strange red rash...shingles? (pic)...if it is- natural options?

ValiantJoy07 · 05-26-2014, 03:21 PM

I first noticed this in my leg as a slightly pink bumpy rash last Tuesday or Wednesday... maybe Thursday?

Over the weekend it's gotten redder and brighter. It doesn't itch unless there is clothing on it, in which case it burns and itches...

It seems to be getting worse, but it's not spreading.

I have potentially been exposed to poison ivy (lots of garden work)- but I am freakishly sensitive and just a small touch of it and I'm covered head to toe. So that seems unlikely.

Does it look like shingles?

If it's shingles what are my natural and homeopathic options? I want to weight what to do before going on the anti-viral drug.

I ...and dh...think it's getting worse

I am probably going to go to the doctor tomorrow for it. If it is shingles I want blood teats run to be sure isn't some thing weird going on to trigger it. I am a generally healthy person... my autoimmune issues have been well managed and I am not sure what would trigger shingles... or whatever this is. It is a bit swollen underneath it (the area of skin is a bit puffy) feels like a bruise... hurts like it'm raking an open wound when I scratch it.

mamahammer · 05-26-2014, 03:23 PM

It would be an odd place for shingles to start. And shingles start in the nerves days before any rash appears. I don't know what it is, but I think it's unlikely to be shingles.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

ValiantJoy07 · 05-26-2014, 03:25 PM

My dh had it 3 years ago and it started in almost the exact spot on his leg. So it has me

.

I had a weird little virus weds/Thursday so maybe this is just a leftover rash from it.

ValiantJoy07 · 05-27-2014, 06:03 PM

Hopetobe · 05-27-2014, 07:32 PM

Looks like it could be shingles...or bed bugs! When I had shingles about 5 years ago, I had convinced myself that it was bed bug bites. Google said they look similar.

I took an anti-viral, but I had waited to get it checked out and it had just gotten super sore and I didn't know what else to do at the time. The anti-viral worked pretty quickly if I remember right, fortunately. I had some lingering shoulder pain though because I didn't get it treated as quickly as I should have. I think that is a big thing to think about - however you treat it, do it early! I'm trying to think about all the things I found after taking the anti-viral when I still had pain and itchiness from it, and when I wanted to prevent future shingles. The one thing I took later that helped a lot with mostly getting rid of the rest of it was an EO mix I think, something called Shingles Be Gone or Shingles No More. I'll try to find the exact name. I think Lysine is supposed to be helpful and/or preventative. I'll try to see if I can find/remember anything else.

I got shingles when I started P90X. I say this because working out can lower your immune system. I didn't prepare enough for the long and almost every day workouts. I think I saw in another thread that you had been exercising a lot more the last few days than you intended or wanted? Could that have strained your immune system to allow for shingles to pop up maybe?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

ValiantJoy07 · 05-27-2014, 07:47 PM

I've been super busy the last 2 weeks with projects outside and in. I could have pushed the limit-especially with the pollen counts so high.

I do have some auto immune disorders- well managed with diet...

I certainly hope it isn't bed bugs.

but no one else has any marks and I haven't been any where strange and it's just the one spot on my right leg.

I think it might be a mild case of shingles. Especially since I had that random "I am getting the flu" feeling and fever the night before it popped up. It isn't terribly painful like dh complained of. That muscle on my leg is throbbing tonight... but it could just be all the cleaning I did today.

I just have so much to do. Well actually I am at a good pausing point.

Pragmatist · 05-27-2014, 07:52 PM

It doesn't look like the rash I had when I had shingles. And mine was seriously painful and burning all the time.

Hopetobe · 05-27-2014, 08:02 PM

Looked it up - pretty sure I used Shingles No More by Forces of Nature (not sure if it was reg or the extra strength version).

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

ValiantJoy07 · 05-27-2014, 08:24 PM

We'll see what the doctor says. I feel a little silly -it is small, but it does burn/itch. I do have a pretty high tolerance for itching though, after years of dealing with dermatitis herpetiformis

all over my rib cage

this is far less annoying and painful than that-as long as I don't touch it. It hurts way worse to touch than DH rash.

deena · 05-27-2014, 10:45 PM

Shingles can only be on half your body. (Weird I know) so if it spreads to the other side, that's "good news"

ReedleBeetle · 05-27-2014, 11:22 PM

It looks like shingles is likely to me.

