Side Effects of Shingles Vaccine

Posted by ssbionicknee @ssbionicknee, Sep 20, 2018

I got the flu shot and the new shingles vaccination 3 days ago. Today I started feeling sick to my stomach. I've never had a reaction to the flu shot and was wondering if anyone else felt sick after getting the shingles vaccine?

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@loribmt

That’s a pretty normal reaction. Have you tried using an ice pack on the area? That works to reduce the swelling. Are you able to take Tylenol? This will go away in a day or so.

Because I lost all of my immunity with my stem cell transplant, I’ve had 29 vaccines in the course of a year, not including my covid and flu shots. So this reaction to most any vaccine is normal. Hah you should have seen my arms. Looked like someone pummeled me with baseball bats. But you really don’t want to get shingles if it can be prevented with the vaccine. So hang in there, your arm will fell better soon.
Try the ice pack.

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Yes, ice pack work still really red and does not hurt as much thank you

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@maribella07

Yes, ice pack work still really red and does not hurt as much thank you

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Good! The icing on and off really helps. I’ve had so many vaccines over the past year, on both arms and this is the pretty standard reaction.
I’m glad it’s not hurting as much and the redness will fade over the next day or so. There can be some residual swelling/puffiness which you might notice traveling down towards your elbow as it dissipates…gravity at work! Then all of a sudden you’ll realize your arm is back to normal. ☺️

By the way, welcome to Connect! I’m so happy you found our awesome online community. Were you searching for anything in particular when you decided to join our forum?

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There may be a better topic to post this? I had the first shingles vaccine a number of years ago, an MD later told me I was well protected and should skip the later vaccine. I had a reaction to the second Moderna which I believe led to Afib (separate topics on here) so I have some anxiety getting vaccines in general. My question is do I need to get the latest shingles vac?

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@wa34937

There may be a better topic to post this? I had the first shingles vaccine a number of years ago, an MD later told me I was well protected and should skip the later vaccine. I had a reaction to the second Moderna which I believe led to Afib (separate topics on here) so I have some anxiety getting vaccines in general. My question is do I need to get the latest shingles vac?

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GSK is complicit in hiding horrible reactions to their shingles vaccine.

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@wa34937

There may be a better topic to post this? I had the first shingles vaccine a number of years ago, an MD later told me I was well protected and should skip the later vaccine. I had a reaction to the second Moderna which I believe led to Afib (separate topics on here) so I have some anxiety getting vaccines in general. My question is do I need to get the latest shingles vac?

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In my opinion only, I may avoid it. I went ahead and got the shingrix both doses, horribly debilitating reaction for days . Then unusual body symptoms… 3 months later finally diagnosed with Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR).still dealing with this malady 2 years later. I have had shingles, I would rather get that than what I’ve been going through with steroids, discomfort etc.

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On Tuesday 9/20/2022, I went to my local Walmart pharmacy to get a Shingles vaccine, which was recommended to me by the pharmacist. I was feeling fine with no sickness symptom. There was no problem with the vaccination and I waited 5 minutes before I went shopping for a few things. Everything was okay for about 10 minutes and then I began feeling pressure in the center of my chest. I have had 3 heart attacks and the first one started out just like this, feeling pressure on my chest just like it was happening. My first thought was omg, I’m going to have a heart attack. Within minutes, I was having level 5/6 pain in my heart. I immediately checked out and waited for the local bus to take me home.

Things started to go downhill sitting in the bus, palpitations, dizziness, nausea, and the overall sense of not feeling well. By that evening, I was running a fever of 100.2, had a sore throat, runny nose, coughing, all the symptoms of having the flu but how and why so quickly. I had not been out of my apartment in 4 days. Then I had jolts of nasty heart pain, level 7/8, palpitations and the feeling of gloom and doom. I fell asleep and woke up the next morning sick as a dog. I knew something was definitely wrong, heart pain, palpitations, sickness, the whole nine yards. I finally wondered if the Shingles vaccine had to do anything with me going thru this mess.

So I Google for Shingles Vaccine side effects and bingo. Boy did I get a wake up call, I never realized so much could go wrong. I had trusted my pharmacist’s judgement because he knows my medical history. The more I read about the side effects, the more I knew I was in trouble. So I checked for rare side effects, naturally they’re the kind my body seems to love getting. Turns out my heart issues and sickness can be caused in rare cases, guess who has them? ME!!!!! That’s right, my “Freak of Nature” body decided to complicate my life, even kill me in my sleep. All my symptoms, heart issues included, can be triggered by the SHINGLES VACCINE.

Get this, it can even trigger flu like symptoms, OMG, that’s me. I read information from the manufacturer and they seem sympathetic enough and want to know about any adverse side effects. So you’re advised to fill out a report on the VARES website which is linked to the CDC, yes, that CDC. So I contacted my pharmacist, went to my Doctor yesterday, got advice from them and called the toll free number. A very nice lady in Mississippi answered my call and for the next 20 minutes took down all the pertinent information they needed. She needed all my side effects documented, my Doctor’s name and phone number and was very pleasant to talk with. She was even concerned about my health. So my question is this, has anyone else had such unusual and dangerous rare side effects? Remember, I could have had a fatal heart attack with my heart being so weak. And I still have all the symptoms and they’re getting worse.

