Not Shingles

I thought I had shingles and I was a freakin' out! A few days ago I noticed this rash on my left arm, then blisters started to form and get slightly bigger. At first I thought it was poison oak, but then remembered my mom had gotten shingles while we were on vacation and everyone thought hers was poison oak in the beginning. I asked RN sis about it and she said to keep an eye out if it starts to spread or get worse, go to the doctor. She also said if it was shingles it will generally only break out on one side of your body, left or right.

The next day I find a new rash on my left leg, then on my collarbone(on the left side) and the pain/itch had become so bad on my arm that I could barely sleep. I literally slept in 15 min intervals for two nights because the pain was so bad on my arm. The rash is close to my wrist, but the pain started in the palm of my hand and went all the way to my elbow.

Yesterday I went to church with my dad and then out to lunch for *Father's day and then drove straight to the urgent care clinic. I was ready to claw and or cut my arm off, anything to make it stop itching. Thank goodness it is not shingles, but it is poison oak. Doc gave me a steroid shot and antihistamine samples and I am feeling much better! I even slept good last night, only waking up 2-3 times!

We have poison oak in our back yard and I was mowing last week, so I am sure that's were I got it from. YUCK! Guess hub's will have to do the backyard mowing from now on....he's not allergic to it like I am, or at all for that matter. Lucky-duck!


{*just wanted to add in here that I know many of you have were not able to spend yesterday with your own dads and I am very sorry for that. I thought of you ladies several times yesterday and hope that your day was good......I am truly blessed to have my dad here still and was reminded of that last week when he was in a car accident. He is fine, no injuries, but after the accident he had trouble catching his breath, which the paramedics diagnosed it as an anxiety attack. I know it could've been worse, but thank God it wasn't.... Anyway, just wanted to let you ladies know I was thinking of you!}