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Post by berty on Jun 10, 2017 1:23:44 GMT
...or really, my 74 year old Mom. A week ago she got a few red bumps on her right arm. They were a bit itchy. She used Benadryl cream. Then, today she wakes up and it has spread to her right breast and abdomen. We went to urgent care. Temp, etc were ok. Her pressure was up some, but she was worried and nervous. The dr there said it's not poison ivy or other plant, bug bites, or shingles, and diagnosed it as not- otherwise- specified summer rash. He prescribed a steroid cream and Benadryl. Since starting treatment, it has become very itchy and painful. She's a trooper who will never complain; so the fact that she's speaking up has me worried. Does anyone have any idea what's going on? The fact that it didn't spread until after a week and the treatment is making it worse has me worried. Of course, I googled and am now scared. I'd appreciate any help or suggestions. Thanks so much!
a little update...my Mom finally got in to the dermatologist. They said it's contact dermatitis with a delayed spreading, and prescribed a good steroid cream. She's still very itchy, but isn't suffering like she had been. I just want to thank everyone for all of the info and advice. I know this isn't as big of a health issue as so many of the refupeas and their family members are facing, and I really appreciate everyone's help. I'm a worrier and hate to see her unwell, and y'all helped me calm down. Thanks so much!!!
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Post by llinin on Jun 10, 2017 1:49:55 GMT
First, reassurance that most rashes aren't serious, don't be scared and don't google!
How widespread is the rash now? A few bumps in those areas or really blanketing the areas? Are they just red bumps? Any blistering?
Have the bumps moved at all in the areas?
Any new medicines? Any other symptoms? Any changes in her hygiene or laundry routine?
She should avoid scratching, use minimal soaping with fragrance free soap, moisturizer with fragrance free moisturizer.
Benadryl cream can cause reactions in some people so she should ask her doc before using it again.
A picture might be helpful if you have one.
Obviously if it becomes unbearable or new emergent symptoms she should seek care.
Hope she gets some relief soon!
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Post by scrapmaven on Jun 10, 2017 1:50:11 GMT
I'm never going to diagnose anyone, because I'm not a doctor, but I'm very suspicious of shingles. I'd get her re-checked by a different doctor.
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Post by brandnewrollerskates on Jun 10, 2017 2:12:26 GMT
Time for another check. It took a visit to the ER, Urgent Care and finally my PCP to have my shingles properly diagnosed.
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Post by berty on Jun 10, 2017 2:12:27 GMT
First, reassurance that most rashes aren't serious, don't be scared and don't google! How widespread is the rash now? A few bumps in those areas or really blanketing the areas? Are they just red bumps? Any blistering? Have the bumps moved at all in the areas? Any new medicines? Any other symptoms? Any changes in her hygiene or laundry routine? She should avoid scratching, use minimal soaping with fragrance free soap, moisturizer with fragrance free moisturizer. Benadryl cream can cause reactions in some people so she should ask her doc before using it again. A picture might be helpful if you have one. Obviously if it becomes unbearable or new emergent symptoms she should seek care. Hope she gets some relief soon! The rash is about 10 spots on her arm and maybe 20-40 on her torso. They are red bumps, with no blistering but some swelling of the skin around them. She's had no changes in meds, soaps, etc. She's not scratching. sorry, I don't have any pics. I keep checking if she has a fever, breathing problems, etc. and so far, so good. For my own sanity, I've abandoned Google.  Thanks for the reassurance. I know that most rashes aren't serious and in the grand scheme of things, we've been very lucky with her health. I just tend to be someone who panics and I'm so not used to seeing her be vulnerable and unwell. |
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Post by berty on Jun 10, 2017 2:16:21 GMT
I'm never going to diagnose anyone, because I'm not a doctor, but I'm very suspicious of shingles. I'd get her re-checked by a different doctor. I specifically asked the doc about shingles and, if memory serves, he said it usually presents in a linear fashion along a line of nerves (or something like that) and that her rash isn't like this. She's also had the shingles vaccine. Still, I still have it in the back of my mind. Thanks. |
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Post by berty on Jun 10, 2017 2:24:53 GMT
Time for another check. It took a visit to the ER, Urgent Care and finally my PCP to have my shingles properly diagnosed. Yikes! Glad you finally got the right diagnosis. I definitely am keeping shingles in mind as a possibility, even though she's had the vaccine. I'm also going to see if I can get her into her PCP on Monday. Thanks. |
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Post by mirabelleswalker on Jun 10, 2017 4:50:12 GMT
My shingles were in a straight line down my arm from my shoulder to my fingertips. If they are in a line, that would be my guess. The fact that they are only on one side is suspicious.
