I have a small cluster of about 5/6 weird looking spots on my thigh. Appeared about a week ago. They were slightly tender, 2 have healed up but a new one appeared yesterday. They're slightly fleshy and look like chicken pox, but smaller and very red. At first I thought it might have been folliculitis, but it's definitely not that. I have been feeling unwell, but then I often do! No change there. I put loads of creams including a steroid cream I found at the back of the medicine cupboard. Could this be shingles? The newest spot is a bit more stubborn but all appear to be dying down and none are causing me any problems.
Is it possible to have a mild case?
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Brychni
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I can only say from my experience with shingles is I feel rough, the spots really hurt (like if I accidentally touch them its like I've been electrocuted , makes my eyes water) , after a week or so my spots crust over and fall off.
I always get them in the same place (nape of neck / head) and for such small spots they hurt alot.
I wouldn't bother putting steroid cream on them personally . If I were more organised I could take an anti viral but you've got to take it early on.
Its worth taking a photo and sending it to your GP.
It seems alot of us here get shingles so maybe linked to our wonky immune systems. If you think about it our bodies must be quite worn out because we are both early into our arthritis journey and I always get shingles when I'm run down.
Sounds like it. I have had them too dr said it can be linked to lower immunity grrrrrrhhh. Get it checked out though mine spread to eye and ear and caused lots of other unnecessary problems. Good luck with this
Currently got them in my scalp and on face. Have them every year (twice this time). Like you I had them around ears and my eyes the other year were tingling so was given anti viral cream for eyes and had an early eye test. All was ok thankfully. The key is timing and treatment with shingles, as anti viral treatment is effective when taken early on. Hope you were ok following your bout Green.
Thank you! I had anti virals but went on to develop vestibular neuronitis a posh description of feeling like you are constantly on a boat. Horrible thing very dizzy could not stand light. Shingles affected the tiny “balanceballs” in my inner ear and my brain had to re-educate itself to gain balance. Very scary and took eight months to go away so I would get very quick support for shingles next time 😀
Oh my goodness that must have been awful and like you I am on that phone the minute I get the sensations as it always attacks my scalp. Hope you are ok now.
Hi M, still taking it. Occasionally get mouth ulcers but corsidyl sorts it out. As for pains, some things have improved some getting worse. Where are you at? X
That’s a great description, it’s like being electrocuted, sharp instant pain if you touch them, I had a small circle of spots on my back at waist level, I cudnt sit as when I stretched those muscles it was agony. They started being itchy and boy when I scratched it was agony, I didn’t do that again. It took about six months before the pain subsided and that was with the anti viral med. best wishes it heals quicker than mine.
Thanks O, I just grabbed the most vicious thing I could find! I suppose Canestan would have been more appropriate. My God, I seem to attracting every virus going what with the fungal toenail and other things. Still, I haven't had worms for a while now. Used to get them at least 3 times a year. 😳
Please don’t keep any meds at the back of the cupboard .....drugs have a shelf life and steroids in particular should not be hoarded........ they are prescribed for a particular condition...they are not like Germolene to rub on any cut or graze.It sounds an unlikely site for singles but if indeed it is shingles ...the ideal solution is not to touch the spots ,not to put anything on them & to check with your doctor as soon you see them .....to get the anti-viral meds & possibly anti biotics needed as quickly as possible to ensure you don’t get it badly & end up in hospital.
Yes it is and I did last year following my Rituximab infusion. I was very busy and got run down and I thought I’d been bitten in the garden as it was still very mild in October. My GP suspected but said you must ask your rheumy as it’s as a result of the infusion and being run down that they’ve come?! The rheumy secretary I spoke to didn't wang to know and said .. not our problem you’ve got them .. and I said it is if Rtx has caused them. 😑🤨 It took three calls and the last one I actually said on the answerphone I was having to go to see a dermatologist privately as no one was getting back to me, and explained I needed confirmation and to get the anti virals within 74 hours. Dermatologist confirmed instantly when he saw them, and he said I’ll tell your doctor to prescribe you Acyclovir as even though it’s over five days now since you’ve noticed them it could help with the nerve sensations coming back. For me that was what worried, as I’d lost a 6x6 inch square of sensation on my hip and buttock. Took a month to return to normality. I also was prescribed the 1% menthol cooling cream. Dermacool? Can’t recall the name at the mo sorry. Dermatologit’s was disgusted with rheumatology. An excellent rheumy registrar did call me the day after the dermatologist appointment and said yes I needed anti vitals and he was so sorry I had been messed about with the secretary. It is worth chasing up to see if you need the anti vitals.
The spots/blisters were tiny and only half were full of liquid. It was the skin sensation of odd sharp tingling pain and then the numb feeling round the spot area but ot was only in this 3x2 area of spots and larger area of numbness which made me know it was shingles. It’s a sensation I’d never experienced but knew someone who had many years ago.
So yes mine was quite mild but it needed the anti virals for the numbness. The skin round the blisters was a strange purple like nothing I’ve experienced and as Marion has said it was like being electrocuted if anything brushed over them. Hope this info helps and hope yours are mild and not painful. It took a good month for mine to crust over and another to fade.
Sounds like it I had them on the top of my thighs. I was nursing my late Husband and had to see emergency GP he gave me meds for my him as he had Cancer and could be dangerous for him , I got anti viral meds.
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