An Experiment with Borax

Hi Jane,

Alistar deserves all the credit for discovering this.  Per her advice, I’ve been using the borax treatment for about 5 days now. Each day my tissues show improvement, and I’m thrilled.  I think it may take another week or two for complete remission if I keep at it and also watch my diet and my stress level.  I just broke up with my boyfriend, so it’s a struggle at the moment to keep a healthy/peaceful mind and body. 

I also soak in a bath with baking soda every night, and use coconut oil a few times a day (will be trying emu oil soon).

Will post again if I notice any significant changes, or if/when I am completely cleared of this.

Anna

Hi Jane!

I spoke with my husband and he said that he first came across the mention of use of borax on (he's pretty sure) this forum (he was combing through every post that he could). After reading that someone had had some success using it, he googled borax to find out what it exactly is, it's uses, how it can affect the body (ie. is it toxic, can you eat it, etc.). After telling me about it, I did my own research on borax. And interestingly, I did read about it being used to treat lichen planus. The key thing is to make certain you're using borax and not boric acid nor boron which are totally different.

As for an update, things continue to go extremely well. Interestingly I started to have a bit of a flare-up. I say bit because a tiny bit of my clit had turned white-ish and it appeared that I was about to get a purple blood blister on the side of my clit. I've been a bit stressed lately (getting a wire transfer when you're not in the country of your bank is not easy...especially when you're 12 hours ahead!). Well, I did my best to release the stress I've been feeling and of course continued to use the borax and made a point to do a little bit of extra moisturizing with my vitamin E and jojoba essential oil mix, and within a day and a half, the white was gone and the blood blister never fully came to fruition! Yay!

If you decide to try this I cannot emphasize enough, take photos daily so you can see for yourself the changes. That in itself makes a huge difference in your emotional state, that, as we know so greatly affects LS.

I'm gonna try the borax tonight on my clitoral fusion but afraid of applying too much. Do you leave it on there or was it off after a period of time?

Hi Mel,

You just leave it on there.  I'm assuming you are doing the "saturated solution" where you stir in enough sodium borate until it no longer completely mixes with the water.  In the begining, I did the treatment morning and night.  I guess it was for a couple of months, until I started seeing visible results.  Now I still apply it every night, to maintain my results.

Good luck!

Anna

You won't apply too much, don't worry. The saturated sollution is not a paste. Use a cotton swab and gently apply it to the area. Give it several swipes. Again, be sure to take pictures, it will help you through the treatment to know where you started from and how things developed. When I first started this treatment it was amazing to watch as slowly pink started returning, erradicating the white plaque. And yes, when the fusing eventually started to release was even better.

Good luck and keep us posted!

This is all so very exciting! I was diagnosed with LS about 2 years ago but who knows how long I've had it. From how easily I would tear, I imagine quite a long time.  I read about a form of Borax that is safe to consume and was going to give it a try but have yet to order the Himalayan sea salt powder.  I've managed to completely ignore it since being diagnosed but not that I have fusing on both side, I realized - finally - that this isn't just going to go away.  I am going to use the borax I bought and try your remedy.  So excited....stay tuned.

I think I read something about the ban, although I didn't think it was an all-out ban, I thought it was that you could only purchase a small amount. Well, I hope that your order arrives soon as I've had such great results with the borax. I'm also looking at buying some tamanu oil which I've been reading a lot about.

Glad to read that you've been having success with the organic cider vingear. As for the fact that vinegar and borax are opposites, the only thing I can think is that from all I've read, everyone has success with different things! There doesn't seem to be one solution that will cover everyone. I'd like to know how things go for you with a comparison treatment. I have had a couple moments where I felt an itch, but that was because the fusing had released and exposed fresh skin. The itch subsided with an hour or so, basically once my mind was distracted. Then never felt the itch again.

Well borax gets my vote! It arrived and I've made a saturated solution. Then I used vineagar on one side and borax on the other and the borax side is looking much better than the other. I deliberately used it on the worst side as I'd already been using the vineagar for a few weeks on both sides.

The vineagar really helped when I had an itch, and kept the area looking pink and 'puffy' in a good way, but then went no further. I'm going to use only borax now and will report back.

