Finding the right place forthis difficult, but I know you folks will find me. When I got to Mom's yesterday AM, She had a bunch of red dots on her spine right above her buttocks. She said it did not itcth or other wise come to her attention. I thought then it might be a bit of urine scald. Sometimes she doesn't get her pullups out of the way before she starts to pee, and a little bit of wetness on the rim of her pants could be easy to miss. Cleaned it well and applied aloe.
This AM, the spots seemed to be larger and more raised, plus there was a line of "spots" (really small dots) in a sweep across her left buttock. She still swears she feels no pain or itching in the area. When I left her today, there was no sign of any rash any where else on her body. The CG that came in today is the most experienced one we've got as far as clinical observation. She has "done time" in a rehab situation for the elderly. We looked at this together and she said that it could be the onset of shingles. She has seen it before that some one of Mom's age has a rash, even before the pain sets in.
Mom had shingles years ago, and it was on her face and chest. Not her buttocks. If this doesn't subside with over the counter hydrocortisone ointments, I intend to take her to her PCP tomorrow. I am very concerned about an off the wall rash.
Am I over reacting here? She is not experiencing any discomfort today. This is new. Does it sound like it could be the onset of shingles to you, or anything else that you have dealt with.
I have looked at sites for shingles, and they all say there is intense discomfort from the onset. What lessions could occur with no discomfort associated?

She still has dots but no broken blisters, all seems to be going away. Again, can't stress enough, ANY wierd dots needs to be seen as soon as it can be. " Sharp eye" ,experienced CG may have saved Mom agony, by bringing up the word "shingles " in time to get her on an anti-viral. ME, I would have waited for some discomfort to occur, and then it would have been to late for the meds to help. So far, no sign of complications.
She told me to quit saying THankyou Thankyou , Thankyou. She says it 's just her job.

BC, good to hear Mom is doing better and you two had a good outing today.

Sad to hear of CG's loss. Will think of her in my prayers.

Mom got her hair done today, ALL blisters had gone. She is still exhausted, but wanted to go and her stylist agreed that since there were no open blisters she could come if she was up to it. It wore her out but brightened her up too.

On a sadder note. The CG whose Mom was in such bad shape, called this morning to let me know her Mom passed away earlier this AM. I didn't tell Mom until after we got back from having her hair done and she had eaten lunch. That was probably overprotective of me and maybe a bit selfish, but I just wanted to get through going out first before telling her. The CG can take all the time she needs. We will work that out.

BC, good to know your Mom is so much better!!

Bobcat, good for you and mom.My aunt was not so fortunate as I do believe she had the neuralgia.She had back pain for the longest time along with her allready spinal stenosis.I do not recall her being given an anti viral.I could be wrong.I know I put this bit of information in my to save folder.
I was tested to see if the protection is still active in my body, it was, but one never knows and I do not want them,.I have never had the mumps or chicken pox and my kids did.I was younger and more healthier then

This is one week later. Glad to report that even though some small blisters did rise up in a few patches, they appear to be drying up without breaking. Most of the redness is gone, and the itching is minimal, maybe from the healing. We used applecider vinegar on the rash, for a while , and now are using aloe gel. No signs of post herpatic neuralgia, but then maybe we aren't really at the "post" stage yet.
Famvir seemed to sap all her energy, but she took her last pill last night. Hopefully she'll bounce back. If not, next week I'll take her for lab work just to make sure something else isn't going on, like a UTI.
The night lady's Mother's doc, didn't want her taking any chances, so the rest of the team has helped out. Only one extra night a week for me. Thanks everyone. I really think getting her on the anti-viral in time helped a lot.

Today is usually hair day for her. I spoke with her hair dresser, and we agreed that while the chance is remote, Mom might be able to pass on chicken pox to some of the pre school aged children that often come with a parent or grandparent to the shop. They may not yet have the vaccine administered. Not worth the chance, so when I get to Mom's I hav to tell her this. I know she'll be dissapointed, but a side affect of this drug seems to be fatique anyway, so it's for the best.
Haven't yet heard from the lady scheduled in tonight about what her Mom's Dr may have said about her being around Mom, so I am leaving here prepared to stay over. I may miss Fri. with Harry. "See" you all soon.

\BC good you caught this when you did. I hate to think about your Mom suffering with the pain of shingles.

Your post has been very helpful to me as well as others I am sure. My mil weights 90lbs, she is extremely stressed from losing her husband of 61 years....I hate to think that she could also have an occurance. I will be keeping my eye out,and alert her CGs to watch also. Though they are pretty much the palace guard when it comes to her...very blessed to have them

Hope you get your rest!!!!!!!!1

http://www.mothernature.com/Library/Bookshelf/Books/23/130.cfm
another

Posting what I have learned about shingles in the elderly. Just it might help anyone else.
Most of you will already know some of this, as I did. I knew that it was the same virus as chicken pox, and after chicken pox, the virus lies dormant in the system. Eventually, immunity wears off allowing for the possibility of shingles. This may occur when the general immune system is compromised by any cold, or other infection, or stress,(and don't we all have that.) You can get chicken pox from a shingles patient if you have not already had it, but shingles is not airbourne the way chicken pox can be. The most contagious stage is when blisters have formed and break, until they are truely scabbed over and are healing.
What I did not know, is that the rash can begin with no pain or itching. It may look like a group of bug bites, but starts at a major nerve center. In Mom's case, the base of her spine, and quickly red dots formed across her left buttock and then began to extend down her leg. Seems to be following the sciatic nerve. She still had no itching, fever or pain.
Antivirals must be started within 72 hours of onset, in order to be effective to prevent post herpatic neuralgia and short circuit the discomfort. So any suspicious rash needds to be identified as soon as possible. The antihistamine, Claratin, orally is recommended to control itching, not ointments, although corticosteriods can be useful, if necessary.

