1. < Transplants

Shingles Vaccine (Shingrix): Is it advisable for transplant patients?

Posted by azdan99 @azdan99, Jul 31, 2020

Is it advisable and safe for a transplant patient to get the new shingles vaccine, Shinglex?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Transplants Support Group.

Mentor
Dana, Volunteer Mentor | @danab | May 28, 2022
In reply to @glinda "@rosemarya , hi Rosemary , it Glinda I know it's been quite awhile since I have..." + (show)
@glinda

@rosemarya , hi Rosemary , it Glinda I know it's been quite awhile since I have been on mayo connect but I just wanted to let you know that I am still doing great with my heart transplant I am now 11 years and 4 months post transplant and 4 years and three months post pedestrian versus car but I'm doing great and my transplant team keeps asking me what they can do for me as I have had no rejection at all and have stayed stable in fact I keep eing told by my team that I should be the poster person for heart transplant because I'm doing so well I hope you are doing great also
Glinda

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Hi Glinda, Just stopping by to say Hi and so good your doing great. I myself just past
4nyears post for my Heart and also doing well.

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@tbirdmunchkin | @glinda | May 28, 2022
In reply to @rosemarya "@glinda Yes! Yes! I do remember you, and I have been wondering how you are getting..." + (show)
@rosemarya

@glinda Yes! Yes! I do remember you, and I have been wondering how you are getting along with your beautiful heart transplant and you accident recovery. I was at Mayo Rochester when I saw your post, and wanted to wait until I returned home and had access to my computer. I had an absolutely perfect 13th year annual evaluation by both the liver team and the kidney team!!! I'm jumping for joy , and if you can believe this: When I mentioned to my care team that my husband and I were taking a 'detour' on the way home to Door County WI for some cherry pie and ice cream, she told me that my numbers were so good, that I could go ahead and splurge on the pie and ice cream - so I was happy to follow "doctor's orders". 😁

Glinda, Congratulations on your double anniversary celebrations. I agree with your transplant team that you deserve the poster child recognition. Your story has been an inspirational one and I feel honored to have been with you for parts of it.

I want to invite you to take a look at this discussion where other heart transplant members have gathered and you can catch up on what's happening with heart transplant members on Connect. If you click on the link, you can drop in and say "Hi". Your experience as a successful recipient would be most appreciated.
Preparing for a heart transplant
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/preparing-for-a-heart-transplant/

Glinda, I sure hope you don't have shingles. What kind of summer plans do you have?

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Hi Rosemary, no I don't have shingle thank God as I don't think I could handle having them a second time as I had the in may and June of 2012 I actually had them for two months so not fun my summer plans are learning how to play golf to help me balance and tomorrow I am going to Minneapolis Minnesota to the casino to see river dance and two weeks ago I went to the state theater in Minneapolis Minnesota to see Celtic woman preform so I will have a very busy summer this year

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tream01 | @tream01 | Jun 5, 2022

I am pre-transplant (liver) and my PCP suggested I get the vaccine now as I will be more susceptible to the virus post surgery. My transplant team is supportive of that so I just got the vaccine last week. I did have some symptoms after the shot, But nothing even close to the symptoms I have otherwise. I definitely recommend that anyone waiting for a transplant check with their team and see if they advise getting the vaccine. The only concern I have with the vaccine is that it is two shots at least two months apart. Not knowing when my transplant will be yet, I’m not sure how the timing of the second dose will work for me. I will rely on my transplant team to guide me that. And Rosemary, I agree that we are quite lucky to have so many good people looking out for us. It would even be better if I had this team without the need for transplant! 😁

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1 reply
jackie421blfdgurl | @jackie421blfdgurl | Jun 5, 2022
In reply to @tream01 "I am pre-transplant (liver) and my PCP suggested I get the vaccine now as I will..." + (show)
@tream01

I am pre-transplant (liver) and my PCP suggested I get the vaccine now as I will be more susceptible to the virus post surgery. My transplant team is supportive of that so I just got the vaccine last week. I did have some symptoms after the shot, But nothing even close to the symptoms I have otherwise. I definitely recommend that anyone waiting for a transplant check with their team and see if they advise getting the vaccine. The only concern I have with the vaccine is that it is two shots at least two months apart. Not knowing when my transplant will be yet, I’m not sure how the timing of the second dose will work for me. I will rely on my transplant team to guide me that. And Rosemary, I agree that we are quite lucky to have so many good people looking out for us. It would even be better if I had this team without the need for transplant! 😁

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Hi .I am Jackie. From
Joisy...haha .that is NJ
My liver transplant was 10)20. Good luck with yours.. I received the shingle shot two months ago going for the second one in a week. But since my immune is so weak. I am just wondering if this shot will work .I had 4 full vaccines and Dr. Office said I had strong antibodies.yea!! When u are out in this position of a organ transplant your life changes..I have not felt same .or my mindset..but .that could be me ..The members of this site r unbelievable..
So supportive. .I love them all ......best of luck to u...will keep u in my prayers....

