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Original poster

Could this be Shingles (pic)?

25 replies

MintyCedric · 15/10/2023 21:49

It’s just on my right shoulder. Flared up a few days ago and seems to be getting worse, definitely blistery looking but they don’t seem to be scabbing over.

More itchy than anything although the back of my shoulder has been feeling quite tender since yesterday and there’s a gland up at the base of my neck.

I don’t feel terrible, a bit meh and I’m definitely run down after a really busy couple of months and working about 50-55 hours a week.

Posting here for traffic as I’m not sure whether it’s worth battling to try and get a GP appt tomorrow and will have to let work know early if I do.

Could this be Shingles (pic)?
Could this be Shingles (pic)?
OP posts:
Honeyroar · 15/10/2023 21:50

my husband currently has shingles and they do look like that, but with yellow centres.

caerdydd12 · 15/10/2023 21:50

Looks more like my eczema does when it flares up rather than shingles. When I had shingles they were in clusters and rather than itchy it was painful. But anything new like this always get a GP appointment just in case!

DustyLee123 · 15/10/2023 21:54

Doesn’t look like the shingles I’ve seen. The spots were more obvious, whereas yours looks like one big rash.

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JanglingJack · 15/10/2023 21:56

Shingles that I've seen look more spotty. I think it needs looking at though. GP call in the morning. Good luck!

warriorofhopelessness · 15/10/2023 21:58

Yep it could be. I’d get to a doctor tomorrow to check and see if you can get some anti virals.

DramaAlpaca · 15/10/2023 22:05

I doesn't look too much like shingles but if it is you need antivirals and they need to be started as soon as possible after the rash appears. Try to see your doctor tomorrow.

Original poster
MintyCedric · 15/10/2023 22:11

Thanks all…my gut feeling is probably not shingles too, but equally on the one occasion I’ve had it before it was very mild and got AVs immediately (it was going round the nursery I worked at so caught it very early).

Might leave the GP until Tuesday as Mondays are ridiculous for me and we have an extra staff member in Tuesday so easier to pop out if I need to.

OP posts:
Original poster
MintyCedric · 15/10/2023 22:12

I did wonder about that as I have a recurring patch of excema elsewhere but I’ve tried the cream I have for that on it and if anything it makes it worse.

OP posts:
Original poster
MintyCedric · 15/10/2023 22:13

Sorry…@caerdydd12 meant wondered about excema

OP posts:
VineRipened · 15/10/2023 22:16

Cellulitis?

Anothernamechange3 · 15/10/2023 22:19

I thought you didn’t ‘catch’ shingles. Isn’t it dormant chicken pox that can come out when you’re stressed/run down etc?

Anothernamechange3 · 15/10/2023 22:20

ah, is it contagious when the blisters are full? I seem to remember that now.

MarthanotMarfa · 15/10/2023 22:26

I’m a GP and I’d consider Pityriasis Rosea. If it is it will make you feel as you describe and will spread over 12 weeks in branches from a mother patch. Often overlooked by GPs (but my own son had it so it is fresh in my mind!) and mixed up with other skin conditions. Mention it at your appointment.

mrsbyers · 15/10/2023 22:27

Please keep away from pregnant colleagues and family etc until you are sure it’s not shingles

gamerchick · 15/10/2023 22:28

Anothernamechange3 · 15/10/2023 22:19

I thought you didn’t ‘catch’ shingles. Isn’t it dormant chicken pox that can come out when you’re stressed/run down etc?

You can't catch shingles. I was assuming the OP was talking about something else she caught.

Original poster
MintyCedric · 15/10/2023 22:30

I meant ‘caught’ as in recognised what it was earlier than I might have had other people not had it around me.

@mrsbyers no pregnant colleagues or family and it’s on my shoulder so covered anyway.

@MarthanotMarfa that’s really helpful, thanks!

OP posts:
Candymay · 15/10/2023 22:37

Shingles is not contagious
it’s a reactivation of the herpes zoster virus that everyone who has had chickenpox has in their body
it is dangerous for a pregnant woman who has not had chickenpox to be exposed to the herpes zoster virus because if she has no immunity she could catch chickenpox which is dangerous for the unborn baby but it is not dangerous for anyone else to be around someone with shingles. You cannot catch it.
Shingles is not contagious, it cannot go round nurseries, workplaces etc.

sorry to digress Op. your rash does not look like shingles and it doesn’t sound like you have the nerve pain caused by shingles.

TheCatterall · 15/10/2023 23:49

I get shingles approximately every 4-6 weeks due to stress and a knackered immune system.

this looks more like hives
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hives/

have you had chickenpox? Shingles is the same spots/blisters type of thing.

Whilst the shingles are not contagious and you can’t give someone shingles - people who have not had chickenpox before could catch chickenpox from you. So I stay away from folks especially if they have a weakened immune system/pregnant etc.

Raised, patchy rash from hives, shown on white skin. Some patches are round with a darker outline and pale pink centre.

Hives

Find out about hives (also called urticaria), which is a raised, itchy rash that's usually caused by a reaction to things like food, pollen, insect bites or chemicals.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hives/

novocaine4thesoul · 16/10/2023 00:03

My daughter has had shingles recently, and they appeared on her shoulder and back. They were definitely more a series of multiple single dark red spots, at first then blisters in a random rash type formation and they hurt. It has taken ages for them to go, and they have scarred. Defo go the docs. She was not particularly ill with them. x

canyousmelltoast · 16/10/2023 00:47

TheCatterall · 15/10/2023 23:49

I get shingles approximately every 4-6 weeks due to stress and a knackered immune system.

this looks more like hives
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hives/

have you had chickenpox? Shingles is the same spots/blisters type of thing.

