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I honestly don't know how to survive this right now

Posted , 16 users are following.

donna18720
donna18720

I was just dx today after a year of treatment for yeast uti etc. Last Thursday I started burning and all I could think was how fast I could stop it. Saw my GP Monday and she gave me the same Diflucan and said good luck. I went back today and she did a pelvic. Said yep you have AV and pretty severe inflam. She prescibed estradiol daily and prednisone for 8 days. I am burning so badly and as I read these comments I'm scared to death. Isn't there anything for the burning? Any cooling thing you can apply. I should have gotten something for anxiety , I haven't slept for almost a week. The best moment of the last week was when she put the lub in to examine me. Should I get a gyn? My husband just doesn't understand how bad this is

1 like, 48 replies

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  • paisleygirl
    paisleygirl donna18720

    Posted

    Hi Donna I have been dealing with the same thing for a bit now first a UTI with ecoli then the burning and frequent urination and bladder pressure and lower back ache of what the doctor has said is atrophy... I have started using an ice pac to help with the burning even when sleeping at night and am also finding that vitamin e oil put on the raw area has helped me immensely..I wasn't able to sleep at all with all the burning and frequent urination even throughout the night....I am also using replens which is helping me as well ...I feel for you and hope you find some relief soon

    • donna18720
      donna18720 paisleygirl

      Posted

      Thank you I will try an ice pack tonight. What is replens ? Is it over the counter? I've cried all day like a two year old. I'm 62 ! I just never saw this coming. It seems like they would make SOMETHING to cool the burning !

    • peg30370
      peg30370 donna18720

      Posted

      Agree the Replens should help, and also try coconut oil. Vagisil is another OTC cream that will give you temporary relief. Nothing wrong with trying an ice pack either. Be sure you're using a non soap cleanser as well, since soap will irritate and dry your tender tissue. Now that you've been diagnosed, you will start to feel better, but be patient.

    • donna18720
      donna18720 peg30370

      Posted

      Thank you. It's three am and I am imagining being in this much pain forever

    • paisleygirl
      paisleygirl donna18720

      Posted

      Hi Donna I know exacly how you feel I cried like a big baby the other day it hurt so bad but I am getting so much relief now I am using the replens 3x week to start with and I have found the vitamin e is starting to heal the inflamed area there  and the ice pac works wonders ...I also spoke with someone on another forum and they have actually put small pieces of ice inside the vagina so I tried it the other day and it gave instant relief for a little bit ...hey I know it sounds weird but anything is worth the relief ...hope you are feeling some relief soon ........Cheers
    • beverly52803
      beverly52803 paisleygirl

      Posted

      I would be careful applying ice direclty to your skin. Could damage tissues.
  • beverly52803
    beverly52803 donna18720

    Posted

    Donna, if you have had these problems for a year, but have only been treated by a GP, I really think you need to see a specialist. Certianly start with a gynecologist. Are you actually testing positive for yeast or is the doctor assuming it?

    There are other threads on this site where women have mentioned different things they have tried, prescription and non-prescription to alleviate the burning. Try looking for those. My symptoms are not extreme. At the start of menopause I did have terrible burning and inflammation that was misdiagnosed. When I was finally prescribed Flagyll (as I had requested when it first began) the raging discomfort and burning subsided. It was a non-specific infection and that was the magic pill for me. What I have now is AV, but with manageable symptoms. Coconut oil and Vit E suffice for me. 

    Make an appointment as soon as you can, and search through this site for other recommendations. Wishing you well.

    • donna18720
      donna18720 beverly52803

      Posted

      No they never tested for it just assumed. I have a urine culture pending  but last time that came back neg how ever they  treated me for UTI anyway and my symptoms went away. This time nothing has helped.Basically estradiol is my only chance.
    • beverly52803
      beverly52803 donna18720

      Posted

      both internal & external. put it in the fridge to solidify it enough to get it inside.

