Causes of Lichen Sclerosus?

oh no darkangel...i'm so sorry.

you've had quite a bit of surgery ....including something equating to tubal ligation...so this cause  of LS onset seems to be featuring quite a bit.

thank you so much for your response.

very special that hair is an irritant to you....is it awkward to manage or are you finding a way? do you have to shave? 

sorry to hear that your are suffering pain on your left side. what do you think that could be about? thinking of you and willing you to feel more comfortable soon. love marey 

I do shave it away from the area's it agrevates

I realize this is an old thread......but I'm happy I found it. I'm 33, and had a tubal ligation with my last cesarean two years ago. About 4-5 months later is when I first started developing my OLP symptoms.

I also began having night sweats, insomnia, acne, and  hair loss.

I have always been convinced that my tubal ligation prompted all of these issues, but not one doctor will acknowledge a potential relationship. It is frustrating, because it seems like I'm not the only one.

hi hanny

thanks for your reply.

did you mention before having had a thyroidectomy? are you managing to balance your thyroid now? i'm experimenting!!

I agree adrenals are really important...you were lucky to get that recognised....did the GP have any special advice?

 

HI Marey,

Forgot to mention - my GP was very good in figuring out the problem.  And since a specialist for the adrenal glands was no longer available my best option was the local nature path.  Actually, that connection helped me later also with the LS.  Prior to that also with two bouts of the singles, since my immune system was at that point at an all time low.  (small wonder that I caught every bug around)  (also because of adrenals)

stress, hormonal issues and familial autoimmunity...thanks bearmama. so generous that you kept up the breast feeding....sorry it was a strain. how are you now?

I had a very similar experience with very allergic babies and kids (my second had severe eczema and I had to go on a diet of just a few foods).  I look back now and wish that I'd known something about leaky gut and probiotics because I think that a history of celiac disease, antibiotics, and poor diet triggered a poor immune system, leaky gut, and epigenetic changes leading to allergies (including to foods and medications--esp. antibiotics), food sensitivities, and autoimmune issues.  That's probably my theory too, about why I have also now developed Hashimoto's and now LS, in addition to celiac.   Interestingly, I've developed multiple antibiotic allergies and so have my kids, so I've obviously passed on a very reactive immune system, even with 6.5 years of breastfeeding those two in total.  I wish you all of the best dealing with these difficult issues, Bearmama!  --Suzanne

Actually Dr, Goldstein says it's reported more in post-menopausal females and pre-pubescent girls because they have itching and burning. Women with a full complement of hormones may be having loss of architecture and pain with sex, but they generally don't come in if there's no continuous discomfort.

hi eliza

sorry to hear you've been diagnosed....glad you're getting support and a big welcome here to you as well! i also recently developed the condition and am post menopausal. did or does anyone in your family have it or any other autoimmunity? 

how are you feeling? 

Hi marey. No one in my family has ever had this before. As far as I am aware no family member hashad an autoimmune disease either.  I have 4 children but all births were normal and I have never had any gynae problems so at the min it's a complete mystery. The only symptoms I have are itching and that's just at night. I had been treated for thrush for the past 18 months.  In the past 6 weeks I have developed a few cuts but I think.that's from the scratching. How does it affect you.

hi elizab

sorry i missed your question.

i noticed the symptoms of LS NEARLY A YEAR OR SO AGO NOW....oops sorry shouting!! i must look back and try to find out when i was diagnosed with hypothyroidism as the two corresponded.

i did get severe itching at first and would scratch and bleed...it was imposs not to scratch when it was uncontrolled.

then on a website i read a suggestion from a woman to give up gluten....i've done this and quit all grains....since then my symptoms have greatly eased....and my inflammatory marker CRP is within normal range...so that's good news. thanks for asking.

how are your 4 children? what ages? are they ok healthwise? 

best wishes marey x

Hi marey, I have 4 boys aged 28,24,19 and 12. They are all very healthy thank goodness .  I hav an appt at the dermatology dept of our local hospital on thurs and am hoping the treatment they give me will help. At the min the only thing my dr gave me was tablets for the itching.  When i read other posts I feel very lucky as a lot of the other women all seem to have something else . I guess they will take my bloods etc on thurs. This is the first time I've had to attend hospital for something other than pregnancy. Thanks for replying.

Hi elizab

How did you get on at the hosp? may we know your results? thinking of you.

Hi marey. Haven't been on for a while.  At my first appt the dermatologist took a biopsy. As soon as she examined me she said she was sure I had LS but she said she always does a biopsy to be 100 per cent sure. She gave me a pile of leaflets, dermovate ointment, Aveeno wash, cetraben moisturer and tablets for the itch.  They also took bloods. I went back at end of sept for results. LS was confirmed. Bloods were mostly clear, no thyroid etc but my iron level is below normal. I used dermovate once a day for a month and am now using it every other day for a month.  Dr told me to go down to once a week after that. She said if I hav flare ups to go back to using dermovate every day for three weeks and then cut down again.  After the first 2 weeks the itch stopped so I don't take the tablets anymore.  However the last couple of days I have had slight itching again.  She has referred me back to my GP so don't have to go to hospital again. Cage said to make sure I go to GP once a year for check up etc.  unlike others I don't seem to hav any other autoimmune probs so really don't know where this came from.  Dermatologist said she can treat but can't cure and doesn't know the cause. How are you keeping . Thank you for thinking of me.

oh welcome elizab...really appreciate hearing from you!

Well I'm sorry you're confirmed with LS...that must have been difficult for you. is it in anyway a relief to know? Hope the proceedure wasn't too uncomfortable.

Well you've got quite a battery of stuff there...do you know what the tablets were called? Maybe an anti-histamine?

I do have a lovely suggestion to help with the low iron if that might interest you? I do appreciate iron tablets can be quite problematic, hard to take and frankly constipating. Take in a bottle of the liquid to show your GP...she'll be pleased you're taking an initiative and will be able to re-check your bloods after 6 weeks...or according to whatever schedule you've agreed. Its called fluorovite ..its the gluten free version of fluorodix. Its a beautiful herbal concoction with all the precursors for the body to generate its own iron and so much better for you as a result...lots of flowers and herbs...from any health food store.  Whilst on the subject of alternatives I'd like to mention that we now have an alternative medecine section on this site...in case you'd like to pay a visit. I've got a few threads running if you should wish to explore. You can enter the section by going up to the home menu at the top of here, by your name,  selecting discussion forums and then choosing alt med from the drop down menu...under A (surprisingly!!)...there is a way of directing you via a link...but i haven't quite got that under my belt just yet! You might understandably want to explore your options  whilst you adjust to this new event in your life. I do appreciate that everything must be somewhat overwhelming for you but everyone on here is very kind, sympathetic and supportive so do ask away and have a look around. Please don't feel alone.