LS with vaginal infection? Related or not?

LS is never inside the vagina, but lichen planus is and you already have a diagnosis of LP. I'd be in that ER now, if I were you. Good luck and keep us posted.

It does sound like Vaginal Lichen Planus, with thrush.  Try to speak with someone who is familar and understands this condition, if that is not possible then you need to find a Vulva Clinic in your area.

Hi Amy

Sorry you have LP but try not to get to stressed about it, only makes it worse but I know how difficult it is, I have it to.

How old are you Amy only a lot of these problems start after the menopause, I was diagnosed about 14 years ago but didn't have any symptoms then, it was my dentist that diagnosed it but the last couple of years I have had this burning mouth and itchy scalp I am now 57 also I had abnormal cells after a cervical smear and some treatment I noticed they were both diagnosed at the same time Xx have you had any problems with smear test Amy Xx

It sounds like LS to me.

Go to the doctors asap.

It can be managed.

Me again, just finally leaving for the ER. I am in the US. I'm 39 years old and the LP on my scalp began one year ago, but wasn't diagnosed until 3 weeks ago. This is not sexually related, so that doesn't leave many things this can be. Doctors here are very ignorant to certain things, like candida and what it can do. Even newly diagnosed, I feel I know more than my dermatologist cared to share with me. Thank you all for replying, I will be back either way. It might not be until tomorrow, the ER will likely take many hours.

Oh My Freakin' Gosh! I went to the ER and waited over four hours for a bed. It took a total of 8 hours. I told them of my vaginal symptoms, recent LP diagnosis, history of non-pregnant group B strep, and that I am also a sexual assault survivor of 4.5 years. A CNP examined me and declared I had genital herpes!

I am not easily offended and have no problem speaking, in proper medical terminology, about my history and conditions. I underwent extensive, some would say obbsessive, STD/STI testing for over a year after I was assaulted. All negative, thankfully. My current partner of over 3.5 years is my only partner since, and I insisted he be tested too, twice. After multiple clean tests, I think it's fairly safe to say, I don't have that disease.

They refused to to any blood workup, stating no medical need. The did an STD panel-negative. Takes longer for herpes results, they say. They said the Er was for life threatening situations, this wasn't one, so go find the appropriate doctors. Gyno, dermatologist.

In the end, the doctor, upon my third exam, said it wasn't serious, might not be herpes, or very mild.???  White count elevated slightly. He was going to give me comfort meds and gyno referral. The nurse dischared me with instructions on how to wash properly and care for herpes, along with some medicine for herpes. They said, take it or don't, it will go away anyway. Told me to use vaseline for comfort!

I'm certain they are all completely ignorant, and that I have a minor outbreak of lichen-something, or group B strep is returning...but they didn't test for that. At the very least, I think it's sugar related and want to get healthy. I had no idea women were suffering from this awfulness. I already lost a lot of hair to LP, I need to get well!

Here in the UK it is normal to wait 4 hours or more in ER (we call it A & E) as it is very difficut often to get a doctor's appointment.  However after years of thrush and soreness and splitting down below I was eventually referred a few years ago to a combined gynae/vulval clinic which only took place every couple of months in a hospital in another town.  There I was seen by two gynaecologists together with a dermatologist.  They decided my problem was psoriasis and I won't go into the horrendous treatment given.  But only last year when the soreness got worse I was referred back to the combined gynae/vulval clinic where I saw one gynaecologist and the same dermatologist and they decided it was lichen planus and not psoriasis.  Even the experts don't seem to be very sure!  Definitely the advice was cut down or cut out sugar and yeast products, don't use any perfumed products, wash with Aqueous cream, keep the area dry and cool (not tight jeans), and I was given steroid cream (Dermovate).  I also have ichthyosis, psoriasis, allergies, and my father had asthma, and apparently all these things are related.  I have been very grateful to find many helpful suggestions on this site for keeping the lichen planus area moisturised and comfortable.  Do keep persevering with the doctors over there to get a diagnosis.  I am amazed so many women have similar problems - It's not something discussed much as it's so embarrassing.

You all are great! I used to love internet forums back before facebook took over the world, I'm surprised to have come across a good forum. I know almost nothing about healthcare in the UK, so forgive my ignorance.