I'm not very good with diet though I'm really careful with refined sugars and coffee which are my triggers. I also found recently that using the bicarb spray made me need to keep needing the toilet, especially at night, and the baths irritated other dry skin so I was itchy all over. I've abandoned it now as the borax is so much stronger. It's that thing of something working well for a while then needing to find new remedies, or at least having a rest from things.

I haven't used steroid for six weeks now and things are no worse.

I've gone back to coconut oil which is working well again. The other oil was nice but not as good. I'll use it when I need a break from coconut again. My washbag is like an alchemy lab!

So that's where I'm at right now.

Thank you so much Alistar for the borax tip.

Bridge

Your story says also again - LS likes variety.  Not sure why that is.

Thanks for the update, Bridge!  I had been doing well on the borax, but March was a difficult month for me, stress wise.  My anxiety shot through the roof and my white areas which had been fading, came back again.  I've managed to calm my stress and things are looking better.  

I was doing baking soda baths every night, which really helped, then began to get itchy skin on my inner thighs, so I'm going to cut down on those.

Regarding oils, I use coconut and emu.  The emu is my favorite, but is quite expensive, so I alternate between them.

The good new is, with using these treatments and meditation, my LS seems to be under control and fading.  I expect to be in complete remission one of these days. :-)

Anna

Just so happy to hear that you're having good results!!

Hi Anna

You say that meditation is helpful, how do I learn to do this? I am going to bet some emu cream to try. Although no cure, is it really possible to go in to remission with LS and continue to enjoy a pain free sex life and have the vagina go back to looking and feeling like beforeLS occurred. Surely there must be some success stories?

I can only speak for myself. While I had some fusing, it was not intense. In using the borax I was able to have the fusing release and my vagina has returned to pink and is looking pretty good! I'm focusing on living as stress free as possible. I've not let this disease hold me back, I moved to Vietnam with my daughter and husband and am living our dream. Sex life is a work in progress as I don't quite have my sex drive back life as my hormones are still a little wonk as I continue to breast feed. But we'll get there.

This gives me hope!

Hi, when you say fusing I get confused, for me it's as though one of my labia minora has disappeared (shrunk into nothing) with a very faint line left on my labia majora on one side, the other side my labia minora is classified as small. Is there any difference or do you think with the shrinkage and trying borax it would come back? Many thanks 

I wish I could give you an answer, but I honestly can't say if it will come back. That being said, I found a site that really explained fusing to clearly to me: http://www.lichensclerosus.net/docs/FUSING.pdf

From what this site says, you should be able to recover from fusing, as in the two parts that are stuck together release. But as mine was quite minor, it seemed to release after continued use of borax over a couple of weeks. I don't have a very big labia minor to begin with, but there definitely wasn't much left of it and now there is definite distinction. My husband, at the start, when applying the borax solution was using a qtip. One day he, albeit gently, went over that line you're talking about repeatedly (not dozens of times, but several times). The next day it was itchy and I thought he'd over-done it. But he hadn't, in fact what happened was some of the fusing unfused. Like I could physically see some white-ish organic material release from that area. The skin was like it was a tear, but was in fact just freshly exposed skin from the releasing of the fusing. Is this making any sense? Anyway, that's what happened for me. I'm continuing to use the solution but cutting back to every other night (started with morning and night applications). I want to see how I react. I continue to apply oils to moisturize though.

Just wrote you a lengthy reply, not sure it'll come up as I tried to include a link to an article about fusing. If it doesn't get accepted I'll rewrite my response

I'm wondering about the shrinkage. I had two areas where I was flat. I didn't know if thats how I always was or if it was areas my labia minora had melted away. I started baking soda baths and wonder of wonders! I have a ridge of labia minora showing. As far as I can tell, it's releasing. But right now on the one side it would appear as a small ridge. (Getting larger!) Wondering if yours also is almost all adhered and will release if you use borax or baking soda. Just a thought. Could it be it looks like it's melting away because it's just gradually adhered to your labia majora? At this point I'm just watching to see what happens. I can't totally remember what it all looked like before but I think it was totally flat at that spot. I'm excited to see this unfolding!

