Is this shingles?

[Vanillacronut]

I know it’s bad quality but I don’t have anyone to help take a photo. I have had reoccurring eye infections the last two weeks and this appeared yesterday on my thigh (excuse the awful stretch marks..from having three children 🤷‍♀️), but it started on my bottom and has worked it’s way round to my thigh, it’s painful to touch, but not excruciatingly so. I have had a cold, I feel run down, I’m a bit feverish and most of my body is feeling prickly when touched (ie my hair). I don’t think it’s blistered enough for shingles but I think it could perhaps be.

It doesn't look 'scabby' enough for shingles to me. When DD had it I initially thought it was bites as it was sort of a cluster of scabs/blisters.

Hopefully someone more knowledge is along soon. Hope you feel better soon whatever it is

If its on one side only then it could be shingles

Thank you, it’s not blistery, just raised and bumpy and angry! Thank you for your input.

Yes, just on one side. I have been feeling crappy this week and have been goi by to work out of guilt but now I’m wondering if I should work from home to avoid potentially spreading anything. Hard to know. The guilt kicks in when I know I’m supposed to be working at the office.

Maybe contact your GP in case you need anti virals. Shingles can spread chicken pox but only with direct contact with fluid from shingles blisters. If it can be covered its OK but if you're feeling crappy then maybe best to stay home anyway

It could be shingles. It can cluster together to create a single large raised area. Can you call 111 for advice?

Thank you all. I have submitted an online request for a consultation with the doctor tomorrow and send some photos over. Hopefully it can be done by FaceTime or the equivalent.

Hm, I think perhaps the blisters are starting to form now…

It looks like shingles to me. The blisters on one side are the giveaway. The GP will give you anti-virals which will halt it in its tracks but the blisters will scab over and drop off like chicken pox scabs. You could have new crops of blisters form along the line of the nerve but with the anti-virals these won't be as bad. Keep up with paracetamol for your fever and rest as much as you can. Hope you feel better very soon.

Looks like it now, yes.

When I had it, I had lots of shooting pains like static shocks. Before the white blisters had really formed. Have you had anything like that?

I've just had it. Looks like shingles to me I had it under my arm and boob 🥴.

Get anti virals quickly from GP and take it all as fast as you can!

Looks like my shingles did. Hope you feel better soon.

Ergh. Thanks everyone. Will call in the morning to try and get a faster appointment. The NHS website says I can still go out if I feel well enough as long as nothing is oozing or exposed. My thing won’t be exposed so does that mean I can go? I have something really big planned ok Saturday and so don’t want to miss it. Agh.

It does look like it now the blisters are coming. Oh no. Get well soon. I get shingles frequently but very small patch compared to you. Feel well soon

I've had it under my boobs. Not a nice place to get it (if there is a 'nice' place). Get well soon.

Yep. You don’t need to isolate for shingles. You don’t want anyone touching the liquid inside the blisters because that can spread the virus (chickenpox). But if it’s covered it’s not particularly contagious.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/shingles/
Nhs recommends avoiding pregnant women who’ve never had chicken pox, babies under 1 month (unless it’s your own baby) and people with a severely weakened immune system (like someone having chemo)

Thanks for all of the above advice. The doctor confirmed shingles. So far it’s painful but not unbearable at all, let’s see what happens!

Hope you're better soon, Vanilla. When DD had it she wasn't too poorly at first but then was tired and out of sorts for ages after so make sure you take care of yourself.

I got given anti vitals when I had it, they really helped speed things up and made it not as bad from what i can make out as other people I spoke to warned me it could be awful!

I got the anti virals. I hope they are working/start to work soon. Does the rash keep spreading for a while? It’s going a horrible purple shade now and is sooooo painful! I guess I just have to ride it out with paracetamol.

Will all of the area that is red/purple blister? I’m dreading it!

Shingles is part of the herpes family , and I'm sure a few medications are not recommended. Best you check before taking anything .

Thank you, I will take a look.

Hi im just about at the end of a horrific bout of shingles. Mine spread for about a week but im immune suppressed. You can take paracetamol and codine, but tbh they wont touch it. You need either gabapentin or amytriptiline as they are nerve pain killers and pain is coming from your nerves.Only a gp can prescribe them, but i would highly recommend as i was in the worst pain i had ever been in my life. I found soaking in a warm bath with porridge helps, you can buy the sachets from amazon( aveeno does them)or just put some oats in the foot of a pair of old tights and hang them from hot tap. You can put calamine lotion on but i found it didnt help. Good luck to you, its bloody miserable.