Allergic to the heat or something else?

[Speicher]

In the past few hours I have noticed red splodgey blotches on my arms and legs. Varying in size, but none on my tummy. No, you are not going to get pictures.

I have done the "roll the glass over the spots to see if they disappear", which they do.

I have recently been taking (past week) 500mg (three times a day) Amoxicillin, for a chest infection. It says on the patient leaflet that a rash is a possible side effect.

My experience with NHSdirect, is, shall we say, not a good one.

The spots are slightly itchy, but that could be because of how hot and humid it is.

My main question is, do I tell the Doctor tomorrow that I think they should come out and see me. I do not want to pass this on to anyone if I am contagious. I have a good neighbour who might be able to help, but she has a very ill husband, so I do not want to put him at risk. Any other suggestion welcome, I will be ringing the GP surgery first thing tomorrow. Should I put some Savlon on, or leave them alone?

For those on another thread about shingles, what were the first symptoms?

 

[ComedyPilot]

In the past few hours I have noticed red splodgey blotches on my arms and legs. Varying in size, but none on my tummy. No, you are not going to get pictures.

I have done the "roll the glass over the spots to see if they disappear", which they do.

I have recently been taking (past week) 500mg (three times a day) Amoxicillin, for a chest infection. It says on the patient leaflet that a rash is a possible side effect.

My experience with NHSdirect, is, shall we say, not a good one.

The spots are slightly itchy, but that could be because of how hot and humid it is.

My main question is, do I tell the Doctor tomorrow that I think they should come out and see me. I do not want to pass this on to anyone if I am contagious. I have a good neighbour who might be able to help, but she has a very ill husband, so I do not want to put him at risk. Any other suggestion welcome, I will be ringing the GP surgery first thing tomorrow. Should I put some Savlon on, or leave them alone?

For those on another thread about shingles, what were the first symptoms?

Bang goes my motivation for replying then?

 

[accountantpete]

Personally I'd go see the Chemist - it might just be a fungal type rash which requires a different cream to Savlon - and then go see the Doc if they advise it.

 

[fossyant]

My leg came up with some horrible big swollen patches on sunday after trimming flowers (never affects me) then my wife came in with what looked like slash marks on her arm..... orrible...... not been near any flower cuttings etc have you.....

 

[fossyant]

PS try antihistamine (allergy/hayfever and irritation stuff) - if it doesn't go down, then Docs.

 

[marinyork]

Get them to visit anyway but may be heat rash? Mine came up on Sunday. It's the heat .

 

[Speicher]

Yes, did some gardening yesterday.

I have looked up my symptoms on NHSdirect. It mentions rolling a glass over the spots to see if they disappear which they do.

I think it is the anti-biotics as that is a very big dose. I think I will leave them alone overnight, and contact the Doctor tomorrow. They have a very good triage nurse system.

I agree it could be heat rash. Will also take some anti-histamine.

Comedy Pilot, you are definitely not seeing pictures of my tummy!

 

[Ben M]

Have you been out in the sun, or indeed behind glass like in a greenhouse, without sun cream on?

It sounds a LOT like PLE, which is an allergy to the UVA rays of the sun (not the ones that burn you and are protected by the spf of sun creams, the one which is rated in stars on the back.

PLE isn't a very common condition, and your GP is likely to know little to nothing about it, skin specialists know very little about it. My mum has suffered from it for years, so I know a little about it. She is prescribed antihistamine to stop the itching, and large quantities of fish oil (branded "maxepa") to help to prevent it. They make it much better, but dob't stop it completely. Sun creams, even with the maximum UVA protection rating don't prevent it, she was on both medication and spending literally every waking moment covered in cream, and still getting these "heat spots". It does ease as your body gets used to the exposure to UVA rays.

I could well be wrong, and I hope for your sake that I am, as PLE is a royal pain, but what you are describing is exactly like my mum's condition.

 

[Speicher]

Yes I have been outside, without suncream on. But only after about 5pm, and only perhaps one day a week, and the rash is on the bits normally covered with clothing.

 

[Ben M]

Yes I have been outside, without suncream on. But only after about 5pm, and only perhaps one day a week, and the rash is on the bits normally covered with clothing.

oh right, by "arms and legs" I assumed that you were in shorts and a tee. PLE only gives you spots on exposed parts

 

[marinyork]

Hmmm, maybe not then. I only get spots on the back of my hands and arms.

 

[ComedyPilot]

Na na na na na, Speicher's got the lurgy...!

 

[Speicher]

That is the strange thing. The spots are on my thighs, were they would have been covered by shorts, and upper arms, covered by short sleeves of tee shirt. Where I have a very slight suntan, there are no splodges/spots. The suns rays can get through clothing tho' can't it. It could be that the slight suntan protects the skin, whereas the splodges are on the skin not exposed to the sun. I tend to be very careful about the sun, as I do not want to get to my old age, with skin like leather.

How old was your mother when she first got PLE.

 

[Speicher]

Na na na na na, Speicher's got the lurgy...!

Full of sympathy today, ComedyPlot?

I had the lurgy first about seven weeks ago, with throat infection. That developped into a chest infection, for which I was taking small submarines large capsules of anti-biotics.

 

[ComedyPilot]

Full of sympathy today, ComedyPlot?

I had the lurgy first about seven weeks ago, with throat infection. That developped into a chest infection, for which I was taking small submarines large capsules of anti-biotics.

Would you like it rubbing better?