Kat's Skyrizi journey

[Caroline]

Thank you Kat, I've never been offered it. I did get chicken pox in my 30s that wasn't very nice, I don't know if it make me immune from shingle or not.

Yes, actually you don't get shingles if you have NOT had chickenpox (if I understand correctly).  It's one of the reasons I never got the vaccine as I didn't think I ever had chickenpox but my primary doctor said it's odd for adults not to have had it so did a blood test and seems that I did indeed have chickenpox.  After that the virus lives inside your body.  Also, you can get shingles more than once.

Don't want to take your thread off topic but that is very interesting. I was going to visit friends one day and they asked if I'd had chicken pox as their children had it, I phoned my Mum and she said yes you will be fine as you had it as a baby.

However a few days after visiting my friends I was covered and to cut a long story short I went to see my doctor and he confirmed it was chicken pox, but although my records showed I had it as a baby my immune system hadn't built up enough immunity. 

Nope I'm still none the wiser are you saying I could still get shingles. ?

*Again sorry, I will split posts in this thread if you wish.

Sorry in advance….

The chicken pox virus. (With us they call it water pox). Is in fact the Herpes Zoster virus. And once in the body it stays there and can be activated again. I though you could not be immunised for it, but als you, Kat, say that there is a vaccine, then maybe it can. I did not know that.

[Kat]

Nope I'm still none the wiser are you saying I could still get shingles. ?

*Again sorry, I will split posts in this thread if you wish.

Yes you can get shingles.  People who can't get shingles are the ones where the virus isn't present (they never had chicken pox) And no, no need to split this thread, I may ask you to clean it up a bit after I start Skyrizi but this is good information I think.

The chicken pox virus. (With us they call it water pox). Is in fact the Herpes Zoster virus. And once in the body it stays there and can be activated again. I though you could not be immunised for it, but als you, Kat, say that there is a vaccine, then maybe it can. I did not know that.

It's called the Shingrix vaccine here if that helps. Although looking it up seems it is non live, at least I assume that is what it means when it says Shingrix is an inactive vaccine....    Anyway, we'll see what the doctor says once they call me back.  I may have left a message with the wrong person.  If I don't hear from them on Monday I'll call them again.

[Kat]

I thought it was a live vaccine because the one AbbVie person I asked said you shouldn't take a live vaccine (generic statement) so I thought they meant the Shingrix since that is what I was asking about. Thinking back, I don't think the pharmacist said why, just that I should check with my doctor first. So I found this:

If you are currently being treated or have recently been treated with risankizumab, you should let your doctor know before receiving zoster vaccine, inactivated. Depending on the dose and length of time you have been on risankizumab, you may have a reduced response to the vaccine

I guess it will just be up to the doc.

[Fred]

I thought it was a live vaccine because the one AbbVie person I asked said you shouldn't take a live vaccine (generic statement) so I thought they meant the Shingrix since that is what I was asking about.  Thinking back, I don't think the pharmacist said why, just that I should check with my doctor first. So I found this:

If you are currently being treated or have recently been treated with risankizumab, you should let your doctor know before receiving zoster vaccine, inactivated. Depending on the dose and length of time you have been on risankizumab, you may have a reduced response to the vaccine

I guess it will just be up to the doc.

[Kat]

I missed the AbbVie Nurse call. I was napping which is weird for me but it's been SO busy lately. I'll have to call her back, but honestly I don't feel I need the video call on how to administer and such since I've already done it before and the nurse at the doctor's office already went over it with me.

Anyway, doctor got back with me and said the new Shingles vaccines are not live ones so it's safe to get the vaccine AND start skyrizi. I'll double check with the pharmacy when I go to get it. (That the current vaccine they are using is not a live vaccine)

We've had a couple of packages get held up for days (usually in Atlanta) so I made the decision to wait until the first of the year before having the Skyrizi shipped to me as I didn't want to have to worry about it not being kept at the right temperature. I know before when they mailed me the Cosentyx it was packed to stay cold but I'm not certain how long those last. It's only a couple of weeks to wait.