Here in the US, in Ohio especially, which happens to be where I live, healthcare has gone from good to horrible in the last several years. I believe it comes from two things. Our food and drug administration is restricting access to pain medication, to combat "abuse." Well, abusers are still abusing their drugs and doctors have become like secretaries here in Ohio. They have to chart and document every single thing they do to justify how they do their jobs. The government watches over what they prescribe, and each doctor needs to be within a pre-defined range. Like, a doctor can have X% of patients being treated with narcotics, but if the number were to rise to something higher, he gets "red-flagged" by the drug enforcement agency.

Our new system of government healthcare has affected our care also. Insurance companies are now required to insure anyone, regardless of their medical history. We are required to buy health insurance, or get it for free if qualified, by income. The premiums are so high, that people feel like they need to "use" their money. Like my partner, he paid $7500 for healthcare plan with a $2000 deductible. So, in order for the plan to pay anything, he first has to pay $2000 for care, then their partial coverage pays most of the rest. So, after dropping $7500 on health insurance, he decided to shape up his health. He's been seeing doctors of all kinds, all year, to improve his health. Many other people do this too, because why not? They bought it and paid for it, why not use it?

Well, these people are not wrong in using what they have paid for, but it's causing the entire network of insurers to end up losing money. In turn, they require more documentation for proof of necessity for simple procedures. So, again, the doctors are now typing away at a keyboard rather than actually listening and examining during the 10-20 minutes you get.

I am just now reading the first post correctly, I thought it said something else. So LP can appear in the vagina? It sure looks like tiny bit of LS in medical photos and I'm ignorant to the difference between the two. I would just liken it to go away!

I sincerely apologize for invading the forum with this, I'm just scared. I truly believe that lichen-something is responsible for this infection, which is mild right now, but I'm terrified of getting group B strep active again. Maybe I should be posting in lichen planus forum?

I thought, as did my doctor, that the ER could get the testing and treatment started and give me something for pain. This wouldn't be such a big deal if the holiday wasn't backed up to the weekend. My misfortune to get a serious infection on the eve of a holiday weekend. Should I just allow it to fester until business hours? Good grief. Oh, and they told me to use vaseline for pain relief. I'm afraid to put anything on it, so I guess ibuprofen will have to suffice. Thank you all for your kindness in replying.

I have seen a naturopath for lichen planus. He was the one who educated me to the real cause. I knew yeast could do some awful stuff, but I really had no idea. I sure do love my carbs and sweet treats, but even the New year's cookies have gone out with the trash! I'm allowing myself 1/2 teaspoon of sugar with coffee and that's it! I still have a lot of research to do and need to read the pinned post, but so grateful to have found this forum. Thanks for following my rant.

Hello

I don't think LS can cause a vaginal infection, other than thrush!  Perhaps you have thrush?  That smells funny and has a discharge.  I am just getting over an awful bout of it!  Use a Canesten pessary and see if that helps.  If not, you should visit a doctor.

 

Hi,

Sorry to hear about what you're going through. I was scared I had herpes a few months ago, I was excruciatingly sore down there and my skin was really itchy, it was tearing and then thick layers of skin began peeling off. I noticed a sore that was round and looked like a herpes sore so I went to the doctor. Blood tests for STDs and herpes all came back negative.

Initially I was misdiagnosed with lichen planus and thrush, but then when I went to see the vulval skincare specialist (reputedly very good and she lived up to that reputation) she said straight away that it was lichen sclerosus (pale shiny skin, no hint of labia minora whatsoever, clit almost completely disappeared- no exaggeration. I just thought it was different but normal). Getting thrush when you have LS is just awful- it's what caused my symptoms.

Normal thrush medication didn't work for me, the pessary and creams just had no effect. The only thing that worked was a proper course of fluconazole pills, which I took for I think a week.

Now, I avoid antibiotics like the plague and drink probiotic yoghurt drinks (my sister is a diatetics student and says they often actually prescribe Actimel) and that helps keep everything in check- helps with my IBS too.

While waiting for the thrush pills to work, applying vaseline before peeing really helped and taking shallow baths with bicarbonate of soda seemed to help too.

Hope this helps!