Skin Rashes or Shingles...

[Morgan Stone]

has anyone assocaited skin rashes or shingles to IC? Could the weakening of the immune system make you more prone to skin allergies? Thanks.

[kelly McC]

I am not sure if they are associated but I have had a skin allergy since my symptoms began years ago and so far nothing that we tried has cleared it completely. And my doctors have various opinions as to what it is allergies ,roseasea, lupus,one even said liver trouble which was untrue
Kelly

[kadi]

I have had a rash on my neck since IC began. It flares right along with my bladder. All my doctors have said, "Weird." And that's all I know about that. It's not bad enough to pursue, but I do notice it.

[Morgan Stone]

hmm.. well.. this is what happened with me.. a little over a month ago.. I noticed a rash on my tummy and chest. I had tried a new bath confetti and figured it was from it... didnt use it again and the rash went away after a few days.. then.. a few days ago, I noticed it again.. I think it was around the same time I changed fabric softener so im guessing thats what it is.. however.. I have symptoms of shingles too... but my rash doent look anything like the shingles rashes Ive pulled up at google . Ive got an appt in the am with my Gyno/Uro so ill know for sure what it is and will post here.

I do remember my Gyno telling me that I would develop more allergies, etc since my immune system would get weaker with IC and FM, etc. and there have been a few new allergies.. guess this is part of that too.
Thanks for the info.. gonna research into this more and see what I can come up with.

[kadi]

Hmm, I've developed more medication allergies since I got IC (and I already had a lot) and more food allergies (Before IC - fish, peanuts, avocado,pumpkin seeds. Now- fish, peanuts, avocado, pumpkin seeds, all tree nuts, shellfish, soy)

Also got the comment from doctors - "Weird".

[Morgan Stone]

I just realized that my rash has flared with this bladder flare too.. this flare started exactly the same time... didn't think to put that together.. now.. I got something else to tell my doc.

[ICNDonna]

Shingles can be identified partly because it will only be on one side of your body --- our doctor told us when my husband had it that it's from virus left in the body after chicken pox.

I live in a family of allergies --- and have a few of my own.

Donna

[Katrina]

Donna is right...I have had Shingles and I know of one other person with IC who has had it too at a young age like me. Aren't you you even younger than me Morgan?? Anyway, with me Shingles looked similar to spider bites....but alot all in one area...they also were very sensitive....I could not touch that rash!!!!!! Hope you feel better soon. With me....Shingles would come when my body is weakest....IC flares for me than too. :grouphug:

[Morgan Stone]

I wasnt able to make it to the doctor today so Im still not sure what it is. It hasnt gotten worse and I used some bendryl cream on my tummy a little earlier to see if it works. The rash isnt itching, altho, I am feeling hot spots every once in a while and tingling here and there.. and I am under a HUGE amount of stress at the moment which could bring on shingles .. but.. the rash doesnt look like it. If there isnt a noticable difference tomorrow, Ill probably go to the ER. Thanks for the info.. Ill keep everyone posted... oh.. Im 34.. and my uncle had shingles when i was 13 or so.. which means I was exposed to them.. wonder if that makes a difference? arent they like chicken pox? thanks again :-)

[Katrina]

yes...infact they are chicken pox...same virus....your exposure as a kid could have given you chicken pox....but not Shingles. Shingles comes from having had chicken pox and at a time when your immune system is weak. (that is normally when older but ofcourse there are other causes) I guess your not younger than me but not that much older. Hope you get better soon!!! :grouphug:

[ICNDonna]

If you have shingles, it would only be on one half of your body. If you were to split your body in half, from the tip of your nose, to navel, with your spine being the dividing line, shingles would be on only one half of your body. So if you got it on your abdomen (unusual), it would be on only one half --- when my husband had it it was on his head and there was actually one side of the rash that formed a straight line.

Donna

[Morgan Stone]

If you have shingles, it would only be on one half of your body. If you were to split your body in half, from the tip of your nose, to navel, with your spine being the dividing line, shingles would be on only one half of your body. So if you got it on your abdomen (unusual), it would be on only one half --- when my husband had it it was on his head and there was actually one side of the rash that formed a straight line.

Donna

Whew.. that puts my mind at ease for sure. Ive worried that it might be shingles - as of now, I have a rash under my breasts and a little bit on them, on my shoulders and middle back, on both sides... kinda in the ears where my shirt had covered me. Its not itching or hurting .. and Im using bendryl cream on it. My bladder is stil flared too.. one other thing to add: I realized this am when a spot or two of the rash appeared on the side of my face that the detergent was used to wash the sheets/cases too.. so.. that could explain it. I rewashed everything in tide today since ive used it for years with no problems.. this last was a cheap brand i bought. Hoping they clear up more by tomorrow.

