NEW AND NEEDING ADVICE, LS OR DERMATITIS?

Hi Louise37908,

You poor thing! It could be Lichen Planus which doesn't have the white patches and is not chronic like LS. Mine is like yours - came on after treatment with antibiotics, but as well as the redness and soreness, there is the itching too. Some people just have the soreness. If it responds to steroid ointment, then that's what it is. Hope you get an answer soon, as treatment should get it under control quickly. Keep fingers crossed for you.

Louise,

What you discribed is just like what I have. Started having problems in December, was put on antibiotics

three different times, the burn and itching, My family doctor prescribed the first two he prescribed me Tercon-zole vaginal cream. Seemed to leasen the burning and itch along with a pill I took on the first day and last

day of treatment, it kept coming back. I only went in to have a urine tests, not an exam. I was then told to

go to my gyn, could not get in for three weeks, but he also called in the same cream and pills, it got worse,

During the exam when I did get to see him he told me I had LS. I never saw any white bumps, and he pre-

scribed be Clobetalsol and Estrace. All they seem to do is make me even more sore. I do not have the

itching, but just the soreness. I also am having problems with a lose uritha now that I did not have before.

I am thinking of looking for a urologist and seeing if that is not what is causing the problem instead of LS.

Thank you for the replies, annieflipflop, but im so confused as if it was an allergic reaction to something , the steroid cream works for that too she said, and im wondering if it is LS , why would it only come after antibiotics, surely if your going to get it, you just get it?,

Diana4935, what antibiotics did you take out of interest and where exactly was your burning?

xxx

Hi Louise,

Poor you, you've been through the mill. What you describe is similar to the symptoms of LS but you really need either a Gynae or Dermatologist to confirm it for you. Personally I found the Dermatologist best as the Gynae I was referred to didn't have a clue, the Dermatologist knew straight away from looking but did a biopsy to confirm. In the meantime you are doing all the right things ie washing with Hydromol, using the creams prescribed and wearing cotton knickers. Try to keep the area moisturised by using Hydromol also after washing or whenever you think you need it. Also it's a good idea to use water to bath the area after peeing as urine can be an irritant.

Good luck and best wishes,

Hazel

Hi Louise,

So very sorry to hear about your troubles! I was prescribed LS and LP, so sometimes I get really sore inside and at other times itchy. At least the betnovate is having a good effect, although I found it wasn't strong enough for me.

I have noticed that when I start a course of penicillin, things clear up considerably until I have finished taking the tablets. I recently had a really nasty cough so was prescribed penicillin. It just so happened that my LS was having a nasty flare-up, but things have quietened down considerably.

I have a very good dermatologist, who makes life easier and is very matter of fact about things, which is probably a good approach with me.

Take care, Louse, we are all thinking of hyou.

Horses

Thank you hazel and all the kings horses, I must just add to my original post that my labia (larger hairy) are red also but no bumps, bruises, no itching, no soreness, just redish, is that a symtom of LS or LP or dermatitis? xx

I have always burned around the area where I urinate, no where else, until a week ago when I was traveling, then I was burnt with a rash all the way back, I put on the Tercomazole cream on the reddish area and that

went away. My mistake on the antibiotic, it was just the anti fungal pills and the cream. I had not been on

any antibiotic. I just can not believe that I woud not have any problem until December of this past year and

now have problems. The urine tests by both my family doctor and the gyn showed a yeast infection. When it would not go away, the gyn did an exam and ruled it LS, no biopsy, just by looking, but with no white spots

and only in the area I urinate and not the virginia, makes me wonder if he made a mistake. Having bladder problems, I am now wondering it I am developing a allergy to the Poise pads that I wear and if that is not

what is breaking me out. I am thinking of going to a dermatologist to make sure that this is LS. I always

heard it was good to get a second advice. What do you think?

Hi Diana

I think it's a good idea to get a second opinion if possible. In the end there seems to be so little official knowledge or research into Lichen diseases and also every sufferer seems to be affected differently and by different things, that you have to decide for yourself. I found the Lichen Sclerosis Group at Yahoo very helpful indeed because it's worldwide.

I am sure that using pads is definitely a "no no" if there is any kind of inflammation in that area. They are well-known to cause allergies. Could you use your own reusable padding made from cotton cloths, do you think?

Louise-Sorry to hear you're having such an awful time. Upon reading and rereading your story I do have to hope your situation is reactive to the antibiotic. It does seem odd that you were fine and then after the antibiotic this all came about. I think I would try just using the medication and keeping the area soap free until you see your gynecologist. It's odd that the new dr. didn't examine you but felt the need to mention

Good luck and keep us posted.

I should have proofread better, sorry.

What I meant to say was that I think it's odd that the new doctor didn't even examine you but felt the need to mention LS. They shouldn't go throwing that diagnosis around willy-nilly!

Diana, well I wonder why your gyno thought you had Ls then if your urine was showing up yeast infection? and also did you know that sanitary towels and tampons are made with rayon which is a plastic and then they are bleached in chlorine?, i found this out as a while ago I used to use tampax and i kept bleeding in between periods and after sex, all my smears were normal etc and i stopped using them and i never had it since and that was about 3 years ago, thinking about what you said about your poise pads i bet they are made of the same, Waitrose and amazon sell a brand of sanitary towels, panty liners and tampons and they are 100% organic natural cotton, and they are around the same price as as always and tampax, they are called natracare.

Kiki55 thank you for your kind words , im praying that its something i have been allergic too, and also with this LS isnt sex supposed to be painful? as it hasnt been for me, all i have is redness just on one side of the outside of vaginal entrance and labia majora red at the end of the day and a slight irritation inside but just inside inner lips, no white spots, no burning, no external itching, no bumps, no flaky skin, no crusty skin.

Thanks for the information I have never been able to use tampons, and now past the age of cycles, but I

have had bladder problems for years since the birth of my son, this I take medication. I never thought of the pads I wear as being a problem but have taken a break from the Poise pads which seems to be helping, I

stopped with the Clobetasol and estrace cream for the last couple of days and it seems to be healing up,

those creams seemed to make it worse. After a couple of months of pain that I never had before and having to wait three weeks to get in and see my gyn, he did a exam and a swab test, the swab test came back negative for anything, his exam was like being filet like a piece of meat, then he wrote on a presciption pad the

words LS and told me to look it up on the internet. After reading the side effects of using these creams, it

makes me worry if I am doing more damage to the effected area. I have no problems with intercourse

because the problem is more up near the area where I potty. I live in a small town so the limit to doctors here is limited. Both my children are in medical school and I will be asking one of them to find me a

doctor that can tell me for sure what I really have. At this point I am confused on what I really have. I will

check that site on line for the cotton pads. Thank you.

Thank you for the info on the cotton pads. I have to wear liners and pads which I know make things worse at times. I will be searching for these. Every little bit of info helps. Thank you so much.

Chrisy, waitrose are the only supermarket that sell them, if you dont have a wairose near you amazon sell them, also another question, do you itch internally or externally with LS?

Xx

Hi Louise,

Thank you for all the info on pads. I have bladder problems after two operations down there and have to use pads. I do find they irritate so they are probably making matters worse. I have just arrived in Singapore so am exhausted. Never sleep on planes! When I get home I shall pay a visit to ourlocal Waitrose and buy cotton ones. All the creams and ointments make for messy underwear without pads!!

Bye for now........