what is this rash?

This rash popped up a few days ago and is just getting worse.
It is itchy and hurts like heck if I scratch it.
Under the rash feels kind of bruised/ achy and that side of my chest is a bit sore.
I also have a bit if a rash on my back. It feels the same but the spots are more spread out.
I have had nausea for 2 days and a headache that started this morning that I put down to stress.
I am tired. But that's fairly normal for me.
My eyes are dry but I thought that's because I'm tired.
My body is a bit achey. Nothing unusual there either.

Is it to one side of your body, blistery? If you're stressed it could be shingles, if you had chicken pox when you were younger. That can flare if you're run down and stressed and can make you feel very gross :(

Hope you feel better soon, hopefully it's just a contact rash and will be easy and quick to clear up.

Noo that's exactly what a friend on fb said. I came looking for happier answer lol!

Oh I'm sorry!! :hug: I'm sure it's something much less sinister. Have you changed your washing powder recently? Or soap/body wash? Could be an allergy...

Nope :( I can't get to the doctor until Monday either. The only bulk billing surgery near us it's not accessible by bus and it's too far to walk. :doh:

Can you get to a chemist? Sometimes pharmacist are good at recognising rashes. They might be able to give you some advice on how to make it more comfortable until Monday.

Yeah, I went to one near me yesterday but she said I should see a doctor. She didn't want me to put any thing on it so the doctor can see what it looks like untreated.

Sounds like shingles :(

I had it on my back right where my bra sat and my god it was painful AND itchy as all hell! I used calomine lotion and took panadol.

Oh well I guess you just need to wait it out. If it's really uncomfortable you could try ice. If it's a rash from a plant, insect or something like that cold might take the flare out of it. You shouldn't have to be completely uncomfortable until Monday :( :goodluck:

I was thinking of some nurofen. Panadol never does anything for me. Does that mean I can't go out for dinner tonight? I really need a night off...

Thanks Willow and LMS. I hope the doctor has a less serious diagnosis.. I'm supposed to be meeting my new nephew in the next week or so. :(

Damn. I was supposed to be having a massage this week too. Won't be able to do that either. :(

I'm not sure about when you're contagious with shingles :( Do you know if you actually had chicken pox as a kid? If you didn't then it's not likely to be shingles.

I had it when I was 5.

Is it contagious via general contact our would they have to come in contact with a sore/ bacteria from a sore? Can I make sure I wash my hands well and not touch it?

I think it's like chicken pox and is contagious while the sores are oozing. That's IF it is shingles it might not be :hug:

The ones on my back have scabs but not sure if thats from scratching them. The ones under my boob have tiny blisters but not oozing.

I dunno what to do...

I know it might not be, I guess I figured I should just go with the worst case scenario.

I don't know. I think it's mostly a big problem for pregnant women and people who haven't had chicken pox. So babies would be a no no if you really think it could be shingles. If I was going out with adults, no one pg and no babies/young kids, I might see if I could cover the rash, thoroughly wash my hands and have absolute minimal physical contact with anyone. Be careful with touching your eyes, we had a resident at work (aged care) with shingles and it spread to her eyes s IF it were to be there you could spread it by touching your eyes then touching someone else I guess. I feel bad for suggesting it now, I feel like I've freaked you out and made you more miserable :( but I guess you do need to be careful, just in case. Is the rash only on your right or left side or both?

I've had a look at your photos and i'm 90% certain its shingles as it looks exactly like what mine did. Others can only catch it/chicken pox if they come in contact with the affected area. You are still free to do anything you like only if youre up for it of course!

I went out to dinner, and did all sorts of things when i had it. Its just painful and uncomfortable thats all.

Did you post photos here? Or was that on fb?

Theres one in my op. "rash" is a link. Sorry, it's a little hidden. I didn't do that very well.

It's on my right side under my breast. And right side just at the bottom of my shoulder blade.

It's ok Willow. I need to know it's possible and a friend on fb had already suggested it, so really you just confirmed what she was saying.


Thanks LMS, In that case I'll still go out for dinner but hold of on visiting the family until I've seen a doctor.

I see it now :) Still I wouldn't like to make a guess from the pics. LMS has had it though she'd be a better judge than me. I think if you're sensible and careful you could go for dinner, LMS said she could go out etc. Just be extra careful with hand washing etc. I'd just stay well away from preggies and babies, and try not to touch or rub your eyes, just to be extra safe. No shirt swapping :p

Damn. I was hoping the waitress might let me wear her pretty Sari...

