Hi!

My doctor told me that the Shingles vaccine is a live vaccine and, therefore, it's too risky for me to take the chance . :(

I hope you don't have Sjogren's. But, it takes an average of 5 years in the US for a diagnosis. It took much longer for me. The Sjogren's Foundation is currently running a campaign to get that down. In hindsight, I've had Sjogren's since childhood. I missed three years of school (6th, 7th, and 8th grades) because I was sick. Diagnosed, at that time, with Rheumatic Fever by a elderly country doctor. Fortunately for me, his treatment plan was similar to that for Sjogren's minus some of the newer medications.

Ask away if you have questions...it's an awful feeling to know you are sick and don't know what's wrong. You'll need a specialist. I can recommend a couple if you'd like. Most doctors don't know anything about Sjogren's except dry mouth/eyes. There are a few clinics in the country though specializing in Sjogren's. Be prepared, you might have to travel to them at first. But, if you do have Sjogren's they will arrange for a local doctor to take over your care under their guidance. I finally got in to the Sjogren's Clinic at John Hopkins. What a Blessing.

/tricia

Here is a link that might be useful: The Sjogren's Foundation

This post was edited by triciae on Mon, Nov 10, 14 at 18:14

I got my diagnosis a few years back too. I had so many things going on with me it was a group effort by my medical team to get all the diagnoses straight. Sjogren's syndrome was a definite. The very scary part was when 3 of my specialist had said ALS. Thank God they ran a lot more tests and determined that was not in the group diagnosis!

I do have a lot of trouble with dry eyes and mouth, and can no longer wear contacts and I am never without a water bottle. I have to take it with me every where.

I have not discussed the shingles vaccine with my doctors yet but I should do that soon. I will follow their suggestion but I really would prefer to have it. My mother had shingles and I really don't want to experience that.

Best of luck in your care and diagnosis. I learn more every day from reading and researching on the Internet we are fortunate to have such wonderful resources and the forums that are available for these conditions so we can share with others in similar situations. You can find the forums with a Google search.

As I said, I have not been told nor was it mentioned by any of the doctors that I have seen that it might be Sjorgen's. But one of the admitting nurses in the ER the time my eye swelled so quickly brought it up to me and asked if it had ever been mentioned to me before. But at the time, I had mentioned that before it started swelling that I felt a pressure in my chest - that threw me into the cardiac care unit and no one was worried about my eye. I ended up staying and having numerous heart tests run and they basically found nothing and I went home 3 days later, still with a swollen eye. The other person who mentioned it to me was the NP who I see for my yearly dermo appointment. I have had some psorasis on my scalp, just a couple of places and in general my skin is very dry. She brought it up and in fact, I did have some special bloodwork done, can't recall the name of it but nothing came back to indicate anything of concern.

I guess, I just have in the back of my mind that at sometime, I might hear those words again. I have had several friends who had shingles and it wasn't a pleasant time for any of them. I would get the vaccine in a heartbeat if I knew it wouldn't trigger a case of shingles - and might consider it again - as I have heard a mild case is usual the result if it does occur. I have my yearly check up soon and I know she will ask if I want it. I have to make a decision, I guess.

My husband had his shot and had zero reaction to it.

mboston,

For me, it took years to get a positive blood marker.

ravencajun,

ALS is a common misdiagnosis. I had several doctors tell me I had MS, also a common mistake. In med school their training consists of a single paragraph noting the dry mouth/eyes. Nothing about vital organs, neuropathy, central nervous system, etc. If you're ever looking for more info, I can highly recommend the Foundation's tapes of their annual meeting guest speakers. If your a Foundation member there is a large discount. Even if you're not the tapes are an excellent investment.

/tricia

Thanks I will look into that.

Haven't got the shingles shot yet, I'm 67, but both my mother and sister in law got shingles...my mother went into the Dr right away, had some pain...my SIL waited too long and was in great pain, finally went to the ER, and had pain for months afterward...It really has scared me, I asked my PA if it's really necessary, she said if I got in right away they could treat it, but at that stage I don't even know if I would notice a small rash...we still intend to get the shots but they will cost a lot.

triciae's gone. Her husband has posted on the Cooking forum. I'm really sad.

Here is a link that might be useful: Tricae/Potpie passing

I'm so sorry to hear that. It sounds like she had many friends on GardenWeb.

If one follows Rob's link, Tricia's husband Don may come back to read the replies, so one can express one's condolences to him and perhaps request that they be shared with other family members and others who loved her.

Sometimes it helps to know that one's loved one was appreciated by others/many of which one was unaware, earlier.

ole joyful

Rob, I wasn't sure if it was Triciae or not. I didn't know her as Potpie.
Once I read the newest replies, I know that it is.

I'm sad too, she was a terrific person and I'll sure miss her.

I didn't either. So when I saw the title, I thought it had to do with food. Not her other screen name. I was really shocked! She seemed like she was getting around more than usual a month ago. I guess she had to sit still more than usual and so, she passed the time here? That's my guess. I will miss her. Don seems like he too was well liked by Cookign Forum folks who met him. He seems like good people. I'm really sorry for his loss, and her other family members.

See link below

Here is a link that might be useful: This might her obit notice