I had shingles a couple of months before our wedding and they HURT SO BAD when my clothes touched them or anything!!!!!! SO bad. I just put iodine on them twice a day and they went away in about 10 days?

ValiantJoy07 · 05-28-2014, 07:25 AM

I would think it was poison ivy except I've taken zero precautions or care with touching and it hasn't spread at all. Poison ivy hates me, last time I got it I had it in my mouth, nose, eyes, eeeeeverywhere.

That said, my immune system isn't freaking out like it was then.

it's still this little streak on my leg. It was hurting last night but really not like the pain others describe. Just tender and itchy if anything is against it. I don't want to waste $30 +dh's vacation time on a doctor trip. I'm going to give it one more day if it starts to crust like dh's did then i'll go in. I'm probably past the medicating part since I've had the rash for almost a week.

Hopetobe · 05-28-2014, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ValiantJoy07

I'm probably past the medicating part since I've had the rash for almost a week.

Just an fyi - I think it was a week or more before I started the med for shingles. However, it was the same dr that told me if I had gotten shingles (not chkn pox but shingles) while pregnant that my baby would have major birth defects...scary, but not true from what I've read, etc. after. So, I'm not sure if it's normal practice to prescribe that med after a week or not....but, it seems like it helped anyway. He might have prescribed a steroid for the pain as well.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hopetobe · 06-02-2014, 09:54 AM

How's your leg doing?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

ValiantJoy07 · 06-02-2014, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hopetobe

How's your leg doing?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

rash is still there but not itching/burning anymore. I've been putting TTO on it. Thanks for asking.

05-26-2014, 03:21 PM	#1
ValiantJoy07 Rose Garden "Take Joy Home, And make a place in thy great heart for her...Joy is the grace we say to God." ~Jean Ingelow~ Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: The Forest Posts: 16,337	strange red rash...shingles? (pic)...if it is- natural options? I first noticed this in my leg as a slightly pink bumpy rash last Tuesday or Wednesday... maybe Thursday? Over the weekend it's gotten redder and brighter. It doesn't itch unless there is clothing on it, in which case it burns and itches... It seems to be getting worse, but it's not spreading. I have potentially been exposed to poison ivy (lots of garden work)- but I am freakishly sensitive and just a small touch of it and I'm covered head to toe. So that seems unlikely. Does it look like shingles? If it's shingles what are my natural and homeopathic options? I want to weight what to do before going on the anti-viral drug. I ...and dh...think it's getting worse I am probably going to go to the doctor tomorrow for it. If it is shingles I want blood teats run to be sure isn't some thing weird going on to trigger it. I am a generally healthy person... my autoimmune issues have been well managed and I am not sure what would trigger shingles... or whatever this is. It is a bit swollen underneath it (the area of skin is a bit puffy) feels like a bruise... hurts like it'm raking an open wound when I scratch it. __________________ Hannah Joy Intuitive People Loving Introvert Married since '05 to Ryan software and web applications developer. Homeschooling Mama to my 5 Joys... dd1 RJ (12/07), dd2 AJ (08/09), dd3 PJ (01/12), ds1 Ziggy (09/15), ds2 Sunny (05/18) Enjoying a Healing Diet to manage SPD and other health challenges. Sorry for the typos and sloppy grammar I don't have a good excuse anymore. Last edited by ValiantJoy07; 05-27-2014 at 06:09 PM.

