Shingrix and peripheral neuropathy

I had Shingles 3 times before getting the shingrix vaccine. I would much rather have shingles than what the vaccine did to me. At least with shingles there is hope of recovery.

Hi @stephaniet I am so sorry to hear of your negative experience with the Shingrix vaccine. Thank you for sharing to alert us of the potential health hazards. I am nearing 60 and will think twice about getting the vaccine. I share this information with my husband who was advised by his physician to get the vaccine. I have seen some folks get a Shingles outbreak. The rash is so painful. Neither my parents nor my older brother ever got the vaccine and no one in my immediate family had gotten the illness. I do believe my brother and I had the chicken pox during our childhood. My mother(90) always refused vaccines within the past 40 years. Can you share some of the symptoms the vaccine has left you with? Wish you well. Toni

@avmmcbellar Did you or your mother refuse Measles, Polio, Flu, Smallpox, Covid... The adverse side effects for Vaccines are Rare.. Be informed before discounting vaccinations when recommended by your physician. I used to carry my vaccination card with me as I traveled the world.. Flu, Typhus, Yellow Fever, all sorts of things out there where there is no Herd immunity.. check out the link below..
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/side-effects.htm

Hi @ken82 My mother did not get vaccinated as a senior. She had tried the flu shot twice before deciding against it for her. Don’t forget I nor my brother had a choice for getting vaccinated if we wanted to attend the school systems. We also traveled worldwide. I am aware of the mandates for health safety. If I traveled extensively I would want to protect myself as much as I could. As a senior citizen I want to also be cautious to not cause harm to myself by getting vaccinated. What works for some may not work for others. There is always a risk involved in taking medications. I want to be certain I get all the facts before coming to a decision especially with today’s vaccines particularly the covid vaccines that use a different technique, mRNA. There are so many unknowns with those vaccines plus as an “emergency” declared vaccine no one can be liable for causing adverse effects or even death. I think it would be wise to do a follow up before deciding what is best for each individual based on their risks and medical history. I am not discounting vaccinations recommended by physicians if their reasoning is valid. No worries, as with any vaccine I am considering all the facts before coming to my own conclusion whether against it or for it. No matter what I decide, it will be me that deals with the consequences. I believe we all do our best. Research is vital when our decision can potentially affect our quality of life. Ultimately it is the choice of each patient and not their physician. I am merely doing my homework before putting my head in the sand and hoping for the best.

As a reminder, if you would like to connect with members on the COVID-19 vaccine, please join one of the many discussions in the COVID-19 Group. Here is a discussion that I feel you might lean toward, if interested given the connection to neuropathy.

-COVID vaccines and neuropathy:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/covid-vaccines-and-neuropathy/

My reactions:
-PN from knees and elbows to my extremities, constant”goose bumps“ and tingling. Numbness severe in one foot and intermittent in hand( on same side of body ).
-Anosmia, intermittent and varying In severity .
-Intermittent severe chills , no pattern.
-Memory loss, extreme short term within minutes of event, topic discussed or material read.
No long term loss , just the opposite; I can recollect specific details 50 years ago . Also things that were at the time and continue to be insignificant to me.
-Fatigue.
- Sleep patterns completely disrupted.
- Mood swings, often alarming .
- Loss of appetite. I can go a day or two and have no desire to eat. However it has not affected my weight.
- Extreme reactions to foods that I have eaten my entire life up to the vaccine date and now I have all types of skin itching and stomach issues as if I have consumed a toxin.

There are others . These are not psychological, I do feel them very specifically . I am an engineer by education and trade, my analysis is methodical and detailed . I did maintain a log initially and the
“Items” continue to expand.

It’s a complete quality of life change for me.

Rick

@avmcbellar The benefits of the mRNA Covid Shots are very evident in that now Millions of seniors and Others who have taken them with remarkable results..
Not knowing your specific scientific knowledge background, the personal choice option, to my rationale, for much of the public is mostly political, religious or just herd acquiescence to join like minded people.. The need to reach Herd immunity in COVID in this country and even the world is urgent to minimize the number of persons infected as that will also minimize the number and uniqueness of variants.
There was an article about how small fraction of the U.S. Congress did not take the shot, and to me that is not only uninformed but sending the wrong message to the world through the reinforcement of conspiracy theories not based on widely accepted science..
I am 83 and have taken all the shots I could, I have had the 2 Moderna shots through the Veterans Administration.. It should be noted that the Pfizer COVID Shots were not developed under the Warp Speed Federal Program. Ken

Hi @ken82 we all have a choice with respects to the COVID-19 vaccines. I respect your decision as it works for you because you have not a single worry. I am happy to hear that. But others like myself are slower in making a decision because the vaccines are still experimental. Not enough data was collected prior to usage. The health effects from the vaccine(s) are not all totally known yet in both the short term and long term. Has all the information been made public regarding the vaccines? It appears to me that the media picks and chooses what to announce to the public. There have been cases resulting in death and adverse effects but not made known on the major television networks. I am an adult and would prefer to know all the facts before deciding for myself what information to consider. I understand herd immunity and people who socialize are more at risk for contracting the virus and infecting others. But I am a low risk because socializing is difficult for me due to my balance issues. After all it is me that has to deal with whatever comes my way so why shouldn’t I make that choice. I prefer to wait and see as more information becomes available for the vaccines before I make my final decision. I am not saying no or yes at this point. I have heard several different points of view on the subject. To me it is not an easy decision. The mRNA causes the spike protein to be made in every cell in our bodies. In return our bodies get fooled into thinking the spike protein is the coronavirus so our bodies produce the antibodies to protect us against the virus. How long will the spike protein be in our cells? I have heard some doctors say in years to come this could trigger an autoimmune response within our bodies because it thinks there is something there. I do not need an autoimmune disorder. I hope this won’t be true. Our decision will impact our quality of life. So why not take our time to make an informed personal choice. I do not want increased neuropathy pain symptoms as some Mayo Clinic members have described. If I had a guarantee of no adverse effects I would consider the vaccine but at this time a guarantee does not exist. I do not want to risk suffering additional pain. Toni

@avmcbellar Please give me a link to those credible sources "some doctors" .. The following link on the COVID Vaccines approval process.. Check it out.. K
https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/vaccines/emergency-use-authorization-vaccines-explained#:~:text=For%20an%20EUA%20to%20be,risks%20of%20the%20vaccine.

@ken82 @dont and @avmcbellar please note the earlier request to move your discussion on COVID-19 vaccines to a more appropriate group. You may join one of the following discussions if you wish to continue:

COVID vaccines and Neuropathy: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/covid-vaccines-and-neuropathy/
To vaccinate or not to vaccinate: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/to-vaccinate-or-not-to-vaccinate-that-is-the-question/

We need to keep this discussion on topic for those looking for support on Shingrix and PN. Thank you!