Hi,

thanks for your message. I've been using the bicorbante of soda but on a tissue to pat down after the toilet. The using either coconut oil or Emuaid. I don't have the option of a bath. Maybe I'm wondering if I'm doing enough? Some days I think I see a little hope/sign, but others not. Maybe it's adhered but the vulva doc said I had small inner labia. I just thought they had shrunk due to the LS. I'm wondering what to do next! Many thanks for your thoughts 😊

Hi Sandra, sorry, do you mind me asking over what sort of time frame you see these changes please? Thanks, Samantha

Thanks Alistar, I'm wondering if I can find Borax here in the Middle East where I am. Are there any particular brands you suggest? 😊 Samantha

I don't mind you asking. I would say it took at least a month till I wondered if I was seeing a change. That's a very rough guess.

I wish I knew exactly what I looked like before but I rarely looked at my lady parts until shortly before diagnosis. I had asked my Gyno if he thinks I'm fused. He sounded puzzled and said he doesn't think so. I guess we all look so different. I have one labia minora that's significantly smaller than the other. Was that how I always looked? I don't think so but I don't know for sure! My clue that it actually is fusing is seeing that ridge ever so slowly getting larger.

Excellent link, thank you, it's so difficult as the general dermatologist told me yesterday I had atrophy, I just don't know if it's atrophy or LS fusing (biopsy confirmed LS). Sometimes I wish there was a definitive answer! 

I soak in a bathtub with approx 1/3 cup baking soda about 20 min every other day.

We took pictures daily. I've never had such a regular visual relationship with my vagina before! But, it helped me see what was happening.

Interesting read. So she's saying with fusing it's reversible but probably not if its atrophy?

Thanks, I've been using the wipe of bicarbonate soda for about three months. Maybe it's not enough. I too had no idea what I looked like! Why would we! I do know I have small labia minora on one side as I can see it and have taken pictures. The other side is like a seam either fused or shrunk/atrophied! I'll try and take another picture this week as I do look often now! Many thanks 

That is a good idea. I have kids, including some teenagers and they're sometimes on my phone. I don't know how to ensure they wouldn't see the pictures!

Maybe I will have to think out of the box and see what I can find as an alternative to a bath (I only have a shower!) thanks

Unfortunately I don't know the names of any brands. I didn't start using borax for my LS until I got here (Vietnam). I get it in the local market and it is literally handed to me in a block that I have to pound down - they use it to keep away ants, it's a very versatile product! While I did use it in Canada to wash my daughter's cloth diapers, I purchased it at a shop that specialized in "bring your own container", so I have no idea what the name of the brand was. I'd be surprised if they don't have it in the middle east...you just have to figure out the name for it. Where are you?

Mine are locked in a photo vault with a password and I also have a fingerprint lock on my phone.

I'll try and look next week as I'm working this week, thanks. I'm in Kuwait! Having been to Vietnam I think we don't have more variety in shops than you do!

I wish you the best. It's a lot of trial and error. I'm thinking it actually was probably longer than a month that I was using it.

its a tough disease to deal with. I have times I handle it fine and then I have a set back and am so discouraged and anxious about it.

I think one lady on here used a sitz bath or basin to do her soaks.

I think it comes down to semantics. But again, I'm not expert. Can atrophy happen with LS? Or is it all fusing? If it were all fusing then it would seem like with the right treatment, that fusing would release and women who have seemingly "lost" their vaginas could regain them. Sounds too simple. Ugh, such a complicated disease!

A photo vault with a password... Hmm. Should check that out! Thanks.

Get a somewhat shallow plastic bowl/tub, or if there a sitz bath basin you can get your hands on. Just as long as it's deep enough that your bits can be submerged, or even if you have to sit forward to get them in.

Thanks, I'll investigate the bathing options next week. So 20 minutes it is every couple of days?

With the borax, I'm assuming your not bathing in it? Do you make it up everyday or one batch which lasts a few days? I'll investigate if they sell it here soon!