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I had the first shingles vaccine in February 2022. The side effects were the worst! Dizziness, fatigue, muscle ache. At the insistence of my doctor, I had the second dose 3 days ago and feel even worse! I have had shingles and would gladly get it again instead of these vaccines! I had no reactions to any of the COVID vaccines or 3 boosters or the flu shot.

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@wa34937

There may be a better topic to post this? I had the first shingles vaccine a number of years ago, an MD later told me I was well protected and should skip the later vaccine. I had a reaction to the second Moderna which I believe led to Afib (separate topics on here) so I have some anxiety getting vaccines in general. My question is do I need to get the latest shingles vac?

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My knees have swollen with the last three covid vaccines I got. I’ve had a year and a half now of constant knee pain.

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@carolandersonl

On 11/14/2020, I received the first dose of the Shingrix vaccine. I was very tired for 3 days. Immediately after that, it felt like the floor or ground was severely rocking under me when I walked or stood. It felt like trying to walk on a boat in a storm. After two weeks, I had a tele-med visit with a nurse practitioner who said it might be crystals in the inner ear. It continues, but is less severe. Have been mostly housebound, I’ve also had headaches. I read that shingles can cause ear infection or nerve damage, Even now, Dec 12, I sometimes veer to the side when walking, I asked the pharmacist about this ( he gave the injection, did not advise about fatigue ) but he quickly said it was definitely not related to Shingrix. 1. Is there a possible connection? 2. Should I risk the second Shingrix vaccination? I’m loathe to have further damage.

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On November 30, 2021, I got the first Shingrix vaccination. A few days later, I noticed that the bathroom floor was giving under me (like the floor boards were not strong). Then over the next several weeks, I realized that I was having the same sensation in other rooms, even outdoors on concrete sometimes, and in parking garages. Floors that should have been totally stable were not. From the very beginning, I talked to others about it, including my doctors, but no one seemd to know what to think, except that it seemed to be some kind of vertigo.
I researched and found references to “rocking dizziness” and “mal de debarquement.” I found Dizziness and Balance.com (the Chicago Dizziness and Hearing Center. I was reassured by my understanding from them that this condition does eventually go away, although it may take a long time.
I went to the University of Washington Neurology Clinic, who had no idea what I had and referred me to the UW Otology Clinic, who eventually gave me four hours of exams, with the conclusion that they could not find labyrinthitis or anything else.
Over time, I notice the sensation less, but I do still notice it at times, especially under stress.
I have not gotten the second dose of Shingrix.
About a week ago, Googling “Shingrix vertigo” I discovered this chat line and the 2020 entry by @carolandersonl.
JohnCahall

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@becky1024

On Tuesday 9/20/2022, I went to my local Walmart pharmacy to get a Shingles vaccine, which was recommended to me by the pharmacist. I was feeling fine with no sickness symptom. There was no problem with the vaccination and I waited 5 minutes before I went shopping for a few things. Everything was okay for about 10 minutes and then I began feeling pressure in the center of my chest. I have had 3 heart attacks and the first one started out just like this, feeling pressure on my chest just like it was happening. My first thought was omg, I’m going to have a heart attack. Within minutes, I was having level 5/6 pain in my heart. I immediately checked out and waited for the local bus to take me home.

Things started to go downhill sitting in the bus, palpitations, dizziness, nausea, and the overall sense of not feeling well. By that evening, I was running a fever of 100.2, had a sore throat, runny nose, coughing, all the symptoms of having the flu but how and why so quickly. I had not been out of my apartment in 4 days. Then I had jolts of nasty heart pain, level 7/8, palpitations and the feeling of gloom and doom. I fell asleep and woke up the next morning sick as a dog. I knew something was definitely wrong, heart pain, palpitations, sickness, the whole nine yards. I finally wondered if the Shingles vaccine had to do anything with me going thru this mess.

So I Google for Shingles Vaccine side effects and bingo. Boy did I get a wake up call, I never realized so much could go wrong. I had trusted my pharmacist’s judgement because he knows my medical history. The more I read about the side effects, the more I knew I was in trouble. So I checked for rare side effects, naturally they’re the kind my body seems to love getting. Turns out my heart issues and sickness can be caused in rare cases, guess who has them? ME!!!!! That’s right, my “Freak of Nature” body decided to complicate my life, even kill me in my sleep. All my symptoms, heart issues included, can be triggered by the SHINGLES VACCINE.

Get this, it can even trigger flu like symptoms, OMG, that’s me. I read information from the manufacturer and they seem sympathetic enough and want to know about any adverse side effects. So you’re advised to fill out a report on the VARES website which is linked to the CDC, yes, that CDC. So I contacted my pharmacist, went to my Doctor yesterday, got advice from them and called the toll free number. A very nice lady in Mississippi answered my call and for the next 20 minutes took down all the pertinent information they needed. She needed all my side effects documented, my Doctor’s name and phone number and was very pleasant to talk with. She was even concerned about my health. So my question is this, has anyone else had such unusual and dangerous rare side effects? Remember, I could have had a fatal heart attack with my heart being so weak. And I still have all the symptoms and they’re getting worse.

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My reaction to your symptoms would have been to get to the ER by ambulance ASAP. I wouldn’t take the chance of having a heart attack in Walmart or on a bus.

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