Age: 77.0
Sex: U
Vaccine: VARZOS
Symptoms: Flank pain, Full blood count, Herpes zoster, Metabolic function test, Muscle strain
Clinical narrative: Information has been received from a patient who on 24-FEB-2012 was vaccinated at a local drug store with a dose of ZOSTAVAX (Merck) (lot #, dose and site of administration were not reported). The patient's intuition told that should not have it. The patient had a call from a friend who had one and she also told to the patient about another friend that also had one. She convinced to the patient to do this. About 10 to 12 days later, (approximately on 05-MAR-2012), the patient began with unbearable pain from under the left armpit, across the breasts and the total abdomen. The patient was wearing a bra or slacks with elastic bands were total torture and still was. On 14-MAR-2012, the patient went to the doctor who the patient had been with for about 15-20 years. The doctor told that had a pulled muscle. The patient knew that was not correct as the patient had been sitting in the rocker and reading all this time because the patient was miserable with pain. (Please note he was no longer the patient's doctor.). The patient had two sons and they were very concerned. The youngest son said that's it would find a doctor. On 11-MAY-2012, the patient went to a clinic. That doctor told to the patient she was very concerned about the timing of the shot and when the patient's pain began. She honestly told to the patient that she was not an expert in the Shingles shot. By that time the patient's son found a new doctor. On 17-MAY-2012, the patient went to the new doctor. That day the physician examined to the patient and he decided that the patient should have an x-ray. The patient did it. In the afternoon and about 2 hours later, the physician called to the patient to report that it was found pneumonia deep in the chest. The physician said that he could not tell if that was causing the pain. Beside the x-ray the physician ordered the following test: XR-Chest, CBC with Automated Diff and Platelet, Comprehensive Metabolic Panel, ESR, UL Ultrasound Abdomen, Complete (inc. AD, LBD, GB, Liver, Pancreas, Kidney, Spleen, and ECH Echocardiogram (at the time of this report results were not provided). In addition to the pneumonia, the patient also had an irritated stomach and that was another thing that was very painful. The test of the stomach showed that the patient had that. The patient's life had been hell since receiving the shot. It was reported that the patient was still in pain. People tell to the patient how pain shingles were. Well, the patient would not wish the pain that the patient had had on anyone. The patient just wonder if had Shingles inside body. At the time of the report, the patient's outcome from abdominal pain upper, epigastric discomfort, feeling abnormal, shingles, muscle strain and pneumonia were not reported. Follow-up information has been received from 77 years old patient with high blood pressure and gout who had been in very good health, very active in a lot of activities. Concomitant medications included felodipine, hydrochlorothiazide (manufacturer unknown), Gabapentin, Probenecide and "Preserve Vision". Patient reported that on an unknown date, he had ultrasound of his abdomen including aorta (AO), "LBD", gall bladder (GB), liver, pancreas, kidneys and spleen (results not provided). It was reported that irritated stomach was found. On unknown date, the patient had done echocardiogram (results not provided). The patient reported that he is going to have MRI and must consult with gastroenterologist doctor. The patient also reported that we still had a lot of pain in his left side and his stomach had pins and needles feeling and was bloated at the end of the day. After four months, "he was really tired of pain". At the time of reported, the outcomes of "stomach had pins and needles feeling" and "bloated at the end of the day" were unknown. The relatedness for the patient's events was not reported for ZOSTAVAX (Merck). Additional information has been requested.