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Jun 10, 2017 11:27:35 GMT
The fact that they are only on one side is suspicious. I agree. I just had Shingles last month (I still have some of the rash and blisters, despite the antivirals, etc) and all of the rash was on one side (it happened to be my left), but I definitely had patches of it. Most of it was on my breast/torso, wrap around my armpit, and over my left shoulder blade. But I did have some on my left arm too. And down by my waistband. (((hugs))) for your mom. No matter what the cause, having a painful, itchy rash is awful. I hope she gets the relief she needs soon. |
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Post by mikklynn on Jun 10, 2017 11:39:59 GMT
I'm never going to diagnose anyone, because I'm not a doctor, but I'm very suspicious of shingles. I'd get her re-checked by a different doctor. That was my thought, too. Generic rashes are not usually painful. |
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Post by littlemama on Jun 10, 2017 12:00:10 GMT
I would have her make an appointment with her doctor. I despise urgent care and will only use it if there is absolutely no other alternative. I can always get a same day appointment with my doctor if he s there, or another doc on the rare occasion that he is not there.
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Post by pjaye on Jun 10, 2017 12:32:22 GMT
If the rash is ONLY on her right side - right arm & right torso and there are no areas over the midline & onto her left side - then it's shingles.
In shingles the virus runs along a nerve, the nerves for the body come out of the spine and go into one side of the body only, therefore singles will only ever be on one side and will stop at the midline of either the front or the back of the body.
If it's just a general rash...then it won't do that it would cross over onto the other side.
If it's been over a week, it's going to be too late for antiviral drugs to have any effect.
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Post by berty on Jun 10, 2017 16:06:53 GMT
Thanks everyone for the info. unfortunately, since it's a weekend her doctor's office is closed. But, I'm definitely going to try to get her to go in on Monday.
quick question: for those who have had shingles, did cold compresses help with the itch? We tried a cold compress and it really gave her some relief for about a half hour., so I'm wondering if others who have had shingles got the same relief or not. Thanks so much for all the help!!
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 19:36:31 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2017 16:40:36 GMT
Something similar happened to a friend. She went to urgent care twice in a span of a few days, was seen by two different doctors and given two different weird explanations. Another day or two passed before she was able to get into her normal doctor. Before the doctor came in, his nurse walked into the room and quickly announced, "You have shingles!!"...
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Post by Woobster on Jun 10, 2017 16:40:48 GMT
Thanks everyone for the info. unfortunately, since it's a weekend her doctor's office is closed. But, I'm definitely going to try to get her to go in on Monday. quick question: for those who have had shingles, did cold compresses help with the itch? We tried a cold compress and it really gave her some relief for about a half hour., so I'm wondering if others who have had shingles got the same relief or not. Thanks so much for all the help!! When I had shingles, about the only relief I could get was from and ice pack. I lived with one for a few weeks, even once I went back to work. |
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Post by monklady123 on Jun 10, 2017 16:49:43 GMT
If the rash is ONLY on her right side - right arm & right torso and there are no areas over the midline & onto her left side - then it's shingles. In shingles the virus runs along a nerve, the nerves for the body come out of the spine and go into one side of the body only, therefore singles will only ever be on one side and will stop at the midline of either the front or the back of the body.If it's just a general rash...then it won't do that it would cross over onto the other side. If it's been over a week, it's going to be too late for antiviral drugs to have any effect. The things I learn here at Two Peas.  Thanks for that interesting information. |
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Post by brandnewrollerskates on Jun 10, 2017 17:07:05 GMT
Absolutely the cold compresses were a huge help! A friend of mine had them and she would lay down in the snow for relief. I was prescribed Vicodin to cope with the pain and would be desperate for another pill before it was time for the next one. Also I found that my emotions would affect my nerves. Getting upset or frustrated would cause nerve pain for a while even after the shingles were gone. I hope your mom feels better soon!
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Post by craftsbycarolyn on Jun 10, 2017 17:20:03 GMT
Bring that it is itchy and painful, I would think Shingles too. Maybe another trip to the doctor.
