What are shingles coupled with Lupus, and is shingles contagious?

I have been diagnose with Lupus and just found out today that I have shingles (with the red spots on my leg inside and out, and very, very, painful) Is there any chance these two are compatible with each other?

Answer
Shingles is the reactivation of the chicken pox you had probably as a child. It lies dormant in your system and then one day,BAM, reactivates. Shingles is incredibly uncomfortable from what I understand and you have my sympathies!
Since it is a reactivation of the Herpes Zoster virus, then yes, you are contagious to people (just like a child with chicken pox) until after the scabs have formed on your last blisters. The people who are most at risk around you are infants and the elderly or the immunocomprimised(weakened immune systems) and anyone who has not had chicken pox or the vaccine. Go here for more information:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herpes_zoster

Just like a celiac (which I am), your immune system is going to be a little bit different and you are going to be slightly more susceptible to certain infections. I am assuming you have not been on any prednisone treatment (due to just being diagnosed), so I will leave that bit out.
Here is a really good link to a forum that I think you will find very helpful, and includes a discussion about lupus and shingles.

http://www.wehavelupus.com/message-board-forum/about3714.html

If you have not had the rash for too long, it is not too late to get on some anti-virals that could shorten the length of the course of the shingles. I wish you a speedy recovery and the best!