We made a saturated solution - basically had some water, added borax to it slowly, stirring for dissolving; once borax would no longer dissolve within the water you've got yourself a saturated solution. We usually make about a 1/3 of a cup or half a cup. It lasts us a couple of weeks generally. In the last while instead of applying with a q-tip we would soak a cloth in it and lay it over my vag, leaving it on for as long as I wanted. Since I don't do the baths (like you, I don't have a bath here), I can't comment on the amounts or length of time. Hmm, what about a small kiddie pool? I've got a tiny blow-up pool for my one year old. It's super small Would they have that in Kuwait? I'm sure you can find a large, shallow plastic tub, but the pool could be another option. Perhaps a more comfortable one

I'd be surprised if they don't have it in Kuwait, it just may take a little bit of work to find it. Initially I was told that they don't sell it in Vietnam anymore, but then I posted on an expat page for my area asking if anyone knew where to find it and I had a couple of leads. One of them panned out...I get a kilo for $1 US.

Hi Kippy,

As far as meditation goes, you can use a variety of means, but what I do is I find a quiet place (every day), lie down and close my eyes.  I take a few deep breaths, then tell myself to relax deeper with each breath, then count backward from 10 to 0.  After that I begin to breath in and out a bit deeper than before and visualize I am breathing into my feet, take several breaths and feel your feet relax. Then move on to your legs, and all the way, bit by bit, up your body.  Then I go back to my bladder (I have IC too) and visualize I’m breathing healing light into my bladder. I spend extra time there, then move on to my vagina.  You should be feeling very relaxed by then, and can either stop, or go deeper and visualize you are in a beautiful place in nature, and your body is in perfect health and you feel joy. 

I have a mind/body audio program that teaches how powerful our mind is in healing ourselves.  And though, I don’t know if LS can be completely cured, I do know that it can be improved.

As for sex, I was diagnosed after I had been in a relationship for several months.  Sex was painful at first, but I chalked it up to being post-menopausal, but over time I was able to enjoy it again.  Just make sure you are fully aroused and use lubrication if you need it.

With my meditation, baking soda baths, the application of the borax treatment, and use of emu and coconut oils, my vagina is beginning to look normal again.  Half of one of my labia minora is gone, but the rest of it is plump and looking pinker every day.

Anna

Hi Anna

I am very grateful for your in depth response to all my questions, it is a relief to hear that LS can be controllef. The mind/!body healing programme, where can I get that from please? Also the emu is that Purple Emu and is it oil or cream? Once again thank you very much. I hope you are still doing well.

Tania

Oh wow, great thanks, I'm planning to look after the weekend and see what I can find 😊😊 Kuwait can be rather challenging with many products banned here 😳😟

Hi Kippy,

The audio program I listen to is The Mind-Body Code by Mario Martinez.  It's an mp3 format. It's also a book. I'm in the US, but I assume you can download it from anywhere in the world.  I don't think I can give you the web address without getting my message blocked, but the site is called sounds true.  You could do a search for it.

The emu oil I have and ordered online is just called pure emu oil. There could be many other excellent brands out there, it's just the only one I've tried so far. It's an oil and is not purple.

Good luck!

Anna

Thanks Anna, I will look on line :-)

No doubt! Things fluctuate quite a bit here. I just got back last night from Cambodia and I couldn't log onto this site. There are several site blocked, but that can change. Fingers crossed that you can find borax!!

Hi, I can't find it in Kuwait. Do you have any idea where it can be bought in UK please? I can only see Borax substitute on Amazon. Not sure if this is correct? Many thanks 

Hi Samantha, Try searching for sodium  borate.  That's what Borax is made  of.  It's also listed as sodium tetraborate.

Anna

Many thanks, I'll try that!

Hi Alistair,a couple of the woman on this site directed me to your thread. I just have to tell how peaceful and excited I am reading about your success and that of others! I was diagnosed less then 2 months ago and am fusing very quickly 😥 I am so excited to get on with this program of using the saturated Borax solution! I have also started taking Borax baths and using a light Borax solution after voiding followed by Vit E.

Which I am using very frequently. Thank you and everyone for sharing your trials and successes!

Wow, I'm so glad that someone told you about the thread. I was just mentioning to my husband, and even posted here, that I wished more women knew about this. Obviously I don't know how it will work for anyone else, but when I hear all the positive results from those that have tried, it leaves me so optimistic for those that are just learning about this disease or who have been suffering without reprieve. Make sure to take photos, especially at the beginning. It really does help to have a visual reference to be able to truly know if a change is taking place. I'm in a good place now with my lichen...I feel at peace, I don't stress because I know I've got a treatment that works for me.

