?Shingles + easter weekend = ?

[mummynumber2]

OK I've diagnosed myself with shingles. (Although I'm not 100% sure)But if it were, or possibly chicken pox, do I need to see a Dr? Is there anything that they could actually give me anyway? It's going to be a real hastle this weekend. Can I wait until Tuesday?

Go to the emergency docs. They can give you an anti-viral which helps a lot. You'll still be poorly and sore, but the long term pain could be greatly reduced. hth.

it's called acyclovir (not sure of spelling!) pronounced 'a sic lover', wiht a long 'i'. lol!

Thanks. The out of hours service is terrible around here and will have to wait for hours! But might be a good idea to get this stuff though. Although the reason I'm not sure about whether it's shingles is that I don't actually have a lot of pain. Hurts a bit if I touch the spots but isn't that bad.

Shingles isn't always very painful. i've had it twice, once not too bad, I was off work for 10 days and little long term pain. The second time was worse and far more "uncomfortable"! Can you take some ibuprofen in the meantime? Helps with the fever, yuckiness and inflamation if you are allowed it. There are always anti-histamines, but I don't know if they are much good for shingles or if they interact with acyclovir. NHS 24 will tell you if you're phoning them for out of hours anyway. I'd def recommend the acyclovir. Hope you get on okay.

You can normally tell if it is shingles compared with just another rash if it is on either your right or the left side of your body it is rarely on both sides. I had a skin infection which felt very similar. But it is defiantly worth getting it checked because if it is shingles and you catch it in time Acyclovir can shorten it dramatically

www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/40000398
www.anti-herpes.com/zovirax.html

Thanks for the links Kaz. I'm terrified by the pictures! Assuming that's a worst case scenario!

It does sound like it's shingles. Have a large spot on the left of my stomach (but that's been there for a few days) and more going up onto by back and some on top of left thigh, then one on my left arm. But I have a very painfull and swolen gland on the right side.

OK. Ringing out of hours doctors! Bugger.

They are worse than I have seen as a nurse yep most people find that it is the nerve pain that is the worse saying that my Gran had it years back and was only unwell and in pain for a short time but I have a friend in her 70's who is suffering a lot with the pain and nothing seems to touch it (she is on prescription meds)

I don't really have a lot of pain but feel really rough. It is odd though as I've been around kids with chicken pox and as I understand it you can't get shingles from chicken pox. Is that true? I've definatly had chicken pox though so can't be that.

No you cannot catch shingles you have to have the virus inside your body and when your immunity its sometimes it rears it's ugly head.

Sadly having chicken pox previously does not guarantee not you getting it again although normally it is not as bad the second time round.

It is only wet or weeping spots are infectious if you have shingles

Mummynumber2

I have (self diagnosed) shingles as well. I have had it twice before, (diagnosed) so I am pretty confident.

I felt absolute crap for a day or so, but feel better now My arm is quite sore/numb, which never happened before.

Didn't take anything this time, but previously I have taken loads of vitamin C/B

Get well soon!!

It is important to get the anti-viral as soon as possible though. It only works if you start taking it within a certain time (I think it is within 48 hours of the rash appearing).

Just checked in the online BNF it says:

In herpes zoster (shingles) systemic antiviral treatment can reduce the severity and duration of pain, reduce complications, and reduce viral shedding. Treatment with the antiviral should be started within 72 hours of the onset of rash and is usually continued for 7?10 days. Immunocompromised patients at high risk of disseminated or severe infection should be treated with a parenteral antiviral drug.

Thanks for your replies everyone. Managed to see a dr much more easily than I thought. And it turns out not to be shilgles or chinckn pox at all. They don't seem to know what it is but have antibiotic and blood tests next week.

Hope you're feeling better soon purpleduck.