05-26-2014, 03:23 PM	#2
mamahammer Deactivated There must be beaches in heaven Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: North Texas Posts: 7,516	Re: strange red rash...shingles? (pic)...if it is- natural options? It would be an odd place for shingles to start. And shingles start in the nerves days before any rash appears. I don't know what it is, but I think it's unlikely to be shingles. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

05-26-2014, 03:25 PM	#3
ValiantJoy07 Rose Garden "Take Joy Home, And make a place in thy great heart for her...Joy is the grace we say to God." ~Jean Ingelow~ Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: The Forest Posts: 16,337	Re: strange red rash...shingles? (pic)...if it is- natural options? My dh had it 3 years ago and it started in almost the exact spot on his leg. So it has me . I had a weird little virus weds/Thursday so maybe this is just a leftover rash from it. __________________ Hannah Joy Intuitive People Loving Introvert Married since '05 to Ryan software and web applications developer. Homeschooling Mama to my 5 Joys... dd1 RJ (12/07), dd2 AJ (08/09), dd3 PJ (01/12), ds1 Ziggy (09/15), ds2 Sunny (05/18) Enjoying a Healing Diet to manage SPD and other health challenges. Sorry for the typos and sloppy grammar I don't have a good excuse anymore.

05-27-2014, 06:03 PM	#4
ValiantJoy07 Rose Garden "Take Joy Home, And make a place in thy great heart for her...Joy is the grace we say to God." ~Jean Ingelow~ Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: The Forest Posts: 16,337	Re: strange red rash...shingles? (pic)...if it is- natural options? __________________ Hannah Joy Intuitive People Loving Introvert Married since '05 to Ryan software and web applications developer. Homeschooling Mama to my 5 Joys... dd1 RJ (12/07), dd2 AJ (08/09), dd3 PJ (01/12), ds1 Ziggy (09/15), ds2 Sunny (05/18) Enjoying a Healing Diet to manage SPD and other health challenges. Sorry for the typos and sloppy grammar I don't have a good excuse anymore.

05-27-2014, 07:32 PM	#5
Hopetobe Rose Garden Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: "Sun, sun, sun, sunny day" Posts: 3,844	strange red rash...shingles? (pic)...if it is- natural options? Looks like it could be shingles...or bed bugs! When I had shingles about 5 years ago, I had convinced myself that it was bed bug bites. Google said they look similar. I took an anti-viral, but I had waited to get it checked out and it had just gotten super sore and I didn't know what else to do at the time. The anti-viral worked pretty quickly if I remember right, fortunately. I had some lingering shoulder pain though because I didn't get it treated as quickly as I should have. I think that is a big thing to think about - however you treat it, do it early! I'm trying to think about all the things I found after taking the anti-viral when I still had pain and itchiness from it, and when I wanted to prevent future shingles. The one thing I took later that helped a lot with mostly getting rid of the rest of it was an EO mix I think, something called Shingles Be Gone or Shingles No More. I'll try to find the exact name. I think Lysine is supposed to be helpful and/or preventative. I'll try to see if I can find/remember anything else. I got shingles when I started P90X. I say this because working out can lower your immune system. I didn't prepare enough for the long and almost every day workouts. I think I saw in another thread that you had been exercising a lot more the last few days than you intended or wanted? Could that have strained your immune system to allow for shingles to pop up maybe? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ Probably on my phone, and Andrea INTP, DYT 4/1 Wife to B ~9yrs Mom to E 3yo & L 1yo 10/13/09

05-27-2014, 07:47 PM	#6
ValiantJoy07 Rose Garden "Take Joy Home, And make a place in thy great heart for her...Joy is the grace we say to God." ~Jean Ingelow~ Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: The Forest Posts: 16,337	Re: strange red rash...shingles? (pic)...if it is- natural options? I've been super busy the last 2 weeks with projects outside and in. I could have pushed the limit-especially with the pollen counts so high. I do have some auto immune disorders- well managed with diet... I certainly hope it isn't bed bugs. but no one else has any marks and I haven't been any where strange and it's just the one spot on my right leg. I think it might be a mild case of shingles. Especially since I had that random "I am getting the flu" feeling and fever the night before it popped up. It isn't terribly painful like dh complained of. That muscle on my leg is throbbing tonight... but it could just be all the cleaning I did today. I just have so much to do. Well actually I am at a good pausing point. __________________ Hannah Joy Intuitive People Loving Introvert Married since '05 to Ryan software and web applications developer. Homeschooling Mama to my 5 Joys... dd1 RJ (12/07), dd2 AJ (08/09), dd3 PJ (01/12), ds1 Ziggy (09/15), ds2 Sunny (05/18) Enjoying a Healing Diet to manage SPD and other health challenges. Sorry for the typos and sloppy grammar I don't have a good excuse anymore.

