About three weeks ago, preceded by a couple of weeks of itching, I noticed a red rash on my right lower back which looks like shingles. It's itchy, NOT painful, no real fluid-y blisters, but it's somewhat bumpy. I am pretty sure it's shingles, and via e-mail description my doctor thinks so too (I didn't go see her because it doesn't hurt).
It started out maybe 2 inches high and 4 inches wide (guesstimate).
Over the three weeks, the rash has slowly spread upward and downward (still just on the right side of my spine). Now I'd guess the rash is about 5 x 5 inches.
Does shingles do this--spread vertically?
Thanks,
Nancy (had chickenpox as child, now 55 yrs old)