Has anybody had this ? If so what was it like ?

I have been off colour for the last few days and have developed a nasty sore rash on either side of my torso and also on the left hand side below my left arm pit :( I am sure it is just a rash but funny is it so specific ?

Also have read that if it is then I am infectious to anybody who hasn't had chicken pox ?

Lucy
xx

Ooh dear, that does sound a bit shingly. :( Is it a blistery rash?

[link]http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/en.asp?TopicID=414&AreaID=4325&LinkID=3400[/link]

Daisy

It looks very angry red with small spots and is really sore, feels like it has been burnt.

I just wonder if I am run down as have been very stressed and busy at work and here with the mess we are in. I have had a really bad sore throat and thought I had got bad hayfever :( Have got a few mouth ulcers as well :(

Need a holiday I think and when I come back the house will be finshed all freshly decorated and no flipin dust and dirt any where :)

Lucy
xx

Hi Lucy

Poor you.  I had shingles years ago, and before the rash was obvious I felt really ill - like flu but worse...then the rash appeared, and the doctor laughed at me as it was in a very painful place!  There are drugs that you can take early on which shorten the duration and severity of it, so get to the doctors asap, or it can drag on for ages.  I hope you feel better soon.

You haven't had one single spot anywhere in the past few weeks ? Is it better when you are cool ? Is it showing any sign of peeling ?

Daisy

There is one bigger spot on my left hand side but not sure how long it has been there as not in a place I can easily see :) I was quite warm yesterday and it was sore and today I have been quite cool but still very sore.

Lucy
xx

Does it itch - like being stung by nettles ?

Daisy

Yes it is very angry :(

Could be Pityriasis Rosae. I had this very badly about 15 years ago :(

Daisy

So what is it as cannot find anything on it ? :)

Lucy
xx

Hi Lucy,

This def sounds like shingles to me.  Get yourself to the doctors - they may prescribe some painkillers.  OH had this last year - he was off work for a week, and really rough.  It's good old chicken pox, but with avengance.  Good luck.

Cheers
Vicki
x

But make sure you let the staff know you think you may have shingles, that way they may put you away from everyone. Dont really want you infecting all the old dears that have gone in for their water retention pills!!!!
Hope your feeling better soon.
Lea :)

if you tell them at the surgery you think its shingles surely the dr would come out to you.... ours came out when we all went down with chiken pox

It is only infectious to people who haven't had chicken pox and they have had to have direct exposure to the area affected :) I think most people will have had it when young. Indigo is yet to have it but I am sure at some stage soon she will get it !

Lucy
xx

Hate to say this, I am sure even people who have had chicken pox can still get Shingles.Quite a few of our customers have had it over the years. And know quite alot of people who have had chicken pox more than once!!!
Lea :)

Sorry Lucy, but anyone can get shingles if they've had chicken pox. After having chickenpox, the varicella virus lies dormant in the spinal cord. If the virus reactivates in the spinal cord it causes shingles. This is helpful too.

Your're right - if it is shingles then it is VERY infectious to other people.  Both my sister and I caught chicken pox when my Mum had shingles (sister didn't even live there, but I was putting a lotion on Mums rash).  I was pregnant at the time and both my sister and I were extremely ill with it (hadn't had it as children). In fact I have never felt so ill (and apparently it can be quite dangerous to adults).  You can get chickenpox more than once, but you can't get shingles unless you have had chickenpox. I would get to the Drs. and find out what it is definitely.

Fiona

Ps Hope you feel better soon.

My mum had shingles whilst we were on holiday in Norway two years ago.  She had dreadful pain even before the rash appeared and it travelled round her torso following the nerve.  It left some nasty scars, and even now it sometimes hurts "like someone pinging her with elastic bands".  You should seek treatment as soon as possible if you suspect it is this - medication within the first 48 hours can help, Mum was told.  After that, it must just take its course, as Mum's did.  It was several days before we came home and she went to the doctors.  I told her she had a heat rash (!), and she didn't want to make a fuss about it and spoil the holiday for everyone else, so she didn't really tell us how bad it was.  She saw the doctor at the airport when we came back, and she diagnosed it.

I had shingles 28 years ago, at the time our doctor was a long way away and as in army camp i went to ( now ex )hubbys army doctor who told me it was ring worm and  proceeded to treat the whole family with worm medicine, my doctor whom i went to when i got a lift from ex went mad, told me never to go to army quacks again, aparantly ring worm is a fungus not a worm and it was shingles anyway, Calamine lotion helped at the time.

Hi Lucy...... I do that your feeling better soon :-D :-D :-D

Take care
kerry xxxxxxx

I had it when i was 17, couldnt believe it!! I had what looked like a bite on the back of my leg, i scratched it n it turned into  a big rash so i went to the docs n he told me to take 2 weeks off work cos i had shingles!! It didnt hurt much at all, just a bit itchy!

Lucy, did it turn out to be shingles in the end?
:)

I didn't go to the docs in the end, I really have had enough of them re my pregnancy and my back that I will only go if I thought I might be dying ! :)

I still get the one under my arm pit flaring up but the body ones seem to be ok now.

Just wish I could have a few weeks without feeling cr*ppy to telll you the truth but the consultant I am seeing about my back said it might all be down to your age and wear and tear ! Blimey only 38 and feeling 90 alot of the time !

I used to be so fit and healthy but since I was pregnant I have felt so cr*p :(

I am just going rotten :rolleyes:

Lucy
xx

I know what you mean about wear and tear. My doc told me today I've got arthritis in my knees and my hands. :(

Thats the trouble when you go to the Docs they hardly ever give you good news :rolleyes: Poor you. So what are they going to do ?

I have a friend who suffers terribly and is sometimes in so much pain :(

Lucy
xx

Not certain what type it is - if this recent flare doesn't subside in the next week or so they'll do blood tests and stuff to find out. But at the mo it's ibuprofen for the hands (short term) and glucosamine (long term) for the knees. Flaming nuisance - at the weekend I couldn't carry anything as I couldn't use my thumbs at all. I'm fed up.

Do you take fish-oils ? I swear by them :)

Daisy

Any particular sort of fish oils?

I'm waiting to see if my Ebay bid for 6 months supply of glucosamine (£1.10) is successful ...

:) No - I took cod-liver oil for years, now take EPA Fish-Oil concentrate. I had a problem with my knee for years from my late teens and when I had the children I had constant shoulder problems. Since taking the fish-oils I've had no probs with these at all :)

Daisy

Ahhh I know how you must be feeling :) I often have to give my friend lots of encouragement and just some good old fashioned cheering up as it is such a miserable condition :(

There is a lot of good research going on and new treatments coming up so hopefully they will find out what type and then start to give you some proper help. :)

Big Hugs

Lucy
xx

Oh that's rotten, JG :( You're so young - is it rheumatoid or osteo ?

Daisy