Rash .

[Weemillie]

Hi I'm just looking for a bit of advice . I'm having a flare right now due to not being on my Biological drug since having an operation on my foot again . However this time seems longer and the flare is much more intense . Been up to see Rheumatology the Dr didn't know me didn't examine me even though most of the problems coming from my lungs . So anyway . My sister was diagnosed with Shingles last week and is in hospital right now . I was with her all that weekend. But I have not felt good in a while , however got up yesterday with this rash on my arm and I'm worried that because my immune system is so low right now I may have shingles . So any advice would be grateful thanks in advance.

[Madmusiclover]

shingles is normally on face or torso I think. Does it tingle? This article by nhs says you cannot get shingles from someone with shingles.

nhs.uk/conditions/shingles/

[KittyJ]

I’m not medically qualified but I have seen quite a few peoples shingles and it didn’t look like that, more blistery. Could they be bites as they look like two round marks?

[medway-lady]

You cannot catch Shingles so put that aside. You simply have to get Chicken Pox and the virus lives in you for ever and is then triggered by something. That rash doesn't look like Shingles and in any event Shingles hurts like hell. It might be worth putting some anti histamine on it and see what happens.

[Neonkittie17]

All that the others have said! The rash doesn’t look like my shingles did and it’s usually deep red/purple and fiery painful at first and then little blisters form.

[Runrig01]

doesn’t look like shingles at all. As someone else has mentioned, you can’t catch shingles from someone with shingles. It is reactivation of the chicken pox virus, which lies dormant for years after having it. Looks like either a bite, or a reaction to something. I would try an antihistamine if it’s itchy and painful, either tablet or cream

[Seatgeorge]

If you google shingles you will see the rashes look quite severe, yours doesn't look like shingles. I developed a shocking rash across my back on a high methotrexate jab, now changed to a reduced amount on tablet, seems to be clearing slowly, you will get problems with your immune system being suppressed but hopefully will find a balance, good luck.

[oldtimer2]

It doesn't look like shingles at the moment. I hope that you feel better in yourself soon and can get back onto treatment and less stress. It doesn't sound as if you had a satisfactory consultation!

It's not quite true to say that you cannot catch the shingles virus as in the early stage there are virus particles in the blisters, but it would be just a little of the virus (varicella) you catch. If you haven't had chickenpox you might just catch it. If you've had chickenpox your antibodies should protect you from another attack.

Others are quite correct to point out that shingles is the rash you get in the distribution of the nerve where the shingles/chickenpox virus (varicella) has been lurking after you have had chickenpox, often many years previously. This can be triggered off by almost any type of stress to the body, including infections of other types. And can be anywhere that a nerve goes, not just on the trunk, as the virus travels down the nerve and breaks out on the skin it supplies.

[BeachsideVia]

it takes time to heal, and not to minimize your concerns, but sometimes a rash is just a rash. I have a stiff neck and was worried it was a flare of my cervical spine. It’s just a muscle sprain, and I know how I got it. Being vigilant about your own symptoms is so very important. But I learned from this site that you can’t pre empt every negative event. I realized there is so much to manage…. Overworked docs, serious lack of good office nursing, my life….

I also think its odd that nobody has taken a history of my symptoms. Docs just look at you…. Oh, you look in good shape….. but my private struggle is trying to get a life back after over 8 years of suffering. Im not giving up now!