05-27-2014, 07:52 PM	#7
Pragmatist Rose Garden Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Idaho Posts: 4,924	Re: strange red rash...shingles? (pic)...if it is- natural options? It doesn't look like the rash I had when I had shingles. And mine was seriously painful and burning all the time. __________________ Sara (ISTJ) married to V since 7/99 Strawberry Shortcake- 3/07 Huckleberry Pie- 9/11

05-27-2014, 08:02 PM	#8
Hopetobe Rose Garden Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: "Sun, sun, sun, sunny day" Posts: 3,844	strange red rash...shingles? (pic)...if it is- natural options? Looked it up - pretty sure I used Shingles No More by Forces of Nature (not sure if it was reg or the extra strength version). Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ Probably on my phone, and Andrea INTP, DYT 4/1 Wife to B ~9yrs Mom to E 3yo & L 1yo 10/13/09

05-27-2014, 08:24 PM	#9
ValiantJoy07 Rose Garden "Take Joy Home, And make a place in thy great heart for her...Joy is the grace we say to God." ~Jean Ingelow~ Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: The Forest Posts: 16,337	Re: strange red rash...shingles? (pic)...if it is- natural options? We'll see what the doctor says. I feel a little silly -it is small, but it does burn/itch. I do have a pretty high tolerance for itching though, after years of dealing with dermatitis herpetiformis all over my rib cage this is far less annoying and painful than that-as long as I don't touch it. It hurts way worse to touch than DH rash. __________________ Hannah Joy Intuitive People Loving Introvert Married since '05 to Ryan software and web applications developer. Homeschooling Mama to my 5 Joys... dd1 RJ (12/07), dd2 AJ (08/09), dd3 PJ (01/12), ds1 Ziggy (09/15), ds2 Sunny (05/18) Enjoying a Healing Diet to manage SPD and other health challenges. Sorry for the typos and sloppy grammar I don't have a good excuse anymore.

05-27-2014, 10:45 PM	#10
deena Rose Garden Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 12,314	Re: strange red rash...shingles? (pic)...if it is- natural options? Shingles can only be on half your body. (Weird I know) so if it spreads to the other side, that's "good news" __________________ My kiddos 26, 23, 19, 15, 12, 8, 2, <1

05-27-2014, 11:22 PM	#11
ReedleBeetle Rose Garden Hangin' on for dear life! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: WV, I'm a mountain momma Posts: 25,579	Re: strange red rash...shingles? (pic)...if it is- natural options? It looks like shingles is likely to me. I had shingles a couple of months before our wedding and they HURT SO BAD when my clothes touched them or anything!!!!!! SO bad. I just put iodine on them twice a day and they went away in about 10 days? __________________ RiAnnon infj Single Momma to LegoCraft May 2005

05-28-2014, 07:25 AM	#12
ValiantJoy07 Rose Garden "Take Joy Home, And make a place in thy great heart for her...Joy is the grace we say to God." ~Jean Ingelow~ Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: The Forest Posts: 16,337	Re: strange red rash...shingles? (pic)...if it is- natural options? I would think it was poison ivy except I've taken zero precautions or care with touching and it hasn't spread at all. Poison ivy hates me, last time I got it I had it in my mouth, nose, eyes, eeeeeverywhere. That said, my immune system isn't freaking out like it was then. it's still this little streak on my leg. It was hurting last night but really not like the pain others describe. Just tender and itchy if anything is against it. I don't want to waste $30 +dh's vacation time on a doctor trip. I'm going to give it one more day if it starts to crust like dh's did then i'll go in. I'm probably past the medicating part since I've had the rash for almost a week. __________________ Hannah Joy Intuitive People Loving Introvert Married since '05 to Ryan software and web applications developer. Homeschooling Mama to my 5 Joys... dd1 RJ (12/07), dd2 AJ (08/09), dd3 PJ (01/12), ds1 Ziggy (09/15), ds2 Sunny (05/18) Enjoying a Healing Diet to manage SPD and other health challenges. Sorry for the typos and sloppy grammar I don't have a good excuse anymore.

