Horrible horrible rash

[Cask]

Had a bit of an itch on my chest and I went to scratch it and felt this horrible rash forming on my left pec. Took off my t-shirt and I've got little patches of red spots and swelling on my back and on my side. WTF is it? It's 1:51AM and I'm googling for stuff like shingles which sounds absolutely horrible. Bet I don't get to see a doc still Monday by which time I might be dead :/

 

[Moving Target]

Er...heat rash? :\

 

[nath]

Alergic reaction?

If you're really seriously worried you could always pop down to the local ER.

 

[leggy]

Rashes are so hard to diagnose it could be anything. The majority are perfectly harmless however. It's unlikely to be shingles as it is accompanied by severe pain in adults.

Tha chances are it's an allergic reaction to something you've eaten or your washing poweder. If there is a 24hour tesco near by i'd recommend going down and buying a pack ok 99p anti histamines.

 

[nath]

24 hour tescos almost always close on saturdays at 10pm :\

 

[Cask]

I'm semi-sure that the tesco closes on Saturday nights but I'm gonna head down there anyway. Give me something to do, cheers for the replies nice to know I'm not the only person up

Honestly can't think of anything I could have been allergic to. I've been using the same washing powder for 2 years. Tried on some clothes in a department store last week, and found an old t-shirt in a cupboard that I haven't worn for ages but gave it a wash first. There isn't anything else.

 

[Danya]

Tesco has to shut on saturday evening to comply with sunday trading laws. So it won't be open.

 

[Jupitus]

Doubt it's shingles.. that develops over time and usually on the face as far as I know. I had it... it's pretty horrid.

Allegic reaction is my bet. Hope you feel better soon.

 

[~Yuckfou~]

Fleas.

 

[old.user4556]

Eczema?

 

[Gengi]

Drinking Pernod and Blackcurrant, used to bring me out in a rash.

Later

 

[gremlin]

Had that before when I was younger, turned out to be a reaction to some cheap shit biological washing powder my shirt was washed in. It may of been linked with summer.

 

[leggy]

Tesco has to shut on saturday evening to comply with sunday trading laws. So it won't be open.

Maybe in England. I can safely say the tesco stores up here are open 24 hours, 7 days a week. I was in it last night :/

 

[Tilda]

Have you been doing gardening?
Some plants can cause rashes etc, eg my dad was cutting the hedge and (he dosnt have hayfeaver) his eyes were streaming, and his hands swelled up with red patches on them.
Perhaps you cut/trimmed a nasty bush or something? It could be that you just had it on your hands (fairly thick tough skin) and then when you scratched your chest you passed some of the irritant onto your chest (thinner skin)?

Shingles tracks out from your spine around your body (but only halfway), when I had it it itched and tingled but didn't hurt that much, if as you said its around your body it may be shingles, but I would have thought you'd have noticed the pain. It dosn't have to be on your face.
Shingles:
http://www.walgreens.com/images/library/topics/postherpeticneuralgiaa.jpg

Tilda

 

[amobea]

pics ?

 

[Tilda]

pics ?

Good point, pics would help, i could even show it to the 2 doctors in this house!

 

[Cask]

Ok if you're really interested here's a bad pic of my chest and side. I'm not doing a close up because it isn't pretty, but they look kind of like lumpy insect bites, except I don't think they are. There's a little patch on my back too.

Don't click if you're squeamish btw

Horrible rash pic

 

[Bym]

Is it itchy or anything? Looks like hives (contact dermatitis) but I could be wrong of course. I get that on my fingers, elbows and knees, but I have had it on my stomach before - I'm allergic to tons of things, but not quite sure what. Have you tried taking some Clarityn or other antihistamines like someone else suggested just to see of that's what it is?

 

[Cask]

The bit on my chest is a little itchy but I don't really notice it until I start thinking about it. If I hadn't seen it last night then I prolly still wouldn't know it was there. If it hasn't gone down by tomorrow I'll go and see the doc, haven't taken anything so far. I prefer to stay away from medicines unless I've really got to.

 

[Tilda]

Well Dr Tildas-dad says its shingles
Dr Tildas-mum says its singles, but if they go past the midline front or back its not shingles.
They say thats probably what it is from a photo, but a closeup and previous history would make it easier
But they're not taking any responsibility for anything
If you're worried about it they suggest you either see your GP or ring NHS direct.


Tilda

 

[Cask]

Yeah now I'm worried

 

[leggy]

shingles will not kill you. Don't worry.

In all honesty it looks fuck all like shingles to me. I had something smiliar on my back once which I think was a sweat rash from all the gyming I was doing. It has been fairly hot recently too.

If it's not getting worse and it's not sore or itchy unless disturbed I'd be inclined not to worry. Phone the doc tomorrow but all he'll do is give you a cortisone cream or an antihistamine.

 

[Frizz]

In all honesty it looks fuck all like shingles to me.

Ditto

http://www.rainbowpediatrics.net/atlas/shingles.jpg

 

[Cask]

Well it hasn't grown at all but it's a little more sore than it was yesterday. I dunno if it's just coincidence that I'm in exactly the same pose as that poor guy in your pic Frizz.

Surgery opens at 9am so I'm gonna be there soon as they open. Cheers for the replies people, I know it's not much fun hearing about peoples' afflictions

 

[Cask]

Doc confirmed it, Shingles at age 21 :/ He said it was probably caused by exam stress but I haven't felt particularly stressed out. Cure is a couple weeks of rest and relaxation apparently so I wasn't gonna argue with that bit.

 

[Bullitt]

Well at least it isn't serious. Take it easy and get well soon.

 

[Damini]

Is there anything you can put it on to calm the irritation? Like camomile, or something? Looking it up, apparently the following will help:

Take lukewarm baths
Use a soothing lotion
Use a local aneasthetic cream
wear loose cotton clothing
Avoid getting hot and sweaty (oo-er!)
Take pain killers
Take fever reducing medicine

It doesn't sound much like fun, so play that sympathy card for all its worth and get the whole grapes/lucozade/I get to watch whatever I like on television thing going.

 

[Cask]

Bah painkillers are for wimps, I'm hardcore and expect to suffer when I'm sick! I can barely feel it tbh. Mum told me to come home in the week and get looked after so sounds like a good deal to me, plus I'll get a weekend or two off work. More worried about what caused it really, I'm not a sickly person so wonder why my immune system was so low. Just a pain in the arse right at the start of summer, gonna be a while before I can work on my tan.

Right I'm off to stock up on grapes and lucozade

 

[old.Tohtori]

Is there anything you can put it on to calm the irritation? Like camomile, or something? Looking it up, apparently the following will help:

Take lukewarm baths
Use a soothing lotion
Use a local aneasthetic cream
wear loose cotton clothing
Avoid getting hot and sweaty (oo-er!)
Take pain killers
Take fever reducing medicine
Play a lot of DAoC.
It doesn't sound much like fun, so play that sympathy card for all its worth and get the whole grapes/lucozade/I get to watch whatever I like on television thing going.

Updated it

 

[Lazarus]

definately looks like shingles to me cask.