Which specialist do most of you recommend...gyn. or derm.?

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My gyn. diagosed me with LS two weeks ago.  She gave me no inof.  She asked if I had heard of LS.  She then said that she thinks that is what I have.  She said that I will take "this cream" for 4 weeks twice daily and then come back in 4 weeks.  At that time she will decide if I need a biopsy. She then left the room and said she would get the prescipt. She sent the nurse in with the prescription. Should she have said more to me ?  I didn't know the questions to ask.  Maybe she just wanted to wait until she sees me again.  But she didnn't even show me where to put it or how much LS  I had.  I know there is one area with the white patches but I think I also have other others with LS that are not white.  She didn't tell me about side effects.  I have wondered though if maybe obgyns don't want to mess with older women who have this.  They are more interested in delivering babies in their practice.  I would appreciate your views.  Thank you.

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  • Posted

    Very good discussion.   I have been travelling a lot these last two months which meant sitting on planes and in cars.  I probably had the worst flare-up ever, but the soaking in a warm bath with epson salts and baking soda followed by the clob ointment massage did help after a couple days.

    I am now reading lots of information about this Mona Lisa Touch procedure that has just been approved by the US FDA.  I know its primarily used for vaginal dryness, but I am seeing that some dermotologists report good results for LS too.  I know one person on the forum has had the procedure in S Africa.  I am curious if any others have and what the results have been.   It is not typically covered by insurance here, but may well be worth the cost if it works. 

  • Posted

    Best to have a doctor who has lots of experience treating LS (ask) and who listens and responds to you. Silence isn't helpful, but is all too common.

    Here's a site with some useful questions to ask:

    http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lichen-sclerosus/basics/preparing-for-your-appointment/con-20028610

    Good luck!

    • Posted

      Andrea, you nailed it. If you find any Dr. who has lots of experience, you're golden. My gynae has 1000 LS patients. LS is a thankless disease to treat – just another chronic one-prescription problem and cancer-prevention checkups. All the other info is on this forum. We're on the front lines looking in the mirror every day, noting all the things that trigger or help. I think both derms and ob/gyns have their hands full with cancers these days.

      I've found that my gynae is more talkative with me every time I see her. Maybe she has to feel she's gotten through to someone before she invests. She said last time the nutshell that keeps patients flared up all the time: too much sex "women want to please and men take them for granted".

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