Visit to doctor - embarrassing feminine issue

[ShyGirlie]

Hi everyone,

Hope someone can help me out as I'm at the end of my tether here. Sorry for possibly too much info...

I have had an extremely sore undercarriage for about the last six months now. It extends from my vaginal opening to between my hips. It's a constantly itchy, burning pain and its really making me miserable - agonising to sit, stand or walk!
I have tried everything possible - canesten cream, sudocreme, savlon cream, germoline cream, natural yogurt, allowing it to be bare when possible. I only wash with water and wear cotton "big" pants.

I've had a look at it in mirror - the skin looks so red and almost raw.

I can't put up with it any longer so have booked visit to doctor for a couple of weeks time. REALLY dreading the thought of having someone look there. :-(

Was wondering what the etiquette for such visits are. Obviously I will ensure area is clean and hygienic beforehand, but do I need to shave / tidy up the area? I don't normally as I'm not very hairy! Paranoid now though, as it seems the whole world is smooth and bare!

Is it better to go to a male or female doctor?

Also, if my period comes (unreliable), should I cancel until it is over?

I am just soooooooo embarrassed (and sore), please help me before I chicken out altogether :-(

[ShyGirlie]

Also, when she was using that thing that holds u "open" for swab (can't remember name of it!!!) she asked if I normally felt discomfort during penetration as I was quite "tight" for that thingy (what is it called?!?) I have no problem getting, ahem, lubricated, when aroused but would still feel discomfort during sex.

Is this ringing any bells with anyone?!? I feel like I'm totally abnormal or something!

[meditrina]

The word you are looking for is speculum.

It does sound as if this is some sort fo contact irritation. aside from Always, have you changed washing powder recently?

[breatheslowly]

Could well be lichen sclerosus. Get a referral to a dermatologist with special interest in vulval stuff.

[inneedofrain]

Shy girl

Ok a question what do you mean by discomfort?

Have you had a smear?

Ok next

Have you changed anything recently like laundry powder? I assume you are just using water to clean and nothing else
Your not using personal wipes or anything?
Not wear a different type make of tights?

Don't worry about being normal we are all normal it probably something real simple but it might take a little thinking to work out what

[ShyGirlie]

Discomfort during sex - I just mean pain on penetration, as if I am too tight. I have bled a little in the past.
Daily discomfort - severe itching, like I could just tear my skin off.

Haven't changed washing powder or anything, don't use soap to wash down there.

How is lichen sclerosis diagnosed? It's just that the swabs all came back clear, although they were taken internally, whereas the problem seems to be external in my opinion.

Does taking the steroid cream for longer than 7 days cause any problems I wonder?

[awaynboilyurheid]

Try Lactobacillus adopholis for encouraging healthy bacteria in your gut works well for health but also for thrush type symptoms can get it in most health food shops

[breatheslowly]

I've been diagnosed by a dermatologist having a look. Some people have biopsies, but I haven't needed one.

[TondelayoSchwarzkopf]

You need to get a referral to a vulval dermatologist or gynaecologist that specialises in skin issues. They will take skin samples.

[tipp2chicago]

Cut down on sugar a bit if you can.

[BoreOfWhabylon]

Using the steroid cream for longer than prescribed can cause problems with skin thinning, so best not to do that.

I suggest what others have said, keep cool with loose, cotton underwear, just wash with plain water - no soaps, shower gels etc, and ditch the Always pads.

If the discomfort returns, go back to the GP as may need referral/other treatment.

[valiumredhead]

Just wanted to add that Always have irritated me too. I use a moon cup but have used pantie liners as am menopausal and felt I needed a bit of extra freshness. Oh dear God, the burning started almost immediately and realised it was the liners.

Hope you feel better soon. One more thing do you use bio washing detergent/softeners? If you do switch to non bio and cut out the softener. Ditto soaps/shower gels.

[CurlyhairedAssassin]

Also, you may need to reduce the AMOUNt of washing powder in your machine. Most people use far too much. In doing that, and doing extra rinses on clothes, my ds's eczema went away. If the skin is generally inflamed and irritated down there it will be sensitive to the slightest thing till its had a chance to recover.

By the way, I had a similar problem to yours in my early 20s. The itching was bad enough to wake me up at night. Can eaten cream would help for a while but it would all flare up again if I stopped the cream. Swabs for thrush came back negative and they were done twice. Doctor said there wasnt really excessive discharge like you would expect in thrush too so she really thought it couldn't be that. the end, I used a combination of canes ten combi , so cream externally and pessary. PLUS I took Diflucan orally at the same time. Took multivitamin, lowered my sugar and alcohol intake, got loads of sleep, rinsed knickers loads by hand to make sure all washing powder was gone, got partner to use canesten cream on himself etc, and doing all that at once finally cleared it for good. It must have been thrush, despite the negative swabs, I am convinced.

[CurlyhairedAssassin]

That shoudk read "canesten" ha ha!

[ShyGirlie]

Aww thank u so much ladies for all of your advice, I'm certainly going to take it all on board, anything to ease this problem.

This is why I love mumsnet, I really did feel so down and isolated by the whole thing, unable to talk to absolutely anyone in real life about it. I was scared in case I would get flamed on here, but u really have all been lovely!

[CurlyhairedAssassin]

How's it going, OP? Any improvement?