To ask for help with my burning fanjo

[Tootsey11]

Posting for traffic so please don't shoot me down.

9 weeks ago my bits down below started burning. As I had just had 2 courses of antibiotics for coronavirus, I presumed I had thrush. Went to the chemist and got the one time tablet. Did nothing. Then reading on here the thread 'my vagina stinks' as mine seemed a little strong I thought it must be BV. Went to the chemist bought the test and gels. Test was negative, but after reading that they were not accurate, used the gels anyway. I got instant relief and all was fine for 3 days, then the burning returned.

Since that doctor has taken swabs, clear.
Urine tests, clear.

I've had antibiotics for bv, still the same
2 more capsules for thrush, still the same.

The burning has shifted somewhat to the skin on my legs around vag. The hollows that you get when you sit down if that makes sense.

I should say I am 44 nearly 45 and use vagifem as I was presumed to be menopausal. I was tearing inside during sex and after nurse had a look was advised to use these.

I haven't worn underwear in all this time as it hurts the skin on my legs, and have lived in jogging bottoms as they are loose.

Can anyone advise, re the burning, as it is getting me down so much. I cannot carry on like this.

Have you tried D-mannose?
I started taking it recently, and didn't know if the constant burning/itching sensation had gone away by itself of it was the D-mannose.
On holiday this week, forgot to bring them, burning is back with a vengeance.

I find vagisil useful too, but it looks as if you have tried many things already.

Not able to help but have exactly same thing. Are you working from home and sitting on a hard chair all day?

could it be this? www.nhs.uk/conditions/vulvodynia/

No, on my feet most of the day. Sitting makes it worse. I've tried vagisil, after having it on for an hour it turns glue like, goes into little balls then I need to reapply.

It does not cause pain when touched. It actually helps it. Going to the loo helps it as well. The burning is not so much my vagina more the skin outwards.

Not sure I'd take the advice of strangers on this OP, go back to the doctor's as if you've already been using the wrong treatments you don't want to just keep trying the wrong thing and risk making it worse

Also please just use the correct terminology.

Doctor has not got a clue. He's just giving me anything to try. I don't give a monkeys about the correct terminology, I'm at my wit's end with this.

Could you have worms? They are rife at the moment and go into women's vaginas.

Can you ask to see a different GP?

I have just got over this after two months of constant discomfort.
I got 7 days of oral anti fungal for the thrush that didn't shift it on its own so needed followed up with three days of the pessary. Used the cream twice a day every day.
Then because it had caused a UTI I also had three days of anti biotics. So pleased to say all is better and the relief is great. Speak to your GP and get the right things on prescription

Well that took a whole 19 minutes for the fanny police to turn up...

Hate to ask but what have doctors done swabs for? Could it be an STI? Might be worth a trip to the GUM clinic as they see a lot of things and might recognise the symptoms even if it’s not an STI

@marmitedoughnut

Well that took a whole 19 minutes for the fanny police to turn up...

I'm not the fanny police but I'm not sure why a grown woman would need to use the word "fanjo" or talk about her "bits down below".

I ad something like that at around your age and figured it was peri related.

Dr Google said to use sodium bicarb and it worked.

Look up Cytolytic vaginosis.

Tootsey, I had problems in that area a year ago & went to the local sexual health clininc & saw a nurse who then sent me to see the specialist docotor. All was solved - they are experts in fanjos & the problems, even non STD ones.

I had similar symptoms at the beginning of the year. Turned out it was the loo roll I was using. Other half had picked up yellow ones instead of white ones. I had a bad reaction to the dye or chemicals used in them. Went back to white ones and it cleared up. I used sudocrem to help sooth the very painful areas. It took me weeks to figure out it was the loo roll. It's apparently quite common. Hope you get sorted.

I've thought it was worms, but surely it would be itchy. It's not. Only one Gp at the surgery. I've been at the doctor's every fortnight for the last 2 months. Everything is coming up clear. He doesn't know what else to try. I still think this is yeast, caused by the antibiotics. This week I've done a double dose of the single tablet for thrush and using the cream. It's still there.

Could it be lechen schlerosis? Think that's what it's called. But that is more itchiness.

I was diagnosed with it and got an anti-fungal/eczema type cream.

Worked brilliantly

@stepbackfromthecircles, I had no idea about worms and vaginas and rather wish I was still in that state of blissful ignoranct.

It's made me feel a bit cringe and I'm squirming in my seat now.

OP, hope you get some answers, it sounds really awful. A sexual health clinic might be your best bet though, if your GP has drawn a blank.

Allergy to either the vagifem or something you are washing with or washing powder for your clothes?? I became allergic to my usual washing tabs because they changed from a synthetic fragrance to an actual oil - lavender hates me. Have you tried antihistamines?

Have you tried hydrocortisone cream? I use it rarely for vaginal dermatitis. You can buy the 1% cream over the counter, my doctor prescribed it for me but the chemist will tell you not to use it on your face or genitals. It's the only thing that works for me...

I'm sorry but think you've got the start of urogenital atrophy (once known as vaginal atrophy or VA). As your hormone levels drop pre-menopause, you get problems because there are many many oestrogen receptors in your vagina, vulva, bladder. Some women have real problems with this (cannot walk, run, sit, have sex, lead a normal life) and others seem to be fine until well after menopause.
You can get on prescription local oestrogen therapies such as vagifem (a tiny pessary) two types of cream and a silicone ring which also releases oestrogen for three months at a time. Each of these is a really small, local oestrogen dose which doesn't travel round your body and is equivalent to about one HRT pill a year. Some people also need full HRT as the local stuff alone just doesn't cut it and this can really affect your quality of life.
Sometimes GPs are very badly informed. You can get support on the meno boards on here, on Menopause Matters, on a FB closed group called Vaginal Atrophy, and there's a book by Jane Lewis called Me and my Menopausal Vagina.
Most people with this condition are amazed that they've never heard of it before, go through the diagnostic steps that you have, and then wonder why the hell nobody talks about it. Good luck!

@Tootsey11 Look up Lichen Planus. I'm not one for internet diagnosing, but I suffer from Oral Lichen Planus, and the dental hospital always ask if I have it in and around my vagina as well. It would cause burning.

Thankyou everyone who has tried to help.

I started using the vagifem after this started so not that.
Have not changed toilet roll type, not that.
Using same washing powder brand for years.

@Lockdownlump, I had read about that, will mention it to Gp.

Am going to try the baking soda baths to see if that helps. My nearest sexual health clinic is a 100 mile round trip, so that will be last option. Im not sure they are even open.

Sorry OP, didn't see the bit about vagifem - are you on the 2x weekly dose? It's not enough for many women and official advice is now once you've done the loading dose x5 weekly is OK. That's what the silicon ring delivers (called the estring btw)
You may need full HRT as well.
Suggest you get the Jane Lewis book, read up on it and you'll have better info to go back to your nurse.