Age: 67.0
Sex: U
Vaccine: VARZOS, VARZOS, VARZOS
Symptoms: Facial pain, Influenza like illness, Malaise, Myalgia, Pain in extremity
Clinical narrative: I had most if not all, basic adverse effects fever, sore arm, shivering, hot and cold, dripping nose and congestion (flu symptoms) and weakness-fatigue for 2-3 days - no problem. Swelling and pain under left facial cheekbone Sun AM-Mon-so far. Swelling pain and fever. I want to say up front that this reaction could have possibly been caused by other things, but the timing leads me to believe it was caused by the SHINGRIX shot. I just want to report my situation in case it has happened before or to help those where it might happen in the future. I want to emphasize that I am not claiming 100 percent that this reaction came from the SHINGRIX shot I received but I do not believe coincidental as it is it could have been anything else. Letter is lengthy so be patient. I am a pharmacist who also gives these shots to our patients who desire them and I have heard of no adverse effects from anyone who has received one, except pain at injection site. My eye specialist recommended that I get the SHINGRIX shots and I received mine this past Saturday the 16th at pharmacy. Most info on the forms enclosed. Sad to say I did experience the flu like or cold like symptoms starting Saturday night, hot and cold, shivering, chills, mild headache at times, loss of energy, just felt rotten. Carried on into most of Sunday, I did not feel like doing anything, felt better on Monday but not back 100 percent, still tired and some hot and cold spells. My problem is explained further. As mentioned, it may have been coincidental that I have this problem but I do not think so. Pictures enclosed. I woke up Sunday morning with my left side facial cheek swollen and really sore. I have not experienced anything to cause this soreness and swelling that I know of. I do wear a CPAP full face mask each night but have never experienced any swelling or soreness from it in nearly 4 years or so. This pain and swelling as at the very outside edge of the mask so I thought I may have slept on it wrong that caused the pain but I watched for it on Sunday night and the mask did not even cause a discomfort with the painful area when I wore it, so I basically ruled it out. So what common denominator was there to cause this overnight swelling and soreness? The SHINGRIX shot. Even though something like this is not listed in side effects I spoke with chat line with GSK today (and I would appreciate you forward these reports to them as well). They swapped me back and forth with 3 or 4 people, got cut off one time, had to start over and at least gave my medical history of this effect 2 or 3 times to different people. When I finally got to speak with a specialist the only thing they would do was give me the given stats about side effects that I had all ready read over and over again, especially since I am giving the shots as well. I got no answers or any personal concern from them, none whatsoever. I asked if it had ever been reported, something similar, they would not answer. Only pushed be to the written stats, it was a waste of time and I said so on a survey. They should have been more concerned about my personal problem than a worldwide stat. They acted like my problem did not exist unless it was on a stat sheet and that is why I am sending this and for forms to you to report it. Just in case it was caused by the SHINGRIX as mentioned before, it may or may not have but timing left me to believe it was. One other reason, I had no symptoms of a sore facial area before I went to bed, when I woke up it was full blown and has continued Sunday and Monday. Actually even worse tonight-Monday-swelling-some fever and some redness. I have to work full time the next 3 days and I hope it gets back to normal for I cannot see a doctor until middle of next week unless it gets unbearable and if I see one GSK will foot the bill. Now a little history that may or may not have anything to do with my situation. About May last year I had to have some sentinel node biopsy done on my lymph nodes in the areas marked III (XXX) that side of my face has not recovered fully. Never any pain or swelling just numbness where the areas were excised. No I shows where there is the most pain, sort of a hard spot just in the muscles or tissues right under my cheekbone. Nothing is caused by mouth or teeth either. The swelling goes in the area listed II, from ear lobe surrounding the major listed area and my jaw area is not involved, all just under the cheek. My question due to this history of the biopsy and excising some lymph tissue, would a SHINGRIX shot effect this lymph system in any way to cause my soreness and swelling. The direct area (sore) has about a dime size hard pone under the skin (not a rising) or infection of any kind and it hurts when you press down on it, almost unbearable, and the swelling radiates out from that. This is all I have to report. If SHINGRIX caused this in my situation I would like to know about it and if you think it did not, then let me know that as well. What I base my situation on is timing, got the shot, next morning had the sore face and swelling without warning.