  • samantha1970
    samantha1970 donna18720

    Posted

    Hi Donna, I recommend you to go and see a vulva dermatologist if possible. In the meantime, lidocaine may help to easy some pain for you to get a little sleep. Good luck.
    • donna18720
      donna18720 samantha1970

      Posted

      Hi I will try to see if I can find that specialist. I cannot use lidocaine I've had a major allergic reaction to it when I was having dental surgeryBut I am grateful for all the replies

  • susan556
    susan556 donna18720

    Posted

    Hi Donna oh how i do feel for you and a hubby that doesnt understand how these things make us feel as well.  What did the dr, give you for the year of treatment you had, Did they take swabs to diagnose you properly? Are you using pant liners as these can cause irritation, my mum ended up with terrible red inflammation, turned out to be the pant liners she was using, many have bleach in them! There is a company which make safe none irritating ones, pm me if you want the name of them.  Dont suppose anyone has adviced you to keep of sugar have they say sugar feeds bacteria especially thrush and UTI type. I presume you have both a burning when you go to wee and the burning even when your not? Id personally buy some good quality probiotics and i find that drinking a half teaspoon full  of bicarb of soda in a glass of water helps with the burning as does taking a jug of warm water with a little bicarb in it and pour this over the area as and after you go to wee if we are talking about UTI causing the burning in the urthra area? But maybe if your now so sore i dont honestly know. Also buy a quality yoghurt with live cultures in and rub some of this into the sore area may help, they even recommend this for sun burn and it works quickly as well. presume your not wearing nylon underwear or tight fitting trousers, all of which will aggravate but im sure you have found this out already, when i had a bad flare up i had to wear dresses or skirts, couldnt bear the seams of anything pressing onto me.  You could have candida as well, look it up on google, can affect any where in the body this. Mean while try the probiotics and the yoghurt method and keep of sugery foods and alchohol as well. Why was it the best moment when she put the lab into you? i find this very painfull myself. 

    Sue 

    • donna18720
      donna18720 susan556

      Posted

      Thank you for your answer and help. I'm so confused . I was on bactrim and she had me stop taking it, also had used diflacan but neither were working this time. My NP acted like treating for yeast and UTI was pointless since she said today it was AV. But the more I read here having AV doesn't mean you don't still have a UTI and can even be more prone to them. 

      They have not swabbed me to test for anything. And I don't use pantiliners but it sounds as if I might need something when I start the vaginal estrogen Friday. 

      I will try all ideas right now as I sit on an ice pack. This is crazy how I went from mild uti's and dryness to unbelievable non stop burning.

      What do you think of the use of prednisone to calm down the inflamation?

      I have worn only cotton underware for years. But I haven't worn any this past week I can't stand anything touching me. I am an artist and my first Fall show is in a week, I have no idea how I will get through that

      I meant the second of relief I felt was when she put a cool lubricant in first before she put it the speculem. The examine itself was horribly painful

    • susan556
      susan556 donna18720

      Posted

      Donna that is so not good that they never even swabbed you, Your right of course   having AV doesn't mean you don't still have a UTI and can even be more prone to them.

      I was put on Vagifem  pesseries for atrophy, they helped a lot but i was one of those who had to stop using them due to return of bleeding, im 65 63 when this happened and then had to go for a scan to check the lining of my womb hadnt thickened which it hadnt, so that was that, now on nothing for the dryness and have just had a bout of an UTI as well.  This is when i discovered the bicarb helped, had to take two lots of antibiotics as well before it cleared.

       Ive read that some women use a brand of nappy cream to ease the sorness and protect the area. Poor you like this and a first full show in a week. hopefully the vaginal estrogen will kick in before then and give you some relief and yes you will need to wear pant liners i think. buy the natracare organic ones , ill give the link if you want it. Oh i get what you meant now by the cold lubricant, yes i would imagine that did feel  good as well. but the rest of it no! So painfull was my last smear test that ive avoided one ever since and being nagged by my family to go get it done! Never hurt at all in the earlier years, strange that.

      So many ladies have benefited with the estrogen and no side affects, good luck with that

      Sue x.

    • Sunflower13
      Sunflower13 susan556

      Posted

      Hi Susan I was reading your post I am having  a lot of problems  with yeast and ac and you mentioned in your post that you  could  recommend the pant liners that are safe and non irritating. Thanks so much .
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