Neck Rash

[Redhelen72]

I woke up yesterday with a pale pink neck rash not painful or itchy.

Woke up this morning, the rash is more pronounced and i have a pain from the right side of my neck into my shoulder - of course I could have just slept in a strange position (especially with a clingy geriatric cat)

Have take pain killers will dig out the antihistamines but how long do I monitor the situation for?

[Vagus]

Not shingles is it Helen?

[Old_Geezer]

My guess would be a few days. Suggest to try not to sleep with your pet.

[ladybirder]

I bet she doesn't have much choice.  I don't.

[Redhelen72]

Vagus - I don't thinks so - I barely mix with anyone to catch the virus from and its only on my neck

OG - she would scream the house down if I didn't let her in - she is very old and needy

Your right LB I don't have a choice

[Peter Pedant]

should be  vesicular - ( blistery) I choose shingles as well.

I got excited, as it MIGHT be cranial nerve shingles - usually V or VII. it isnt

The skin on the rear of the neck is supplied segmentally by cutaneous nerves, originated from dorsal rami of C2, C3 and C4 spinal nerves. The skin on the front and side of the neck on every side is supplied by 4 cutaneous nerves originated from ventral rami of C2 to C4 spinal nerves via branches of the cervical plexus.

if it IS shingles, you are not a museum specimen, but one of us.sorry. if it is vesicular too late for acyclovir. I wd ring the GP tomorrow. take a photo.

still worth I think getting shingo-vax ( later) - ask GP

[naomi24]

I've had shingles and as I understand it it's not something you 'catch'.  It's the re-emergence of the chicken pox virus that most people have in childhood.  The rash is generally localised to one area.  

[naomi24]

It sounds to me that it could very well be shingles.  A doctor's opinion is called for.

[Vagus]

Naomi is right, you don't catch shingles, if you've ever had chicken pox then the virus lies dormant until something triggers shingles..stress, low immune system, something like that.

If you can see your GP tomorrow, and it is shingles, then you can have the anti viral stuff, it has to be started within three days of first symptoms and makes a big difference in the severity and longevity of it.

[Redhelen72]

Thank you Vagus for your help

I have moved to a new drs and cannot get appointments like my old one could!!

I have an appointment on wednesday for urgent bloods (made a week ago) so may have to wait for that.

[naomi24]

The doctor only needs to look at the rash and he can do that with a telephone appointment.  I would advise you to seek proper advice first thing tomorrow.  Shingles is horrible and can make sufferers very ill.

[Vagus]

That's a real shame Helen, by Wednesday they probably won't give you anti virals, assuming it is shingles of course. Could you not see an out of hours doctor today or tomorrow?

I had shingles last September, I'd had the jab the previous year, and saw an out of hours doctor in the nick of time when I suspected I had shingles so was given anti virals. The two things combined made a big difference I believe, it was bad enough and I did feel quite poorly but compared to how others have suffered then I think I got off very lightly.

Fingers crossed it's not shingles 🤞

[ladybirder]

//Usually you get the shingles rash on your chest and tummy, but it can appear anywhere on your body including on your face, eyes and genitals. The rash appears as blotches on your skin, on 1 side of your body only. A rash on both the left and right of your body is unlikely to be shingles.\\

I've had it, mine wasn't too bad.

[Vagus]

My rash was along my left collar bone and a bit on the back of my neck same side.

[roopower]

I'm not 100% sure, but if you ring 111 can't they make a drs appointment for you? 

[Canary42]

If you let your cat wander outside (picking up Lords knows what "little guests"), then let it nestle in your neck when it returns home, then you're asking for trouble.

[Canary42]

///I'm not 100% sure, but if you ring 111 can't they make a drs appointment for you? ///

I have heard that, but not experienced it.

[Vagus]

That's how I got to see an out of hours doctor at the local clinic when I suspected I had shingles, rang 111.

[Redhelen72]

Thanks all as I am in NI the rules are different here.

i will see what its like tomorrow and may go and see the pharmacist 

[anneasquith]

Visit to the pharmacist would be a first choice , they are underused ..

[jourdain2]

Sounds like shingles to me, too, especially if it gets blistery (it dooesn't have to). I've had it twice - on the back of my shoulder - & pain jabbing in towards my spine.

First time was before I was vaccinated and it was horrible, really horrible even though I got the anti-virals towards the end of the 48 hr. cut-off.  2nd time, after vaccination was uncomfortable but not horrible.  Good luck, but get to drs. 1st thing Monday is my advice.