On holiday and think I have shingles - is it vital I see a GP?

[PuppyMonkey]

I’m in Skye at the moment, have had bad pain in my back all week and now a v itchy rash - not able to sleep very well. I nipped to a chemist here today who said he thought it looked like shingles. Yay.

He seemed to think there was no point going to a local GP and to just put calomine lotion on and take painkillers. Don’t really fancy spending hours waiting to see a GP here tbh, but not sure if I should actually be doing just that. We leave Skye tomorrow and then will be travelling home over next two days - so I can try and see GP on Monday / Tuesday if necessary.

WWYD?

Have added pic in case anyone can diagnose alternative problem!

I don't think it's too surprising if sometimes people get shingles on both sides - after all, the virus doesn't know it's only supposed to activate on one side only. Also, when I got shingles I didn't get a lot of oozing/crusting, mostly just a very painful and very angry rash that took ages to disappear.

I saw the practice nurse, who diagnosed shingles straight away. She prescribed antivirals and said they're huge tablets, like horse tablets. But I found I could split them in half, which were a bit easier to swallow.

She also said it was ok to take ibuprofen and paracetamol in staggered doses: a dose of ibuprofen, then two hours later a dose of paracetamol (providing I kept within the dosage schedule for each 24 hour period). I did find that helpful, because it was very painful, but I only had to wait two hours for another painkiller which probably helped psychologically as well.

Sleeping was difficult, though, as the pain would wake me at some unearthly hours. And I couldn't wear a bra so there was some inelegant wobbling but I really didn't give a damn about that.

OP: Be prepared for feeling exhausted once you get home. It is a nasty virus, and you're probably a bit distracted from the effects at the moment.

Thanks again all, appreciate the comments. The doctor said ibuprofen was one of the best things for shingles - I googled it as PP suggested and can’t really find anything that says omg don’t take it, apart from link posted here.

Feel ok at moment, although quite tired so I’m off to bed. Night all.

I would trust the advice of the GP over the Express OP. Hope you feel better soon.

For anyone interested, I made it home safe and sound hooray - taking the drugs and painkillers. Sure does hurt so far, but bearable. What a relief to be home

Glad you made it home ok.