Posted , 13 users are following.
Hello, I am suffering from excrutiating discomfort when passing stools. I have been using a cream for fissures which is not helping. Can anyone tell me if it is safe to use betnovate steroid cream, which I am already using on my vulva, on the anal area too? My appointment with the heamarroid Specialist is not for another two weeks and the thought of being frightened to go to the toilet is daunting. Thankyou.
0 likes, 34 replies
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mandy93178 christine80363
Posted
I also have L.S, I've had it for years. however, the sort of pain your describing is the same as I had, it turned out to be a prolapse. I had this fixed by operation privately. however, it came back, and had another operation. perhaps you can see if this what you might have?
Mandy
deethebee christine80363
Posted
I often have a sore anus and it is always to do with the LS. It grows in a figure of eight around the vulva and the anus area and so you must apply the steroid ointment. I was told by my LS specialist that we do not use enough of the steroid cream and that we should be using about the amount of the first section of your little finger if that makes sense. the LS remains active in a cycle of six weeks and so if you are having a flare up or extreme symptoms then you should apply the steroid ointment for 6-weeks every night and then every other night for 3 weeks and gradually cut it down and use when needed. But i am not a doctor so you should ask about this.
pamela70431 deethebee
Posted
this treatment regime is basically what my gynaecologist said to me.
christine80363 deethebee
Posted
Thank you, yes it does look like a figure of eight too!! I worried about putting the steroid cream there as my Gastroenterologist gave me other cream, for fissures and hemmeroids so didnt want to mix them. I am seeing him next week when I can inform him of my Gyne's diagnosis, he may realise that the fissure he is treating me for is LS and treat differently now. I was not aware of the 6 week cycle but can see now that is how long the initial treatment is recommended. Lots to learn. I wish you could just take an oral dose of steroids to kick it into touch!! Thank you for responding.
pamela70431 christine80363
Posted
do not be hesitant to use the steroid cream around your anus. i have the same problem. i am ripped front to back. there is no mercy with this git of a disease. i unfortunately have LS where there is no flare up, mine is utterly continuous and has been for around 10 yrs. i wouldn't wish this disease on my worst enemy. with your stool passing , try and keep them soft rather than firm. you will know what works for you. if you don't know what works for you try buying some lactulose which is a stool softener.
feel better x
christine80363 pamela70431
Posted
Hi, thank you for your reply. Isnt it bloody awful this, I thought dealing with the menopause was enough but now have this to negotiate around my life. Im guessing sex is out of the question now just the thought of it makes me petrified. I am on stool softeners and have cut rubbish from my diet, however any size stool is like passing a lorry just so sore. I will start using the steroid cream in that area from tonight and see if there is some relief. Thank you.
deethebee christine80363
Posted
get it on there asap, you will notice the difference very quickly. Try eating 3 prunes every day (they are a superfood) and drink plenty of water, stools will be smoother to pass.
Guest christine80363
Posted
The soreness, I have read in the ed journals, is from the white cells that infiltrate the layer under the epithelium (to p skin layer) and there are few to no veins/capillaries in that layer. Basically the skin gets screwed up. Have you tried collagen peptides? Can buy over the counter. I have some new brand and will begin taking today.
Best wishes. Do not give up. We are all here for each other.
christine80363 Guest
Posted
Hi Eggbiscuit,
Thank you for the information, very interesting. Have you heard that collagen rectifies this as I have not heard this and would try anything if it helps. Thank you x
Guest christine80363
Posted
Christine,
I'm thinking that, if the basement layer of skin (the one that is affected in LS) is devoid of collagen fibers then perhaps, as many of us are post menopausal and have lost collagen in our face, hands, and elsewhere, then we ought to supplement with collagen. I will take this new brand that has the patented verisol kind of peptide in it for 3 months and see what happens. The only thing it will hurt is maybe my wallet because it is not cheap. Definitely eat prunes and yogurt. I know yogurt has sugar but the sugar is better than the artificial sweeteners like sucralose and aspartame. Plus the yogurt has beneficial bacteria that should help the bowel in general.
Guest christine80363
Posted
Oh, and something else that helped was, before you wipe, keep the jar of coconut oil right there and put some on the paper and then wipe. That has helped. You could even do it before you go and again after.
Woodlet christine80363
Posted
Hi, my 5 year old daughter has the same problem, and I use her triamcinolone steroid cream everywhere that is affected, and so far it has helped. Not sure about your steroid cream but her gynecologist didn't really distinguish between the two areas.
christine80363 Woodlet
Posted
Hi, bless your little girl, how distressing for her. You are right Im not sure where my gyne and gastro specialists start and finish but my gastro guy didnt even notice the whitening of the skin, so Im guessing his knowledge of LS is limited maybe when I point it out he may offer the same treatment as gyne. I do hope they have a breakthrough in the treatment with a cure in the future for your daughter xx
beverly52803 christine80363
Posted
I do think it's beyond time that different specialist start communicating with each other for the sake of humankind! What are they thinking? How can a gastroenterologist or whoever you are seeing who specializes in hemorrhoids not be aware of diseases that can affect the anal area?
If you do some research online you will see photos of where LS can appear. For whatever reasons it doesn't affect the inside of the vagina or rectum but around it. I wonder why the doctor who diagnosed you with the LS to begin with didn't tell you this BASIC information? My doctor had a book with graphic photos of (unfortunately) worst case scenarios which certainly got my attention! She was a gyn who specialized in vulval skin issues but I don't know why ALL gyns aren't more aware of this disease.
