Shingles or Herpes?

[TheBeeStings]

I had chickenpox as a child.
In my twenties I got shingles (diagnosed) in a rash along my breast bone.

In my forties I had another flare up of the shingles rash along my breast bone and was quite ill with it.

I'm now mid fifties &in the past 6 months I've had 3 flare ups of the rash along my breast bone. I haven't been ill with it but just a bit run down. I'm having a very stressful year with bereavement.

Can this still be shingles?
I've read shingles only usually occurs once. It's usually very painful and people feel very ill.

These repeated flare ups don't fit that?

Is there some type of herpes virus it could be?
Or something else?
Should I bother seeing the doctor?

I thought shingles was part of the herpes family. Just found this online, which looks like it is.

Varicella-zoster is part of a group of viruses called herpes viruses. This is the same group that includes the viruses that cause cold sores and genital herpes. As a result, shingles is also known as herpes zoster.

I've had shingles 4 times. That's not your breastbone, it's near your collar bone and it doesn't look like shingles to me.

It looks like shingles.
It might be worth contacting OOH GP service for antivirals which are best started asap and recommended for >50yr olds

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38416279/

Scroll down to the plain English summary

Shingles can occur more than once I'm afraid! Antivirals if caught early enough might help

Have you considered getting the shingles vaccine? I had a smilar experience with recurring shingles and the vaccination fixed it. However I'm in Australia and I don't know if it's available in the UK.

I would see the GP, yes.
Shoulder is definitely a common place for a shingles rash and you can get it multiple times. As a pp said, if you start meds quickly, it can be nipped in the bud so even if too late for this time, you could perhaps have a note on your record that could give a super fast prescription if it occurs again.

@TheBeeStings looks very like shingles
I’ve had it three times.

Get antiviral drugs urgently as I took mine too late ( Covid era doctors closed) a d have had bad. Post herpetic neuralgia.

Deep gnawing pains years after in rash spot.

Op is too young!
insanely it’s only given to much older people (70’s)
The pain is indescribable- should be available to ALL.

Unfortunately all these illnesses look VERY similar at best we’re all on here guessing

OP, might you have scratched yourself? It looks like a wound rather than a rash. It might have a bit of infection to make it really sore. It couldn't be a cut from a combination of tight bra strap and careless fingernail, could it? (I once did similar to myself, which is why I'm asking.)

Thanks all.
It's definitely not a scratch it's got the little fluid filled blisters.

It's interesting several of you have also had it reoccur as online says this is very rare.
I'm concerned that I've had 3 flare ups in 6 months and think I'll try to see the doctor to get it looked into.

I might go to the pharmacist today and see if they can give any medication?

And yes it's on my collar bone!

They look like Herpes blisters to me, and that would fit with feeling run down and them being painless. Might be worth a photo to the GP on Monday to see what they think. I'd be very careful if you're likely to come into contact with any small babies

Looks like shingles to me. I have a small patch on my back that reappears approximately once a year. Sometimes when I’m run down and sometimes when I’m on holiday the sun can trigger it. I first got shingles when I was 24 and I’m now 38 and had it multiple times in that timeframe. I get a prescription for anti virals and take them as soon as I can feel it coming.

I get a recurrent shingles/herpes lesion always in the same place at the top of one buttock. Usually arriving during periods of stress. I think the most frequently I have had a flare up is twice a year and I can go a couple of years without. I have taken antiviral tablets during one flare. They helped a bit. However I can feel the tell-tale tingling before the lesion appears and the doctor has said it is fine to use Zovirax cream on it and ideally to start using as soon as I feel the tingling. That works pretty well. I am thinking about having the shingles vaccine which is licensed for over 50s but I would have to pay for it privately. For me it may be worth it as I now have some other health issues that apparently make it more likely I could get a bigger shingles attack. NHS gives it at age 70 although I think I recently saw something about them starting it from age 60 at some point.

This is correct.
You can get shingles multiple times, usually after illness or during a period of stress.
Antiviral tablets taken asap are important and you can buy topical zovirax over the counter.
The blisters shed live virus which can cause chicken pox in people who are not immune, so be careful about hand washing, don't share towels, keep the rash covered and stay away from immunocompromised people.

@TheBeeStings

I would definitely ask for the Shingrix vaccine (although, yes, it normally is only offered to older patients)

this is a useful site

eta it costs ~£240 per dose if you have to go private (you need 2 doses a few months apart)

Thanks all.
Saw the pharmacist who confirmed it's shingles but couldn't prescribe as it's recurring. She told me to call 111.
I'm waiting for a call back from them.

I've never bothered with antivirals when I've had it before so I'm not sure if I need them? I'm going to see the GP next week though about why it may be reoccurring.