there was a thread from barb about getting a tetanus vaccine and that got me to thinking.

since i turned 60 my pcp suggested the shingles vaccine. however, my neuro said that he hasn't seen any info on people with MS getting the shot.

anyone know anything about this?

I have had shingles, and I have read that people with MS tend to get them more than the general population. I think it might be the DMDs that so many of us take, but I don’t get the DMDs because I am in SPMS, so I don’t know where that puts me. My only suggestion is to get the vaccine if it is at all possible. Shingles are really, really painful and they last a very long time. Knowing what I know now, I wouldn’t risk getting shingles on a dare.

I've had them too. They affected the trigeminal nerve on my face and it was just horrid. I ended up with a Bell's Palsy, and it was never decided whether that was due to the shingles or whether I'd had an MS exacerbation, as both were likely culprits.

Either way it was terrible! My neuro refused to give me any cortisone to improve the facial paralysis, because I had an active shingles virus and he didn't want it to spread.

Is it still advisable to have the vaccination if you've had the infection already? In most viral diseases, exposure will give you an immunity to the disease but many people get shingles more than once.

Does any one know if there are guidelines?

I don't know about the vaccine guidelines. But I, too, have had shingles about 9 years ago and know how very painful them are. So I would be interested to know more about this.

I have avoided ALL vaccines, unless the MD can prove a NEED for them. Since I am at home, and dont wander out, and have never had the flu, I skip that vaccine. I dont dig in the dirt, or play with rusty things, so I skip the tetnaus. Each year my husband lines up and gets popped for the flu vaccine, and shakes his head at me. I have heard too many stories of folks that got a vaccine, and had a relapse.

Im skeeerd.

If I remember, Jim's doctor and neuro said no. Let me ask again. He's had the flu and pneumonia shot in the past. I do know the measles vaccine is a no go for sure. It depends if it is a live vaccine or not. Jim has never had chicken pox. I tested him years ago when I worked at a lab.