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Healing time after biopsy

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w97202
w97202

Hello everyone- I am new here and am looking for some help. I had a vulvar biopsy 6 1/2 weeks ago and I am still beyond sore. I had 2 punch biopsies with stitches on labia minora and 2 on majora. I came back negative for LS, but I have had such a bad time with the healing. My dr. Said I could have sex at 2 weeks. I waited until week 4 (trying for a baby) but EVERYTIME I have sex, I'm so beyond sore afterwards. Not during and not right after. Maybe the next day and lasts for 3-4 days. It's just where the biopsy sites are, but the throbbing radiates throughout entire vulva. I went to my derm to confirm the no LS and she said a biospy can take a long time to heal and that I shouldnt have sex at all. I'm so confused. My Gyno said go for it and derm said wait. I hear some people say they feel better immediately and some no.... The burning and stinging have subsided, now it's like a dull ache constantly and when I have sex (only like 4 times since biopsy) it will throbb and become so sore for days. Even to sit down. I only use vasoline and soak in Epsom salt bath. When I put the vasoline on, I can feel the tenderness from biopsy sites. I'm just wondering, how long until you felt normal after biopsy? Does it ever stop hurting? Was it a gradual pain improvement or did it hurt until one day it didn't?

I'm at my wits end. I ended up having to get a biopsy Bc I had unusual stinging that wouldn't subside with normal steroid creams. They think it was an allergy to cream which caused eczema. Thank you so much for your help. There isn't a lot of info about how long it really took to feel better after punch biopsy. Scared I will never be back to my normal self. Thank you very much

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  • w97202
    w97202

    Posted

    Ugh... I'm STILL having issues with pain, burning and stinging from biopsy... No sex... But still hurting. Will this ever end? So beyond upset and scared I will never feel normal again... 

    • hanny32508
      hanny32508 w97202

      Posted

      Not easy, we all know here on this forum.  If there is one thing I learned - it takes a good amount of time to learn to accept, then to control this disease and it isn't an easy matter.  I think many of us went through a period of near depression, I know I did, before I could start working on possible solutions in order to manage this disease.

      ?It took me a while to be able to accept LS.  Really.  How knowledgable was I?  What did I know about my bottom parts?  Too little.  How good was the guidance from the medical world? I had never heard of LS. 

      ?Question: How good is your support system?  Do you have an understanding hubby?

    • w97202
      w97202 hanny32508

      Posted

      I don't really talk about it with him.... I keep hoping the biopsy issue will just go away. I don't have LS, but the tests they have done to confirm that, I feel have just almost broken me.... I don't know what to do... I keep thinking, tomorrow it won't hurt, tomorrow it won't burn, tomorrow I will feel like myself again. I have a great mom who has been my only person to talk to about this. I'm in my early 30's and just scared I will never feel better or normal down there again. I'm worried my Gyno did nerve damage or something with the biopsy. He did it so fast and it wasn't planned, just last minute thing. He was so cavalier about it. You will feel better in a week, sex in 2 weeks, stitches will dissolve in a month... Nope! Not for me... Nothing is really relieving the burning and soreness. I can tell it is from the biopsy site, Bc when I look at it, or put vasoline on it, I can feel where the pain is coming from and it is those 2 tiny holes... I mean 7 weeks has to be enough time to heal, right? Everyone says give it time.. That's the solution.. I just wish there was something else I could do... I have a vulvar specialist next week, but am fearful she won't be able to help, as no one really has so far... Sorry for being such a downer. Just feeling pretty hopeless at the moment.

    • hanny32508
      hanny32508 w97202

      Posted

      I hope that the vulvar specialist this coming week will give some insight.  Keep us posted.
    • dianne.us
      dianne.us w97202

      Posted

      I know its frustrating.  I remember feeling exactly the way you do.  The fear, worrying, wondering.  It takes its toll.  I wish I could have talked to my own mother but she is not that kind of person.  I think it is important to involve your husband.  Have him go to the specialist with you if possible.  This disease not only effects you but your partner.  They need to understand it and why sometimes sex is not possible until a flare is gone, you are sore, etc.  You will get better.  My last flare took 2 weeks to resolve but it finally did.  Its hard to find a good doctor, some are surely lacking in their bedside manner.  I remember one telling me as he was sticking a needle in to my abdomen that it would feel like a little cramp...yeah right.  The pain was incredible, guess he never had it done to him.  Keep the faith
  • w97202
    w97202

    Posted

    I wanted to let everyone know how my specialist appointment went. She was so great and basically finished my sentences for me. She said that I most defiantly had a dermatitis from yeast cream and then all the other creams the dr. Prescribed me. Then he did a biopsy on weak irritated skin. This she believes has caused my current issue. She said that when you take a chuck of skin it disrupts the nerves and they are either irritated or need to grow back. She prescribed a medication to help with the nerve pain and said no more creams. She feels that I will get better with time and treatment. We need to interrupt the pain cycle and then hopefully I will feel better. I was totally healed from the biopsy, just having this follow up pain. She said this is behaving like someone who had a traumatic birth and had sitiches. Which is basically what my derm said... I have taken the meds for 3 days now and I felt immediately better, but today not so much... Back to where I was right before meds... She said it should take about 2 weeks to see if I will improve on this medication... Fingers crossed. Was so excited, until today.. That I was going to kick this. Biopsy's are no joke.

    • jeanniej
      jeanniej w97202

      Posted

      Hang in there. It sounds like your appointment was positive and hopefully over the next few weeks you will start to feel the benefit of the new meds. At least you have a specialist now who you relate to and seems to understand the issues. Give it the two weeks your doc mentioned before you make any assessments.

       

  • mag1821
    mag1821 w97202

    Posted

    Hi w97202,

    Wondering. How you've healed from your biopsy. I'm sitting here waiting in the doctor's office scared to death that I won't heal. Hope you have a positive update.

    • w97202
      w97202 mag1821

      Posted

      Hi there! 3 of the 4 have healed... I've been in a difficult situation and still not sure why.  I was put on norteyptiline, estrogen, and neurontin.. still have pain and soreness... well, I went to a specialist and finally 10 months later she thinks she knows what it is.  I had stitches and she thinks I have a fragment of a stitch left in the one biopsy site. She said it feels like a splinter and that is exactly what it feels like. This isn't confirmed, but I need to have another biopsy to cut out the tissue and hopefully remove it.. scared to death and ready for the pain again, but it's been a rough 10 months. My situation is unique as all tests came back normal. This maybe a fluke  but need to do something. Hope you are okay!!

  • candace96707
    candace96707 w97202

    Posted

    Struggling too. Punch biopsy confirmed LS. Month later needed another biopsy. This was deeper cut not punch biopsy. Lots of pain...day 4. Best pain relief? Praying for healing. Coughing hurts. Sitting hurts. Have to lay still. Sex is last thing on my mind. Depressed about diagnosis. Looked up new diet to control flare ups. What does life look like for others with LS?

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