Very sensitive issue - please help!

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I have repeated thrush and soreness. Nothing works, not even prescribed meds (cream, pessaries and oral medication) from GP. My whole vulva area is red raw and in addition to thrush, I get red sores, they kinda look like ulcers. It's affecting the skin around my bottom too. It cracks and bleeds and stings to pee. I can barely sit some days. I can't wear underwear or most of my clothes. GP keeps fobbing me off but can't go on like this. I saw my GP AGAIN this week who thinks it's down to being on medication that suppresses the immune system (methotrexate). I'm a virgin and have not 'done' anything either, so there is no chance it's an STI. I've done all the preventative thrush measures but I'm not convinced it's thrush.

I want to get referred to a specialist but who? A dermatologist? Or a gynae even though it's affecting my bottom skin too?

Im sorry for what you are going through it must be incredibly painful.

It would most likely be a dermatologist you are sent to see because it is affecting the whole area. Is there anywhere else on your body affected?

Speak to your GP again as a matter of urgency and if they still don't help request to see a different doctor.

I have no idea what would help with pain and itching though.

When I was in a similar position I was treated at the local GUM clinic, it turned out I did have a particular type of thrush that needed a different medication to regular thrush. It's miserable isn't, I hope you get some help soon.

Can't help other than to say pester and pester your doctor. Book appointments with every different GP at the practise if you need to, and hassle them to do something. Change GPs if you don't get anywhere.
In the meantime either pour water on yourself when you pee or sit in a couple of inches of water in the bath while you pee which should help with the stinging/burning pain.
Sure someone will be along soon who can help more Good luck

When I was in a similar position I was treated at the local GUM clinic, it turned out I did have a particular type of thrush that needed a different medication to regular thrush. It's miserable isn't, I hope you get some help soon.

Double post, sorry.

i'm sorry, this sounds awful. i had repeated soreness/thrush when i was younger - very unhealthy diet and lifestyle, plus reaction to nearly every kind of soap/shower gel - probably not what's causing yours but i sympathise, it's horrible to be sore like that. (i use simple shower gel now, everything else v irritating).
can you change the medication you are taking? your gp should be able to advise who to refer you to.

Ouch! Hope you can get some answers, don't let embarrassment prevent you pushing. You shouldn't have to put up with this.

Your gp sounds a bit crap really, surely if you're taking methotrexate you need careful monitoring? At the very least get a referral. Could be the thrush mentioned up thread. Get well soon.

Would definitely say get yourself to a gum clinic. I did this recently with a problem far less severe than yours which was getting me down. They were totally lovely and sent me away reassured and with an array.of creams which sorted me out where 3 GPs over space of a year had been useless. Do not be fobbed off any longer!

GUM clinics are the place to go. I had awful soreness years back which GP couldn't sort but they did. All the best x

Insist on a dermatology referral. Or go to a GUM clinic (no referral needed).

FWIW I had symptoms very similar to yours. Admittedly mine is probably related to recent baby/ hormones etc. what has really helped is washing with diprobase instead of just water. Definitely no soap. Drying with a hair dryer then reapplying the diprobase. Also going commando as much as possible, definitely at night, under a skirt in the day and under baggy trackie or pyjama bottoms. I've now had 2 comfortable days in a row, after several months of irritation.

Oh gosh you poor poppet

I've known of 2 people who had absolutely systemic thrush - from mouth to anus, as one lovely chap told me cheerfully at a party once! - and they had to tackle it by a total diet overhaul - nothing that could 'feed' the candida (cutting out all sugar, yeast products and alcohol sadly).

It worked and they're both nice and slim now but it does take a lot of application. Hope the GUM clinic can sort you.

It could very well be a side effect of the methotrexate. You need to see the specialist who initially prescribed this for you, who will be familiar with the side effects and be able to advise you and your GP.

Has thrush been confirmed by swab?
'Normal' candida albicans or another species (which can be more difficult to treat)?
Is your blood count, in particular your white cell count normal? And your glucose?
If you look with a mirror, are there any white areas of skin? Not thrush, but actuall white skin?