You should absolutely use the steroid on any area that is painful. I think you will feel an improvement almost immediately. I have since seen a dermatologist who has prescribed Tacrolimus along with the steroid. Interestingly, she said both were to be applied all over the area, not just where the disease was visible. This is the opposite of what the gyn told me. Clearly, gyns and derms are also not communicating. Unfortunately for me I don't know who is correct. Using that much medication can make me more sore than I was to begin with so I'm left trying to figure this out on my own.
Sorry you had to go through this. We also need to communicate with our doctors when their failure to inform us causes us unnecessary pain and suffering so they will know what is required of them to help the next patient.
Good luck.
christine80363 beverly52803
Posted
Thank you for encouraging reply, I have put the cream there this morning so can only hope it helps. I will hopefully get some positive info on Tuesday from Gastro specialist and trust he will be aware of this condition once I point it out!! and treat alongside gyne accordingly. It is beyond belief they do not seem to be seeing the same condition, thank you again for your heartfelt response.
beverly52803 christine80363
Posted
Hope it does give you some relief. Were you having this fissure problem when you were diagnosed with LS? Did that doctor examine the anal area? I must say I wasn't experiencing any serious discomfort anywhere, but the gyn gave me a very long and thorough exam. When she was done she brought in the books with the photos to explain what I had where to apply the steroid where the LS was visible. As I've said the new dermatologist has told me to apply it all over the area, not just where the LS is visible. Clearly different doctors are following different schools of thought. Or they are just making it up!
Using the steroid for two days can't possibly be harmful IMO. Let us know what this doctor has to say re if it is LS or not.
Try your best to relax and eat easily digested food for the next couple of days. You'll feel a lot better after being properly diagnosed. If it is LS that is causing the pain the steroid should help quite a bit.
christine80363 beverly52803
Posted
Hi, I thought I had a bad case of hemorrhoids which is what I originally went to the docs with. They diagnosed a fissure on three occasions with three different creams, it was only after my discomfort didn't respond that they sent me to the gastro specialist. He was unable to examine me with a small camera which felt like a TV camera it was so painful!! and sent me on my way with fybrogel and another cream requesting I see him in 2 months time. At this time I had not seen the white discoloration on my skin and obviously neither did he! It was only during this two month period that I returned to my GP with soreness and itching around my vulva assuming it was yet another bloody menopausal issue, that she noticed the white areas. So it was missed all the other times and I had never heard of LS so wasn't even looking for symptoms. . She referred me to the gyne where I paid privately coz I was getting very worried. Gyne immediately diagnosed LS even though I am awaiting a biopsy. I still had not put the sore bum down to the LS its only that its become so painful and sore because obviously the cream he has prescribed is for the wrong condition if that all makes sense. So here I am with relief one end and not the other!! So once I point this out to him the treatment should be the same. I will post again after Tuesday. Thank you for your helpful comments xx
beverly52803 christine80363
Posted
Yes, christine, it all makes sense, especially if you have white skin. Why it wouldn't have been considered a possibility by a doctor I don't know and that's what is so upsetting. When you were examined by the dr who diagnosed the LS did she not check the anal area? Did you tell her you had anal fissures? If so then it should have been MORE than apparent what your problem was, but even if you didn't she should have checked carefully. My gyn exam took so long I could not imagine what she was looking at. She saw the faintest of white lines and knew. I wasn't sure if I should doubt my sanity or hers as all I had was an internal itch which is not a symptom of LS, but she was correct!
I'm beginning to think all medical people who deal with anything from the waist down should be made to go to a seminar on LS. Either it's become a lot more prevalent or it's been misdiagnosed for a long time. Either way, patients are getting short shrift.
Have you started to feel any relief from the cortisone? Hope so. Things should improve drastically for you with proper treatment.
deethebee beverly52803
Posted
Brilliantly put, totally agree 🙏
christine80363 beverly52803
Posted
Hi, the doc who diagnosed the LS didnt check the anal area, in fact it was her who referred me eventually to the gastro guy for fissures!!! I know, there is a gaping hole in their experience and knowledge of this condition and I will sure be raising awareness in Essex at every given opportunity. I have noticed some relief from using the steroid cream in that area so thats positive, thank you.
vickie00010 christine80363
Posted
hi...lets think this through as intelligent women....how could a doctor look at the "V" and NOT see IF the anal area was in fact affected??? I mean they r RIGHT next to one another....don't know who u saw BUT certainly time to seek NEW physicians who can recognize LS....after all there r women who post photo's of the "V's" right here on this site - with no medical degree - and can recognize LS from their own personal experience....sounds like in the UK (in particular) these doctors have no idea what they r treating....hard to believe with all there years of medical training they still r in the dark....
beverly52803 christine80363
Posted
It could be you have another issue like lichen planus or eczema. Obviously I have no idea other than knowing your symptoms are what many women here have described as LS. Hopefully your mystery will soon be solved, you'll have a treatment plan and feel more in control. Terrible to be suffering while waiting to be seen by an available doctor.
christine80363 beverly52803
Posted
Thank you Beverly, yes having a proper diagnosis with a plan will be very settling.