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Is this shingles? Think I'm going mad!

Posted , 9 users are following.

angela03215
angela03215

Hello all. I'm a 30 year old normally fit and well lady living in the UK. On Tuesday I was diagnosed with a stone in my salivary gland. This sorted itself out on Wednesday. However on Wednesday morning I had a weird feeling in my back, left flank and left hip (bra strap going down in a diagonal direction). This felt this mild sunburn and my clothes were irritating it. I also had this feeling in my upper outer left thigh. I have been feeling tired but no flu like symptoms. So Wednesday I started to get a few sharp hot needle pains and a few intense burning sensations and last night I could not sleep due to the bed clothes irritating my skin and every time I moved I hurt. Today I am a little sensitive but nothing major however I feel like I have damaged my left shoulder blade and my left kidney. I've had a head ache all day and now and then I get a little stab of hot needle either in my side or top of my leg.

I have no rash, bumps or redness at all.

No chance of getting a GP appointment today but managed a telephone consultation and he said it sounds like shingles I just have to wait for a rash. Also 3 of the Drs that I work with (albeit psychiatrists) also diagnosed shingles. I feel like I'm going mad or have convinced myself .

Does it sound like shingles? When should I expect the dreaded rash? Any words of wisdom would be appreciated

3 likes, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • lisa65143
    lisa65143 angela03215

    Posted

    Hi Angela,

    I hope you went to the Dr. It sounds like shingles--but I hope your kidney is okay. I am not sure but I do not think shingles affects vital organs, I never heard of this and I have had this plague for 6 years. I hope that you will not have phn. Make sure you get the anti-virals

    • angela03215
      angela03215 lisa65143

      Posted

      Hi thanks Lisa.

      I've read that the symptoms can present as different pain like kidney pain or muscular pain.

      My GP won't give me anything in till a rash shows. So I'm left in limbo a little wandering when and if this will show and horribly hoping it will so I can get the treatment and no I'm not going mad.

    • sheila24138
      sheila24138 lisa65143

      Posted

      Lisa I know of a few cases that had shingles with no rash. It affects the internal. So I would be insisting on anti virals.  Doctors don’t really know a lot about shingles. Believe it or not !
    • lisa65143
      lisa65143 sheila24138

      Posted

      yes--it affects the eyes for sure--I had an extreme case, it can affect the heart, liver,,, this is new to me.

      I am not sure what is happening to you now. Iwould get in otuch with s neurologist---they know for sure..

      --what about blood tests--shingles is very common--a good gp should know how to diagnose--hope everything gos well

    • angela03215
      angela03215 lisa65143

      Posted

      Thank you hopefully by monday ill know either way. No chance of seeing a doctor be for then lol.
  • paul12113
    paul12113 angela03215

    Posted

    Hi Angela,

    Paul from the UK here.

    From what you've said I'd say you've described Shingles symptoms very well indeed! The lack of rash is a bit mystifying however. With me the rash broke out within 2-3 days. Are you certain there's nothing out of view so to speak?

    • angela03215
      angela03215 paul12113

      Posted

      Hi Paul. I can't see anything. I have been checking where the pain is but as of now there is still nothing. Some sites inform people the rash breaks out 1 -3 days after the pain others say 5 days others say 2 weeks. It's all very confusing.

      Tomorrow morning will be 72 hours from 1st noticed pain but pain seems less intence today which is tge weird thing.

  • lisa65143
    lisa65143 angela03215

    Posted

    I don't see why anti virals would present any harm..but I am not an mD . I did not get to your post for a few days so I wonder what happened.

    Hope you do not have to be a member of the PHN club.

  • Believe2128
    Believe2128 angela03215

    Posted

    Hi Angela,

    I never had a rash. I had what looked like three tiny mosquito bites. My was all internal and very painful. I hope if you do have shingles you get the antivirals immediately.

    Hoping you feel better soon!

    Best wishes,

    Believe2128

  • hoxo
    hoxo angela03215

    Posted

    Hi I had a similar symptoms but no rash ever appeared. I’d had Shingles before in my mouth twice so had antivirals ready to take. I took them the day after the symptoms started. Mild fever, headache, nauseous, feeling tired and fluey, aching muscles and stabbing burning pain in strip around bra strap area on my back which worsened and felt like I’d been punched and bruised. 3 months later I’m still getting pain and burning sensations. You can have shingles without rash. It’s called varicella sine herpete. Unfortunately I only took the antivirals for 2 days as a GP at my practice told me you can’t get Shingles more than once and I doubted myself. Now I’m left with daily pain and burning sensations. Get antivirals ASAP to reduce risk of post neuralgic pain. 
    • hoxo
      hoxo

      Posted

      Sorry should say Zoster sine herpete!
  • hope4cure
    hope4cure angela03215

    Posted

    IN my case I had one small spot looked like a flee bite on my back RT side. I could not see it as it itched severly. Went to doc and a biopsy showed it was shingles. Was given anti virals and the shingles vaccine. The breakouts are less in area and severity since the vaccination. The recommendation for shingles vaccine is by 55 yrs which can prevent shingles. However if younger it's not recommended. I was in the younger catagory. Like you I had no idea what it was until it was identified. 

    Every case here is different and this can be very difficult to diagnose without any skin symptoms showing signs of shingles for identification. 

    Peace and Healing! 

    Happy Holidays 🎄

  • Merry19451
    Merry19451 angela03215

    Posted

    Angela,

    This sounds like "Zoster Sine Herpete" or Shingles Without the Rash. Shingles does occur in dermatomes and can occur with out a rash. I would go to the A&E and ask for Antivirals and analgesics as Zoster Sine Herpete can be just as painful .

    The headache and fatigue along with the burning pain with just clothes bothering your skin is classic Shingles. You need to go today STAT to start on Antivirals. Please obtain also an Opioid as the pain is just beginning. It usually becomes much worse before it gets better.

    Shingles classically starts with a headache, aches and pains, mild chills and sweating, malaise, fatigue and exhaustion, then a burning or lancinating pain up to seven to ten days before the rash erupts. The rash occurs as crops of clear vesicle-blisters on a red base, over a period of five days. The vesicle-blisters turn milky, then scab and crust over. When they have all scabbed and crusted over, you can no longer transmit chicken pox to individuals who have never had chicken pox. This can take up to one month from start of the infection. If you start on the Antivirals, the duration is usually shorter.

    You also need to rest and sleep through this disease as the virus has attacked your central nervous system. Every time you move, you are setting off more painful nerve firings and spasms.

    Cool compresses and ice are wonderful. Heat makes things worse. Bactine or Solarcaine with Aloe contain Lidocaine. When applied topically either will numb the nerve endings.

    I am a Nurse Practitioner in the States and have had Herpes Zoster-Shingles in my right ear every three to five weeks for the past twenty-one years and twice in my right eye.

    Best Wishes

    Merry Juliana

  • angela03215
    angela03215

    Posted

    Thank you all. I will try my best to obtain meds today or at least medical help. Those of you that live in the UK will know how crazy difficult that can be on a weekend I feel like I'm not going mad now. Slept well last night due to tranqs hopefully I get a normal day today.

    Best wishes to you all xxx

  • paul12113
    paul12113 angela03215

    Posted

    Hi Angela. I'm pretty sure the drug you need Acyclovir is only available via prescription over here. So you need to find an NHS drop in centre or go to A and E.

    Good luck!

    Paul

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