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

Thanks! I did get both pneumonia vaccines and all my others except MMR. Amy holding off on shingles for reasons mentioned above. Will keep yogurt in mind. Thank you! My 3rd birthday was Sunday. Monday I got admitted. So far things look good for no lung gvhd per pulmonary, but not everything will be back for several more days.

How are you doing, Pam?

Turned out the cold progresses to pneumonia and there is a fungal infection. Struggling with insurance not covering the $1900 a month to pay for the med. to top of all odd I have a loop monitor Thad migrated under my akin and is painful and has caused a huge hematoma. They are reluctant to remove. I am pretty adamant because chest skin is so fragile I’m afraid it will pop out. I can feel the edges of the device. I cynically wonder if they are penalized financially for not keeping it in place and monitoring for 2-3 years. And I am in the middle of a big skin gvhd flare

Oh my gosh, Pam. That’s a lot to handle. If you continue to run into roadblocks with insurance regarding coverage for the medication, might there be a patient financial assistance program associated with the drug manufacturer?

I miss the income requirement by $500. It’s not in Mark Cuban’s list but ID Dr says she will go to bat for me. Update as to med I am reacting to, after “test holding” it am much less dizzy. Feeling hopeful that a P2P review will resolve the coverage issue since I am not tolerating the anti fungal that was allowed first round. Frustrating but at least Dr on my side

Oh wow, Pam. My heart goes out to you with all you’ve got going on right now! I sometimes wonder the logic behind insurance companies not paying for certain necessary meds when ending up in the hospital would be a lot more costly! I sure hope you get that worked out soon!

That loop monitor sounds troubling. They’re supposed to be pretty much undetectable and yours certainly isn’t. I don’t understand why it can’t be removed. Who would be penalized financially? If it’s not in the correct position and causing further issues, it really should be relocated.

None of this stress is helping your gvhd situation either. Do you find you get more flares when you’re ill or under pressure? Do you have to take more prednisone when it happens?

Hi all: Thought I'd weigh in on the shingles shot a bit. First of all, best advice is to check with that awesome transplant team as they have all info on hand about your personal case. Now, my experience. I got the Shingrix shot the week the pandemic started. The second shot was put off because I didn't want exposure to Covid. Well, I then got shingles a year later. NOT FUN! However, I think it was milder as my sister suffered a lot more (before shots were available) I got my second shot recently, and although I had side effects, it was a lot better than having shingles! I highly suggest you check with your transplant team for advice, and if they suggest it, go for it! 🙂

@dakotabonnie, Me too! I always take the advice of my transplant team, and for 13 years, they (Mayo Clinic Rochester - Liver and Kidney Department) have never failed to provide the best! My PCP is totally impressed with how proactive they are when it comes to providing preventive treatments. Even my husband is ahead of others in the general population by following the guidance they provide to me!

I hope you continue to do well.

That's awesome! You and I may have crossed paths at Mayo! I went to the liver transplant center from 2006 to 2010, but my insurance provider then told me I would need to go to a transplant center closer to where I live, which was University of Colorado. My surgeon at Mayo did training at University, so she provided some supportive suggestions, and I found lots of doctors knew her (still do!). She is loved and respected greatly by all of them, including my doctor now. University is great, but I still go to Mayo for advice as its readily available and accurate. I went back to see my surgeon at Mayo and some of my nurses on my 10th anniversary and they made me promise to come back to see them. I call Mayo the Dome of Miracles, and the people who work there are miracle workers!! You and I ( among many others) are so blessed to say they saved our lives! Be well!

@dakotabonnie, Wouldn't be neat if we could turn back the clock to see if we did cross paths? I was a jaundiced patient in a wheelchair before my transplant. My husband and I were at the Gift of Life House from March - mid May 2009.

I love Mayo Clinic and am so appreciative for the miracle of a liver and kidney transplant. Was Dr Heimbach, by any chance your surgeon?