Whilst the shingles are not contagious and you can’t give someone shingles - people who have not had chickenpox before could catch chickenpox from you. So I stay away from folks especially if they have a weakened immune system/pregnant etc.

Every 4-6 weeks? Something's not ringing true there. Confirmed cases that often? You must be under the care of a specialist. More detail needed.

TheCatterall · 16/10/2023 01:05

@canyousmelltoast what do you want pictures of my scared bum from all the cases? I take aciclovir 800mg a lot. A mild dose each week to keep it at bay if I’m having a stressful time. A slightly higher dose for a bad flare up. I moderate my life and social commitments so I don’t have it too often.

It started when my youngest tried to hang himself at 10 (now 23), a violent ex and lots of court cases against him costing me thousands, years of hell with youngest MH and CAMHS being absolutely shite, school refusal, home ed whilst being self employed/full time uni student and just when he calmed down my eldest had a psychotic break and now has treatment resistant paranoid schizophrenia (6 years and counting) that I care for and constantly chasing all the officials that are supposed to help us.

I have shingles, tmj, hair loss, neuralgia and few other issues when run down, ill or stressed. I’ve never pushed it past having bloods and tests done at GPS and actually never thought of a specialist. The GPS don’t seem to push it but then again I had to really push them to get peri menopause medication. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I just have enough going on and it feels like this is manageable and chasing yet more consultants for other stuff is just not on my radar yet. The dissolvable tablets are grim but clear it up fast. The first time was awful and lasted weeks and since then they have been mini cases that the tablets seem to speed up recovery immensely. Im told I can’t have the jab yet.

I think I’ve just been at ‘it is what it is’. I don’t bother telling the gp every time any more as they weren’t interested. I know I have the tingle, then the blisters. The drugs make it go away. I have a repeat no questions asked prescription.

but - I might push it with them. Thank you for the nudge. I do take it for granted too much.

canyousmelltoast · 16/10/2023 02:19

TheCatterall · 16/10/2023 01:05

@canyousmelltoast what do you want pictures of my scared bum from all the cases? I take aciclovir 800mg a lot. A mild dose each week to keep it at bay if I’m having a stressful time. A slightly higher dose for a bad flare up. I moderate my life and social commitments so I don’t have it too often.

It started when my youngest tried to hang himself at 10 (now 23), a violent ex and lots of court cases against him costing me thousands, years of hell with youngest MH and CAMHS being absolutely shite, school refusal, home ed whilst being self employed/full time uni student and just when he calmed down my eldest had a psychotic break and now has treatment resistant paranoid schizophrenia (6 years and counting) that I care for and constantly chasing all the officials that are supposed to help us.

I have shingles, tmj, hair loss, neuralgia and few other issues when run down, ill or stressed. I’ve never pushed it past having bloods and tests done at GPS and actually never thought of a specialist. The GPS don’t seem to push it but then again I had to really push them to get peri menopause medication. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I just have enough going on and it feels like this is manageable and chasing yet more consultants for other stuff is just not on my radar yet. The dissolvable tablets are grim but clear it up fast. The first time was awful and lasted weeks and since then they have been mini cases that the tablets seem to speed up recovery immensely. Im told I can’t have the jab yet.

I think I’ve just been at ‘it is what it is’. I don’t bother telling the gp every time any more as they weren’t interested. I know I have the tingle, then the blisters. The drugs make it go away. I have a repeat no questions asked prescription.

but - I might push it with them. Thank you for the nudge. I do take it for granted too much.

Clearly, no. What I'd hope for you is to have this fully investigated no matter how hard you have to fight for it, because you can't be expected to live like that.

Candymay · 16/10/2023 03:54

TheCatterall · 16/10/2023 01:05

@canyousmelltoast what do you want pictures of my scared bum from all the cases? I take aciclovir 800mg a lot. A mild dose each week to keep it at bay if I’m having a stressful time. A slightly higher dose for a bad flare up. I moderate my life and social commitments so I don’t have it too often.

It started when my youngest tried to hang himself at 10 (now 23), a violent ex and lots of court cases against him costing me thousands, years of hell with youngest MH and CAMHS being absolutely shite, school refusal, home ed whilst being self employed/full time uni student and just when he calmed down my eldest had a psychotic break and now has treatment resistant paranoid schizophrenia (6 years and counting) that I care for and constantly chasing all the officials that are supposed to help us.

I have shingles, tmj, hair loss, neuralgia and few other issues when run down, ill or stressed. I’ve never pushed it past having bloods and tests done at GPS and actually never thought of a specialist. The GPS don’t seem to push it but then again I had to really push them to get peri menopause medication. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I just have enough going on and it feels like this is manageable and chasing yet more consultants for other stuff is just not on my radar yet. The dissolvable tablets are grim but clear it up fast. The first time was awful and lasted weeks and since then they have been mini cases that the tablets seem to speed up recovery immensely. Im told I can’t have the jab yet.

I think I’ve just been at ‘it is what it is’. I don’t bother telling the gp every time any more as they weren’t interested. I know I have the tingle, then the blisters. The drugs make it go away. I have a repeat no questions asked prescription.

but - I might push it with them. Thank you for the nudge. I do take it for granted too much.

You’re describing a different type of the herpes virus

Original poster
MintyCedric · 16/10/2023 14:38

Sent pics to GP today and just had a phone consultation…verdict is shingles.

Touch wood doesn’t seem too bad so rest of the day off and back to work tomorrow.

OP posts:
Honeyroar · 17/10/2023 11:45

Fingers crossed for you. My husband’s has been moderate (still not fun!) with not too many weepy bits.

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