Please do touch base, let us know how things are going.

I use borax and baking soda. 2 tsp of each in a cup of warm bottled waterMix and put in a sprayer. After each bathroom visit I spray area and pat dry with tissue.Mine just started in Feb. 2017

I used the bottled water just as a precaution

Thank you Alistar for the link on fusing. Very informative and very encouraging. Thanks.

 

Micheline, this is the thread with the link to the fusing document. I don't want to try reposting as it has to go through the moderator because it's a link and I don't know, maybe they won't approve it again??

Scroll up in this thread. It was posted 12 months ago. The link will be highlighted in red (at least on my computer it is). It was in a response to Samantha.

It's ok Alistar. I'll try and find it. If I don't, I'll look in my folder in my computer. I've saved a lot of important information from this thread. I'll let you know, when I have found it. Now, I have to go to bed. It's late here.

Thanks Alistar

Alistar, I found it!! Thank you so much for your trouble! This morning, everything is worse. I guess it doesn't like to be bombarded by the estrogen and the clobetasol at the same time. I'll have to figure out some other way. Maybe apply the clob during the day and the estrogen at night. Not sure. I think they're both reacting to each other. I'm hoping that will work until May 4th when the 3 weeks are over and I'll be applying the clob 3 times a week. I'm hoping.

Thanks Alistar.

Hi everyone,

Here's an update from me. According to the Vulva Clinic, I've had this disease for 5 years, of which I wasn't even aware. I probably didn't have any symptoms which can sometimes happen, or I wasn't watching close enough which probably I wasn't at that time. They took a swab instead of a biopsy, for which I am grateful.

When I think back 5 years ago in 2012, I remember being so stressed, it was surreal. For a whole year I was stressed to the breaking point due to family issues. That's when my LS began apparently. Now I know what caused it. Stress. And yes it is a tendency of mine to become very tense with stress. So be careful with stress. The family problem is now solved, but it gave me this permanent disease.

Right now, I'm anxiously waiting for May 4 when my 3 weeks are up. I've read that if it hasn't improved by the 2nd week but at least the 6th week, you have to go back to your doctor or clinic. You can't leave it in that state or it could eventually lead to something more serious. I have to keep an eye on it because sometimes I go to urinate, and i have trouble, like there's something blocking. I know that in the what they call the "vestibule" the area where the urethra is, there are two white lines growing beside it. I hope they don't fuse, or I'm in trouble. I may start using the Borax solution on them before May 4 if it gets any worse. Any suggestions for this? Or has anyone else have this? Also, should I use the clob on those first? I've read not to use the clob in that area. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks for any help guys!.

Start the borax Michel, th sooner the better.

Hi Hanny,

Thanks for your reply Hanny. I will start applying the borax solution with a Q-tip to those areas. I needed encouragement from someone and you came and saved the day for me. Thank you so much Hanny. If that's not the way I should apply it, let me know.  Hope you're doing ok.

A q-tip works fine. I've also used cotton balls and the flat cotton discs. Alistar mentioned soaking a cloth in it and letting it sit on the area for about 30 minutes when she first started using it. I would start light and then add more as you feel comfortable. I haven't had any adverse reactions despite the amount, but a few other people have. Good luck! Keep your head up!

Thanks Bchatham,

I have a question. Your suggestions are great on what to use. Yes, I want to start light probably with a Q-tip because it's a very precise area. What I want to know is what to do after I apply it with a Q-tip. Do I apply it once, twice, or more times? Do I leave it on and for how long or do I rinse it off after? Or do I just leave it on and forget it.

Thank you so much.

I usually leave it on and forget it. I just try to make sure everything I need covered is covered. I do morning and night, but some people do it after every bathroom trip. You can't really mess it up!

Ok thank you BChatham. Tomorrow sometime I will prepare the solution and dab it on and wait and see what happens. I will report back after a few days of doing this. Hope it works.

Thanks ever so much!

I seem to be a little sensitive to it. I use it once a day every other day at this point. Don't get discouraged if this happens. Just cut back a little bit. Good luck!

