Shingles shot: helped or hurt long covid symptoms?

I’m 13 month long haul severe post covid. Last year while on prednisone I had cataract surgery, 3 days later ended up with shingles, I thought it was my SI area of back so I didn’t get medicine in time and ended up with severe shingle pain, the shingles lasted 3 months. I never had the shot, but had had shingles 15 years ago.
I got my first shingle shot a couple months ago, and I did not have any issues, other than being a little tired, I ready for my second shot which I will get soon.
Everyone reacts differently, so with that I can’t recommend what you should do, but for me the shot was okay and far weighed out getting shingles again.

I can’t really comment on whether or not the shingles shot makes long COVID worse, but I can say the second of the two shots will likely make you feel as though you’ve been run over by a truck the next day. Happened to myself, my husband, and everyone we know. The first shot went fine, it’s the second one that gets you. That being said, I still agree that the shingles shot is waaayy better than actually getting shingles. Just don’t plan to work (or do anything else for that matter) the day after your second shot.

I was fully recovered from long COVID and had the first Shingles shot and relapsed into worse long COVID symptoms. I ran a fever of 100.4-101 for 13 days straight, with all the typical symptoms. Fatigue, body aches, joint pain, headaches. When I described my symptoms to my doctor her first reaction was I had developed Lupus as I was checking off all the symptoms. After bloodwork she deemed I have relapsed into Long Covid. This time however the fatigue is causing me to sleep from the time I get home from work till the next morning. I
I am 7 weeks post the first shingles vaccine and have elected to not have the second does.

I have had long covid since 2022 and had both doses of the shingles vax this year, about five months apart. The first vax was easier than the second - you will need a day or two to recover from that one. However, shingles vaccine has always known to be rough, long before Covid. I think I felt some recurrence of LC symptoms for up to two weeks after the second vax, but nothing that set off alarm bells. Totally tolerable. I had a bigger setback after an infection with a common cold virus. That really shocked me.

A shingles infection post covid scares me a lot more than feeling crappy after the vaccine. Our immune systems are shredded - that’s why the common cold now floors us for weeks. But I’ve heard that shingles after covid, much less with long covid, is pure hell. I am not a doctor but would get the vaccine over the infection, no doubt.

I am 4x covid since 2020. I finally caved in & got the first Shingrex shot and a few weeks later developed a rash that the doctor thought was just a slight reaction. It rapidly turned into a mild case of shingles that was diagnosed at Urgent Care and I was given a Rx for Valtrex to use as soon as I felt the shingles becoming full-blown. That helped a lot, plus I was given an anti-itch cream. This lasted for at least five weeks after which I developed pneumonia and had the 4th round of covid, which was mild. I cancelled the second Shingrex shot & now I'm afraid to get the latest covid vax. I can't tell you how much I appreciate the heads-up on the aftermath of the second Shingrex as I don't think I could survive it.

I’m so sorry this happened to you! I would definitely defer to your doctor regarding the second Shingrex and Covid booster. You have been through hell. Take care, wishing you health and healing.

I have had long covid since 2020. I did get the shingles shots and they were torture. I am trying to decide whether to get the latest covid booster. My doctor does not advise it, as he said that it will cause more harm than good, given my already inflamed system. good luck, all!

So sorry this happened to you. I am also on the fence about whether to take the latest booster. The shingles shot was torture for me although I did not have the rash. Best wishes to you