Clothing nightmare due to shingles - help needed please!

[Squiff70]

I have problem. I have shingles and the rash is under my left breast and on my back. Both of them are exactly where my bra would be and I can't stand wearing a bra at the moment as it's excruciatingly painful in terms of sensitive skin and inflamed nerves. I need breast pads as I'm breastfeeding my 9 week old baby but obviously they don't hold themselves still in just t-shirts and tops. I've tried those strappy tops with a bra support built in but have the same problem with those in regards to pain. I have 3 appointments today and need to be reasonably tidy.

Even my softest, most stretchy bras fastened as loosely as possible are too painful.

Any ideas please?

It's not always an option to do that, unfortunately. Please believe me- I'm not this busy nor this stressed through choice. If I had other options I'd be taking them.

I only came here for clothing advice but I appreciate your concerns 🥲

Do you have a swimsuit you could wear instead of a bra?

I'd already considered the swimming costume option. A swimming costume might work but probably a nightmare to feed in and I think my cozzie has a built in bra support too so again, elasticated. Not just a pain to feed in but if you need the loo and have clothes and shoes on over the top...!

It's definitely an option I'll consider if all else fails.

@Squiff70 - they don't have to be enormous mutant tights. You cut off the soft band of material which goes round your waist so it's like a tube and then get rid of the legs. Higher denier ones do tend to work better!

Whilst you can't pass shingles on to someone, you CAN pass on chickenpox to someone who hasn't had it. Chickenpox in adults is awful, and potentially dangerous to people who are pregnant or with weak immune systems. In addition to the fact you should be rescheduling appointments so you can rest, you need to be considerate of others. A last minute cancellation because you have a potentially contagious illness is no big deal surely

The tights thing could definitely work, otherwise plasters to hold the pads on for the first appt and then see if you can stop in a supermarket, wilko or chemist for micropore tape, it's usually pretty readily available and inexpensive and will be less uncomfortable to remove.

buy some cotton vests and safety-pin the pads to the vest?

I discussed exactly this with my doctor on Friday. If I understood him correctly, you can only pass on the chicken pox virus when you have shingles through contact.

So, I cancelled my appointments with my chiropractor for now as part of my treatment is massage even though it's through my clothes.

Please correct me if I am wrong or being ignorant BUT I don't think it's necessary to cancel the appointment with the vet as they will be handling my rabbit and not me. The blood test could be a problem though. I'll ring the medical centre and ask them if I can still go. My partner could also take our toddler for her flu vaccine this afternoon.

Any ignorance on my part isn't intentional - I know shingles is contagious and I know it can be very dangerous. My confusion is over HOW it is spread other than direct contact.

All my breast pads are washable. I detest the disposable ones. Clothing issue remains...

I might try the tights thing. I'm allergic to micropore tape but plasters might work too.

Would something like this be worth a try, I think amazon sell them as towel bras.

tatatowels.com/

Genius idea, thank you! I'm going to go with this!

@Squiff70 ah ok, I was just told to keep away from potentially vulnerable people when I had it (by my GP). I wasn't given the details about it being through direct contact. I've Googled and your GP was right (mine didn't give me the full information). It's through direct contact with a blister or fluid

My apologies. Not impressed with my GP's lack of clear info and I stayed in for a few days unnecessarily it seems (on the basis that I wouldn't know who was potentially vulnerable or not, Had I had the full information I'd have known I couldn't have passed it on to strangers as the rash was covered by my clothes).

. Hopefully this will be educational for others ! eg things like sharing towels with family members etc need to be avoided but you're not going to pass it on to others by breathing on them it seems.

Apologies again.

I agree with this — I was going to suggest tacking them in loosely (depending on how many times you need to change them, and if you can just change them in the house).

These are very comfortable and stretchy. Would be a bit of pressure than not wearing a bra perhaps but far less than a regular one.
www.marksandspencer.com/flexifit-crop-top-bralet/p/clp60438341?intid=mobile_app_pdp_share

I hope the appointments went well. Genius idea to pin in the pads (but so obvious once it was said!).