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What Causes Swelling In The Left Side Of The Abdomen While Having Shingles?

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Posted on Fri, 11 Nov 2016
Question: Swelling/relatively flat but roundish protrusion on left side of abdomen about one week after onset of shingles? No pain.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Klarida Papaqako (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Please kindly provide some needed information to understand better

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Thank you for using HCM to post your question.
I read it carefully and I understand your concern.

So, what I understand is that you have no rash, but you have one week with shingles? What were the symptoms you had? How was shingles determined?

Is the swelling related to the area where is believed may be shingles? Can you post a photo of the swelling? Is the area of the swelling red or inflamed/painful to touch? Have you lifted heavy weights these days before you noticed the swelling? Does the swelling becomes more prominent if you cough or hardened the muscles of the abdomen?

The swelling may be a skin condition but may be an abdominal hernia. In order for me to understand and give accurate advice I will need to know as much information as possible. So looking forward to your follow-up question.

Regards,
Dr.Papaqako
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Klarida Papaqako (5 hours later)
I had extreme itching and pain for 6 or 7 days. After that, the itching ended and the pain started to slowly subside. The swelling appeared when the itching ceased. I still have pain, but much less than initially and tolerable.

I was diagnosed by a GP the second day I experience the itching and severe pain. The area that was affected was my left side from my spine to my navel between my rib cage and my hip.

The swelling is about 1 to 1-1/2 inches high and 6-8 inches in diameter. It's as though someone had taken a 1 inch slice off a basketball and placed it under my skin. It appears more prominently when I stand but does not change when I cough or attempt to lift something heavy like past hernias did. (2 over 72 years).

Where is my response?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Klarida Papaqako (32 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Consider an ultrasound of the abdomen and soft tissues.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Apologies for the delayed response.

It is quite hard to understand how does it look. A photo would have helped a lot.
So, what I understand from your description is that even if it doesn't feel like a hernia, it still can be a hernia. And also it can be gas under the sink from the atypical herpes you have had, or even a different form of herpes that is appearing not with vesicles like the usual herpes. But, I notice that the swelling it is going according to the dermatoma (nerves in the skin) which is very common for herpes.

So, my recommendations would be:
-- To consider doing an abdominal ultrasound including that of the soft tissues so you rule out a hernia or gas under the skin.
-- If one of the other of the above possibilities is negative, then most probably it is just herpes, and it will take some time to go away, but will go away eventually when the herpes symptoms will heal.
-- It may also be a spleen enlargement, or bowel enlargement (very uncommon though) but the ultrasound will rule them out too.

Hope I have answered your question.
Let me know if you need more clarifications.

Regards,
Dr. Papaqako

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
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Answered by
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Dr. Klarida Papaqako

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2010

Answered : 1804 Questions

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What Causes Swelling In The Left Side Of The Abdomen While Having Shingles?

Brief Answer: Please kindly provide some needed information to understand better Detailed Answer: Hello, Thank you for using HCM to post your question. I read it carefully and I understand your concern. So, what I understand is that you have no rash, but you have one week with shingles? What were the symptoms you had? How was shingles determined? Is the swelling related to the area where is believed may be shingles? Can you post a photo of the swelling? Is the area of the swelling red or inflamed/painful to touch? Have you lifted heavy weights these days before you noticed the swelling? Does the swelling becomes more prominent if you cough or hardened the muscles of the abdomen? The swelling may be a skin condition but may be an abdominal hernia. In order for me to understand and give accurate advice I will need to know as much information as possible. So looking forward to your follow-up question. Regards, Dr.Papaqako