[Artchic528]

Yesterday morning, I noticed a few small semi itchy bumps on the right side of my back, near the upper middle section. They lie right under the area where my bra strap meets the main body of the bra.

At first I scratched it and experienced intense pain, so I quickly stopped doing that, but just chalked it off to the fabric of my bra causing mild irritation. I had been struggling with keeping the straps up all day.

By nightfall, the spot had grown both in size and in pain. It was then that I decided it must have been an infected scratch from either the cat, who isn't declawed, or from myself scratching an itch in that area previously. I decided to put some Neosporin on the area.

Well, the rash is still here a full two days later, and it's now roughly 8 to 10 times bigger than the dime sized area it was previously. I find that wearing a bra gets very uncomfortable now, so I'm trying to give the area a break from time to time when lounging around at home.

The reason I suspect Shingles is because my kid brother had it shortly after going through chemo as a young boy for Acute Lymphatic Leukemia. I know what it looks like from seeing the red bumpy rash on my brother's side, even if the memory was from over two decades ago.

I've taken a picture of the rash so I could get a better look at it, as the area it's in isn't easy for me to see first hand, and compared it to various online pictures of Shingles. It doesn't look crusty, but then again, I've only had it for a few days.

The only other plausible explanation I can think of is some form of contact dermatitis. However, this doesn't add up nearly as well as the Shingles theory. The rash feels very sensitive, and painful, just like Shingles is described to be, and it came on very fast, just like my kid brother's case.

So, long story short, if it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, is it a duck? Do you think it's worth seeing a doctor over? I've read they can give me some meds like Ibuprofin to help with the pain, and some antivirals to help shorten the rash's duration. Or am I just getting all up in arms over nothing (I do tend to have moments of hypochondria).

What do you all think?

[~Christina]

Shingles is a extremely painful rash. My father got shingle while having chemo for AML and he was a man that has a huge ability to tolerate pain and he was reduced to tears.

A simple trip to your GP will give you an answer.

I hope its not, its horrible and can last up to a month even treated.

Good luck

I would see your doctor. Antivirals are only effective against shingles during the early stages, so if that's what you've got, you need to find out so you can start the antivirals.

If that's not what it is, hey, you might feel a little embarrassed, but this is definitely a better safe than sorry situation.

[Fresia]

No matter what it turns out to be, it is important to get it looked at to possibly get help with it, to ease your symptoms, and make things more comfortable if at all possible. I would not feel the least bit of embarrassment to get help no matter what I thought it was, it is important to find out what it is and to get the help you need and deserve.

Shingles or contact dermatitis can be very painful, irritating, and annoying. You have my sympathies especially with what you are describing for this rash . It is not worth wondering what it is but to find some relief for either or if it is something else. I would contact my doc if I were you. I hope you find some answers soon and that there is some relief that comes with it as well. Hoping too it passes quickly no matter what it turns out to be. Hang in there. ((((Artchic528)))))