Shingles / herpes zoster or simplex rash

[LovelyBath77]

I have had shingles rash diagnosed by the GP in the summer, but now it has come back on the other side. Although the nurse i saw yesterday thing it looks like shingles, she says in 99.99% of cases it's only on one side..so she's taken a swab of it and is testing it also for herpes simplex (which she told me wasn't the STD but the cold sore virus).

I'm a bit confused, there is a lot of pain going through my arms and back and the rash runs along a nerve (GP even told me which nerves) so don't think its the other type. Anyone any experience with these rashes? Thanks.

I had shingles a couple of years ago and the pain you describe is exactly how it felt for me. The Dr told me that the virus will be located at some point along your spine (mine was about the middle of my back) and if it came back it would always come back in the same place. Mine was on my right hand side front and back. I think it is unusual for it to come out on the other side but it does sound like shingles that you have to me.

I think so as well. Not sure why they sent me to the nurse this time not the doc. Anyway i suppose this test they have done will tell us. Hopefully it isn't just for the other type but for shingles (zoster) as well, I can check when I see them next. I thought about writing a note to the GP to check it was also testing shingles but wasn't sure if that was good idea or not.