Any of us in the over 50 bracket are prime for this, and our LOs are especially at risk, but there is some progress made, in preventing complications if caught very early, the earlier the better.
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/Shingles-Topic-Overview
That is only one useful site. But I urge you all, have your doc examine any unexplained rash any where on your own or your Loved Ones body. The very earliest treatment is most effective, to avoid very unpleasant complications. Hopefully we have caught this in time, Doc seems to think so.
The best way to treat this after meds have been prescribed is to let the leassions be open to the air, but Mom's are on her butt. No way she is going to air her butt. If blisters open, seems like swabbing with wicth hazel is drying and cleansing. Secondary infections are not uncommon. Keep the finger nails short, down to the nub if they won't stop worrying the area, and make sure their hands as well as yours are sanitized.

A few blisters seem to be developing, hopefully they will dry up without breaking. Even with meds, that is not a quareentee. It still has to run a course.
Had to call the weekend night time lady, and tell her what is going on so she can talk to her Mom's Dr. to find out if she can risk this. Any exposure at all. Her Mom has cancer and is having chemo. Immune system at great risk. Chances are slight, but I still had to tell her in advance and give her a chance to decide for herself, with Drs advice, whether she could be at Mom's at all. Gave her the name of Mom's drug and the stage currently experienced. If they tell her not worth the risk, I will have to work extra, will do.

... and a pat on the back for an on-the-ball daughter!

Her Doc saw her at 11:45 this morning. It is shingles, but she isn't feeling it yet. Doc said it waas caught early enough for fam vir to help. May be she won't suffer to much. Thanks everyone. I'm going to buy a present for the CG whose experienced eye IDed this so quickly.

Ok , PCP in the Morning. Don't know if she can take the normal meds becuase of the liver problem she has had. But I'm taking this seriuosly. Suffering is a B**ch at any age. If I can short circuit this for my Mom, that 's gonna happen. Staph, fungus, shingles.? I need an eye and I'm getting one. Love you all.

Mae thats exactly what happened to my friend. No pain at first either then the itchy and finally the pain it traveled midway up his back which is about the time he landed in the hospital.

My aunt had a severe case of shingles.At first she got the rash, then the itching.After they began to dry she experienced the pain.It went in stages.
Because I have never had chicken pox I am afraid , at some time, I will get the shingles.
I was told it is the chicken pox virus that says dormant in the body.Severe stress brings them out.
She had them around the waist line.After they dried up they left scars that finally went away.
She was on pain pills.That was the one time she hallucinated from meds.Soon as the doctor cut the dosage , witin 24 hours, the hallucinations did stop.Everything she saw had no color .Everything was black.Mostly she saw things crawing up the walls and on the floor.

Every image I find is advanced, not initiatory. Everything discusses advance tingling. and then itching and then pain. Just talked to the in charge person for tonight. the "lession" are still there and don't seem to be subsiding. The afternoon CG had properly warned her as I requested to use extra caution. I reinforced that. Mom still says there is no discomfort involved. But what we see is raised red spots and a series of bumps. It will be up to her PCP to direct us. I can't find a clue and herskin condition has been our pride and joy. A major ear mark of her general health. I can't help but help hope it is a bug in her pants, but that should itch. Believe me, she will tell me if she if she has an itch. We keep her nails cut to the nub to avoid having her scratch herself.

According to my doctor I had the worst case of shingles he'd ever seen in 30 yrs of practice. Not a prize I wanted to win. First I had horrible pain on the side of my back & abdomen, he was sure I had hurt myself and sent me for a full body scan--it was negative. Then after a week or so, the rash came and it was shingles. Shingles only happens on one side of the body, so if this is on left & right, it is likely something else. The shots for shingles did not help me, nor did any ointments. If the rash is there, I'd think she'd have pain. But, of course, it has to be checked out.

Does your mom have a home health RN you can call to come do a look-see? So long as there does not appear to be infection and she reports no pain, I would observe for another 24 hours, but no longer if it worsens or shows no signs of healing or disappearing. Although shingles has usual signs and symptoms, it does not always follow the "rules."

It could also be a place where her skin is getting more pressure than another spot. As muscle tone wanes, people's skin tends to get a little saggy-baggy and sometimes folds thinly on itself causing an irritation.

I'm glad you are keeping a sharp eye on her skin condition - as you said, skin breakdowns can be indicative of many other concerns, so you are wise to err on the side of caution.

Hope it's gone tomorrow.

She will see the Pcp tomorrow. who knows what it is. Maybe she will need to see the dermatologist. The condition of her skin has always been an indicater for us about health issues. I can't let this slide. Of course unless it dissappears over night. Not hopeful. Not likely.

Already looked at a few sites about shingles. None recognized the possiblity of no dis comfort even befor rash occurred. So few deal with someone 92.