LS Vanished At Puberty. Worried About Birth. Please Help Me!

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I am a 20 yr old female, currently expecting my first child smile

From birth I suffered with LS right up until puberty. It took sooooooo many trips to see different doctors and consultants before I was diagnosed. As a child at home or school I frequently wet myself due to my fear of the pain whilst passing urine. I was also always constipated because the skin condition was present around my anus. My mother battled so hard to find a solution for me.As a child, and even now I find it difficult to look at my vagina. I remember that the LS came in waves--present for a few months only to dissappear again for about a month and then return. My skin would hang in strands as it peeled away from my vagina, bleeding and causing the most incredible pain. My mother first noticed when changing me as a baby. She says that it looked like 'rats had chewed' my vagina ( a pleasant image!!). Eventually (at about 7) I received treatment at Great Ormond Street hospital, purely because my uncle is a consultant paediatrician and managed to get me a refferal. I was diagnosed and given cream to numb the area so I could go to the toilet naturally. As I said, at puberty is disappeared. And since then I have had no soreness, no pain or skin peeling at all, apart from sex. Infact I heard nothing from any doctor. What I find astounding is that a year ago I went for a routine STD test. I was told by the gynaechologist that my vagina was disfigured. I never new that my vagina was now different due to LS. I was never told, and how would I know? Having nothing to compare it with. She said I was lucky because my vagina was 'tidier' than others. But i dont feel so fortunate. I will rather gross sometimes. My clitoris is 'buried' by scar tissue and I have no labia minoras ( inner lips). Learning this upset me greatly as I reawakened the condition I had tried so hard to forget. I realised my knowledge of my vagina was very poor. When I became sexually active I always found it uncomfortable. I tear very easily. Once so bad I nearly passed out with blood loss and shock.I lost enough blood for my lips to turn blue. My then boyfriend carried me to the bath. I clearly remember the bath water turning red. Of course I didnt go to the hospital, i begged my boyfriend not to call as I was so ashamed. I felt that I was not a proper woman. Penetration is difficult. I find it hard to relax as I am expecting pain and ripping. I believe my vaginal opening is smaller than it should be. My clitoris is still functional and I can still achieve sexual pleasure however my Clitoris sometimes rips as well. I have spoken to several doctors regarding my problems. They have just recommened lubricant which does not always prevent tearing and trauma. One doctor has said that LS is not an auto-immmune disease whereas another has said it is. My family doctor has said that LS will return in menopause. I dont know if this is true???? From the limited imformation I have of my own LS i know that mine was quite an extreme case for a child. And apparently its unusual to have it as a girl and for it to then go away at puberty. I have never spoken to a fellow sufferer and would very much appreciate answers to my questions.

What I am most worried about is child-birth. I am seeing a consultant regarding my concerns, I am frightened of tearing very badly, and whether my vagina will heal as it should. I know that scar tissue heals differently and that my vaginal skin is severely weakened.

What I'd like to know is if anyone else has had LS in childhood which has then vanished in puberty? How will my skin cope with birth?

Thankyou for reading this, Im sorry its so long. smile

Charlie smile 3 months pregnant.

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • Posted

    hi i ave ad ls since i was about 3 and i am now 21.u sound exactly the same 2 me except mine has neva gone away. i tear very bad durin sex and it is very painful an i dnt feel like a proper women either.it also effects my bum and i am on lastulose every nite. i wud love 2 be normal down there.an how u ave describes urs is just like mine! my looks like that 2! congratulations on ur baby! i am tryin 4 1 soon! my doctor told me i cud ave a cesarian! i think if i gave birth natuarlly i wud tear that bad an neva heal! let me now how u r gettin on! ave always wantin 2 talk 2 sum1 who has got it that is pregant! have u asked if u can have a cesarian?
  • Posted

    My daughter at the age of 9 has now finally been diagnosed with LS after a total runaround from doctor to doctor child phys, to skin specialists.. Her anus is affected where as she screams in fear and pain the have bowel movements that occur rarely to her control..

    She constipates easily by her own doing ,with total fear to go to the bathroom daily.

    I have had her on softeners,laxatives,suppositories, lactulose , colace , senecot , milk of magnesia you name it shes had it in her short life time so far and can supress the laxatives . I am at a lose as to what to do next for her. She screams about every four days as her very large BMs pass . She is missing school , swimming activities and lots of fun kid things. She gets very angry with me...with herself and cries wishing she was normal. I telling you this Charlie because you seem to be someone finally found that might relate to a childhood memory. You mentioned that you had a numbing cream??? what is the name of it Please I need help with my daughter.Also the LS cream you were prescribed I've been told that she needs Clobetasol but it is an adults cream that cant be altered . What do they prescibe for young girls as yourself and my poor daughter that I am so desperately trying to help get thru this so one day she may be normal. Thankfully Yours :searching Mom.

  • Posted

    i have had the excact thing as your daughter! i am now 21 the problem is still there but is alot better! i have had ls since i was about 3 an it really effected my bum!i have 2 take lactulose everynite,i wouldnt dare miss it! the pain is unbeleiveable! i was sent 2 see a doctor about my diet and i think it really helps what u eat! and 2 get in a routine of going! when i was young i refused 2 go 2 the toilet which makes it ten times worse! and the doctor had 2 cum out 2 our house! i have 2 really avoid consterpation! as long as avoid that i dont tear! i used 2 bleed every time i went the toilet! i had 2 work my self up 2 go! an would dread goin the toilet everyday. but because i take lactulose everynite its almost like u have the runs everyday! but that is far far beta 2 live with! i really feel 4 ur daughter as i now how bad the pain is! as she gets older she will understand more on how 2 conrol it! i hope things get easier 4 her i really do!
  • Posted

    Hello Lottie-Lou

    I remember having terrible itching when I was young which stopped at puberty. I was diagnosed with LS about two years ago (I am now 64) when my GP spotted it by chance. I have been treated for thrush quite a bit over the years so I am wondering if it has all been LS. My symptoms are not as bad as many folk describe on this site, so I am very fortunate. I have only just learned about aqueous cream and have bought a pot this morning! Hope you are ok.

  • Posted

    I would definitely ask for a caesarean if you have LS and are pregnant. I did not know I had LS when I had my first child and tore very badly during childbirth, up past my clitoris up to pubic bone, as well as internally and down to anus. It did not heal well and then got infected. After a year of itching I then got diagnosed with LS, which funnily enough went away in second pregnancy. However, I still had a caesarean second time around and the whole birth experience was about 100 times more pleasant. I also spoke to a gyno who said that if you have LS with a normal childbirth you can experience 'microtearing' so you could damage the skin even if not aware of it.
  • Posted

    Hi, my daughter was also diagnosed with ls when she was 3 and is now 6 we have had a terrible time. I often feel frustrated with the clinic i take my daughter to on a monthly basis because i feel like its a complete waste of time as in the past 3 years she has been free of her symptoms for about 1 month in all.

    I am using dermovate ointment on my daughter as the cream was too hard n sore for her. My daughters consultant has also given us dermol spray as my daughter had a fear of opening her legs because it was so sore to even get cream on so i find it a god send to be able to spray n its like a little game for her.

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