Do you get coldsores around your mouth at times? Herpes simplex can also cause genital problems - v painful ulcers and blisters. A viral swab can be done, but not all GP practices will stock them as they are needed rarely and expire quickly.

I'd suggest go to a walk-in GUM clinic, even if you are not sexually active. They are totally unshockable, quickly accessible and very very knowledgable in all things relating to unhappy bits .

Do not be embarrassed asking for help. Again and again if necessary (although it is a bit crap that you have to push). Another possibility would be referral to dermatology or gyn.

Here is some info about recurring thrush.

In the first instance keep the area cool and dry and use a barrier cream like sudocrem over the raw area once or twice sparingly per day and shower at least once a day.
No other creams perfumes talc etc.

Is it possible the thrush creams have created a dermatitis?
Doesn't really sound like thrush sounds like an irritant dermatitis .

I should have emphasised that you should be seen by the (?) rheumatologist quite urgently, as this is a potentially important side effect. I don't want to worry you but you need to be seen soon.

Yes the thrush creams can cause something like dermatitis. After being treated at the GUM I was told not to use them in the future. I now take probiotics regularly and haven't had too much trouble since.

As someone said - have you had a positive swab for candida?
The people at the GUM are lovely and its ok if you're a virgin too x

Why are u on the methotrexate?

You need to see a dermatologist. There are many skin conditions that affect the vulval and it sounds like this is not thrush, given that thrush treatment doesn't work!

Can you go back and insist on a referral? I would keep going back until I get one. Poor thing you .

Fwiw whilst the gum people are ace, dermatologist is what you really need, especially as you have no sexual history. Non Sti related vulval problems are seen frequently in dermatology clinics - I was on placement in one recently. The gum clinic could be a good option if your gp refuses to refer you, though of course there is always a chance gum people could refer you back to gp rather than straight to dermatologists! They may at least be able to write you a letter for your gp though, and will probably at least rule out thrush and stis by taking swabs so the gp may take it more seriously. Hope you get some relief soon.

Agree, with fedup dermatology referral to establish what is actually going on down there.
Have you had any problems with other skin/mucosa e.g. in your mouth?

maybe you should also ask for swop to check what kind of bacterias
sometimes bv symptoms can be similar to the one of the trush

Wow. Thank you for all the helpful replies and the sympathy, I needed it. I was in a right old state last night.

Answers to questions:

• I'm waiting to see my rheumatologist and cannot get an earlier appointment. I'm going in 3 weeks. I'm having regular blood tests and they are normal.

• I've had a swab, the results should be in next week. I've been off work on annual leave and I'm dreading having to wear clothes on Monday.

• I get mouth ulcers and occasional thrush in my mouth. I get nose ulcers too. They are testing me for Systemic Lupus in addition to the inflammatory arthritis I have.

• I don't get cold sores.

• GUM clinic is my next step. I couldn't get another GP appointment for a few weeks but when the swab results come in, I think I'm going to insist on a sooner one.

• I have also researched the 'anti-thrush diet' and will be looking into it more if the swab confirms thrush.

• I had an allergic reaction to daktarin cream and canesten makes me itchier too, so I'm avoid creams and showering several times a day. I'm not using soap at all now either.

Thank you again for all the replies.

I'm really sorry this is in haste - my MIL had rheumatoid and with it came Sjogren's Syndrome which I know can cause vaginal dryness as soreness which might exacerbate the issue? Is that with bearing in mind? Wondered if there is a link between dry.mucous membranes (part of Sjogren's) and your mouth/nose problems? Sending much luck and a bit of a squeeze, hope you get to the bottom of this (pun not intended!)

Are your eyes affected? Srjogrens does go hand in hand with RA, but classically will cause dry eyes and mouth, as well as other mucous membranes. There are a whole lot of skin conditions that can cause your symptoms (behcets, pemphigus, pemphigoid, SLE, DLE, lichen planus, lichen sclerosis, can't think of more off hand). You really need to get a specialist opinion. Most of these can only be diagnosed by biopsy.