06-02-2014, 09:54 AM	#14
Hopetobe Rose Garden Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: "Sun, sun, sun, sunny day" Posts: 3,844	Re: strange red rash...shingles? (pic)...if it is- natural options? How's your leg doing? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ Probably on my phone, and Andrea INTP, DYT 4/1 Wife to B ~9yrs Mom to E 3yo & L 1yo 10/13/09

X vBulletin 3.8.3 Debug Information
Page Generation 0.10857 seconds Memory Usage 8,113KB Queries Executed 13 (?)
More Information
Template Usage: (1)SHOWTHREAD (1)ad_footer_end (1)ad_footer_start (1)ad_header_end (1)ad_header_logo (1)ad_navbar_below (1)ad_showthread_beforeqr (1)ad_showthread_firstpost (1)ad_showthread_firstpost_sig (1)ad_showthread_firstpost_start (2)bbcode_quote (1)cyb_flashimagebanners (1)footer (1)forumjump (1)forumrules (1)gobutton (1)header (1)headinclude (1)navbar (3)navbar_link (60)option (1)pagenav (1)pagenav_curpage (1)pagenav_pagelink (15)post_groan_box (1)post_groan_javascript (1)post_groan_navbar_search (15)post_thanks_box (11)post_thanks_box_bit (1)post_thanks_javascript (1)post_thanks_navbar_search (8)post_thanks_postbit_legacy (15)postbit_legacy (15)postbit_onlinestatus (165)postbit_reputation (15)postbit_wrapper (4)showthread_bookmarksite (1)smqre_editor_button (1)spacer_close (1)spacer_open (1)tagbit_wrapper Phrase Groups Available: global inlinemod postbit posting reputationlevel showthread	Included Files: ./showthread.php ./global.php ./includes/init.php ./includes/class_core.php ./includes/config.php ./includes/functions.php ./includes/class_hook.php ./includes/functions_notice.php ./mobiquo/smartbanner.php ./mobiquo/include/classTTConnection.php ./mobiquo/smartbanner/head.inc.php ./includes/functions_bigthree.php ./includes/class_postbit.php ./includes/class_bbcode.php ./includes/functions_reputation.php ./includes/adminfunctions_template.php ./includes/functions_misc.php ./includes/functions_post_thanks.php ./includes/functions_post_groan.php Hooks Called: init_startup cache_permissions fetch_threadinfo_query fetch_threadinfo fetch_foruminfo style_fetch cache_templates global_start parse_templates fetch_musername notices_check_start global_setup_complete showthread_start template_groups template_safe_functions template_compile showthread_getinfo forumjump showthread_post_start showthread_query_postids showthread_query bbcode_fetch_tags bbcode_create showthread_postbit_create postbit_factory postbit_display_start post_thanks_function_post_thanks_off_start post_thanks_function_post_thanks_off_end post_thanks_function_fetch_thanks_start post_thanks_function_fetch_thanks_end post_thanks_function_thanked_already_start post_thanks_function_thanked_already_end post_groan_function_post_groan_off_start post_groan_function_post_groan_off_end post_groan_function_fetch_groans_start post_groan_function_fetch_groans_end post_groan_function_groaned_already_start post_groan_function_groaned_already_end reputation_image bbcode_parse_start postbit_imicons bbcode_parse_complete_precache bbcode_parse_complete postbit_display_complete error_fetch post_thanks_function_fetch_thanks_bit_start post_thanks_function_show_thanks_date_start post_thanks_function_fetch_thanks_bit_end post_thanks_function_fetch_post_thanks_template_start post_thanks_function_fetch_post_thanks_template_end pagenav_page pagenav_complete tag_fetchbit_complete forumrules showthread_bookmarkbit navbits navbits_complete showthread_complete
Messages: