Posted , 79 users are following.
I suffered with vulva problems for 7 months. I promised myself that if I got to the bottom of the problem, I would share the answer with the fellow sufferers on the internet, since I myself spent hours reading in the hope I would find an answer. I hope this helps someone.
My story; 7 months ago I got the itch down there. At first I thought it was the skinny jeans I was wearing, but it didn't go away. So off I went to the chemist to buy canesten cream for thrush along with the pessary. 3 days later and no improvement. By this time I was getting really sore. I thought perhaps it hadn't worked so I used another treatment. Still no joy. So I figured I would see the doc. At my appointment she did not examine me, just took it on trust that I knew I had thrush.....she gave me 14days worth of pessaries!
By day 9 of using them I was raw! So back I went and I was examined. Swabs taken. I was really sore and cracked down there but was prescribed a mild topical steroid. Swabs came back clear. But still I was raw after the cream. In total the GP ended up prescribing 3 different steroid creams none worked. Eventually I paid £200 to see a specialist since the GP felt I had 'a skin problem' down there.
He told me I had eczema and for months I believed him and treated it with steroids, emmolient, avoiding shampoos etc.
but it just wouldn't go away. My symptoms were strange. I'd have days where it was really bad and days where I barely noticed it. I would feel raw when I walked, couldn't wear anything tight, sometimes I could barely where underwear. When I layed down it was fine but the minute I got up in the morning the ache/burn/itch would start.if I got sweaty from stress it would be terrible and I felt so depressed. There was just no explaining it. I spent so much money changing shampoo, underwear etc.
after nearly giving up I decided to go back to the doctor and thank heaven I did. 5 doctors later and a great doctor to whom I'm eternally grateful diagnosed me immediately. I had vulvodynia! I was doubtful at first since I had seen so many doctors with no clue, but she prescribed amitryptiline . Now a month later I'm getting back into leggings and jeans!
dont give up. There are good stories out there, keep going back to the doctor.
4 likes, 231 replies
kidpenny5269286 liz84514
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bee80375 kidpenny5269286
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Hi ,
?I wonder how are you doing now? I am going through the same thing, and still going to different gynaes.
vanessa13789 liz84514
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liz84514 vanessa13789
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I don't know how much of my threads you get to see but mine was linked to my back where the nerve that runs through my pelvis was being pinched and producing the symptoms. I had some gentle physio for 6 month and now rarely have a bad day. It will get better just persist with the docs and stop using any chemicals down there, avoid fabric conditioner etc.
vanessa13789 liz84514
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liz84514 vanessa13789
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lisa46353 vanessa13789
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joyfulone3 liz84514
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jade2896 liz84514
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I had mentioned the biopsy but she said ''lets try these ointments first and then we will see''.
Im tired of these dam ointments she even prescribed me anti depressants to take at night.
The ointment is called PROTOPIC OR Tacrolimus. It seemed to help A BIT but lately it just feel uncomfortable not sure if its the side effects (1st week of using it about to go on 2nd week).After looking online i found 2 girls who had the same problem NON STOP itching and used protopic and the itch vanished so i had some hope it would work for me. But now i dont,know im ready to throw the towel if this doesnt work i dont know what to do anymore
wish i could get hit by a train this is so depressing! just want my life back
lee12629 liz84514
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joyfulone3 liz84514
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renu81202 joyfulone3
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Guest joyfulone3
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So what is the autoimmune issue? I've been having the burning and tingle for over a month. Nothing STD wise but man you could have fooled me. It's awful. Outside my vagina and up and my butt. Help? ??
Nancy53 Guest
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stephanie90224 Nancy53
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There are dozens of things that can go wrong with your lady bits and a lot of it doesnt even have a name. The names given like vulvodynia just means pain in the vulva.
Therefore there is no particular way to treat a lot of the problems that can arise. Ive accepted that whatever Ive got hasnt got a proper name, no one is entirely sure what caused it. But I do not for one second accept that I have to put up with this pain.
The medication Im on is amatryptiline 10mg dose. Im 7 weeks into it and it is helping a lot. The awful burning raw feeling I had constantly has gone. I just feel tender and a bit uncomfortable and generally not quite right. I want a slightly higher dose of the amitryptiline - 15 mg and I reckon for me that will do it.
I appreciate these tablets may not be a long term solution but I very much live in the present and will worry about all that stuff if and when it comes.
linda44059 stephanie90224
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stephanie90224 linda44059
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I did have a bit of an itch but mainly the burning raw feeling instead. You could have pruitas of the vagina. My first piece of advice for you is to switch from soap to aquious cream instead. My symptoms were all external but other women can have interal ones too. Try your hardest not to scratch the area and instead do a quick tapping motion over the itchy area
Nancy53 stephanie90224
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I was wondering if you have something that looks like a red rash in the opening of your vagina? My pain is in the rectum as well. I've been given steroid cream, esttofen cream and kenalog shots but none of it helped .My psychiatrist gave me nortyptoline at my request as none of the 5 gynecologists thought I had vulvodynia. They can't seem to diagnose me so I'm going to try the nortyptoline. I figure it can't hurt to try.
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