I’m sure you all know that I’m now on max dose of mtx and also taking leflunomide (Arava?). My PA called me on Friday morning saying she had been diagnosed she has shingles. All the mtx leaflets say to stay away from people with shingles. Should I be worried? Fortunately we didn’t have too much personal contact on Thursday (am assuming it’s not contagious by email…) only a couple of hours.
Not very contagious at all is my understanding. It comes from having the chicken pox virus dormant in our bodies from childhood. It becomes non dormant by things such as other illnesses and immune suppression not from exposure to other people with shingles as I understand it.
Yes, MiV, that’s my understanding too. Interesting that the PA would have warned you … I don’t even remember any shingles warning with mtx.
Seenie
PS, see, Gwynneth? Not a word.
michael in vermont said:
Not very contagious at all is my understanding. It comes from having the chicken pox virus dormant in our bodies from childhood. It becomes non dormant by things such as other illnesses and immune suppression not from exposure to other people with shingles as I understand it.
Ok I feel slightly reassured.
Seenie - 
Hmm have a series of itchy bumps on my arm. Call me paranoid…
Shingles usually presents as a painful "bra strap rash". It usually circles the torso from up to down as if wrapped around torso. Not itch but very painful to touch. I hope it is not shingles, I am rooting for you!
It’s not a big rash. It is definitely itchy. Curiouser and curiouser.
Itchy sounds like contact dermatitis to me , coming in contact with something you are allergic to. Over the counter hydrocortisone ointment might help. But I am not giving medical advise! Be sure to check with your doctor......
I'm in the weird rash stage of things right now too. I'll likely go to the doctor tomorrow, as nothing seems to be helping much so far.
Keep me posted…
I got a shingles vaccination before I started my meds and other vaccinatiion, pneumonia and others for traveling.
You should be fine if you’ve already had chicken pox as this will give you some immunity from shingles. Apparently those in the northern hemishpere routinely get chicken pox and are therefore somewhat immune to shingles. My co-workers from the philipines don’t rountinely get chicken pox and they can contract chicken pox from people with shingles at the contageous stage (blistering). Some of the lads I work with have been very unwell after contracting chicken pox from a patient who didn’t notify us she had shingles.
Good luck with the rash Gwynneth…stop scratching! 
x