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Damn. I was hoping the waitress might let me wear her pretty Sari...

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:rofl: Not tonight Calluna :p

Argh!!! Its sooo itchy!!!!!!!!!! :wall::(

:hug: Itchy sux! Did you try ice? Antihistamine might help if you have some :goodluck: Bring on Monday hopefully the doctor can give you some relief! Hope you enjoyed dinner.

Oh no! I forgot! I have a cold pack in the fridge, it'll have to do.
I'm going to try an get into a different doctor tomorrow. MIL remind3d me there is one that bulk bills at the local shopping centre. Hoping they bulk bill on weekends!

Oh cool the sooner the better! Itching can drive you nuts :wall: It's always good to know exactly what it is too. Hope the ice helps.

It's helping a little. I think I'll buy an ice pack while I'm at the shopping centre tomorrow.

Glad it's helping a little :)

If it is shingles (and I agree with LMS, from the pics, it does look like them), and you get to the doctors soon enough, the doctor may be able to prescribe anti virals for the infection. It is important though to start on these ASAP. I have previously had shingles that were treated successfully with anti virals, but I think the key was getting to that I managed to get to a doctor about 48 hours after my symptoms had started.
Good luck.

I'm on my way this morning. Haven't got an appointment though, so I hope they can fit me in.
It really hurts today. :'(

:( I hope they get you in :goodluck:

It's shingles.
He have me the meds and told me to stop breastfeeding for a week. How do I explain that to a child who had never gone to sleep without boob.

Oh no! :( What are the meds? Is there no BF safe alternative? :( I see from your ticker DS is 3. Distraction might be your best bet if you think it might work. I had to stop BF my DS too a couple of months ago, he's 3 in Dec. I have HG and apart from not being able to get enough food and water in to myself for me and the growing baby, I had to start taking meds and just wasn't comfortable about DS getting it through what little milk I had left. We were down to only morning and night feeds generally and some days he would skip it, but he still asks now for milk :( I feel terrible and miss it too. I have told him that the milk is almost all gone and what little is left has yucky medicine in it that isn't good for him and might make him sick. He tries to tell me he's put more milk in and taken the medicine out, but he's pretty good if I can distract him with something else. Something to do or quite often a banana milk shake works. :hug: I'm sorry it is shingles and I'm sorry about the disruption to BF :hug: I really do understand how that feels :hug: :(

Oh bugger I just saw you said he has boob to sleep :( I was lucky DS had stopped having boob to sleep every time. He had just started to nod off while reading a book or watching a show on the computer or lap top. BF was still the fastest and easiest way to get him off though. I sill sometimes have to just ride it out until late when he gets so tired he falls asleep with out it :( Sorry not much help here. I hope it's not too stressful for you guys :crossfingers:

DF might be able to put him to bed the next 3 nights. But after that it has to be me. I don't know how we'll go..

He said they're all the same. Its not known to be dangerous, but there is no data on it. I don't know what to do...

That's what my meds were too, if DS had really pushed, I probably would have given in but tried to make it quick. But because I was just so sick as well I just put it off :( It is a hard one. Have you checked the I ABAs meds list? I think Kelly mom might have one too. Sometimes doctors are overcautious, they were with my meds and the dose in pg but I had checked on it else where like hospital protocols for treatment of HG and the GPs just weren't up with the research.

I didn't know they has one, off to look now.

The other issue is, if I stop feeding him for a week I'll probably end up with mastitis as well :wall:

If you have to stop you might have to express then do you have a pump I couldn't get bugger all by hand or with the hand pump, I borrowed an electric from my sister which was heaps better. I think you can hire them from some chemists or hospitals even.

Bummer it's shingles Calluna. I didn't realise you were BF- maybe you could ask Barb about it through one of the bf forums.
Hope you find at least a temporary solution to your dilemma.

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Bummer it's shingles Calluna. I didn't realise you were BF- maybe you could ask Barb about it through one of the bf forums.

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Good idea and is it MadB who's up with BF too? or is it someone else grrr I hate it when I can't remember :wall:

Yep, MadB is very knowledgeable. I'll do that now.
I couldn't find the aba list. :/

I've never been able to express. Maybe I'll just hand express to take the edge off and keep it moving.