red spots/bites/blisters on back

[splange]

Hi all,

I have woken up with a band of red spots around my waist, more on the back than the front. They vary in size to minor spot size to big andgry red lumps. They are itchy/tender and look a lighter/yellowish under the skin. I went to my doctor this morning who said it looked like a variant of chicken pox (which I have had before) and said it was viral. My two sisters (who I went for a drink with on saturday night - we sat in a beer garden) have both come out in two spots each but I have around 20 ish. My sister thinks we may have been bit as we were sitting outside but my spots are on a part of my waist/back/front that was covered. Any ideas, as they doctor seemed quite vague? Also, my spots all came out together in the early hours of this morning (mon 6am) while I was sleeping, ie about 30 hours after we went drinking.

Thanks in advance

[scruffscat]

dont quote me, but it could be shingles a form of chicken pox you get when you are older. have you had chicken pox and been in contact with anyone recently whos had it ?

[gessoo]

The nurse at our GP practice told me that shingles only affects one half of the at a time due to the way the nerves work. Sorry this isn't very scientfic!! So if the spots are both sides or your back and front it would be shingles.

Personally, I think this sounds quite like bites or nettle rash (urticaria). Don't forget insects like to bite in nice warm places and find there way under clothing! Under waistbands are favourite places.

[dancealot13]

Sounds like poison ivy, or poison oak. If they start spreading or oozing a little, don't touch them!!! Poison ivy is one of the worst things you can get! The oil from the plant lasts for 6 months and it can get on anything. Whatever the plant touches will have the oil (that causes the rash) for 6 months if its not cleaned.

I was at a party and I had sandles on. We built a fire with wood from the back yard (in our yard there is no poison ivy), but the wood we used had touched the ivy, and the smoke when we lit the fire touched my feet and I woke up with these spots..all different shapes. It felt soooo good to itch them, and before i new it...the bumps started moving up my legs. Finally I figured out what it may be, as I had never had it before. I took a week and a half to get rid of, and I had to wash my clothes everyday and my bedding everyday. It was hell. I hope that's not what it is. Good luck