Well, I've started using the Q-tip with the Borax (1/2 tsp in 1/2 cup warm water) but it didn't help at all. It made a bit more fusing on my labia. Maybe the portions are not right? Maybe these portions are more for the rinsing after bathroom visits. I'm a bit scared of using this I guess.

Dear Micheline,  it won't work after a few times.  You need to work with Borax or baking soda for that matter for a much longer period of time before you see and notice any changes. 

Yeah, like Hanny said, you're going to have to give it a bit. I was in a pretty bad flare up when I first started and I think it was about a week and a half before I noticed a difference in the itching and stinging. It tends to take months to affect the fusing from what most have reported.

Oh I know Hanny. I've read all the posts. I'm not giving up by any means. When I'm more ready, I'll try it again. I looked again and my labia is where it was before and that's ok, for now anyway. I just didn't want it to be worse. I'll have to wait a while. Right now, the whole area is not burning, but chafing a bit. I'll be tuning in later. Thanks Hanny.

Thanks for the message BChatham. Yes, I know it takes time. I was just a bit freaked out that it was worse, but when I looked again a bit later, it was where it was before. I just have to get the clob out of the way and that's May 4th. Then I'll be free to dedicate the alternate days to Borax and Baking Soda.

So glad the atrophy seems to be gone quite a bit, probably the work of the Premarin. Before, it was awful. The area seemed to be seized and hard (terrifying) now it's soft and supple thank god. So, that's better. Just have to keep an eye on that vestibule where the urethra is in the meantime. Thanks.

Thanks for the kind words Melissa. It may be that I'm sensitive to it also. Just have wait and see. Thanks.

Maybe some of you heard already, but just wanted to let you know guys just in case that it's official it is not fat that is causing heart attacks. Guess what it is?? I heard on CBC last night a report from all the cardiologists that the culprits that are damaging our hearts are: guess what?? Bread (wheat), sugar, and pasta!! Shows how bad sugar and wheat are! Look at the reaction we get from them. And now pasta. I don't mind giving up sugar, but bread and pasta? I love my spaghetti and my sandwiches!! It's all about inflammation that's caused by them. Anyway, a bit of news and it is related.

Alas nothing is easy with this disease, and everything takes time. I can understand your fear and paranoia, we all have experienced it. There's nothing scarier than thinking/feeling/watching as such a delicate, personal area transforms into something else. This treatment, so far, has helped so many, and hopefully it will help you as well. Keep us posted and be sure to document (take pictures) once you decide to start the treatment (whatever your borax treatment looks like for you). The pictures will help you see what's happening, how (any) changes are taking effect. And if there are changes, those pictures will really help bolster your attitude towards this disease and help keep the stress at bay! Good luck and we'lre here if you need us!

Thanks so much Alistar. Yes and it doesn't help either when you have a whacky low thyroid. Now, I have to have it raised to overcome my depression, and other ailments caused by a low thyroid. I'm not keen on having it raised but sometimes you have to. It goes like a bouncing ball, up and down, up and down. So watch your thyroid and check how you're feeling.

I don't have an i-phone to take photos, and my kids are after me to get one. Maybe this is the right time to get one. Still not sure how you take a photo when you're alone. But I'll try. Thank god for this site and you guys!!

Unfortunately LS and thyroid issues are both autoimmune issues. And once you've got one autoimmune issue, it is very likely you will find yourself with others. Managing these challenges is just that, a challenge. But as we've all noted, stress is a HUGE contributor. Do what you can to minimize that, and you'll be making some headway!! Good luck!

Thank you Alistar. You are exactly right. I was appalled to learn that you can gain up to 7 autoimmune diseases. I surely will be forever striving to minimize the stress. There are things you can do, but as you know it's easier said than done.

One of the things is meditation to control stress. Stress is also listed as one of the culprits along with the carbs (sugar, bread, and pasta) for heart attacks in the article I retrieved from CBC. That's why I said the report is related to us in a way. Yes, I noted your posts where you say when you get stressed, you know a flare-up is coming. It was the main trigger for me back in 2012 which started it.

