Shingles
Hello. I’ve had a rash for a few days now, which I initially thought was a mosquito bite. Realised recently it’s a rash, and after googling I’m pretty sure it’s shingles. Will see GP tomorrow about it...
Forum Discussion
hello @FLClover - your GP might decide to take a swab to determine whether you have Herpes Zoster (shingles) or Herpes Simplex (the cold sore virus). I first had a Herpes Simplex 40 years ago on my upper thigh and then it decided to recur years later in a place I do not want to mention but it made me freak and fear the worst! A swab indicated Herpes Simplex. Since starting medication over nine years ago (Herceptin and Exemestane) I have experienced frequent outbreaks in the place I feel very shy about and on my upper thigh. Only recently my oncologist decided to put me on daily doses of Vaciclovir to prevent further outbreaks. These outbreaks are quite debilitating and a couple of days beforehand I feel a deep fatigue and walking feels as if I'm dragging bags of cement. Awful! I had Chicken Pox twice before I'd turned four and my GP explained that the virus goes into the nervous system and stays there. Stress, illness and just bad luck can induce an outbreak. Fortunately I have never experienced localised pain or itching, sometimes a 'ping! ping!' kind of sensation happens about 24hrs before an outbreak, bit of a warning system. Suggest you ask your oncologist or GP to make out a prescription with a few repeats. Hope this information and a shared experience helps. xxxxxxx Beryl