Posted , 7 users are following.
Hi I've just been diagnosed with LS yesterday. To say I'm shell shocked is an understatement. Gynaecologist told me as if it was no big deal, gave me no advice or information. I'm looking for any tips or advice and I see in some discussions Borax has been mentioned. When I google it, it comes up with laundry products. I'm confused, surely it not the same thing??
0 likes, 13 replies
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Bchatham Guest
Posted
It is actually...I know it sounds strange, but it has been used for decades as a natural remedy for many different things. I have been using it topically for over a year and have had the best treatment experience of anything else I've tried. The thread, "An experiment with Borax" is a great place to start.
And on another note, find a new gynecologist, because if they're telling you it's no big deal and gave you no treatment options, they don't know what they're talking about and you need someone more knowledgeable.
hanny32508 Guest
Posted
I agree with Bchatham's advise. Find another gyno. Look at "An Experience with Borax" discussion.
?I'm did baking soda baths and rinses for a long time and with success. But borax baths and rinses took away the left over fusing. And that's what I do as maintenance. (no more clobetasol)
?I stay away as much as possible from added sugar, for me a sure trigger. And I try to keep stress levels low.
?Every third day I still do dilation to keep things stretched.
?No, it's not something that a doctor should talk about so lightly. It will require life long care. Borax can be found in the laundry department.
Guest hanny32508
Posted
Thanks for your reply. I'm finding it difficult to find anywhere that sells Borax ( in U.K.) I've read that it's been banned. As it's also a cleaning product I'm a bit nervous to use it. How much should you use?
hanny32508 Guest
Posted
Have you read the discussion on it already? You'll find a variety of applications, as well as how to find it and other. Good starting point.
Toobusy hanny32508
Posted
Thanks!
hanny32508 Toobusy
Posted
Toobusy, this is my routine: I'm doing the borax baths every other day. The rinses after most bathroom visits. So far so good.
deborah82032 Guest
Posted
Yes it is........Most Doctors don't know what LS is. You need to find a specialist that treats LS.
Bridge_of_Sighs Guest
Posted
Hello Raw50, so sorry you've joined us, but this is a great site, full of support and understanding. I'm in the UK and use Borax successfully. I had to order it on the site with many different sellers (can't say as it will get removed by moderator). I stay in the care loop with a GP check every 6 months and also a Vulval Dermatology clinic visit once a year to get checked up on, but go off piste with my own treatment. The Borax has been great, though recently I've splurged on sugar and noticed a relapse. I'm going to do a burst of steroid to get it back under control, then back to the borax.
There are a handful of Vulval Dermatology clinics in the UK, I go to one at St Michels in Bristol, Google them, or ask your doctor for a referral. LS is the most common thing they see there. They tell me to use steroids, but at least I know someone who knows what they're looking for is keeping an eye on me. At my last visit they said they could discharge me as it was all looking so good, but I asked to stay on a yearly checkup. Be wary of telling a medical professional if you are using the Borax, my last doctor insisted that I stop it. My new one is excited by the idea - Hooray!
I'm about to go away, so won't be able to answer for a while. But good luck with it all.
Guest Bridge_of_Sighs
Posted
Thanks so much for your reply. I'm a feeling rather angry about the way the gynaecologist told me,as if it was a condition I should've been familiar with, he didn't explain the effects of LS, NOTHING AT ALL!! I was given no information. Luckily I had already visited this site and had an idea this is what I had. I asked if I'd need regular check ups and he said no and just to keep an eye on it myself!
i have managed to get some Borax, it arrived today so I'm am excited to get started. I will certainly look into any local vulval dermatology clinics. I am in the north east. It's interesting a lot of ladies mention sugar, I have a terrible sweet tooth, I'll have to cut down!! I'm also premenopausal, possibly contributing factors. Please get in touch on your return, I'll let you know how the Borax is working.
Bridge_of_Sighs Guest
Posted
Hello Raw, how are you doing?
