Melanie Reber
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 3707
posted
Good evening,
I discovered an unknown rash inside my upper arm a couple of days ago. At first I thought I must have been repeatedly bitten by some critter. It looks very red and hurts.
A day earlier I remembered feeling several stings followed by a very bruised pain in that area. It was at night, so I thought perhaps there was something in my T-shirt sleeve poking me. There wasn't.
The whole area feels very sore. It does not itch at all, and the red bumps do not have any puss in them at this time.
I can't imagine what else it could be. But it looks remarkably like the images of a Shingles rash.
Soooo, anyone else develop this, and how did you deal with it?
Or does anyone else have another idea of what this might be?
Thanks in advance for any information. Melanie
Posts: 7052 | From Colorado | Registered: Mar 2003
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lymednva
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9098
posted
i have a friend who has "ms" who has had shingles multiple times. finally convinced her it's due to her messed up immune system.
she takes an antiviral now as a preventative. she was getting it regularly at least twice a year, when she over does it and doesn't get enough rest.
now she takes an antiviral as a preventative.
-------------------- Lymednva Posts: 2407 | From over the river and through the woods | Registered: Apr 2006
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Sorry you are hurting.
Can you provide more detail please?
Or show us what kind of rash is there?
Here is a site that has a bunch of photos of shingles. You click on the body part and there are several examples for each body part... so please check them all for a better idea.
BTW- shingles HURT. Not sore hurt.. but pain hurt. Sharp pain usually.. and non-stop sometimes.
If not shingles... possibly a spider bite? They are usually out at night.. and will stroll across the bed while you sleep.
If disturbed.. them, not you... they will bite. Could that be the stings you felt? Just taking a wild guess here.
IF it is a spider bite... and you have some clear ammonia... like you use to clean with... dab it on a cotton ball or q-tip.
Then dab a tiny spot and hold it there for a minute... and see if that doesn't help. Don't cover the whole thing with ammonia unless you feel that is helping and REALLY think it is a sting or bite.
Ammonia will help draw out the poisons if it is a poisonous bite.
NOW! Listen to me here... ya hear...
DO NOT DO THE AMMONIA IF YOU ARE ALLERGIC TO EGGS.
Seriously. That is a no-no.
I keep an ammonia jar ... cotton balls in a baby food jar filled with ammonia... to put on fire ant bites and other bug stings as soon as it happens.
It is also used when you are stung by poisonous fish too.
Hope it feels better soon.
BTW- is it getting larger in area... or about the same?
Yes, my husband did develop shingles! Out of the blue, a huge welt-like lump popped up on his forehead and made his eyelid swell. We thought it was just another skin symptom, but when it didn't go away after 3 days, he went to his PCP, who made the diagnosis in about 10 seconds.
He was put on a 7-day course of Valtrex, which took care of it. In the interim, we saw husband's LLMD, who extended the Valtrex, and did some testing for viruses (haven't gotten results yet). He said that he didn't want any viruses getting the upper hand and setting husband back.
While of course I didn't want hubby to have shingles, I felt "lucky" (not really the right word) that it happened prior to LLMD visit, since it pointed us toward another area to take care of.
As it healed, it scabbed up and looked like....shingles! But it didn't really cause him very much pain, and initially didn't look like a shingles rash.
Can you go to your PCP? If it is shingles, the sooner you start on an anti-viral, the less the discomfort, and the sooner you can beat down the virus before it does any more mischief.
Best to you, Melanie, and hoping you figure this one out soon.
Viva
Posts: 532 | From southeast US | Registered: Oct 2005
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posted
I just got over a case of shingals. It was on my left eye lid and across the bridge of my nose into my hair line. I was on 10 days worth of valtrex. I know this sounds crazy but someone told me that, over the counter tagament (its for heartburn) worked really well on shingals. I was so desparet I bought it and I also took that. It worked or maybe the valtrex alone did. Either way it went away. Google it and you'll see for yourself "google tagement and shingles"
Posts: 23 | From n.y. | Registered: Nov 2007
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Melanie Reber
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 3707
posted
Good morning,
Thanks so much for your replies and suggestions. I was way too tired last night to do much researching, but recognized the images I found immediately.
Today, the rash is more painful and more blister-like. I have a very high tolerance for pain, so when this began, I tried to ignore it as usual, as just more misc. mysterious nerve pain.
Now that I have read a bit more on symptoms and progress, it makes sense why I have been extremely tired this last week.
TC, this doesn't look as bad as some of the images that website provided, thank Goodness. But if I had to choose a close one, I would say it resembles the small patch of bumps on the torso.
There are a few dozen distinct bumps, but the whole inner upper arm area is painful.
I don't have a doctor right now, so I'm not sure who to call to get an appointment with. Guess I will have to do some checking around.
I'm also not sure if I should go to work if this is contagious. Does anyone know if it spreads by contact or if it is airborne?
In other words, if my arm is covered, can it still spread? I'll have to do more reading on that.
Posts: 7052 | From Colorado | Registered: Mar 2003
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SForsgren
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7686
posted
I had a friend with Lyme that got a bad case of shingles. Any condition that lowers the immune system seems likely to increase the risk of shingles - which is a reactivation of the same virus we all likely carry from having chicken pox as children.
Perfect Solutions Ultimate Defense might be helpful. Lauricidin could be helpful. There is also a topical cream LarreaRx or something like that which could be of value.
