Exercise

I find walking really good especially in nature or where there is lot of space. Feeling my feet as I walk gently and then expanding that connection to other parts of my body as they move gives the body more space to feel all of me rather than just focusing on the thoughts in my head. I also take photos of things I spot that feel beautiful to me, flowers in someone's garden or the sunrise.

I agree on the walking .... I actually find any exercise involving your core or pelvic floor can cause irritation or discomfort with lichen sclerosis but I do have other issues going on, possibly another auto immune disease.

Meditation is good for anxiety, just make sure you're sitting comfortably.

Wear very flexible pants, nothing tight.

Bring a rolled up hand towel to put under you when you sit on a machine to use it.

Take care when you stretch but do stretch, gently. You don't want to get frozen.

Something else I do sometimes is to get a 6 in piece of paper or cloth tape and start it on one side of the butt cheek and then pull the cheek up and slightly away from the center and then stick the tape down. That holds the one side of the butt away and helps prevent chaffing. Necessity is the mother of invention. Trial and error.

Dear Appleby ~ qi gong is a standing exercise routine; so is tai chi but I've seen more qigong classes at the Y than tai chi. Yoga has many postures that would be good for us to open up our crotch to air. I no longer experience much discomfort in sitting, but until you are comfortable again you could always modify any yoga poses to not be sitting. and of course like others have mentioned, walking is the primo exercise of all. moving through space in NATURE is also proven to reduce anxiety.

I've jsut been reading the book, The Nature Fix. It is amazing the research the author reports from around the world. The South Koreans have apparently taken it to a high science/art. I'm now trying to figure out how to get 40 minutes walking a day! well that ain't gonna happen but now I have more incentive to work toward that... and my dog will really enjoy it too. smiles.

LS doesn't impact me re exercise. During the winter I walk on a treadmill at the gym for 45 min- an hour. It's boring but there are TV screens to keep you occupied or I read. Or you can just warm up by walking before using the machines. I tried the bike at the gym yesterday and that wasn't a problem; it's a flat seat not like a regular bike which I know would be uncomfortable. Many of the machines don't involve sitting. If you don't go to a gym you can get small inexpensive hand weights and do them at home. Just google or check youtube what to do with them. Whatever exercise you do is a plus.

Summers I walk outdoors and enjoy the view while listening to the radio.

My favorite was a Tai Chi/Qi Gong class (done standing) but the gym has cut out the noon class and I don't go anywhere at 7 AM! I've tried getting DVDs from the library but the class was much better. Senior centers may have one.

I also swim in the pool which doesn't bother me though others report it does so you have to try before automatically ruling things out. Use a barrier like vaseline first. The ocean is fine; I feel it's actually good for me.

I want to tell everyone who has Lichen Sclerosis that it is possible to live a very normal life, exercise, ride bikes, swim - anything. I just had a change in treatment, that changed my life.

I have suffered for 2 years with LS - was diagnosed by my gynecologist and treated with Topicort which worked well. I also tried many other more natural remedies.

I was a bike riding and swimming and horsebacking nut - I was very sad that I could not do any of these because of LS. It was depressing. I decided to go to a specialist and seek out another treatment, even laser surgery to just burn it off.

Melissa Mauskar, M.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Dermatology at UT Southwestern Medical Center. She is an inpatient dermatologist with an outpatient specialty in genital and vulvar mucosal dermatoses.

Please see this kind of specialist for your LS. She has changed my life.

On my first visit to her I told her that my LS was under control and I was very careful with it, I was cutting all the crotches out of my underwear, wearing loose clothes, not riding my bike, etc. She told me that was not necessary. She has changed my treatment plan and now I ride my bike each day. I feel completely normal.

The treatment plan was to use a very small amount (less than the size of an English pea) of the Topicort ointment once per day for 2 months straight. Then just use a maintenance amount 3 times a week - very small amount. She took the time to teach me the application and I was doing it all wrong. I was using way too much ointment.

I am living a normal life. I can swim, ride bikes, horses, have sex with my husband - I am so Thankful.

I hope you all find a doctor like this, and get the answers you need.