Hi, I'll start by saying I suffer massively with health anxiety and also slight OCD. I worry about negative outcomes from the topic of this if I post it, but I'm trying to get on top of my anxieties and this is a way of doing it - plus, if I helps anyone else in a similar situation, then great!
I'm 32 and have been on the depo for the last 2 years - pills don't agree with me. The last few months I've had migraines, bouts of low mood and terrible vaginal dryness.
2 weeks ago I had slight stinging when going to the toilet, and was quite sore below. Went for a urine dip test and it was negative for water infection, was recommended cystitis sachets, took them and slight improvement.
Few days later stinging returned, and now I go between being fine, to bouts of itchiness and soreness, and I feel like I can pinpoint a patch of soreness. Had a look with a mirror last night and found a small dark brown/black patch on the inside of my labia which I've never noticed before - it's never been mentioned during smears or during IVF. I googled and frightened myself to death so got an appointment with the GP this morning.
He had a look and said he could see some redness and a small ulcer and that there's a condition called lichen sclerosis which they associate with, and which could also be the reason behind my pain and other symptoms including dryness. He also explained about the depo and side effects of that being low mood, dryness and brittle bones. He said the brown/black patch doesn't look like cancer but has put me on the two week wait referral just to be checked out to rule out anything sinister before he can look at any treatment options, but said he wanted to stress that to him, it didn't look like it, but as it has just appeared he wanted a gynae to take a look.
I came out and cried my eyes out - we have 2 small children. When I mentioned to my dh he said that he's seen the patch and it's been there about 10 years! This did make me feel slightly better - I don't examine myself down there and don't look, so if it has been there all this time, then I'm hoping that's a good thing.
Does anyone have an advice or similar experiences? Would really welcome them