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1 reply
tream01 | @tream01 | Jun 5, 2022
In reply to @jackie421blfdgurl "Hi .I am Jackie. From Joisy...haha .that is NJ My liver transplant was 10)20. Good luck..." + (show)
@jackie421blfdgurl

Hi .I am Jackie. From
Joisy...haha .that is NJ
My liver transplant was 10)20. Good luck with yours.. I received the shingle shot two months ago going for the second one in a week. But since my immune is so weak. I am just wondering if this shot will work .I had 4 full vaccines and Dr. Office said I had strong antibodies.yea!! When u are out in this position of a organ transplant your life changes..I have not felt same .or my mindset..but .that could be me ..The members of this site r unbelievable..
So supportive. .I love them all ......best of luck to u...will keep u in my prayers....

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Hi Jackie! I completely agree with you in terms of the support available on the site! Out of curiosity, where in Jersey are you? I am in NYC.

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1 reply
jackie421blfdgurl | @jackie421blfdgurl | Jun 6, 2022
In reply to @tream01 "Hi Jackie! I completely agree with you in terms of the support available on the site!..." + (show)
@tream01

Hi Jackie! I completely agree with you in terms of the support available on the site! Out of curiosity, where in Jersey are you? I am in NYC.

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Team01 good morning 🌅..I am in Essex county .nutley. My medical team is in NY . 100 and
Madison Ave...Mt.Sinai.
I still dread going there.trafgic thru the tunnel sucks!!!!traffic coming back to NJ also sucks, thru the tunnel. But when I am there feels like home somehow!!during COVID..I had to b in NY several times .it was
Wonderful as much as scary NO Traffic. At all
No cabs... nothing..loved it took me 35 min to get to hosp....maybe meet sometime ..have a good day

REPLY
pamh480 | @pamh480 | Jun 7, 2022

I’ve had the dreaded C, plus 2 shots. Last summer took antibody these and was
2500 out of the max 2500 they test for. In the fall I dot red man’s syndrome from
A drug I received for a stroke with unrelated fever. Spiked a gvhd flare
And still fighting it this spring. Dr and I agree no shots of any kind for a bit. Posting this from a hospital. Not sure if dx, but positive for rhinovirus. Hoping he’s that and not ling gvhd

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1 reply
Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Jun 7, 2022
In reply to @pamh480 "I’ve had the dreaded C, plus 2 shots. Last summer took antibody these and was 2500..." + (show)
@pamh480

I’ve had the dreaded C, plus 2 shots. Last summer took antibody these and was
2500 out of the max 2500 they test for. In the fall I dot red man’s syndrome from
A drug I received for a stroke with unrelated fever. Spiked a gvhd flare
And still fighting it this spring. Dr and I agree no shots of any kind for a bit. Posting this from a hospital. Not sure if dx, but positive for rhinovirus. Hoping he’s that and not ling gvhd

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@pamh480, I am so sorry to hear that you are in the hospital, but it is the best place for you to be right now. Are there any tests that will help the doctor make diagnosis?
I hope that you can get a good night sleep and be rested for whatever tomorrow brings. I'm off to bed, will check in tomorrow morning.

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1 reply
pamh480 | @pamh480 | Jun 8, 2022
In reply to @rosemarya "@pamh480, I am so sorry to hear that you are in the hospital, but it is..." + (show)
@rosemarya

@pamh480, I am so sorry to hear that you are in the hospital, but it is the best place for you to be right now. Are there any tests that will help the doctor make diagnosis?
I hope that you can get a good night sleep and be rested for whatever tomorrow brings. I'm off to bed, will check in tomorrow morning.

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Can tell from the broncoscopy nut not for ever so in the mean time I am on a wicked iv antibiotic for pneumonia. And you know what you do with pneumonia? Cough. And you know what this antibiotic does? Gives you diarrhea. And you know what happens when you are tied the bed with an iv? You get the picture.

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1 reply
Mentor
Lori, Volunteer Mentor | @loribmt | Jun 8, 2022
In reply to @pamh480 "Can tell from the broncoscopy nut not for ever so in the mean time I am..." + (show)
@pamh480

Can tell from the broncoscopy nut not for ever so in the mean time I am on a wicked iv antibiotic for pneumonia. And you know what you do with pneumonia? Cough. And you know what this antibiotic does? Gives you diarrhea. And you know what happens when you are tied the bed with an iv? You get the picture.

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Hi @pamh480, I’m popping into the discussion a little late. I seem to remember we’re at about the same points in our SCT story ( 3rd re-birthday in a few days)
Were you able to get the PVC13 & PVC 23 shots with all the childhoods vaccinations after? With our less than robust new immune systems I know we can fall victim to pneumonia and that’s why those vaccines are suggested.

I’m sorry to see that you’re in the hospital! The antibiotics used when we’ve had a transplant are pretty hefty. One trick that I learned that helped immensely is load up with some yogurt between doses. You’re most likely getting IV antibiotics. If that’s the case you can eat yogurt anytime. The probiotics in yogurt helps replace the non-discriminatory loss of the good gut bugs.

As a fellow transplant patient, I’m curious…you mentioned having had covid a while back. Do you think this is related? Could it be GVHD?

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