-------------------- Be well, Scott Posts: 4617 | From San Jose, CA | Registered: Jul 2005
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Melanie Reber
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 3707
posted
Well...I put a call into work and won't be going there for awhile until I am no longer contagious. Fortunately, most of what i do can be done from home.
I also looked up a doctor who was recommended by my LLMD and others in the area last year as a PCP. She is supposed to be versed in TBDs as well, so hopefully, her office will return my message soon.
Yes, if she can't get me in, I will try the walk-in clinic.
I have been using Neosporim ointment for 2 days, so hopefully that will help prevent any infection.
Thanks everyone!
Posts: 7052 | From Colorado | Registered: Mar 2003
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SForsgren
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7686
posted
Rife and/or KMT can be very helpful as well. Not sure why I didn't mention that before. I'd get my Rife and set to HVZ (herpes zoster). Could be a big help.
-------------------- Be well, Scott Posts: 4617 | From San Jose, CA | Registered: Jul 2005
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Just Julie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1119
posted
Melanie, the reason you want to get to a walk-in/urgent care clinic NOW is that Doc's say that Valtrex (the anti-viral rx) is only really effective in stemming off long term effects if you take it in the first 3 DAYS of noticing the outbreak.
I say this because about 6 months ago, I did develop a case of shingles. The blisters were very slight, maybe 6 total? under one of my breasts. I noticed the tingling sensation first, then the blisters, and THEN I had EXTREME back pain, along my spine. On the same side as the blisters. The pain was so intense, sharp and PAINFUL,. that I could not sleep. I could not fall asleep, and if I took a sleep med, I could not stay asleep.
Now, sleep to me, is #1. I know that is when the body heals. I have had enough sleep disturbances during my rocky ride with lyme to know that I will pursue sleep desperately.
So, I took myself into an urgent care clinic here in Northern CA, and the doc, while abrupt and in a hurry (it was almost closing time) knew enough to know that I knew what I was asking for. I had looked up shingles before I went in, and I knew to ask for certain pain meds. He told me about the Valtrex issue (needing to take it within 3 days of the outbreak for it to be effective). I was desperate because I did not want to end up with lingering neuropathy type pain (which scared the h#$%& out of me!). I sincerely thought I was going to have to do something incredibly stupid because I was so desperate to be able to sleep and I knew if I could not get to sleep because of the intense pain, I was done for. Seriously. it was that bad of pain. It was primarily in my spine, mid-back, and it was something I'd never experieced before, even though I've had outbreaks of shingles in my scalp in the past (before Lyme).
So, if you can, get in now. By the way, I took the Valtrex (even though the side effects were a bit unnerving) and the pain did go away, I nearly wept with joy. I thought for a while there (a few days) that I was going to be one of those shingle sufferers that has life-long neuropathy pain. The depression from considering that was already starting, too.
-------------------- Julie Posts: 1027 | From Northern CA | Registered: May 2001
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Melanie Reber
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 3707
posted
I decided not to wait any longer for the doctor to call me back (good thing, because they didn't), and I went into the walk-in clinic.
The doctor there took one look and said I was too young for shingles...but that is what I have.
He wrote 2 prescriptions, Pregnasone and Valtrax. (I know I didn't spell either one of those correctly)
I explained why I couldn't take the steroid, good call Miss Toots. Then when I told him that I didn't have insurance...he explained that I might not even be able to take the Valtrax at $400 per week!
Sooo, he wrote another script for a generic and gave me a coupon for the Valtrx just in case. Suggested I try Capsazin creme for the pain and to also take another day off of work if I could to rest up.
He mentioned that I would only be contagious IF I came in contact with someone while the blisters are very 'weepy'. So, if I kept it covered up, it would be fine.
That's all I have to report.
Thanks so much TC, Jill, Scott, VA, Viva, Cat, Toots and Conn. Your support is very appreciated.
My best, M
Posts: 7052 | From Colorado | Registered: Mar 2003
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quote:Originally posted by Just Julie: Melanie, the reason you want to get to a walk-in/urgent care clinic NOW is that Doc's say that Valtrex (the anti-viral rx) is only really effective in stemming off long term effects if you take it in the first 3 DAYS of noticing the outbreak.
exactly!!...ooops... Just now saw your post, Melanie!!
My mother had shingles... that's how I knew about the steroids and the urgency to act.
I don't think any Lymie is "too young" to get shingles what with our crummy immune systems!
I hope you get over this soon!! Didn't know Valtrex was that expensive!!!!
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96227 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Melanie Reber
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 3707
posted
Thanks Miss Pop,
Can I just say... ouch...!
Posts: 7052 | From Colorado | Registered: Mar 2003
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Before I was properly diagnoised with lyme. Infact 2 years before.
It started with my back going out then hives-I was given pretnison-then a shot of cortizone-then after 4 months shingles on the right side of my face..later I got mono then virtigo...
The doctors insited I was healthy.haha and within 4 months I broke out into hive and started vomitting everything-this continued for 8 months-until by chance I was connected with an LLMD.
I had no idea what lyme was-but ne wayz it was horribly painful, chronic fatigue etc.
Good luck!!! See if you can use something other than pretnison to cure it!
Posts: 484 | From Burlingame, Ca | Registered: Sep 2005
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
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