Shingles? (Posting for traffic)

[Peaspleaselouise]

I've had pain in my side, like kidney pain, for the last 5 days or so. In fact, I thought I might have a kidney infection.

It's been like a sharp pain, almost muscular, but even when I'm completely still.

Today this weird patch of skin has appeared on my lower spine and I have twinges on the same side as previously.

Does this look like shingles?! The flesh underneath is a bit tender too. My husband says it looks like a graze but I've not done anything to it from memory.

I've had a few attacks of shingles , the rash itself was more like blister spots. One attack looked like a cluster of insect bites though a 1000x more painful.
They follow the line of a nerve , round the abdomen is common.
Mine has been on my neck, my thigh, ,my side (ribs), my armpit and the side of my face .

It is pain that you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy !

Ok well that sounds good for me. Rubbish for you though - you poor thing. Sounds awful

That is exactly how mine started, ribs on left hand. It felt like it'd been hit in the ribs and had brushing then the rash came out, small at first then got bigger. It went from my ribs to around my side towards my spine, entirely on my left. It doesn't cross the middle. I also felt rubbish and tired. When the rash was fully out, I started to feel a bit better.
Please stay indoors if confirmed as shingles.

*bruising

It doesn’t look like mine did, though mine was on my back so didn’t see it till it was blistered. No need to stay in if the area is covered and you feel up to going out.

I think it could be. I had it recently and your description sounds similar . You are fine to go out but keep it covered. Get to docs to get some anti-virals I think you need them within 72 hours of the wash coming out.

Mine was more of a line of blistered skin. And was more pronounced than that in that time scale you mention. Hope you feel better.

Could well be the start, I would get to your GP toute suite as you need to start the antivirals within 72 hours. I'm a fortnight into my bout and it's horrible, started like you as a muscular pain. The rash got bigger quickly and I was totally exhausted. Hope it's not for your sake! Although I do feel quite a lot better now thankfully.

Thank you for all your replies and I'm sorry to hear about you all suffering. I feel ok in myself (though felt abnormally cold the last two days - no fever though).

But the left hand side of my lower back hurts so much on and off. Twingey pain. Never had anything like it before.

I know that could be due to one of a multitude of causes though.

Did anyone's rash start off looking like mine before it went blistery?

Sort of like yours, I didn't have a fever either. Honestly just go the the GP asap.