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Post by pjaye on Jun 10, 2017 18:08:59 GMT
Also remember that people who have not had chicken pox, who are not vaccinated against chicken pox, or who are immunocompromised are at risk of catching chicken pox if they come into direct contact with the fluid from the shingles - so if there are any new babies in the family or people having chemotherapy etc, then it's best that your mother doesn't have any close contact with them...just to be on the safe side.
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craftykitten
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,304
Jun 26, 2014 7:39:32 GMT
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Post by craftykitten on Jun 10, 2017 18:51:20 GMT
I second (third, fourth etc) shingles.
Aloe vera gel really helped me when I had it recently.
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Post by flanz on Jun 10, 2017 19:10:47 GMT
My mom was once hospitalized for a bad case of contact dermatitis. All of her fingertips were cracking and bleeding! The first cream they used to treat her made it much worse. It turned out she was allergic to it.
I hope your mom finds relief very soon! She's lucky to have you advocating and looking out for her too. ((HUGS))
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Post by berty on Jun 10, 2017 21:50:17 GMT
Thanks everyone - sorry I don't know how to tag. The cool compresses are helping, so she doesn't want to go back to urgent care yet. I hadn't thought about keeping others with weak immune systems away from her; excellent point! I've read everyone's responses to her and her first reaction was,"wow. There's some really nice people out there!" So, from both of us, thanks so much for the info and well wishes!
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Post by mirabelleswalker on Jun 10, 2017 22:20:15 GMT
Something similar happened to a friend. She went to urgent care twice in a span of a few days, was seen by two different doctors and given two different weird explanations. Another day or two passed before she was able to get into her normal doctor. Before the doctor came in, his nurse walked into the room and quickly announced, "You have shingles!!"... Mine was first diagnosed as poison oak because it started as a patch on my shoulder. I hadn't been anywhere new poison oak. It was a week until a doctor said shingles. |
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suzastampin
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by suzastampin on Jun 10, 2017 22:28:22 GMT
I second (third, fourth etc) shingles. Aloe vera gel really helped me when I had it recently. My mom used to put the aloe Vera in the fridge. Also, she found that putting pressure on them helped. She had them all around her torso. She bought those old tube tops and put it over them. |
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zella
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by zella on Jun 10, 2017 23:28:10 GMT
Another vote for shingles. I was just looking at pictures, and not every rash is fluid-filled blisters. Some look like bug bites. With the location, the duration and the pain I can't come up with anything else that would seem to fit. The number of spots and the location of them makes bug bites unlikely. There are pretty few rashes that are actually painful (versus itchy or uncomfortable), and like many others above I think that shingles is the thing most likely to cause a rash with pain.
I hope your mom feels better soon.
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styxgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,091
Jun 27, 2014 4:51:44 GMT
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Post by styxgirl on Jun 11, 2017 1:19:10 GMT
My SIL just had something very similar... she had a small blister/bump on her chest that spread into a very itchy painful rash into her armpits and on/under her breasts. She went to the ER because she was worri d about her reaction and they put her on Benadryl and sent her home. It got worse. she went back ... a second doc put her on antibiotics and steroids and Benadryl and said it was some sort of bug bite/ spider bite. The itchy swollen rash was bad for a couple days and even sor ad to her legs! then started to get better.
Where the original bump was she now had a dark spot that is still hard and tender to touch. The rash is finally going away.
I would keep taking her back until you get more answers. Hope she feels better soon!
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Post by berty on Jun 12, 2017 1:49:27 GMT
Thanks everyone! There's been no change and we're calling the dermatologist first thing Monday. Hopefully, we'll have a definitive answer -and some effective treatment- soon.
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Post by berty on Jun 15, 2017 1:02:03 GMT
Bumping for an update in first post. |
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Mystie
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Post by Mystie on Jun 15, 2017 1:54:03 GMT
Glad to hear she's getting some relief!
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Post by cadoodlebug on Jun 15, 2017 2:15:36 GMT
Glad it isn't shingles! Hugs to your mom and you.
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Thanks for the reassurance. I know that most rashes aren't serious and in the grand scheme of things, we've been very lucky with her health. I just tend to be someone who panics and I'm so not used to seeing her be vulnerable and unwell.
Thanks for that interesting information. 
