Hyperesthesia started 36 hrs ago as tender skin to simple touch along the right L2 dermatome. So essentially herpes zoster (shingles) without the tiny clear vesicles (water blisters), at least yet. Had chicken pox at age 18 yrs. I think the virus might be reactivating. I’m toward the end of the second week of rapamycin at 1 mg per week. 72 yrs old. BMI ~27. Good health. Been vaccinated against Zoster (perhaps the reason for a bit more subclinical, that is, without vesicles).
1 Like
I started taking rapamycin about 5 years ago. 5 years prior to that I had shingles. Then about 2 years ago I had the round of two shingles vaccination shots. So far, no issues at all related to shingles either before or after the shots.
2 Likes
What version of vaccine did you have?
1 Like
Zostavax, the earlier live (attenuated) virus-based vaccine.
1 Like
Shingrix is much more effective, 97% vs. 51%. I recommend to ask a doctor about Shingrix since Shingles probably causes increase risk of dementia.
3 Likes
I have been on Rapamycin 3.5 years when I had the two Shringx (shingles) vaccine… January 2024 and February 2024… two shots total.
I also had RVS, Pneumonia and Flu shot… all together… no reaction or issues.
2 Likes
Have you started antivirals yet?
A recent study showed no relationship.
1 Like
No evidence of vesicles. At about 1.5 days, it burned like spilled coffee or bad sunburn. No vesicles the following day but still burning/hypersensitive skin but in a dermatomal pattern. This morning seemed to be a little better. Late this afternoon, definitely improving. Still no vesicles so not going to go thru messaging my doc, picking up a script. So subclinical and improving. Glad I got Zostavax yrs ago. Tomorrow is rapamycin Monday, so I expect I will take my 1mg dose.
My PVC episodes did not appear today but I cheated and took an extra 50mg of flecainide yesterday to boost my blood levels. My blood sugars are running about 8-10 mg/dl higher than normal on a Dexcom G7. That bump in BS level does not seem to diminish over the week.
The totality of evidence suggest there is an association and possibly causation though.
The most recent I saw was a meta analysis.
Ive had shingles off and on for the past several years. I do not break out with a rash. However, I get severe cranial nerve pain. I take Valtrex and the virus becomes dormant within a couple of days. I started rapamycin 7 months ago and have had two episodes of cranial nerve pain while on Rapa. I was hoping for some relief with rapa but this has not been the case. I have not taken the shingles vax either.
Do you actually have trigeminal neuralgia? That is, severe pain in the lower face, always on one side, not both, that is episodic, with attacks coming over days or weeks and remitting for perhaps long periods, always without a rash? It is different than shingles, though it may be caused by a herpesvirus.
1 Like
Starts on top of my head left side and radiates down towards my ear along a nerve. No facial pain. Can gravitate to right side on occasion.