Shingles?

[FrothyDonkeyMilk]

About a week ago I had a deep pain in one shoulder - like I had a pinched nerve. And some of the skin around the side of my breast and onto my back was numb. I thought I'd done it sanding and painting.

It was more painful at night and was bad enough to wake me a few times overnight and take me an hour to go back to sleep.

This lasted for 3-4 days before reducing down so the ache is still there but it no longer wakes me.

However, in the last 3-4 days I've developed a rash: a small patch inbetween my breasts and a few spots on my breast and then in a strip under my arm and onto my back. Just above where my bra back strap sits.

It's itchy and sore and prickly - a lot like sun burn and feels sensitive when clothes brush it etc. The patches don't have defined edges but are a little bit pale or yellower to the very centre - though not strictly a blister.

I've also had a headache for a few days, that comes and goes.

Has anyone had shingles and does this sound like it?

This is what mine looked like in case that helps

Thanks @Waasitwroong - mine is similar but the patches are bigger (like little clusters of spots).

Good to hear about the consultation rooms, @astridforty . I think a trip into the local pharmacy tomorrow may be the quickest way to proceed as everyone here seems fairly confident it is/could be shingles.

They should have a private consulting room, but you could take photos to show them if you feel uncomfortable showing them in person.

I had it last year.

It took me a month to get over it. You'll not want to be on holiday when the bad bit hits.

Go see a pharmacist tomorrow and if it is, you might want to rethink that holiday. I couldn't get dressed for several days let alone go on a holiday.

Bugger! Is this not the bad bit, then?

It gets worse?

Er no.

It is excruciating nerve pain. Like your skin is on actual fire.

Well that sounds horrible. Roughly how long in did it 'peak' @AlisonDonut ?

Trying to figure out if I'm likely to hit the worst before I go or risk it hitting when away.

ask for some co codemal for the pain

About a week after I thought I'd been bitten by a spider, I was taken to the hospital where they diagnosed it. I got antivirals and took tramadol for a fortnight to get through it.

For the next fortnight I could walk to the garden, sit down and then walk back.

I lost a good month of really good weather days!

It isn't terrible for everyone. I had it when pregnant, literally had 3 or 4 spots on my side that didn't hurt and only went to the doctors first because I was pregnant and thought I'd been bitten by something. Didn't feel ill at all.

DS is 21 and currently has shingles. From showing me the rash he had the meds in his hand from the pharmacist within half an hour.
He says it's not painful at all. Just feels a bit tired.

Sounds like shingles, my son has just had it. If you take antiviral meds from drs within first 72 hrs its meant to help reduce the severity, which worked with my son. He didnt have many spots but really ached and had a terrible headache.hope u feel better soon .

When I had it I couldn't bear the feel of my clothes coming in contact with the rash. This could be a problem if you are going away and need to wear more than a loose nightie.

My kids caught chickenpox from me and they certainly didn't come into direct contact with me so it must be more contagious than we are often told.

Thanks everyone. Some more hopeful stories.

I think I am 3-4 days into the rash and it seems to be spreading, but slowly.

Fingers crossed it doesn't get too much worse because I currently feel ok to holiday. A bit tired etc but nothing too bad. The rash is sore but no worse than moderate sunburn level of pain.

I will go in the am for some meds and see how I go until Saturday. I just cannot describe how awful I will feel if I ruin this holiday. I need to go as I am the main organiser etc but everyone's ready for it (time off work etc) and so looking forward to it. Bloody hell. What a time for it to happen.

I still do wonder whether it is shingles, I think the pain would feel worse. Do let us know what the pharmacist/GP says. Fingers crossed for you.

Thanks - I'm going to pop into the pharmacy later this morning so will update you all with the verdict

Right I am back. The Boot Pharmacist was lovely and also thinks it is shingles so has given me a weeks worth of aciclovir to take.

The rash is a bit worse this morning - about 50% bigger and feels more like a sore burn than itchy. But hopefully now I have started taking meds, any escalation should be limited.

Now off to check who from our holiday party has had chicken pox...

Glad to hear you now know what you’re dealing with. Good luck with the trip, Hopefully all will be ok.
Chicken pox as an adult is a more serious illness. That being said, although both my DM and then my MIL had shingles, I didn’t catch chicken pox. But a couple of years later I caught it when my toddler had chicken pox,

You can’t catch shingles from someone with chickenpox. It’s the virus resurfacing due to stress or lowered immune system.
Someone could however catch chicken pox from you if they’ve not had it yet!

Sorry ignore my comment, realized that’s probably why you’re checking who has had it 😂

Hope you feel better soon! I had shingles as a child and it was pretty uncomfortable

Thanks @Cheripool

Luckily we have a full house of holiday guests who had pox as a child. Phew.

Stocked up on paracetamol, ibuprofen and cocodamol, to take just in case. Plus calamari lotion.

Fingers crossed I don't need any of it.

I think it varies how severe people have it, I hope you get a mild dose! I found it excruciating, but lidocaine cream (just vagisil over the counter!) was marvellous for the pain on the surface of the skin. The nerve pain was another matter....

I just thought I'd pop back to complete the story

I had a lovely holiday. By the time we left (9th March) the rash was reducing with the meds, and I didn't feel too bad. That day involved little sleep and a long day of travel that seemed to set me back a bit as I woke the next morning with chills, fever and a high heart rate, But I took some paracetamol and it all calmed down - and I felt fine by noon.

Since then I've felt OK. The rash site has been a bit painful and itchy and that continues but nothing that ruined the holiday - which was lovely! Lots of great hillwalking, food and drinkl (after the med course was done).

Thanks everyone who contributed. Especially those who convinced me to get the anti-viral medicine and let me know I could get it quickly and easily from a pharmacist. I have no doubt in my mind that you saved my holiday!

Hi All,

hope everyone is well!!!

I have Shingles for 2 weeks, feeling very unwell
along with extremely low mood. My rash on neck shoulder and back on my right side developed into blisters which is now starting to heal but I am
left with a lot headaches pain and soreness. Apparently full recovery for this is 4 weeks but im
starting to see a lot of people can have nerve pain for months. I also feel very depressed

Anyone have any advice or simular experience

many thanks