should go to the doctor ASAP. If treated

aggressively from the beginning, it will have less chance of causing

pain for months. Mine was treated aggressively with an anti-viral

medication and a steroid shot, plus ointment to rub on it. As a result,

I had pain for just a few days. With some people, the pain can continue

for months.

Sue

On Wednesday, April 18, 2007, at 06:00 AM, eandsspivey wrote:

> Does anyone with RA have trouble with shingles? I've developed them

> on my bottom and now this morning have them in my throat also. Could

> this be MTX related or just autoimmune related?

> Thanks,

[Guest guest]

,

My RA symptoms started in either January or February of 2001. Then in

March I got shingles. A steroid shot was one thing my PCP gave me, and

it made my RA symptoms disappear for a few days. After that, the RA

seemed to settle in my shoulders and hands. I got a referral from my

endocrinologist to a rheumatologist. Because of this, I think the

rheumy had diabetes in mind, and diagnosed me with two frozen shoulders

and diabetic limited joint mobility syndrome. Since I had always

controlled my diabetes very well, it seemed strange that I would have

two complications from that.

Anyway, he sent me to physical therapy, but I kept having pain also in

my knees and other places. I called him to complain, and then I think

he must have realized that his diagnosis might be wrong. He got me in

to see him in two days, did blood work, and diagnosed me with RA. I

started taking MTX in August.

Then in February of 2002, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I had a

lumpectomy and 35 radiation treatments. I was allowed to continue on

MTX during the radiation.

In the meantime, I was anemic because of a bleeding ulcer from Aleve,

which I had been taking before the diagnosis of RA. I was taking

prescription iron during the radiation, and I believe that helped me

get through it with few adverse side effects.

All in all, not a very fun year.

I remember on one of the questionnaires I filled out for the National

Arthritis databank or whatever it's called, there was a question about

whether we had had shingles or not. That made me think that they might

suspect a link between the two.

Sue

On Friday, November 21, 2008, at 09:07 AM, wrote:

> Sue,

>

> In your case, what was the order of events regarding your breast

> cancer, its treatment, shingles, and RA? Just curious.

>

[Guest guest]

That was definitely not a good year for you, Sue. Thanks for elaborating.

Maybe you were surveyed by the National Data Bank for Rheumatic

Diseases for this study:

http://rheumatology.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/45/11/1370

I really hate when the topic of herpes zoster comes up.

My daughter, who is only in her early 20s, has already had shingles

twice. The first time was when she was 15. The second was recently.

She eats a very healthy diet, doesn't smoke or do drugs, exercises

seriously daily, and seems happy and healthy in every other way.

I haven't told her how much it bothers me, but I'm pretty worried. I'm

trying to convince her to take a little trip to Mayo with me.

Not an MD

On Fri, Nov 21, 2008 at 6:17 PM, Sue <marysue@...> wrote:

> ,

> My RA symptoms started in either January or February of 2001. Then in

> March I got shingles. A steroid shot was one thing my PCP gave me, and

> it made my RA symptoms disappear for a few days. After that, the RA

> seemed to settle in my shoulders and hands. I got a referral from my

> endocrinologist to a rheumatologist. Because of this, I think the

> rheumy had diabetes in mind, and diagnosed me with two frozen shoulders

> and diabetic limited joint mobility syndrome. Since I had always

> controlled my diabetes very well, it seemed strange that I would have

> two complications from that.

>

> Anyway, he sent me to physical therapy, but I kept having pain also in

> my knees and other places. I called him to complain, and then I think

> he must have realized that his diagnosis might be wrong. He got me in

> to see him in two days, did blood work, and diagnosed me with RA. I

> started taking MTX in August.

>

> Then in February of 2002, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I had a

> lumpectomy and 35 radiation treatments. I was allowed to continue on

> MTX during the radiation.

>

> In the meantime, I was anemic because of a bleeding ulcer from Aleve,

> which I had been taking before the diagnosis of RA. I was taking

> prescription iron during the radiation, and I believe that helped me

> get through it with few adverse side effects.

>

> All in all, not a very fun year.

>

> I remember on one of the questionnaires I filled out for the National

> Arthritis databank or whatever it's called, there was a question about

> whether we had had shingles or not. That made me think that they might

> suspect a link between the two.

