Healing time after biopsy

In addition - I don't understand a doctor who should know better.  You're not going to irritate a wound.

?Also - I wouldn't use vaseline.  Rather a product like coconut oil.  And to avoid possible infection I would start to rinse with baking soda water after every bathroom visit. (three pinches in a Perin bottle.) Urine can irritate that skin.  ?Don't use any soap.  Wear cotton underwear.  Or no underwear at all if that is possible.  Just to give all a good chance of healing and to stop any irritation.  Pamper self!

I hope you will soon heal and that things will work out for the better. 

Thank you very much!! I do rinse after every bathroom trip and then apply vasoline. If you look at the site, it looks completely healed. Minus the aching... Dr. Told me not to use coconut oil and vasoline as there needs to be a barrier. Everyone says it heals so quickly down there, but 7 weeks seems forever!! I'm derm said its like having a baby and they're make you wait 8 weeks to have sex Bc of irritation. (Female) my male Gyno said 2 weeks. Haha... I just want to know if I'm abnormal for taking so long to heal. I'm going to a vulva specialist in 3 weeks...just don't know what to do. Thank you again for your kind reply. I will definitely take a break for a few weeks..

Thank you for your reply. I'm not using any type of steroid as my derm thinks this all began with a reaction to yeast infection cream. Followed by, lotrisone, clobetasol cream and then 3 days of ointment. My derm thinks I had a reaction to an ingredient in all the creams and it just aggravated my situation...Then the dreaded biopsy (by my gyn) which is taking forever to feel better.. He did give me oral steroids right after the biopsy.. Obviously it hasn't helped heal this. Has anyone used estrogen cream to help heal? I think that is my final thing to try that I haven't. My derm wanted me to leave it alone for another month. That was 2 weeks ago. Granted, I ignored the no sex suggestion.. Baby just seemed more important, but I hav stopped for the last week... Still don't feel great, but a tad better than I did a week ago.. Seems to be the cycle I'm in. Just want this to end...

Clobetasol is actually a steroid, a corticosteroid.  To thicken the skin I use a estriol (type of estrogen)/primrose based oil (small amt) over the labia and vaginal opening and then also apply a progesterone cream in another area like the inner thigh.  I use it once a day and drop the progesterone when I start my period so it does not interfere with it.  My flares usually occur about a week prior to my period if I get them.  I had not had one in months and then I am guessing my diet slip up and stress got the better of me.  This is what I did,  After using the bathroom I irrigated the vaginal area with plain water (I have a Biobidet)  then gently patted the area with diluted Yincare.  I then follwed it up with a pea size amount of clobetasol (just the 1st time and only once a day).  Before bed I put on the estriol and progesterone,  If there was still itching I use a homemade essential oil mix with a jojoba base to cool and stop the itch which helped me fall asleep.  I have been taking care of my LS this way since the 1990's and so far it has worked for me. 

?On another note....I used the temperature method to predict ovulation with a special ov. thermometer.  This gives you better odds at determining the optimal time to conceive and that way you may put less stress on the tissues.  Good luck with everything

Emis Moderator comment: I have removed the link(s) directing to site(s) unsuitable for inclusion in the forums. If users want this information please use the Private Message service to request the details.

Thank you so much for your reply. I do appreciate the help. The estrogen cream was a suggestion by my Gyno initially before we even went down the steroid /biopsy route.but he kind of dropped it as he said he didn't think I was having an estrogen issue. He prescribed all cream based steroids which I think had the same ingredients as the yeast infection cream (which was when all my stinging and burning started) he also said... Sure! Have sex at 2 weeks, stitches will fall out at one month.. I need a new Gyno!!!

That's when my derm stepped in and said all creams have alcohol and shouldn't be used "down there"

I'm due for my period this weekend so hoping that will buy me some time off to heal! We missed the baby train this month as my cycle has been all off based on the stress Of my issues.

I'm glad to know you are able to manage your LS. And I do truly appreciate the help..

Just feel like I'm a mess since everyone seems to heal so fast with no residual issues after biopsy. If I had known, I would have NEVER done it..especially bc he didn't really see anything that needed to be checked except my stinging and burning spot...i will ask the vulva specialist about the estrogen cream to help thicken and heal biopsy site. Thanks again!

Hi!

Yes. I learned the hard way. I didn't tolerate the steroid creams and when I was finally prescribed the ointment, I had biopsy 2 dats later. I went 2 months on cream after cream which end seemed to make it so much worse. Thinking a dab of estrogen cream on biopsy site may help, but nervous Bc looks like ingredients (fillers) are the same as the lotrisone cream and clobetasol cream. Not to mention the over the counter cortisone cream I was also told to use..

I'm actually feeling that the sitz baths are making it worse. Thanks again!

Looks like no one else had a long healing biopsy.

​With the wound not entirely healed I would not take a sitzbath.  Better to just rinse and dry.

Haha. I know I'm asking a lot from people. I most certainly will block this experience out if I ever feel better. I was examining the area today and it looks like I have 2 little holes.. Not deep holes but like on a sponge... They are still so tender when I put vasaline on, but they aren't red or inflamed. I did have tiny little bumps underneath the holes (I'm guessing scar tissue) but that isn't as noticeable today as it was before. I would have though the stitches were there so that it wouldn't leave little craters or scar tissue...

I do appreciate all the feedback. It's a very lonely feeling not knowing what's going on down there and the uncertainty of ever feeling normal again. Not like you can start asking family and friends if they have vulva issues.

