Should I make an emergency appointment?

[JLG19]

Hi, I'm hoping for some advice.

I have a 'routine' doctor's appointment for this coming Friday (31st), which has been booked for a few weeks (the first available they had!)

I have a very strange rash on my hands. It started on my fingers but has now spread to my hands, wrists and forearms. When it first appeared a few weeks ago, my skin would be very itchy then I'd get a patch raised bumps with little pits(?) in the top. Then it would crust over, but not heal. I have also developed a more 'normal' looking rash in the same area, just a load of raised spots but not all clustered together.

I'm covered in these strange patches of angry red, raised collection of very small bumps. They itch like crazy, keeping me up/waking my up at night. I get a searing pain in my skin whenever I try to wash my hands or apply any cream, even the contact of my skin against material when I'm just resting my hands/arms is unbearable. They are weeping and I'm pretty sure they're infected.

I'm not using any different products in my personal care or around the home. Nothing is making any difference to the rash, I've tried sudocream, E45, antihistamines, Cansten and OTC steroid cream.

I know it's not an emergency (hence the routine appointment) but I can't stand it any longer, and I'm worried about infection. Should I make an emergency doctors appointment? Obviously I won't be able to be seen until Tuesday.

I also have an intense headache, but I think that's probably pregnancy hormones (not at all relevant but I just want to tell everyone!!)

Please contact your midwife

Yes, emergency appt with GP or midwife

If you’re worried about infection I’d call up 111, and see what they say. As you’re pregnant your immune system is compromised. I got shingles in early pregnancy- it’s stress related and I must have been stressed! Is it a localised rash on one side of your body? You talk about it being very painful, and shingles is bloody painful! Just a thought. Look after yourself!

I think you need to be seen - they would have been v happy to do an emergency appointment ages ago rashes can spread and get infected quickly get seen today

It could be choleostasis
How pregnant are you
Of course it's an emergency
Ring the maternity unit

Make an emergency appointment

Thank you, I've attached some pictures although they don't really do it justice. I currently have pus running down my hand I'm worried the GP will be annoyed I'm wasting their time as it's not really an emergency. I haven't got in touch with a midwife yet, I only found out about the pregnancy late on Friday (hence my excitement - I'm pregnant, dontcha know )

The rash is so much worse on the right side but it is on the left too. Will google shingles, thanks.

Sorry for the drip feed! I'm somewhere between 4 and 8(?) weeks pregnant, only just found out and not at all sure on dates.

My GP surgery isn't open until Tuesday. Would 111 be able to help? I definitely don't think I need to go to urgent care,they would laugh me out the door!

Don't wait till tomorrow even, call which ever number you've been given to get hold of a midwife or an out of hours GP.

Ok so call 111 and ask to be seen

It looks a bit like psoriasis but I don't know anything about skin :(
You poor thing

choleostasis develops later in pregnancy so no need to worry about that. Shingles only develops on one side of the body and it's unusual for it to develop on your hands. Anyway, try to see a GP as soon as possible.

Go to a pharmacist and ring 111

Pompholyx eczema?

Neolara, it does look like that! Thank you.

Going to call 111 now.

I have an emergency appointment with an out of hours GP miles away this afternoon.

Thank you all for helping me to accept that I'm not over-reacting!

Please don’t think that urgent care would think you were time wasting.

I had a bad cold when I was pregnant earlier in the year and it led to an ear infection. Rang 111 early morning, they told me to give it a couple of days even though I said I was in agony and being sick. I waited till the afternoon but then went to urgent care at hospital and I had a really bad infection and was dehydrated. I ended not being able to hear well for 3 weeks but could of been a lot worse if I hadn’t of gone.

They say to go with skin rashes;
www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/urgent-and-emergency-care/when-to-visit-an-urgent-care-centre/

Sometimes you need to see someone rather than talk to someone. Hope you get sorted and congratulations

Good decision to be seen today

Thank you KimberlyS2. Sorry to hear about your ear infection and the poor advice from 111. It's hard for them as they're not medically trained, and even if they are (like when they put you through to a nurse), they can't see you so could easily miss something or misinterpret what you're telling them.

Scabies perhaps? Good luck.

How did you get on?

How are you.

Pregnancy hormones can make things like allergies.and asthma flare. Looks like allergic excema to me

I think Pompholyx Eczema too, I first got mine in pregnancy as it flares when immune system is down. I use elocon ointment which is very effective.

Another vote for pompholyx. It is very sore and itchy, and if it is that can be very prone to getting infected.

Mine flares up terribly when I'm stressed or experiencing heightened emotions for any reason, and also I am more susceptible just before I'm due on, so I could imagine pregnancy could trigger it.

Whatever it is I hope you get it sorted quickly.

Let us know what you found out. x