>

> Sue

[Guest guest]

Yes, , that is the Data Bank that I participate in. We have to fill

out a questionnaire twice a year, and then they use the data for

various studies, I think. I do the questionnaire online, and it doesn't

take long. They change some of the questions periodically, so I don't

know if there's a question about shingles on it now or not.

I'm so sorry that your daughter keeps having shingles. Maybe she should

get the shingles shot, as long as she doesn't have any autoimmune

diseases. Or do you suspect that she does?

Sue

On Saturday, November 22, 2008, at 01:28 PM, wrote:

> That was definitely not a good year for you, Sue. Thanks for

> elaborating.

>

> Maybe you were surveyed by the National Data Bank for Rheumatic

> Diseases for this study:

>

> http://rheumatology.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/45/11/1370

>

> I really hate when the topic of herpes zoster comes up.

>

> My daughter, who is only in her early 20s, has already had shingles

> twice. The first time was when she was 15. The second was recently.

> She eats a very healthy diet, doesn't smoke or do drugs, exercises

> seriously daily, and seems happy and healthy in every other way.

>

> I haven't told her how much it bothers me, but I'm pretty worried. I'm

> trying to convince her to take a little trip to Mayo with me.

>

>

>

> Not an MD

>

[Guest guest]

- I am so sorry to hear your daughter is suffering so young with

such a miserable illness. I know how it feels to have an adult child

with a chronic illness and not be able to do anything to make it

better. My oldest was 22 when they first diagnosed her MS. She is 30

now and I fear she's past the remitting/relapsing stage, although she

refuses any treatment because she has young children at home. I pray

your daughter will take you up on the offer to go to Mayo.

>

> That was definitely not a good year for you, Sue. Thanks for

> elaborating.

>

> Maybe you were surveyed by the National Data Bank for Rheumatic

> Diseases for this study:

>

> http://rheumatology.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/45/11/1370

>

> I really hate when the topic of herpes zoster comes up.

>

> My daughter, who is only in her early 20s, has already had shingles

> twice. The first time was when she was 15. The second was recently.

> She eats a very healthy diet, doesn't smoke or do drugs, exercises

> seriously daily, and seems happy and healthy in every other way.

>

> I haven't told her how much it bothers me, but I'm pretty worried.

> I'm trying to convince her to take a little trip to Mayo with me.

>

>

>

> Not an MD

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you for contributing to much needed research, Sue.

Thanks also for your thoughts regarding my daughter. This weekend, I

read an article about herpes zoster recurrence written by three

physicians not too far from me. I think I might dash off an E-mail to

one of them and see if I can bring her to him should it happen again.

About the vaccine - it's crossed my mind, but I think I'd want to know

that she doesn't have any obvious problems with her immune system

before taking that kind of step.

Not an MD

On Sat, Nov 22, 2008 at 1:01 PM, Sue <marysue@...> wrote:

> Yes, , that is the Data Bank that I participate in. We have to fill

> out a questionnaire twice a year, and then they use the data for

> various studies, I think. I do the questionnaire online, and it doesn't

> take long. They change some of the questions periodically, so I don't

> know if there's a question about shingles on it now or not.

>

> I'm so sorry that your daughter keeps having shingles. Maybe she should

> get the shingles shot, as long as she doesn't have any autoimmune

> diseases. Or do you suspect that she does?

>

> Sue

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Doreen. I'm hoping my daughter doesn't have anything seriously

wrong. I think I need my own laboratory.

So sorry about your daughter. May they find a cure for MS soon!

Not an MD

On Sun, Nov 23, 2008 at 10:07 AM, Mimi <mimi212@...> wrote:

> - I am so sorry to hear your daughter is suffering so young with

> such a miserable illness. I know how it feels to have an adult child

> with a chronic illness and not be able to do anything to make it

> better. My oldest was 22 when they first diagnosed her MS. She is 30

> now and I fear she's past the remitting/relapsing stage, although she

> refuses any treatment because she has young children at home. I pray

> your daughter will take you up on the offer to go to Mayo.

[Guest guest]

and group;

I am so sorry to hear your daughter has such a dilbilating disease.

My heart goes out to you. She is in my prayers. God bless and take

care.

Gentle kind hugs

Clora

************************************************************ :

>

> Thanks, Doreen. I'm hoping my daughter doesn't have anything

seriously

> wrong. I think I need my own laboratory.

>

> So sorry about your daughter. May they find a cure for MS soon!

>

>

>

> Not an MD

>