1. Community
  2. Women's health
  3. Lichen Sclerosus

Preventing shrinkage of the vaginal opening

Posted , 12 users are following.

Morrell1951
Morrell1951

Another aspect of atrophy is shrinkage of the size of the vaginal introitus. I was down to two fingers after two years of treatment and celibacy (with two damaging episodes of sex during that time). In a fun little experiment with my fingers last week I managed to tear the edge a tiny bit, like less than 1/4". I started applying ointment nightly (I usually go twice a week) and when I looked closely yesterday I realized that what had torn was a small scar that had sort of pinned a folded the edge of my perineum (I think that's called the fourchette) and it had opened out to where it was two years ago. The triangle exposed is pink skin, not LS white crap. So, I'm continuing nightly for a few more days and lots of coconut oil. And, by gum, these fingers are going to keep that from happening again. Why wait till you're prescribed a set of dilators and why have irritating, friction-intensive intercourse when we can use our own fingers to stretch just enough to keep the edges from scarring closed? I was doing this in baking soda baths nightly a year ago, but my relationship had gotten so hopeless I thought, why am I trying to save sex? As long as I can pee when I'm 90, that'll do. Well, now I have the prospect of a good man treating my LS as his own personal 'cold case' (40 years of painful sex with insensitive men) I'm you-bet doing my homework!

Sorry to every one of you with whom I've been a cynical grump about sex for two years.

4 likes, 25 replies

25 Replies

Next
  • lyn4668
    lyn4668 Morrell1951

    Posted

    Hi Morrell.  I was wondering if I could ask you about the progress with lichen planus.  You have written in the past about skin, scalp, etc issues with it.  I have oral patches and some vaginal altho i have been so diligent with aloe and coconut oil and have minimized the discomfort i had a year ago.  I just wondeted if you had any insight for treating lp in different areas.  Thx so much
    • hanny32508
      hanny32508 lyn4668

      Posted

      HI Lyn,

      I have LP in my mouth.  Brushing my teeth with baking soda and rinsing with coconut oil (pulling)  has helped me enormously.  Perhaps this helps.

  • hanny32508
    hanny32508 Morrell1951

    Posted

    Hi Morell,

    It sounds like there is a little spark of hope within you.  Keep fingering. There is a life in spite of LS.  

    I'm marching on with my baking soda baths and rinses and coconut oil and dilating.  Marching on to have a life.  Though sometimes tired of this regiment.  One can not always be strong.  

    I hope you will continue to find strength and hope to make life worth living.  It is not so easy.  Small wonder that there are times we are grumpy and loose mental strength.  No apology needed on this site.

  • maria87278
    maria87278 Morrell1951

    Posted

    Hi, dear Morell. I think you do the right thing, thank you for sharing this post.

    I do the same with the help of dildo and lots of coconut oil, so i hope i can prevent that devastating shrinkage. Doesn't matter what you put in your vagina to stretch it.

    And I would definitely advice this method to all the rest here..

  • debbiesettle
    debbiesettle Morrell1951

    Posted

    Great news keep at it girl it sounds like a plan. Im not doing so good at the mo, I went in for biopsies on Friday expecting two small pea size sections to be removed and woke to find the whole of my left inner labia and part of my right had been removed and I have 10 or 12 stitches! Ouch. It has been a hell of a shock and I feel even more maimed now, in fairness my left labia had shrunk/been absorbed a lot but I'm worried the skin will be even tighter now. Did you or anyone else have huge biopsies like this?
    • Morrell1951
      Morrell1951 debbiesettle

      Posted

      Thanks, Debbie. My sister had exactly that many years ago, between two kids, lots of good sex since then. It's definitley no fun and surgery can be a trigger for an LS flare (the Koebner effect) temporarily. But part of why we're happy to have a diagnosis is so this can be caught and nipped.
    • dani2590
      dani2590 debbiesettle

      Posted

      Debbie why was the biopsy site so large? Were the doctors unsure of where to biopsy so they just took a large area?
    • debbiesettle
      debbiesettle dani2590

      Posted

      Hi Dani , no idea still waiting to see specialists for results, they are so painful I have done one week in bed and yesterday my inlaws picked me up and took me out for a short 30 mins walk in the fresh air, felt fine but an hour after getting home I felt odd and realised both sets of stitches were bleeding, this is a nightmare, I'm now back in bed feeling grumpy. I don't understand why they have done this and worry it could make it all worse. I have logged a complaint with PALS and I'm waiting for the consultant to contact me!
    • lizziewizzie
      lizziewizzie debbiesettle

      Posted

      oh dear debbie....hope that the stitches heal up soon and that you feel a bit better. maybe try the manuka honey which chrisy recommends. that sounds like a very good idea.  xx

      so sorry that you're suffering.  any progress?

    • debbiesettle
      debbiesettle lizziewizzie

      Posted

      Feeling better now lilizzie, 2 weeks on, never got a proper explanation why biopsies were so big, I got an apology from the specialist about all the cock ups that were made. Worst part is that it was all for nothing as the results were inconclusive, the specialist said she"thought" I had LS though! Now being referred to a vulvologies not sure if that's how you spell it. 2 years of seeing docs and no nearer an answer. I feel this site is the only place to get info I need at the moment..
  • Guppy007
    Guppy007 Morrell1951

    Posted

    I didn't  think you were a cynical grump lol!!

    Hannys right, sometimes it is easy to forget the enormity of what we are all having to deal with, something that  would send grown men weeping to their doctors, and yet we battle on.  Mentally I think I am over the worst, by that I mean the shock, the shock of knowing I will never really be able to have sex again in the same way, that being said, there does appear to be some interesting new developments afoot, so one never knows what may happen for the future. 

    • dani2590
      dani2590 Guppy007

      Posted

      Guppy.. Everyday it baffles me as to why there isn't a cure for this. It's like no one really cares and if you have it that's just really unfortunate. To have your genitals affected like this is just awful. Makes me angry. But like you said there are some new developments.
    • Octopus_1289
      Octopus_1289 Guppy007

      Posted

      That is the way I feel too. Battling this for the past 15 years and nw 70 years old. I just wonder if as many men had this horrible disease would we not have more money put into finding a cure. Not meaning to bash men, mind you, but stating a feeling that they would be more vocal and perhaps heard a lot louder! Good luck every one and keep the information flowing, at least we can help one another.
    • debbiesettle
      debbiesettle Guppy007

      Posted

      Thanks Guppy, I feel the same way but I won't let it beat me, I have RA I was diagnosed at 23 and an underactive thyroid too so I guess it's another auto immune issues to add to the list.
Back to top
Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.