Now to get to the pharmacy to get my Shingles vaccine. The traffic is horrible right now with all the Christmas shoppers out so I may try to go early one day next week.

[Caroline]

I missed the AbbVie Nurse call.  I was napping which is weird for me but it's been SO busy lately. I'll have to call her back, but honestly I don't feel I need the video call on how to administer and such since I've already done it before and the nurse at the doctor's office already went over it with me. 

Anyway, doctor got back with me and said the new Shingles vaccines are not live ones so it's safe to get the vaccine AND start skyrizi.  I'll double check with the pharmacy when I go to get it.  (That the current vaccine they are using is not a live vaccine)

We've had a couple of packages get held up for days (usually in Atlanta) so I made the decision to wait until the first of the year before having the Skyrizi shipped to me as I didn't want to have to worry about it not being kept at the right temperature.  I know before when they mailed me the Cosentyx it was packed to stay cold but I'm not certain how long those last.  It's only a couple of weeks to wait.

Now to get to the pharmacy to get my Shingles vaccine.  The traffic is horrible right now with all the Christmas shoppers out so I may try to go early one day next week.

Smart Idea, to order later when Christmas post has passed by and deliveries will get faster again.

Very good that the shingles vaccine can be used without problem.

[Fred]

We've had a couple of packages get held up for days (usually in Atlanta) so I made the decision to wait until the first of the year before having the Skyrizi shipped to me as I didn't want to have to worry about it not being kept at the right temperature.  I know before when they mailed me the Cosentyx it was packed to stay cold but I'm not certain how long those last.  It's only a couple of weeks to wait.

Quote:

---

Store in a refrigerator (2°C - 8°C). Do not freeze.
Keep the pre-filled syringe in the original carton in order to protect from light.
If needed, you may also store the pre-filled syringe out of the refrigerator (up to a maximum of 25°C)
for up to 24 hours in the original carton to protect from light.

Good luck with the shingles vaccine.

[Kat]

We've had a couple of packages get held up for days (usually in Atlanta) so I made the decision to wait until the first of the year before having the Skyrizi shipped to me as I didn't want to have to worry about it not being kept at the right temperature.  I know before when they mailed me the Cosentyx it was packed to stay cold but I'm not certain how long those last.  It's only a couple of weeks to wait.

Quote:

---

Store in a refrigerator (2°C - 8°C). Do not freeze.
Keep the pre-filled syringe in the original carton in order to protect from light.
If needed, you may also store the pre-filled syringe out of the refrigerator (up to a maximum of 25°C)
for up to 24 hours in the original carton to protect from light.

Good luck with the shingles vaccine.

I had one shipment of Rileys med which had to be kept at a certain temperature get held up at Christmas for 5 days at a facility. We had freezing temps and I wasn't certain where it was located and if it would be affected or not. I called the pharmacy who shipped out another dose and told me to send that one back (when I received) to be on the safe side.

I just don't know what temperature it might reach if held up. Though they may fedex it which would get it here quicker, but even they are backlogged right now.

I'm a bit excited to try Skyrizi and hoping for good results. Also a bit uncertain as I don't like trying new things.

[Fred]

I'm a bit excited to try Skyrizi and hoping for good results.  Also a bit uncertain as I don't like trying new things. 

Yes it's always a bit concerning, but at the end of the day if it doesn't work there are now plenty of other bio's out there. Just keep telling yourself "it's going to work"

[Kat]

Called today to get my Skyrizi shipment. It will be here Jan 26th. It's neat how they do it with the scheduling. I have to sign for it and there will be an indicator of some type that shows it maintained the correct temperature (white is good, pink or red and I need to call them to replace as it means it may not be safe) So there won't be the concern of whether or not the shipment takes too long or if the temperature is compromised as they only use FedEx next day and have a way to monitor it.

So I'll update when I get it.