I was pretty much convinced the rash was shingles once I found the symptoms/photos on the web. I had a very mild case of it yeaaaaarrrrrrssss ago. The Dr. I went to then said "You have Herpes Zoster" then went on to explain about shingles. I was repeating the conversation to my husband and I thought he was going to hit the ceiling - all he heard was "herpes."

I don't recall the rash being quite as large as it is this time, but, this is the second time around.

When my Dr. saw the rash he said "Whoa! You've got a healthy case of them!" Not really the thing I want to be "healthy" in. He prescribed Valtrex, Vicodin and Prednisone. After taking my first dose of each I'm feeling MUCH better.

Thank you all so much for your concern, input, and putting up with me when I was freaking.

Larry: Thank you so much for your information. My Dr. said pretty much what you did in your first paragraph. The rash just showed up last night although I'd been feeling sore in the same areas for a few days. Dr. was VERY pleased I got in within 72 hours of rash appearing.

An interesting comment Dr. made was that being on Lamictal should help with the shingles in some way. (He told me but now I've forgotten.) I only saw him 2 weeks ago for a GP issue and went over all my psych meds with him at that time. I expressed my concern at that time about being on so many meds. He said when/if I wean off them that the 2 he would recommend staying on are Zoloft and Lamictal. This is twice he has been positive on Lamictal!)

Something I forgot to mention to Dr. is I had Chicken Pox TWICE as a child. (Back in the day when it was not vaccinated for and it was just one of those childhood diseases we expected to get, like measles.) It's something you're only supposed to have once, so that was odd.

Dr. said I'm contagious while I have the rash via contact, not by airborne germs, but in general right now to stay away from pregnant women, babies, children and the elderly.

I tried to look up Pyrodermia earlier as well and all I could find were a few entries from people asking if they knew anyone who had gotten this while overseas in service. The "horsepill" wasn't Benadryl. When I first went to the allergist he *did* give me a shot of some type of antihistimine. That was when we found out I am highly allergic to it, the only thing I am allergic to.

I'm guessing my family GP gave me some type of anti-viral med, much like what I received today. The interesting thing is I went from being so very ill an entire week, to almost 100% better in one day!!!!!

And I promise to stay on my psych regime! I got myself freaked somehow.

*Hugs back*

Candy: I've never had a fear of taking psych meds for the last 15 years and, in fact, have been an advocate for mental illness/meds not being a stigma (something I'd still like to figure out how to make into a vocation). I even held this view quite vocally in grad school where the profs were VERY anti-meds and "therapy only."

I think several things combined started to concern me: I'd only been on 2 meds during the last 15 years, then, during this past 5 months every time I went to pdoc he increased a med and/or added a new one and in the case of Wellbutrin, for about 3 weeks the "cure was worse than the illness."

The long term effects of so many meds began concerning me, but you're right, I'd rather be psychologically stable.

Ummm, "Exhibit A" did frighten me a bit as well. But we're each so different that who knows what causes stuff in each of us. (It would be wonderful if we did!) I asked my Dr. if there's any rhyme or reason to getting shingles and he asked if I was under any stress - same question I was asked by the pharmacist when I filled the meds. Apparently no definitive reason. My grandmother had them years ago as well...maybe a hereditary gene.

Oh and, remember...there are planes, trains and automobiles!
{{{{{{Candy}}}}}

{{{{{{{CelticCatnip}}}}}} you're always so supportive!!! Thank you for thinking of me.

I love this place!!!