It's an embarrassing isolating issue. Again, thank you for responding.

It certainly is an embarrassing and isolating issue. Three months after diagnosis, I have just had another biopsy and am "nursing" the stitches. I don't feel I can discuss this with anyone except my husband - who has been great but doesn't really understand all the issues - and it feels odd that I can't discuss this with my adult sons or my best friend. Well, I could, but I would be too embarrassed. That's where this forum has been great - everyone here understands these things and many offer helpful solutions. 

I hope you're soon successful with the baby. I also know how stressful that can be when things don't go according to plan. I can only suggest that you try and relax, look after yourself, and maybe don't stress too much about the "right" time over the next couple of months.

Good luck!

I'm so sorry to hear about your diagnosis, but it sounds as if it can be managed? How are you feeling after your biopsy? Is there anything you are finding that is helping to ease the pain?   I wish I had some advice for you... Hopefully you will heal quickly. I haven't even shared with my partner about the pain I'm having after the biopsy. Not even my dr. My dr, didn't know my issue so basically pushed me off to a vulva specialist ( I see sept 12) so I don't even want to tell him about the pain afterwards.  Not that my partner wouldn't understand, just don't like to talk about that. Makes me feel like I'm not normal but everyone else can heal quickly, but for some reason, I haven't been able to.. Plus add the avoidance of sex, which is unlike me too. 

Thank you for the well wishes with baby... That's another struggle I thought I would never have. I guess everyone has their issues to deal with.. 

Everyone has been so kind here. I hope you feel better soon. 

Oh dear. You were diagnosed and now having ANOTHER biopsy?

Do you mind sharing why? I'm going in this morning for three punch biopsies  to confirm my GYN's visual LS diagnosis. I'm scared to death. Will I be looking at even more -- as you are?

Hi! Do not worry about the biopsy... It doesn't feel plesent, but the actual biopsy didn't hurt too badly for me.. The healing is my issue, but remember, I was having sex (trying for a baby) I did wait until after my stitches dissolved 4 weeks later, but apparently that was too soon. I think if u baby the stitches, and take good care of yourself, you will be okay. Ask your dr. How to take care of the stitches. How long is too long not to feel right down there and make sure you have a follow up conversation.

My sweet derm (who didn't even do the biopsy) called me out of the blue yesterday to ask if I was improving. I was feeling so alone and scared and just her reaching out made me feel less alone.

I'm feeling a touch better, but still so sensitive. I think the nerves just need to heal and skin toughen up. Good luck and keep us posted. You will be okay!

Thank you for your kind words. I'm 60 years old and have five adult children. I understand LS tends to affect post-menopausal women. I've had this untreated or even seen by a doctor for two years. I thought it was a nerve issue and my PC doc brushed my concerns off. I had never heard of this and have learned a plethora of frightening information in the past week. I'm SO glad I'm on this board.

The nature of LS is isolating at best. Even from those who are typically your support network. Just knowing their are others who are willing to take their time to post here and share their concern brings me to tears.

Thank you! 😘

I wonder if what you said  "LS tends to affect post-menopausal women?" is really accurate. Let me expain why.  I used to belong to a long standing Yahoo Health group for LS which disappeared when Yahoo reorganized.  Most of the women posting (there were hundreds) were still of child bearing age.  There were a few adults posing for their children (sadly they can get it too) and post meopausal women.  I think the data may appear that post menopausal women are more prevelant but it may be that in the past it has taken mnay so long to get a correct diagnosis.  I was diagmosed back in 1995 after my first child.  Back then it was testosterone topical as the treatment of choice.  The more we get this information out there the more lives we may improve.  I think there are so many factors in play that contribute, from diet to hormones.  Autoimmune related, maybe but you have to ask yourself that maybe your diet is contributing to inflammation and causing issues.  For instance, did you know that hashimotos disease (mainly affects women) is autoimmune and many people that have it also have celiac disease (some did not even know) which is an intolerance to gluten?  Makes you want to go Hmmmm.  As we get older our stomach acids decrease, the pancreas may produce less digestive enzymes, childbirth puts alot of strain on many of bodies organs, including digestion...wonder if all things are contributing factors

Thank you for your words.  Well spoken! 

?I too think that there is more than the medical world knows at present - diet, thyroid issues and further complications such as B12 deficiency, non-celiac-gluten sensitivity, connected with that the adrenal gland issues.  Plus our diets - what's in the foods we eat today?  Do we know?  And how do we recover from childbirth?  How is overal health affected by all the chemicals that come to us by food, by air, in the water.  It has become very complicated and therefore I too think that LS might be a result of such complications in today's world. 

I hope it went ok and wasn't too unpleasant. My GYN said the new biopsies were because I had a raw area which hadn't healed at all in 3 months so he was looking for any negative changes. Haven't had any results yet. However, I do think the raw area was probably worse with the steriod cream. He advised a week off the steriod cream while the biopsy sites heal - so I guess that's one good thing! Once your visual diagnosis is confirmed by the biopsy I doubt you'll need to have another one - mine was only due to this one spot which the GYN thought he had to check out. It is scary but many on this site have gone on to improve their conditions and help the rest of us to get through it.

This was the source of my information.

"Anyone can get lichen sclerosus but postmenopausal women have a high risk." ~Mayo Clinic

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lichen-sclerosus/basics/definition/con-20028610

I'm sure I still have much to learn.