Help! Flare-ups make it too painful to apply cream...
Posted , 9 users are following.
Hi. I am thrilled to find that I'm not alone with this condition, and hope to find some support and advice! I was diagnosed with LS three years ago, and told very little at the time. I came in suspecting a yeast infection, and had never heard of LS. The OBGYN's PA took one look and knew what I had, then took a biopsy to confirm and check for cancer. No cancer, thank God. She gave me a prescription for Clobetasol, and told me to use it twice daily for a week, and then use regular (cooking) shortening in between times when I needed to use the Clobetasol. For nearly 20 years, I experienced severe anal itching and my family physician never once mentioned any possibility of anything other than hemmorroids, and just gave me a low dose anti itch cream to use (which rarely helped). When I was diagnosed with LS, she told me it was most likely LS that had plagued me all those years, and now it was evident. I get flare-ups a couple times a month that last for nearly a week, and am now in the middle of one that has me so sore, I can't even bear to apply the cream. I've been using the shortening because it coats the area so well and makes it less painful to move. The sores are horribly tender and the Clobetasol burns like a son-of-a-gun to apply. Does anypne else have this problem?? And also, I've heard that Desitin is really good for the sores, but should I be using something for the soreness till it clears up, or will the Clobetasol help it to clear up? I cringe at the thought of applying ANYTHING when it nearly brings me to tears to even touch myself, but the shortening helps. I can feel a couple little bumps, and that is where the tenderness mostly is.
0 likes, 21 replies
marey valgirl
Posted
how are your iodine levels?
janette25 valgirl
Posted
i am in U K so medicine used for LS is different but I attend a gyneocological lady every four months and she has given me some good advice that has worked for me
I have to wash wish Double Base Gel only front and back wear no underwear only wash twice daily and for any flare ups use Eumovate
only use white toilet paper do t use softener in washing machine use only good quality soapowder In UK it's Fairy Or Persil
i have found all these work for me
I like you used to get bad flare ups and I then realized my GP knew nothing about LS so I,paid to go to the wish clinic which deals with all sexual diseases and the doctor there put me onto this lovely gyneocologist
I also have vitiligo under active thyroid which I believe are auto immune as is L S
i find the Double base Gel excellent
and after going to toilet I wipe gently with this also
I hope some of this is useful to you
Janette
ChrissieM valgirl
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Morrell1951 valgirl
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My gynae said to be careful using the ointment, because it melts so well you don't want it dripping over onto perfectly good skin.
hanny32508 valgirl
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Happy to see you found this group. Very good thoughts on LS you'll find here and on various aspects of LS.
Did anyone already mention to watch your sugar intake? For some of us this is a big factor in keeping LS down and under control.
I have had to experiment with soothing the soreness - one time it is the Emu oil that brings relieve, another time it is the coco nut oil. Sitting in an apple cider vinegar bath has helped me too. A bit of trial and error, I'm sorry to say.
As you may have read already - the globetasol is a must. It's the only way LS can be kept at bay.
Keep writing us how you are doing, will you. We are all helped by each other's experiences.
Take care.
Hanny.
Morrell1951 hanny32508
Posted
Looking back at the terrible flare-up a year ago that got me diagnosed (I had a huge abcess, a widely painful infection) may have coincided with nightly slabs of chocolate, daily ice cream bars and lake swimming.
We're not suggesting that any of these things are the cause of LS, nor is abstaining from them the cure. But we sure don't need to do things that make it worse.
carmarie valgirl
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ChrissieM valgirl
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suedm valgirl
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It sounds as if you are in the US - where ointments and medications differ from the UK.
Keep the area cool if possible, as others have said go without underwear and wear a skirt- long enough not to embarrass you should it become windy
Cooling the area when it is inflamed seems to be sensible - so spray with cool water - legs akimbo - in private- in front of a fan to dry - not a pretty sight but spiders don't talk! Then apply your barrier ointment.
Do watch the Andrew Goldstein item, he explains a lot some in clinical terms but the gist is understandable to non clinicians,
No one has mentioned menstral flow - blood is extrememely excoriating on the skin( burning) so try and keep the area free from blood contamination - difficult if you have a change in structure and cannot wear tampons- MORE barrier ointment needed.
You have had a tough time, it WILL pass, pecker up
Take care SueDM
suzanne00 suedm
Posted
One lingering question that I have had is that I want to use petroleum jelly but I worry that it's not natural (petroleum derived). Is anyone else concerned with this at all or am I being overly sensitive about the chemical issue? --Suzanne
Morrell1951 suzanne00
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suedm valgirl
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SueDM
marey valgirl
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Further to your question about creams....I remember desitin from my visit to the states ...its equivalent to our zinc and castor oil cream here in uk...sudacreme. It is especially indicated as helpful since it forms a water barrier...helping nappy rash too.
You might prefer it to petroleum jelly as well, Suzanne, maybe?
Plus the zinc is beneficial. Don't know if it has any nasties in? Would be interested to hear. Found it to be ab fab to keep my daugter's btm dry all those years ago!
suzanne00 marey
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marey suzanne00
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not a very helpful suggestion then...unless there is some other zinc cream/oil/ointment? some have used calendula for example. I found it helpful for burns in the past if that's a possibilty for you?
suzanne00 marey
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marey suzanne00
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quitting grains is what dampened the fire for me...now i'm addressing my thyroid...but you've already done that...so what is being conveyed to you ...what is this signal ?
suzanne00 marey
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marey suzanne00
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