Come in if you’ve had shingles - yup it’s shingles :(

[starburst604]

I’m just full of old person issues today! I was having weird pain on the side of my breast toward the armpit and then this rash showed up. I’m having awful stabbing/burning sensation just in that one spot. So far nowhere else. Does this sound like the start of shingles? I may go to urgent care tomorrow.

[Roc A Bee]

I think so. I had pins and needles pain. My rash started on my hip and eventually went half way around- belly button to butt.

[Leeham Rimes]

My mom had it and hers was more red but with your other symptoms, I’d be going to an urgent care to get it dx and treated (if needed) ASAP. My mom waited and was in a lot of pain, a stabbing/zapping feeling.

[flex]

If it is shingles, it's my understanding if you have it treated right away you're less likely to be miserable for days.

[notoriousmeg]

May 17, 2019 19:06:46 GMT -5 Roc A Bee said:

I think so. I had pins and needles pain. My rash started on my hip and eventually went half way around- belly button to butt.

I had the pins and needles on my lower back and waist. Miserable!! Good luck!

[Leeham Rimes]

May 17, 2019 19:09:31 GMT -5 flex said:

If it is shingles, it's my understanding if you have it treated right away you're less likely to be miserable for days.

True. Quick medical care is essential.

[georgeglass]

If it makes you feel any better, I had it when I was 7. The pediatrician said he'd never seen it before (just what you want to hear) and a high school health teacher announced to the whole co-ed class that I must be extremely susceptible to the herpes virus. Super fun.

And agree with the others, get in for medical help quickly and your misery will be short-lived.

[poppyseed]

I just had shingles a month ago, at 4 weeks postpartum. It was definitely a burning and annoying pain. I noticed it on a Friday night, on my back, and went to the doctor the next morning. She said catching and treating it early is key. I was put on a low dose steroid since I’m breastfeeding, and took it 5 times a day for a week. After about 10 days the blisters scabbed over and at that point, they are no longer contagious. It took about 3.5 weeks for them to totally disappear.

I kept them covered with a large bandaid the whole time. I was really scared I was going to pass it to my baby so I washed everything my back had touched, sprayed the couch down with Lysol daily, etc.

[gummy]

Get to urgent care ASAP so you can be prescribed an antiviral. It works best within the first 72hrs of a rash showing up. It'll lessen the pain and shorten the amount of time it can linger for. Some people can have shingles for months. Mine lasted about 4 weeks.

[starburst604]

Ughhhhh I was really hoping I was overreacting. I’ll go to urgent care when it opens in the morning and cross my fingers that it isn’t a horrible weeks long thing. BLAH!

[fivechickens]

May 17, 2019 19:12:48 GMT -5 Leeham Rimes said:

May 17, 2019 19:09:31 GMT -5 flex said:

If it is shingles, it's my understanding if you have it treated right away you're less likely to be miserable for days.

True. Quick medical care is essential.

I third this.

My daughter’s parapro had shingles on her leg and, by the time she went to the Drs for treatment, the medicine didn’t really help her.

[knx9211]

I just came in to say I had shingles AS A CHILD. So I don’t remember it but wtf

[softkitty]

I had shingles on my forehead above my eye.
It was misery, but I got to the doctor fast for antivirals and steroids. The dr was worried it would spread to my eye but it did not. I guess it was a month before the scans were gone.
My son got it at 12 and it crossed the midline. Not often seen, but dangerous. He had a two week hospital stay with viral meningitis. The pediatrician called it the “good “ kind. I only tell this because most people don’t know if it’s on both sides of the body, it can mean trouble.

[snipsnsnails]

Yes, that looks just like shingles (I’ve had it three times, and my DH has had it twice). The Valtrex was extremely effective almost immediately each time. Good luck!

[Linie]

Yes, go to the hospital. I had it two years ago and waited too long. The antiviral didn’t work and I had pain for more than 9 weeks.
Good luck!

[dorothyinAus]

That exactly described my experience with shingles, even down to where the pain/blisters were. I saw a doctor about a week after the pain/rash started and he gave me an anti-viral cream which helped the pain/itching. He diagnosed shingles from the door as he was walking into the examination room. I used the cream for about 10 days until the blisters completely scabbed over, but the dull pain, like an underwire poking my armpit, lasted about 3 weeks. It was a dull pain, but still noticeable.

Hope you have a quick, easy case with no lingering effects.

[starburst604]

May 18, 2019 5:26:00 GMT -5 dorothyinAus said:

That exactly described my experience with shingles, even down to where the pain/blisters were. I saw a doctor about a week after the pain/rash started and he gave me an anti-viral cream which helped the pain/itching. He diagnosed shingles from the door as he was walking into the examination room. I used the cream for about 10 days until the blisters completely scabbed over, but the dull pain, like an underwire poking my armpit, lasted about 3 weeks. It was a dull pain, but still noticeable.

