Anxious, do you think this is a reason to call the docs?

[SparklyMagpie]

Feeling quite anxious at the minute and could do with some opinions on what I should do :(

I have some purple coloured pin prick type rash on the inside of my left arm, my right arm is completely clear.

After noticing they arn't disappearing i've now worked myself up that it could be meningitis :( I have no idea if i've just panicked myself?

I have been getting a few headaches but not major and my body has felt achey but I put that down to my usual aches and pains. Also can feel very tired all of a sudden but I do have a 2 year old so again put some of that down to the usual of looking after a toddler full time.

The rash isn't itchy and doesn't hurt, I just genuinely don't know if it's worth giving the docs a ring? I will have to be assessed over the phone first before the doctor will decide whether I should come in

But is there anything the can do to rule out what they think? I'm worried they'll just tell me to go to A&E

I shall post a pic in the comments

Any help would be appreciated, just worried I'm going mad over nothing :(

My skin goes like that if it's bruised. Have you been wearing anything that was too tight?

Hope the pic works

Not around my arms no, just normal t-shirts, thanks for the comment, I'm just hoping it's something minor that has caused it

It doesn't look major to me but to put your mind at rest, is there a walk in centre near you that you could go to when there's someone one else there to look after your toddler? You'll have to wait to be seen but that could be quicker all told than trying to get a non-urgent GP appointment.

Don't have a walk in centre nearby :( I do live with my mum so if needed I could try an get an app.

Tbh I'm starting to feel a lot better just with a couple of comments. It's just the fact it's only on one arm

Like I said it's not bothering me apart from the obvious mind games. Maybe i'll see how I feel?

I think it's just the fact it doesn't disappear that's bothered me really, feel abit silly. I never get worked up over things, I am feeling a little hormonal so that's probably why

Have you carried a plastic shopping bag on your arm? That can give me a non- blanching rash where the weight breaks tiny blood vessels.

I think if you had meningitis you would feel very very ill not just withe occasional headache.
Have you got a stiff neck, fever, any other symptoms?

oldbirdy now that you mention it I'd did carry quite a heavy shopping bag on that arm yesterday so that could actually be it!

I do feel abit shitty if I'm honest, kind of like Ive got a cold. I do have an achey neck but Ive had the a good few days now an put that down to stress and being curled up in my sons bed when he's woken in the night for a cuddle.

I do feel a little sensitive to light but that's usually when I have a headache. So I'm not sure if I'm just maybe coming down with a cold

Anyway thank you, already had my mind put at rest ( also think the propranolol has kicked in haha) the plastic carrier bag seems like the likely reason :)

We can't diagnose you. I really don't think you have meningitis but maybe go to even a pharmacy and get them to have a look.

No I know I just wanted to know i was just overreacting with my anxiety rearing it's ugly head.

I'll pop over to speak to the chemist.

Thanks!

I was going to say shopping bag too as the same thing has happened to me.

Glad the propranolol is helping

Completely forgot about carrying a heavyish shopping bag round my wrist yesterday, an thanks to mg anxiety making an appearance completely forgot something like that could cause my arm tk bruise. I think that added with me feeling like i'm coming down with something, deep down know it's nothing serious.

Thanks again for the comments

Obviously we can't diagnose over the internet but to maybe put your mind at ease my friend has had meningitis. She said the rash is one of the last things to appear and she was already seriously ill in hospital when it arrived.

Glad you're feeling a bit better. I get health anxious too at times and my mind frequently leaps to the worst thing possible.

LapinR0se thank you :) nothing worse knowing you're working yourself up over something that can have an easy explanation! Glad I posted now

Ozzde thank you, so sorry to hear your friend was so poorly with it :( and hope she recovered well!

I had read it was one of the last symptoms, just panicked when it wasn't disappearing and the not feeling anything over it if that makes sense?

I do feel quite stupid, I think I'm just run down causing me to feel so crappy and forgetful.

Really appreciate the advice

You've got health anxiety, there's not much wrong with your arm

I know HA sucks though so try and focus on sorting that out because it'll only return again with another ailment

She did thanks, was years ago and she's fit and healthy.

In all honesty I had a slight freak attack for 5 minutes when I did the same with a shopping bag until I realised

I don't tend to suffer from health anxiety, I have suffered with anxiety after a traumatic experience in the past, but don't really suffer with it often now. Like i've said I think a mixture of feeling run down, stressed and possibly a cold coming on and lack of sleep etc, my brain forgot to remind me that it could be easily explained.

Never suffered with health anxiety before so I don't worry about it popping up. I guess I knew I was being silly hense me posting, I feel completely fine now ( apart from feeling crappy)

Ozzde I'm so glad to hear that :D and so glad she was seen to quickly!

Haha I honestly didn't even consider a carrier bag but as soon as it was mentioned it clicked wouldn't have thought it would cause pin prick bruises but it definitely makes sense

I'll put this to bed as I'm definitely a little all over the place right now ha but very greatful for MN :)

SparklyMagpie ds has a tendency for rashes which don't fade under glass. What the doctors have told us is that the rash is almost always one of the last things to appear, so if there are no ill signs then it pretty definitely isn't. Check the flexibility of your neck (kiss your knee) and if there's no difficulty doing that and you feel fine, then don't worry.

If this helps...

I was admitted to hospital with suspected meningitis last year (in the end it was something else less serious)

My symptoms included fitting, photophobia, stiff neck, large none blanching rash and a feeling of massive overwhelming exhaustion all of which happened overnight. I was kept in for 6 days and discharged with diagnosis of "unspecified virus"

If you're really worried get it checked but if you otherwise feel well chances are its either an allergy or heavy shopping bags. Hope rash goes down soon :)