Since I can not inadvertently contradict anyone else if I am first to jump on a thread, I'm going for it . . .

You can get shingles back in the same place, but it is very uncommon and highly unusual to not build up immunity to the virus (zoster/herpes zoster) after the first outbreak. It is also extremely uncommon (if not unheard of) to have it 6 – 15 times a year, year after year.

http://www.shingles.com/info/tools/r...45006437114131

Your story reminds me of how often I used to get oral cold sores; herpes simplex 1. Any time I was under stress, fatigued, in the wind . . . up popped these blisters. To the best of my knowledge, this virus can be transferred to other areas of the body, including our privates.

The other thought is herpes simplex 2, which is also recurring, and normally found below the waist:

http://www.healthatoz.com/healthatoz.../cold_sore.jsp

Another thought that come to mind is Lupus, although I have not researched this disease at all:

Lupus:
http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/weba...=103&zoneid=17

Attached is a link to many skin conditions; perhaps you will recognize it:

Skin:
http://dermatlas.med.jhmi.edu/derm/

Cherie

It does not look like this one.
http://health-pictures.com/skin/lupus-skin.htm

Great!

One down, 300 more options to go.

BTW, oral cold sores (and/or genital herpes) look and feel like shingles, but not normally as painful from what I understand.

Cherie

Yes, good advice. You may want to see A Rhuematologist who specializes in hundreds of auto immune diseases, esp with rashes.

Good luck, Jan

MX7, there are so many things that can cause a rash. I would definitely have it looked at the next time it happens. This way the dr (pcp, dermatologist, rheumy, or whatever dr you choose to see for it) can see it and better diagnose it.

Good point tkrik,

I was a bit worried last year because I had what I thought might have been a genital herpes outbreak (sure felt the same as my oral cold sores), which I thought might have been passed from a cold sore. I was kinda scared to find out, actually.

My doc took a swab of the area and sent it for testing. It turned out to be a bacterial infection and was easily treated with polysporin.

Cherie

I did try many times with my last PCP but never could get in soon enough, she saw it a few times after the blister stage and said she thought it was shingles.

Celiac disease can cause blister like out breaks also.
If you can not get in to the doctor right away take a picture of the rash. That way you will have it documented and that may help the doctor.

LA

Good point!

Maybe a good rheumy could really help you out MX7. Do you currently go to one?

Does all this have something to do with your worsening symptoms of MS? What got worse?