Does this look /sound like shingles? Something else?

[Kenworthington]

Tues night I woke up suddenly in the night feeling freezing, full on teeth chattering the lot and all aching. Eventually had to get up, returned to bed feeling all day like I had the flu. Exhausted, aching all over, pouring with sweat one minute then full chills the next. No appetite. Took plenty of paracetamol/ibuprofen the. Knocked myself out over night with night nurse. Then last night sss woken up at 4am with the worst pain in front of foot (where shin joins foot), all the way up to my groin on one said only. A couple hours later I got up and notice a rash on that foot, and in the other side of foot is hot red and swollen.i sent the photos to my nurse friend who said it looked like when she had shingles. She took me to the doctor but it was actually a duty nurse who didn’t know them got a doctor in to look at it. They’ve given me flucloxacillin and have to go back again tomorrow pm. I think they’re missing something and now the red hot part has spread round the back to almost join up with the rash. I’ll add photos and you can tell me what you think because I think it’s weird that the ill feeling wa before the rash. I feel better in myself today apart from I can’t bend my foot and all that leg is in pain

Could it be cellulitis? That doesn’t normally cause a rash but my leg looked almost the same when I had it. Flucloxacillin was the treatment - don’t stray too far from the loo, it gave me the worst diarrhoea ever!

Yes, that absolutely could be shingles. If you see your GP they will prescribe anti-virals, which should help to reduce the amount of time it hangs around for.

I’ve got flucloxacillin for the apparent cellulitis. It’s weird that it’s come from nowhere and I was ill first. I think my friend thought it was a shingles rash which has turned into cellulitis. But the doctor seemed puzzled yet also not really interested. I should add it’s not itchy, it just hurts and is very hot. I’ve also started a rash at the top of same leg now near my groin, but that’s just a red patch rather than lumpy.

Waiting for call back from out of hours. Feeling really dreadful again now 😩

Shingles will only appear on one side of your body, so if there's nothing on the other side then it's a definite sign. My rash/sores look very like midgy bites & can be very itchy (I've had shingles a few times) I've never had the kind of severity you're experiencing though, just mild irritation if anything. It must be awful so do get medical help asap

Oh, forgot to add do you know if you've been in contact with anyone with chicken pox within the last few weeks?

How is the feeling in your leg? Is it very painful? And have you had a recent minor injury on the that leg? (A knock or a fall.)

Do you have a temperature but feel cold and shivery?
It does look like cellulitis that is spreading up the leg, do you have an pain in the groin as well?
Definitely get seen by the out of hours or an urgent care centre if you have one, if not maybe think about a&e if you are really feeling unwell and the redness is spreading.
Cellulitis can get infected and needs to be treated quickly with higher doses of the flucloxacillin that only the hospital can give.

Ah thank you for the messages I’ve gone back to bed I’m in agony with it. Yes hot and cold taking turns, he’s to pain in groin, yes only on pne side. Doctor earlier sis they didn’t know what it was but looked maybe like cellulitis. I feel much worse than this afternoon. I’ve called 111 as the doctor told me to if it spread but that was 2 hours ago and still not heard. I feel bad for my friend who will need to take me as dh is away til next weds (typical) at least dc are just about old enough to fend for themselves (14 and 16) but still. I fell really awful and the pain is excruciating

Oh also no knocks or falls. The weirdest thing is that I felt the most ill yesterday BEFORE the rash/redness. Can not move my foot now

I don’t think I’ve been in contact with anyone with chicken pox but I guess you could pick up something like that anywhere o suppose

Hmmm, if this was one of your kids, what would you do? You'd take them to A and E. I really think you should go.

I had shingles but it was never hot or swollen and although I felt poorly I wouldn't have said it was flu like.

Hope you feel better soon.

Don’t like to make a fuss but also crucially I don’t want to sit in a&e for 6 hours. If I go via the on call doctors they will book me a place. Maybe I should ring 111 back

Looks like shingles. DH had it earlier this year and he was in agony. He now has excruciating long-term nerve pain, as he didn't go to the doctor immediately. I think the key is to get on the anti-vitals ASAP, to minimize the risk of post herpetic nerve pain, which I believe can last for up to a year, depending on age. Funnily enough, I had cellulitis, from multiple insect bites and it didn't look like that. I hope you get sorted soon.

Yes call them and repeat your concerns. It sounds like you know in your gut there's something troubling about this, and sometimes you can't be too careful, even if it does mean a long wait in A&E. I realise it's awkward having to ask your friend, but it's better to be on the safe side and hopefully your friend will want to help put your mind at rest.

When I had shingles it didn’t look like that.

@WildIrishRose1 I got Antivirals in time and still ended up with post herpatic neuralgia. Acupuncture sorted it out a treat, find a qualified therapist for him and get it sorted

Thanks you for the nudge am going in now

That looks more like cellulitis to me. I've had shingles many times and it doesn't usually look like that, more scabby and flakey. If you are feeing much worse and it has spread, I would get yourself to A&E. My mum was in hospital a couple of times with cellulitis and you'll need IV antibiotics. If it is shingles, as you suspect, they will get you on antivirals. I wouldn't wait if it were me.

Sorry, cross posted. I'm pleased to hear you are going in.

I have been admitted with severe infection for Iv antibiotics. Thanks for the push

Glad you got sorted, Kenworth. Thanks sforsh , will definitely try that.

Glad you're sorted, hope you feel better soon.

So happy you got help quickly. Get well soon

Thank you for let's us know you are ok and being treated, hopefully you'll bounce back quickly.

I didn't want to worry you too much in my earlier post but I did expect them to keep you in as it's what happened to my DP last year.
He got to the point of going into septic shock because of how quickly the infection spread and was in for 5 days.

Fingers crossed it won't be as long a stay for you x