Hope you have a quick, easy case with no lingering effects.

Did you get the rash elsewhere too or did it just stop there? Today the rash is much more red and blistery looking, and much more itchy. Heading to urgent care now.

[Deleted]

I definitely had the pins and needles and then broke out in a viral rash over my entire torso. My shingles rash showed up the next day. I also had really bad Diarrhea which my doctor said was uncommon but not an unusual symptom. I’d get to an Urgent Care ASAP to get started on an anti-viral. Shingles suck. My son got them when he was TWO! The doctor had to Google it.

This is what my viral rash looked like.

[melmel48]

Get your booty to see a doctor! I had shingles when I was 21 and damn was it painful. I hope you get some relief soon.

[mombrain]

Mine started the way you are describing. The doctor prescribed valtrex, gabapentin and vicodin and recommended I take advil alternating with the vicodin. Between the meds and the pain, I was out of commission for three days and then at about 50% for another week. If it is shingles get some domeboro to soak in, it really helped the rash. I used it about every three hours. I had to wear gloves too, because I was scratching it until I was bleeding and then the pain was worse. Fingers crossed it is something else.

[macmars45]

I got shingles when I was 25. Go see a dr asap.

[joenali]

I always fear getting shingles. What triggers it? I heard stress. Is that it? I’m constantly stressed! Lol!

[starburst604]

So yes it’s shingles and they prescribed Valtrex. My outbreak is small right now and if it stays like this it’s manageable but of course they couldn’t promise it will.

[gummy]

May 18, 2019 9:08:20 GMT -5 starburst604 said:

So yes it’s shingles and they prescribed Valtrex. My outbreak is small right now and if it stays like this it’s manageable but of course they couldn’t promise it will.

The Valtrex is a horse pill! I hope it helps you though. I believe it helped me.

[isabel]

Omg, @sameoldstory, that looks awful!

A friend of mine is in her 30s and just had shingles. She said it was really painful. I hope your rash stays small and that it goes away quickly.

[pearls]

I've had shingles twice, at ages 27 and 30. Both times looked similar to yours when I realized and Valtrex kicked it out fairly quickly, I'd say within about 5 days though I continued on the Valtrex for longer than that. Hopefully yours will go quickly as it looks like it hasn't gotten to the weeping stage. My Dr at the time told me once it gets that far it takes longer.

[cleo29]

May 18, 2019 9:05:00 GMT -5 joenali said:

I always fear getting shingles. What triggers it? I heard stress. Is that it? I’m constantly stressed! Lol!

Mine was stress related. and i had already been sick maybe a week or two prior, so i think my immune system was already weakened.

[starburst604]

May 18, 2019 10:36:58 GMT -5 cleo29 said:

May 18, 2019 9:05:00 GMT -5 joenali said:

I always fear getting shingles. What triggers it? I heard stress. Is that it? I’m constantly stressed! Lol!

Mine was stress related. and i had already been sick maybe a week or two prior, so i think my immune system was already weakened.

I’ve definitely been at DEFCON 5 stress level recently, so it makes sense.

[achi]

I’m so sorry. I had shingles when I was pregnant and it was the worst. I hope you have a mild/quick case.

[dorothyinAus]

May 18, 2019 6:35:47 GMT -5 starburst604 said:

May 18, 2019 5:26:00 GMT -5 dorothyinAus said:

That exactly described my experience with shingles, even down to where the pain/blisters were. I saw a doctor about a week after the pain/rash started and he gave me an anti-viral cream which helped the pain/itching. He diagnosed shingles from the door as he was walking into the examination room. I used the cream for about 10 days until the blisters completely scabbed over, but the dull pain, like an underwire poking my armpit, lasted about 3 weeks. It was a dull pain, but still noticeable.

Hope you have a quick, easy case with no lingering effects.

Did you get the rash elsewhere too or did it just stop there? Today the rash is much more red and blistery looking, and much more itchy. Heading to urgent care now.

Sorry for the delay in replying. My blisters extending from mid-breast to mid-shoulder blade in a level line around my body. It was hard to get the anti-viral cream on my shoulder blade and had to enlist the help of housemates, which was fun for sure.

The biggest thing for me was my boss was pregnant at the time and I was cautioned to avoid being around pregnant women - not that we were ever in close contact, but I still spent about 2 weeks having only phone contact with her even though her office was across the hall from my secretarial desk, just in case. I even had someone else deliver documents/packages to/from her.