reassurance required
Posted , 6 users are following.
I am 53 and am going through the menopause. I have been treated for the past year for thrust. However recently I went to my doctor for a routine smear test and was told it wasnt thrush. She said I had lichen sclerosus, she printed off an information sheet for me and told me that there is a chance I could get cancer and it is malignant. She has referred me to a dermatologist. I am very worried as I had never heard of this disease before. I am very itchy but this only occurs at night. I have had a few cuts but these don't bother me much. At the minute I think I need reassurance more than anything else. Is there anyone else who felt like this.
1 like, 22 replies
Morrell1951 elizab62
Posted
First off, you can absolutely put your mind at reast about cancer. LS sufferers have a bit greater chance than average of getting squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva. And once you're under regular monitoring (I go twice a year) they'd catch it at the stage of VIN first. The women who get SCC have gove untreated for many years. If your GP didn't give you a prescription for a potent corticosteroid cream, the dermatologist certainly will. It's completely standard. You use a very small amount (starting with more, then decreasing to twice a week or so) so you're getting a very low but steady dose that keeps the inflammation at bay. It's the constant open wounds that probably dispose us to cancer. I used to have a deep tear the length of my perineum a lot of the time. The Clobetasol (also called Dermovate and a few other brand names) has really calmed my LS down in the year since my diagnosis. I'm one of the unusual women who've had it since babyhood – 62 years. And I haven't had any bad cells there.
Hope that makes you feel better. Take care of it with oily moisturizer (even organic coconut oil), no soap, loose cotton panties and have a look at whether it gets worse if you eat a lot of sugar (mine does, immediately). Worrying and other stressors don't help it at all.
Glad you came. It's a great bunch of women here. Loads of helpful hints on all the threads.
elizab62 Morrell1951
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I am sure my GP didn't intentionally set out to worry me but I think the words cancer and malignant would frighten most people.
She has prescribed me hydrocortizone tablets which I think is for the itch and she said just to continue using canestan cream until I see the dermatologist. Thank you for all the tips. I had never heard of LS before and didn't know anything about it so the tips etc are great.
Thanks again.
Morrell1951 elizab62
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elizab62 Morrell1951
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Morrell1951 elizab62
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You really should ask your pharmacist about this prescription. I'd tell her/him that you have LS and you understand the standard treatment is a locally applied cream, not a systemic steroid pill. You're going to have to taper off those and I wonder if you'll have to wait quite a while before starting the cream. I'm not advising you not to take them, but if you weren't even given a leaflet, I'd certainly go right to the pharmacist and have a detailed consultation.
anna80050 Morrell1951
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Morrell1951 anna80050
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elizab62 Morrell1951
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Got an appointment with derm for 21 aug so really pleased I got one so soon. Got mixed up in the name of the tablet the doctor prescribed its not hydorcortisone its actually hydroxzine. Ever heard of them. Also you mentioned before about moisturing. Is there anything you would recommend. Had an outbreak at the weekend but think this is probably because I was so stressed last week. Thankfully have calmed down a bit.
Morrell1951 elizab62
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Wikipedia says: "Today it is used primarily for the symptomatic relief of anxiety and tension associated with psychoneurosis and as an adjunct in organic disease states in which anxiety is manifested. Because of its antihistamine effects it can also be used for the treatment of severe cases of itching".
I can see why doctors prescribe it when our primary complaint is itching. I used to take generic pseudophedrine (Benadryl), very cheap at the pharmacy counter without a prescription. I only took it at bedtime, because it made me a bit drowsy, as many allergy meds do. Hydroxine/Atarax does this in spades.
It sounds like it has actually worked OK for you. But it's not the long-term solution to LS.
I have two local women who make herbal creams, so I use those. If I lost access to them I'd get a tub of organic coconut oil from the health food store. It has the consistency of shortening and a lot of women on this forum have sung its praises. I believe that using oily creams takes the place of using estrogen cream, which disagreed with me terribly.
Do watch this hour-long presentation by apparently the world's most knowledgeable gynegologist on LS, whose wife is a dermatologist, so he's the closest thing to being both. Everything we need to know.
The link to the lecture is right at the top of this thread:
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/dr-goldstein-lecture-271556
elizab62 Morrell1951
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Morrell1951 elizab62
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Holiday_girl elizab62
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I had bad irritation down below for about 12 years I a now 70 mostly at night after last wee before bed. Went for a smear test last year had 3 kept coming back abnormal so was sent to the hospital for a further test but as soon as lady looked she told me what I had I had never heard of it before like many people I have since spoken to. I was put on Dermovate and Hydromol straight away and felt instantly better. I have never had a tear and mostly itch free except when I get forgetful with the Dermovate which I use approx every 10 days. Only problem I find the Hydromol makes my trousers oily between my legs so have been using less. Not something nice to have but many people have much worse. By the way I was diagnosed with under active thyroid about the same time and many on here have the same problem perhaps worth checking out
Good Luck Carol
elizab62 Holiday_girl
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Thanks again.
Morrell1951 elizab62
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rebecca71878 elizab62
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My LS is all gone on my vuvlar are thanks to my dermatologist. She recommends that I use a tiny amount of temovate 3 days a week to keep the LS from returning. I use it monday, wednesday and friday nights a very tiny amount.
Best wishes to you and things will get better for you.
elizab62 rebecca71878
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