What does the rash look like that any of you get? are they red spots, look kinda welty maybe? Is an allergic reaction to a medication the same as with a laundry detergent on your skin? I need to read more about rashes. I know I need to ask a doc all of this.. but any heads up would be great :-)

[Katrina]

Morgan....since I don't remember what my allergic to a med looked like I am going to have to share something about my hubby. He is diagnosed with skin allergies.....they are red dots...look a bit like pimples....we can't figure out what he is allergic to or what causes the rash to flare up. It is often worse where his clothing moves around on him...which at times is practically everywhere....other times not. Sometimes it really bothers him....sometimes it is just noticable. As I do recall from my allergic reaction rash....it hurt!!! I hope you can find the answer and feel better soon!

[kelly McC]

mine get real tiny red spots and get welt looking espically if I scratch. sometimes its a spot of rash..

[Morgan Stone]

those both sound like what mine looks like... and im noticing a little "heat" now and then but not burning and not really itching. does bendryl cream help it to go away? What kept making me think it was laundry related was the rash only being where the shirt was but since its spread onto the side of my face a little, im not so sure. I don't have transportation and couldnt get to the doc yet but I talked to a friend who is taking me tomorrow for sure. I was wondering too.. do they have to test specifically for Lupus or can it be found in normal bloodwork? I had blood work done a month or so ago.. nothing significant showed up I guess. Will check on that tomorrow too.. thanks everyone!

[ICNDonna]

If you recently changed laundry soap, that could definitely be the problem. I know I have trouble if I try to use anything different in laundry. Allergic rashes can vary a lot in appearance. If you have the rash just where your clothing touches, it could very well be a contact allergy. Usually if it's caused by something ingested, the rash will be everywhere, not just under clothing. And it's very possible your face rash could be from contact with sheets or pillow case. Our daughter got a rash on her face and neck when we were on vacation in Hawaii --- which we discovered was from the laundry soap used at the hotel. When we changed hotels, I asked them if I could launder her sheets to be certain there wouldn't be a problem, they asked me what kind of soap --- and they specially laundered her linen during the rest of our stay. Her rash disappeared only a day or so later.

Donna

[Betsie]

This is a bit confusing, but it seems you haven't been dxd with shingles for one thing. It is quite painful and as mentioned earlier, you don't catch shingles. It is a dormant virus that surfaces in the way of shingles, often years after a mild case of chicken pox,or even exposure to them, without actually getting them yourself...At least that is the way it was explained to me when a family member had them. They can be incredibly painful, attacking the nerve endings in the areas affected.

As far as the other rash issues...who can say if it is IC related...I doubt it's likely for the majority of us, but I suppose a person could have that as a symptom. My understanding about rashes is there is a marked difference between Rx induced reactions and contact rashes. I would definitely follow up with your Dr. I think the sooner you rule things out, the easier to treat it. In the meantime, I would only wash your body and laundry items with detergents you are very familiar with and used to.

[twiggy]

Well, I have lots of skin rashes. I have psorasis (little red spots with white flaky heads. When you scratch them the white flakes come off) and, when I use different soaps, I get another rash that is like little red pimples that ooze. I use a steriod based cream to clear up that rash. IC'ers often have very sensitive skin. I hope you get a diagnosis soon. Keep us posted.

[Morgan Stone]

I didnt mean to be confusing betsie.. I guess what had me worried that it was shingles was the fact I have had chicken pox twice and been exposed to them several times and been exposed to shingles where I took care of my uncle when he had them and I didn't know it couldn't be contracted from another till now. Thanks for that info.

As far as it goes with the rash and IC, since I don't have doctors that really know that much about IC or if it is IC related, I figured I'd get more answers here than with him. I also havent had a way to get to the doctor because I have no transportation or money (still awaiting news on SSI hearing). I was hoping to be able to medicate myself without seeing a doctor and by ruling everything else out, well.. I think sometimes, Im a doctor in training. :bonk:

I have narrowed it down to either the allergy to the detergent, which I have been rewashing everything in Tide and the rash on my face has almost went away.. its just on my back and front upper belly now.. it seems to be fading some and Im using the cream on it... or.. if its not related to IC, because my bladder is still flared, then its stress. I am under the most unbelievable amount of stress at the moment.. things are so bad that I am on the verge of loosing it at any minute and there is nothing I can do but wait till I get an answer on this SSI hearing and a backpay check.. :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: so the stress level is not going to be lowered any time soon. :help: I really do appreciate any and all info and replies.

