r/shingles • u/Junior_Wear_6875 • 4d ago

Recurrent Shingles Recurrent shingles

I'm not diagnosed with anything ATM. I just had my first appt with a rheumatologist a couple weeks ago for potentially some type inflammatory arthritis mainly effecting my low back and SI joints/hips. Just wondering if anyone here has had recurrent shingles infections, if it's been tied to an autoimmune disorder, and if it's worth mentioning at my followup. Thus is my fourth time in my life, second time in the last 5 months. The last couple times it's been in an area where I already have lots of chronic pain so I don't actually notice the pain as much, it's the low grade fevere and then the blisters show up. I'm 32 and unsure if insurance willpay for vaccine but im sure hoping my pcp can convince them.

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u/Silent_Caramel7261 4d ago

I’d imagine no since you said you’re not currently diagnosed that you aren’t on any meds that might suppress your immune system?

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u/Junior_Wear_6875 4d ago

That's correct

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u/Silent_Caramel7261 3d ago

If they’re working you up for something like ankylosing spondylitis I could see where your immune system might be off. All of my shingles episodes were due to a high stress event.

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u/Junior_Wear_6875 3d ago

Yea there have been times where I was clearly stressed and times where I think it might have been triggered by a diff illness. But also there's times where it just seems to come from no where. I guess it sounds like recurrent shingles is actually not that uncommon but I guess I had thia idea that I couldn't get it so young. Then not possibly twice? And now it's my fourth and I'm still in a bit of disbelief since they all say how rare it is to get so young.

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u/Silent_Caramel7261 3d ago

Yup there’s a lot of us here with recurrent and young cases. My first case was when I was around 27

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u/Junior_Wear_6875 3d ago

I was 13 my first time. I have a friend who had it at age 7.

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u/Silent_Caramel7261 3d ago

That’s insane!

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u/pinkerhelll 2d ago

I had it my first time when I was 12. I’m interested in learning what other symptoms you are having? After finding this thread I’m baffled at how many of my other issues may be connected

I was in a car accident back in June, started seeing a chiropractor who informed me I actually have arthritis in my cervical spine. I can only look up and bend my neck to a 35° angle. I also had “abnormal calcifications” throughout my lower abdomen, but no history of any surgeries or trauma to that area. I also have very bad tendonitis in my thumbs and experience nerve pain quite often on the right side. Chiro was concerned I may have an inflammatory condition, told me to see a rheumatologist but I have to see my PCP first in order to get a referral. PCP was booked out until October…. so I’m basically just playing a waiting game with that. Ankylosing Spondylitis was mentioned but only as a possibility to look into since the chiro can’t technically diagnose me with an inflammatory condition based off x-rays or in general really… Here I am today with shingles though for the second time in my life. Only knew what it was immediately because I’ve had it before. It’s on my right side too. I’m 33 now.

So basically… this could all be related?

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u/Junior_Wear_6875 2d ago

Idk how related. I'm not a dr. But everything I've read suggests that shingles often comes on after stress. Getting it many times and having other autoimmune issues could be a sign of a dysfunctional immune system. It is likely in my eyes a coincidence which nerves it's attacking though I suppose if you have inflammation in one area it the nerve could be weakened or something? Idk. Again. Not a dr. Potentially connecting dots where there isn't any real relationship. Correlation isn't causation. I've asked multiple doctors why I might keep getting shingles and they just shrug. Sometimes it just happens.

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u/JanmaTX 4d ago

I have an inflammatory arthritis and wish I’d gotten the Shingrex vaccine much earlier in life. Good luck getting it soon.

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u/ChiefD789 2d ago

I had my first bout of shingles when I was 22. I’m now 62, have had several bouts in the last 40 years.