I've had a catered week away where there was a buffet and I didn't touch sugar all week, I feel so much better. But that might just have been having someone else looking after me (I was at a summer school, no washing up, no mountains of laundry, cups of tea on demand - oh joy!)
I found a chocolatier who makes very dark chocolates, which aren't sweet. I've found that my sweetness tolerance has dropped and I now don't like really sugary stuff. Anyway I said my piece about having a skin condition that gets triggered by sugar (no details) so I avoid it and this is his take: Mass produced milk chocolates are so full of additives that you don't actually get a 'chocolate fix' from them because the cocoa content is so low. Cane sugar is less highly refined than beet sugar, there's a brand you can find in most supermarkets that begins with Bill... that is from cane, unlike the usual brands which are beet. He also said that if you don't eat any gluten for six months you will become intolerant because the body loses the ability to cope, so a small amount regularly is important to anyone who isn't coeliac. I don't know how true that is, but I've made my own bread for years and don't have any problem with it. As soon as I touch commercial bread it's a different story. Look at the ingredients, it's a paragraph of things that don't need to be there. When I started making bread, I talked to a miller/baker who used to work in a young offenders institution. As an experiment they introduced home made bread, and he said the levels of violence dropped dramatically.
My particular thing to avoid is processed food, most of the time. And not to stress over the odd can of baked beans or squirt of ketchup, just not every day.
You will find, in time, what works for you, and don't take all the joy out of your life either as you do it. My doctor said to think of it like diabetes it can be managed and you can live a normal life where you forget you have it as you go about your day-to-day life, as long as you take care of yourself.
Good luck
Guest Bridge_of_Sighs
Posted
Hi Bridge of Sighs, thanks for getting back in touch. Sounds like you've had a good week. Sorry I haven't replied sooner I'm feeling a bit sorry for myself. I have started using Borax, early days yet to see a difference but I seem to be going through a flare up of the itch. It's always in one tiny red dot next to my inner labia which gets me concerned. So I phoned my Dr and asked to be referred to a vulval clinic. She was so surprised to hear the gynaecologist didn't give me any information, advice, offer any follow ups or a referral. She told me about the condition ( nothing I didn't know already from this site) and has referred me. So I'm feeling a bit better about that. I also have a lump though which was diagnosed as a bartholins cyst but the gynaecologist says it's a inclusion cyst from tearing or episiotomy during child birth. He says it doesn't need any treatment but it is so painful and swollen behind, Which he couldn't explain. ( doesn't fill me with confidence). I saw a nurse 2 days ago who says it does look puffy but not infected but gave me antibiotics anyway!!
I just want my life back!!!! Sorry for the lengthy groan but I just feel so low at the moment and feel that my family and friends don't understand so I just don't mention it any more.
Bridge_of_Sighs Guest
Posted
Hello Raw, sorry been away again. I'm glad you've got a referral. I have to say that they haven't said anything that I don't know from this site, but it's comforting to know that you're being kept in the care loop. And who knows you might get a good one!
Another thing I noticed, I always get better on holidays, even camping ones when I can't keep up my routines and haven't got the opportunity of baths. The absence of stress I suppose. The itch might be the release of fusing, as some people have mentioned. Or it might be your body getting used to the Borax. Make sure it's not too strong.
Do feed back anything your Vulval Derm says, it all helps everyone on this site as knowledge seems so scarce. We have to try to do it ourselves.
You will get your life back, it does happen.
Bridge
chicks Guest
Posted
Hi
I have had LS for over 30 years. I never thought to look up on the Internet to see if there were any Forums with people having the same problem until 2 weeks ago. On some of the advice I read up on I can say that the mixture of the following has helped me tremendously over the past two weeks. Mix 4 TBSP organic castor oil with 2 DROPS of Lavender Oil essence and 1 DROP of Lemon Grass Essence. I have had exactly one itch in two weeks and usually it happens every day. Make sure you don't mix in more than the DROPS mentioned. I have been using this once in the morning and after my shower at night. Depending on how good I am feeling in the morning I sometimes don't use it.