[Morgan Stone]

Finally, I made it to the doc this am.. seen a walk-in doctor at my PCP's office.. lucked up that he specialized in skin rashes. He said mine is hives due to an allergic reaction to something I most likely ate. Ive been trying to go over in my mind and remember what I had last week when this rash started.. only thing I can think of that is new to my diet is those "pixie sticks" that have powdered sugared candy in them. The rash had started to clear up and then last nite, before bed, I had one of the pixie sticks and woke up this morning and it was 3 times worse! I also had a bowl of fruity pebbles which is not good for my bladder but that was all I had in the house.. and now that I think back a little, i had a bowl of them last week round the time this rash started.. so maybe its them. Gonna cut out the two and see what happens now.

I got two shots, one for the rash and a shot of vistril for my nerves, a script for atarax and a script for Triamcinolone Acetonide Cream to rub on the rash. He definetly ruled out lupus, shingles and everything else ive been stressing over and added that my stress level most likely aggarvated the rash. The red welts that were on my front this am are almost gone now! The back looks bad still but the meds havent had time to clear it all up yet. Will keep everyone posted.. thanks for your thoughts and well-wishes :-)

Wishing everyone a pain-free day/afternoon/evening/night :-)

[Morgan Stone]

Another quick update: at 2 pm, about 2 hours after the shot, my belly has completely cleared up and my back is looking much much better... whew.. thanks again everyone.. for helping me keep my sanity. :-)

[Betsie]

Morgan,
So glad to read about your Drs visit...it's funny as I was reading your post from yesterday, I was thinking back to a food reaction that I had. Then I immediately figured it couldn't still be this...so I went through this with my "beloved" swordfish about 9 years ago. My favorite thing in the world, had it while vacationing on Nantucket. The reaction was slow and subtle, but the following day after getting benadryl at the local island hospital, I arrived home and went to bed. I woke up an hr later in burning pain with welts all over me...the same ones I had thought were under control. Seems it had to be the fish, but likely something the fish ate off the ocean floor (they are bottom feeders) rather than the fish itself. A week of prednisone was enough to make me never try it again though....so, now you seem to have a clear idea, and by the foods (ah, junk) sorry....that you ate, it would probably be a dye or food coloring, the only other thing they seem to have in common is sugar. You might want to be mindful of items with these ingredients....

Glad you found a caring Dr. to treat the reaction and hope that's the last one, at least you were able to r/o other possibilities. As for the stress, I am sorry it is so difficult for you right now. Hopefully you can relax a bit knowing it can have a profound on our physical selves....but I do hope the stressors go away and you get the financial part straightened out soon. Good luck, didnt mean for you to explain the "confusion", just was hoping I understood your concerns.

I am always concerned that we blame IC for everything, case in point here that it wasn't related at all....we need to keep tabs on our whole health....feel better.

[jaime15]

Morgan,
I'm glad you feel better......shots work really fast, don't they? :)

[kelly McC]

glad you were able to figure out what was going on hope it clears up soon,
huggs,
Kelly

[Morgan Stone]

I just wanted to add something I found while researching the hives. Since I can't narrow this down to a food allergy besides what i mentioned in the previous post (ive had stuff like that in the past without problems) - I think the second paragraph states what caused mine.

http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/0120.html

Hives are one of many of your body's inflammatory responses to an allergen. Allergic reactions are a response of the immune system, but actually an inappropriate response that is usually perceived as annoying, and occasionally can be life-threatening. Your body recognizes a relatively harmless substance, such as dust, pollen, animal hair, or a type of food, as a dangerous antigen and mounts an immune response to it. The accompanying inflammation can be in the form of hives, asthma, itchy eyes, vomiting, etc.

Though allergies certainly involve physiological and immunological responses in the body, many believe they are also strongly associated with a person's emotional and psychic state. Sometimes, skin eruptions may be a sign of "itching to get away" from something or someone. This is not to suggest that the allergy is not real, but that the causes are complex and lie as much within us as in what we are exposed to in the environment. So in looking for the cause of your own hives, make sure you look at foods, dust, air quality, etc., as well as how you are feeling -- your mind-body balance.


Nuff said, case solved. Thanks everyone! Please keep those well-wishes for my SSI backpay check to come next week!

[macdaddy]

I was just diagnosed with shingles a few days ago. My doc said that it was probably brought on by weakened immune system due to medicine and too much stress. Well, with IC, it is impossible to get rid of either of those. Has anyone else had shingles with IC? They are miserable, and I was just curious