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Original poster

Vulva eczema

45 replies

royalair · 27/04/2015 15:09

I posted previously about gp telling me i had Vulvodynia but visit to private gynae diagnosed chronic eczema. Does anyone have this & do they have a feeling of needing to pee- like the urethra is irritated or is this unrelated? My gynae wants to treat the skin condition first as she thinks it may have irritated urethra making me feel like I need to pee all the time- I don't actually need to go I just have the sensation- almost like a tickling sensation. Just wondering what symptoms people have had with this? Thanks

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Original poster

royalair · 29/04/2015 22:00

Thanks, but it's not really overactive in that I'm not actually always going to the loo, I go 4, 5, 6 hours between trips but I just have that tickly sensation all the time that feels like it's coming from urethra but low down. Have considered urologist but I think they'll tell me overactive bladder but I don't think it is. And I can sleep all night without peeing too.

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Pico2 · 29/04/2015 22:02

I've been diagnosed with Lichen Sclerosis. I've had problems like you describe with urethral symptoms, which, when they are bad, drive me crazy - probably worse than the LS. One of the things my dermatologist said was that thrush thrives on damaged skin, so sometimes what I might think is a flare of LS is actually thrush and I do find that taking fluconazole when things get bad helps.

Original poster

royalair · 29/04/2015 22:05

Mmmm just visited my close friend Dr Google there randomness but it said it most likely is something that would occur in children? I was group b strep positive in pregnancy so I might mention that at next gynae visit if I haven't totally lost sanity by then

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Original poster

royalair · 29/04/2015 22:07

Pico2 thank u- possibly someone with the same symptom. Maybe I'm not a medical one-off. Is fluconazole only on prescription? I wonder could it be worth a try. But thabks so much, will mention all this to Dr next visit.
You ladies are great

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RandomMess · 29/04/2015 22:11

Hmm it's strep A that causes it anyway.

Sounds like it could be Lichen Sclerosis then and yes fungal issues down there a constant battle if the skin is broken (my youngest dd is the perianal psoriasis sufferer )

Pico2 · 29/04/2015 22:27

Fluconazole is available without prescription. It is the capsule (oral) you get for thrush - brand name Canesten. But generic brands are cheaper in a pharmacy and the cheapest way to get it is on the internet for a few quid, compared to £11 for Canesten. You obviously can also get a prescription and it can help to get a swab done to check for thrush so that you know whether that is actually the problem.

I've had other investigations - camera in my bladder, but nothing much showed up.

Original poster

royalair · 30/04/2015 08:30

Thanks very much ladies. My main problem is that the longer it goes on I start to think it's something awful and I'm panicking about being really ill. One final question randommess if you don't mind but does lichen sclerosous need a biopsy or could specialist tell by looking? I'm thinking it's more likely psoriasis as I've little patches of it elsewhere on hips etc. Thanks again

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Pico2 · 30/04/2015 13:13

I didn't need a biopsy. It was initially diagnosed by a GP with special interest in dermatology. Later confirmed by a dermatologist with special interest in vulval conditions. I saw a urogynea for the urethral pain.

Original poster

royalair · 30/04/2015 15:08

Thanks pico, did the urogynae have any suggestions for the urinary issues- was there medication ?

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Orangeanddemons · 30/04/2015 15:32

I wonder if you also have interstitial cystitis. That's what irritated my urethra. Bladder was fine, just horrid irritated urethra....

Original poster

royalair · 30/04/2015 15:53

I don't know, what were ur symptoms from the urethra orangesanddemons? I just don't know whether to stick with the gynae and trust the eczema diagnosis or go ahead with urologist in meantime. If there was something I could take to relieve the horrible urethra thing (at least that's where I think irritation is) I think I would be much less stressed. Gynae/ urologist/ dermatologist?? Don't know who to see next really

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Booboostoo · 30/04/2015 18:23

I have vulvar eczema. My skin is slightly discoloured and white but still soft unlike lichen schlerosis (as far as I understand it). It is exceptionally itchy. During bad periods I feel like I could take a knife and scratch myself with that. Any time I do scratch, of course, like all eczema, things just get a lot worse.

I have never had the urethra problems you describe, which doesn't help you at all, sorry. For what it's worth eczema was misdiagnosed for years and was finally diagnosed by biopsy from a pathologist specialising in dermatological problems.

It seems to be caused by my own hormones. During pregnancy and breastfeeding the problem disappears completely but returns when I have my normal menstrual cycle. When it is active I avoid all scented soaps, etc, use a cream called Anticort that helps on a daily basis (and doesn't have the long term side effects of steroids) and for flare ups I do need steroids.

Hope this helps you.

Orangeanddemons · 30/04/2015 19:49

Mine was definitely linked to hormones too. Always got worse just before a period

Original poster

royalair · 30/04/2015 20:51

Thanks again ladies, I'm going to contact my gynae again next week and put a few more questions to get. Hopefully I'll get more answers and a way forward

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Pico2 · 30/04/2015 20:56

I'm on lowish dose amitryptaline for the urethral pain and I think it helps - I had a long period without pain, but have had a few flare ups lasting a few weeks each.

Madamecastafiore · 30/04/2015 20:57

Have you tried taking an antihistamine every day. That really helps my excema too.

WingsofNylon · 30/04/2015 21:09

Sorry to throw even more possibilities into the mix but I had similar itching and crawling sensation with a little (but not as bad as yours sounds) needing to pee. In the end I worked out it must have been a parasite as I took some diatonaceous earth power and a course of worming tables and it finally went away. Both are totally harmless if not needed so perhaps worth a shot?

Original poster

royalair · 30/04/2015 21:32

Pico I took amitriptyline for 5 weeks when this started, got up to 40mg on gps advice but felt horrendous on it- like I was slightly drunk?! Gynae said dose was far too high and didn't think I needed it. I wonder though did I not stay on it long enough to notice a benefit but surely I would have seen some improvement by 5 weeks. Does it take longer to kick in? Wings of nylon thanks for that. Everything's worth considering I guess.
The funny thing is the eczema hasn't bothrtrd me that much, it's the yucky tingly peeing sensation- thanks madamcastafiore

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Pico2 · 30/04/2015 22:13

I'm on 50mg of amitryptaline - gradually increased until it made a difference. I feel fine on it except for a slightly dry mouth.

Original poster

royalair · 01/05/2015 07:20

Thanks pico, glad it helps you

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