lichen sclerosis

I have always had problems with yeast infections and a lot of anal itching. The doctor always said some people are more prone to yeast infections and the anal itching was from hemorrhoids (which never made sense to me). Anyways almost 2 years ago at my annual the doctor mentioned some whitening and recommended a dermatologist who said she thought it was vitiligo. Fast forward to a few months ago and I had yet another yeast infection and started researching on my own and came to this site. I was completely convinced I had ls. I made an appointment with my gyno because I looked in the mirror and noticed fusing. I,was diagnosed on examination and then by biopsy. So I feel I had it for a long time but was misdiagnosed. Question the doctors and ask them if they think it could be ls.

I have had LS for much longer than when I finally was diagnosed.  But because I had never heard of LS or what it was, I thought the discomfort was maybe because of giving birth and the snip that was done at the time.  

After the diagnoses and further LS mishaps and experiences and this over a period of time of a few years now,  I have experienced the same discomforts but this time in reverse. I now know that it started at the very top of the vulva and at the very bottom.  Till indeed all, except for a pinhole for urinating was fused up.

Another item I need to mention - LS can be maintained and kept at bay, but can not really be cured.  With the right treatment, which many of us have had to figure out for ourselves by trial and error, it will become manageable and 'every day routine'.  

Your story sounds very much like LS.  But it needs to be proven to be that by doing tests.  

Wishing you the best outcome for your problem.  

Following an extremely stressful period in my life.... The full deck of stressors... Marriage break up moving 100 miles from support network, selling,  building a house on my own, nursing a dying relative who tried to commit suicide in front of me, Homeless or rather no fixed abode for six months, then an extended  period of travel staying with friends etc I put on a bit  weight when life became calmer. I was still abroad in temperatures of30-40+ wearing  trousers a tad too tight and The Itch developed Got worse and worse Mouth ulcers and sleepless. Self medicated with anti thrush pessaries and creams, mild hydrocortisone and high dose Vit B complex( the pharmacist said travel was the main culprit and the B vit would help it did for the mouth and improved sleep) 

The Itch remained, no sign of. Thrush but very red swollen with raw patches and vulval skin would come off on loo paper when dabbed dry after urinating ( the pain was intense I sat on burning coals for months nothing seemed to help water REALLY hurt urinating was even worse) I 

consulted GP who didn't look just prescribed heavy systemic anti fungal medication alongside creams and pessary. No change in The Itch

The anatomy had changed with the labia on one side fused. Going for a Pap smear I mentioned the Itch and the change of shape. Neither the nurse or the gp had seen anything like it and I was sent to gynae to be diagnosed. The potent steroid was agony to put on but I perservered and within a few months everything has calmed and after 2 years I was discharged from consultant care and for 3-4 years I have had no follow up appointment... NHS cuts... Flare ups happen if I get stressed for any reason. It starts with an itch and  can intensify rapidly until stressor goes. I up the clobetasol during this period  I had 20 addresses in 8 years, 

 I use it most days  after bathing, I use Diprobase as a moisturiser barrier cream. For years before The Itch I found that my husband's sperm was a huge irritant and I would have to wash it away immediately. I became non responsive on the odd occasion he wanted sex. He had MS and so many years of celibacy was the result ( I thought it was his love of chilli and hot spices that burned me! But it probably was the stress of living with him)

Fusing continues. I urinate at right angles now showing that there is thickening of the tissue in that area, so changes continue progress albeit slowly. I retract the clitoral hood while in the bath as tissue thickening in that area also. Never had white spots or patches occasionally blue painless 'blood blisters' that disappear

hope that helps your research

Hi i also had a outbreak of psoarisis just before the symptoms of lichen sclerosus started, this was when i moved away from home to go to university. This outbreak lasted for several months and then i started having really bad itching on the vulva. i was passed from doctor to doctor until i was diagnosed with lichen sclerosus, since my diagnosis i have had so many different symptoms appear now 

Stress stress and after that, stress got me, in retrospect. You just know that stuff is going to get you in the end. 

Changing cities multiple times for husbands job, losing kids cause they get too old to want to move with you. That's a kind of bereavement when they both go in the same year. You lose all your friend support system every time too, and family. 

You develop things like IBS and reflux disease and anxiety and box on trying to push everything down. Then you start getting problems downstairs. Sore, dry, oh that's your age cry the medical people, it's thrush, it's atrophy because of your age. You dread having sex after a while as it really hurts and there's been a sore spot for years where you were burned or roughly treated during a pelvic floor repair via vagina. In the end you give up sex. Luckily he is understanding although not yet ready for the celibate life. We still cuddle and suchlike. Ten years goes by with occasional soreness and doctors saying its natural atrophy, here, try this oestrogen. Or It's thrush again. 

Then we move again at age 66 to yet another city where we know nobody, our final move we say, then my back disc prolapses and I am in hospital and then two years recovering with a very strong narcotic while we are building our final house. So two moves in one year.

Then addiction from the narcotic which takes six months to beat, meanwhile mind and body give up, deep depression due to the health problems and then WHAM! Full on Lichen Planus diagnosed after many doctors and specialists and biopsies. LS was initial diagnosis but I knew by then that NOBODY else in the LS photos and stories looked like me.

Mental health people are involved now as suddenly the will to live is getting quite battered as I develop osteoarthritis in my fingers while I watch, as they burn and twist to weird angles. I start large doses of prednisone to help my vulval lesions try to accept Clobetesol, (which it has never done yet in over a year as it just burns me badly) so I use a lesser steroid cream which doesn't really quite do the job. The prednisone has its own not so nice issues which upset the applecart emotionally and physically as well. Oh joy!

I develop lesions in my mouth and raised lumps and ulcers and after biopsy find that no, it's not OLP but a food reaction. Thank you God! Trial and error with food and Lo and behold, it's the nightshades I must avoid! No more pepper, potatoes, peanuts, tomatoes *sob* or aubergines. To go with the no sugar, no gluten, no dairy, no caffeine *ditto sob*, no preservative, no alcohol. I used to be quite a big girl last year, now I am a normal BMI old lady who looks her age. No matter, the counselling helped, the weight loss, three stone, is very beneficial for many reasons, I accept my lot and deal with it every day. Keeping stress down is my main concern now. Learning to deal with it, practising mindfulness. if I don't, what's the alternative. 

I have LP but I am on this forum as its so rare that the other LP forum rarely talks about anything other than the oral sort. In many ways, especially treatment, it's the same. The people here are my lifeline. Have helped me every day since I found this site. Bless them. 

Good luck with your journey Kathy.