I've had shingles 2 times after being diagnosed 8 yrs ago. Also had Mono. in my late 20's.

I have shingles and two falls ago I had mono. I have also had myoperiocarditis, which is when a virus infects the lining of your heart. I thought that maybe I had lupus, but the blood work is negative. Now, I am concerned that I may have MS. I work out faithfully but lately, I am so depleted after working out whereas I used to be energized. My shingles pain is nerve related and runs the entire length of my left leg. It is so hard to stand for any length of time. I was diagnosed with shingles in October and I took Valtrex which seemed to help. I caught a fever virus last week from one of my children and it made a mild rash appear on my left leg and the pain returned with a vengence. Any advice? This site came up when I entered mono + shingles! Thanks to anyone who is willing to offer advice. Best of luck to you all.

Go back to your doctor. See what they say

Below is a summary of the Herpes family of viruses. I think they ALL can set us up for MS or cause a "flair". This is my summary and I hope it is correct.

Herpes simplex virus HSV-1 Oral herpes(fever
blisters)


Herpes simplex virus HSV-2 Genital herpes


Varicella-zoster virus(VZV) Chickenpox, shingles


Epstein-Barr virus(EBV) Infectious
mononucleosis


Cytomegalovirus(CMV) "Mono-like" illness,
Infections in Immune-compromised patients


Human herpesvirus-6 HHV-6 Roseola, "mono-like"
illness ----Possible MS and chronic fatigue syndrome


Human herpesvirus-7 HHV-7 "Mono-like" illness,
pityriasis rosea


Human herpesvirus-8 HHV-8 Kaposi's sarcoma


I hope it helps clarify this subject.


jackD

Thank you so much, Jack, I always appreciate your scientific input. This info does validate my suspicions.

I too had shingles, but long after MS dx. Mine was probably activates by taking a chemo drugs called Hydroxy-urea (Hydrea) for my third disease, Polycythemia Vera. The Hydrea
was to knock down the number of platelets in my blood. I got very bad shingles, hip to foot, and was in the hospital with it and took six weeks to walk again without a walker. Valtrex was a good drug to knock it out, but still I needed the six weeks to relearn walking.

I don't know what relationship it might have to MS in me.

I am now trying Interferon in low dose to try to deal with the high platelets. It too
has side effects but so far not as bad as Hydrea. I am unclear how it works, it does affect immune system but probably selectively, i.e., lowering some immunity and raising other. It does not seem to cause marked neuro symptoms--unless burning skin is a parasthesia or chills is a neuro symptom...these go away after an hour or so, usually attacking in the middle of the night. I have to give myself a shot tomorrow because I can't go to the clinic, being snowed in.

I have never had shingles. I have a cold sore since I was a child and it only comes out after a high enough fever triggers it. When I was preggo I had a sore (points down there) and had it checked. The MD said it was Herpes simplex 1 (cold sore), but it went away quick, and I never saw it again. He said it could have been triggered by the hormones of pregnancy. exdh was a doggie and a half, so it wouldnt have surprised me if he dragged something home. This silly thing simply left and I have never seen it again. Spoke to several MDs about it and some say you can get one flare and never another, and other folks stay covered in it. consider myself lucky.

I hate this stupid disease and want better answers than they give us.