Shingles????

Trish36 · #1 March 23rd, 2010, 06:55 AM

Someone at work mentioned that I could have shingles on my face...ACK!
I hope not, but have any of you had shingles in the past??? What did it start out looking like? right now my rash is a bit pimply looking and red and in one area it's kind of running together. Feels kind of dry and raised.
Now I'm starting to freak out, cause if that's it antibiotics arent' going to help.

srprisebean3 · #2 March 23rd, 2010, 07:03 AM

Ive never had them, nor have i actually seen anyone with them so i'm no help. Just google "shingles" and click on the images tab and you'll have plenty to compare it too.

GL!

Whatever it is i hop it clears up fast!

Celine · #3 March 23rd, 2010, 07:18 AM

I hope it's not shingles. Shingles is a virus that also causes chicken pox. Have you had chicken pox? My MIL had shingles and it is not bad but if you develop chicken pox than there may be some danger to baby. Is you rash itchy and blotchy? You didn't mention anything about itchy. Shingles are very itchy. So hopefully it's just a rash. But definitely go get it checked out.

Could it be poison ivy? Have you been gardening recently?

*~*SnowHibiscus*~* · #4 March 23rd, 2010, 07:19 AM

Google images didn't look anything like my shingles.

They are generally on your upper torso. Mine looked more like bug bites and were just under my bra strap on my back. I didn't take long for the rash to clear but the itching lasted for weeks.

Trish36 · #5 March 23rd, 2010, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Celine

I hope it's not shingles. Shingles is a virus that also causes chicken pox. Have you had chicken pox? My MIL had shingles and it is not bad but if you develop chicken pox than there may be some danger to baby. Is you rash itchy and blotchy? You didn't mention anything about itchy. Shingles are very itchy. So hopefully it's just a rash. But definitely go get it checked out.

Could it be poison ivy? Have you been gardening recently?

Yes it is very itchy and kind of blotchy. No on the poison ivy or gardeing. It just appeared all of a sudden out of nowhere. And yes I've had the chicken pox as a child.
Some of the google images look pretty scary!!

noworries · #6 March 23rd, 2010, 07:59 AM

From the way you are describing it it sounds like it could be shingles but most of the time it appears on your torso so I don't know. I would think that the doctor would have checked to see if it was shingles.

MamaAnna · #7 March 23rd, 2010, 08:12 AM

I'd definitely talk to a doctor. My uncle gets shingles every time he's exposed to chicken pox and it's always on his back and sides, never his face.

midnight_starr · #8 March 23rd, 2010, 08:49 AM

Go to the doctor for sure.. If its shingles then that is one thing you have to watch while pregnant... My DH has gotten shingles before and it was pretty painful, but he has always gotten it on his back or stomach... Also I know around here staph infections are going around and those usually start off looking like a pimple and can be itchy and bothersome...

Trish36 · #9 March 23rd, 2010, 08:52 AM

I'm gonna wait and see if it gets better in a day or two with the antibiotics. If not (or if it starts to hurt or spread) I'll go to a different doctor and ask specifically if it could be shingles.

*~*SnowHibiscus*~* · #10 March 23rd, 2010, 09:11 AM

Def keep an eye on it. It can cause permanent damage because it lives in your nerves. It's the chicken pox virus that buries itself in your nerves and reactivates as shingles.

Valtrex is what they prescribe for it. I wish I had finished my bottle because sometimes I have sharp stinging pain where my rash was. It's not bad but still...sucks to know that its permanent.

KatieHeitman · #11 March 23rd, 2010, 11:34 AM

Sounds like it could be shingles to me. I've had shingles before and it was like a bunch of pimples in a small area it was very red and blotchy and extremely itchy and painful. It was raised a little too. I didn't get it treated with anything so it took forever to go away.

Jeanie915 · #12 March 23rd, 2010, 11:37 AM

I have had shingles--You would know if that is what it is. The virus is actually imbedded in your nerves underneath where the rash is. I had them come up on my inner thigh--the nerve endings were so tender that I couldnt even lay a sheet across that part of my leg. Also, you would have severe fatigue and run a low grade fever. The symptoms for shingles are pretty textbook. But nonetheless, your nerves under your rash would be severely tender and ache like a muscle cramp from heck. The rash was the last symptom for me. They came up after the fatigue, fever and tenderness of the nerves. Just DON'T SCRATCH. It is contagious for anybody that comes in contact of your rash.

I hope this helps!

TeresaSuperMama · #13 March 23rd, 2010, 12:09 PM

I have no idea what shingles looks like, but I certainly hope that is not what is going on.

*~*SnowHibiscus*~* · #14 March 23rd, 2010, 12:21 PM

I didn't have fatigue or a fever. Mine started as itching all over and then the rash popped up on my back. My cousin itched all over too when she had it.

It contagious to anyone that hasn't had chicken pox. They won't get shingles but they can get chicken pox from coming in contact with your rash.

Trish36 · #15 March 23rd, 2010, 01:12 PM

hmmm....I guess there are different symptoms. If it doesn't get better in a couple of days I'm going back to the dr. I asked the pharmacist but he couldn't tell. He didn't think so but he wasn't sure.