You can do whatever for this disease fairly easily and some not so easily, apply the meds, the creams, the ointments, wear cotton panties, etc., etc. Diet is another thing you can do. I'm starting the Mediterrenean diet which is widely recommended. I googled it. I did my DNA and I'm 41% Mediterranean anyway. There are a couple more healthy diets. Exercise is another one if you're free of pain, itch, and burn.

You can do all these things, but when you talk about stress, that's a really hard one to deal with, especially if you're alone. I have 3 sons and love them deeply but can't share this with them.

Again, as stated many times before, everybody is different. My way seems to be to talk and write a lot, as you can see by my long-winded replies. And I love to write. This helps me to get it out of my system, and I can thank this site for this. I don't feel so alone then.

Reading is another one of my hobbies and I am reading everything I can find about it. I'm thankful for the Internet for this where I found this wonderful group and so many sites. It's a godsend for every person with this horrible disease, and especially for people alone.

I just wish the medical profession were more sympathetic and helpful for us. I wish more funds were dedicated for research. For the horrible effects we feel from this disease, surely warrants a section somewhere at the Vulva Clinic, for instance, where they offer counselling. That would be a great help for stress.

But no, you go in, register, brought to a room, told to disrobe, lie down, examined, get maybe one sentence of information, given a prescription and told to come back in 6 months. You can ask questions, but you'll get automated unflexible replies according to their policy. 

Well, I guess it is up to us to march on and do our best to keep up our good hard work towards healing.

Thank you for letting me vent, and thank you Alistar.

 

Dear all

It warms my heart to hear of the success stories with borax. I have bought some and am about to start using it. My difficulty is that living on my own and not being very flexible, it is virtually impossible to see what I am doing, I just have to feel my way around :-)  What I have found is that if I put my ipad on top of the loo seat and squat over it I can get pictures of a kind. Apologies for the rather disturbing images that might conjure up :-) but it took me a few months to discover that solution so just mentioning it in case it comes in useful for others. 

I think only someone personally affected by LS could possibly understand what it feels like to have your femininity eroded in this way, like an enforced sex change. What would we all do without this forum? Blessings to you all X 

I'm glad you are making the effort to take photos. I sincerely feel they benefit. They really help you see if and when the changes for the better start to occur. And when the changes start to occur the anxiety starts to subside, and since that's such a huge contributor, wow, even better!

Hi Joanne43,

I am just wondering how much Borax you are using for a Bath.  I want to start bathing with the Borax but I am not sure how much I should use for the bath

I think I've read through the entire thread. My story / history is 12 years with LS. I have extreme damage and am having such a bad flare up, the area of white is all encompassing... front, back... I started with borax tonight and am putting just a little hope there that it can start to make some small improvements. 

I have one spot that keeps fusing / unfusing and skin is chafing off in the crack and is red and raw. In all these years, I've never had that and it's scaring me. Has anyone experienced something like this? I've been STRESSING hardcore for a while now. I'm just 38 years old. I have 2 beautiful daughters, the youngest just 7 months old, and I have become obsessed that I might not survive this. I am doing everything I can to not turn that into a self-fulfilling prophecy, the mind-body connection is so very real, but when you're pushed to your own personal limits... it's hard to keep the positivity going.

How is everyone doing now? I'm happy I found this board. Needed to vent. I'm not alone, but I feel it often. Or that I'm unworthy of health. Been a challenging day for my mental health, but one foot in front of the other, and I'll get where I'm going. I'm happy to give this a try. I've not come across borax outside of soaks and internal, but this will be easier and quicker for me to give it my best.

Has anyone tried the borax solution on a VERY advanced stage of disease? I worked very hard to turn it around years ago, but since having my first child... I've been in a state of rapid decline. Thanks

Hi. Paradis.. I buy my borax from Amazon...take ditz bath every. day until you feel much better...in sitz.bath use about 1 teaspoon of borax and 1 teaspoon.. In the hottest water possible that you're comfortable with

For about 10-20 minutes each day or night...know you have your hands full with 2 little children...follow up with good oil such as Emu oil ...get it from Amazon also....I also used vitamin.B and vitamin e oil mixed together and apply with a. Q tip..vitamin b is hard to get but I be live I got it from Amazon also..all helped me ...right now I am in remission..but worry all the time..wishing you much healing..let me know how yo u are doing....JoAnn