Vaginal Ulcer. Anyone about?

[INeedANewNameForThis]

So, I will start off by saying I have name changed for this.

I have recently had (another) UTI, which may or may not be linked, but would come more wiping than normal I suppose.

I have been feeling generally a bit under the weather for about a week and last night, I felt a bit 'sore' around my vulva. Tonight I thought I'd have a look and I have ulcers, one about little finger nail size and another tiny one directly opposite, just inside my vagina/where the labia ends I suppose.

Just to give as much detail as possible, my gums have been sore for a few days and I woke up this morning with 2 huge ulcers in my mouth, they have actually impacted me eating much today they were so sore.

I am seeing a gynecologist on Wednesday, due to unexplained bleeding, (twice in 2 weeks for multiple days) as I have been on the depo for over 10 years and don't get periods and when seeing the GP about my bleeding, he found a pylop on my cervix.

Are these things linked? What could it be?

Me and DP have been together for 15 years, we've not had sex for over 2 weeks due to the UTI issues.

He has had a look and said it does look like a mouth ulcer.

Thank you if you've got this far

STI screen need I'd say, married or not as a starting point then Gp.

Thanks, but this doesn't even look like an STI. That is not something I am worried about.

I am seeing the gynecologist on Wednesday, so wasn't going to go back to the GP

It sounds a lot like a first herpes outbreak tbh - general feeling of unwellness plus ulcers on genitals and in mouth are classic symptoms.

It looks nothing like herpes. None of the images of herpes look like it. It's like a mouth ulcer.

Have a look at Behcets syndrome. My friend presented with genital, oral and stomach ulcers and was diagnosed by a student in the GUM clinic.www.nhs.uk/conditions/behcets-disease/
It might fit your profile?

I've found that pop up a few times.

I do have aggressive rheumatoid arthritis, which is also inflammatory.

Thank you

mouth and vaginal i would also ask about steven johnson syndrome (allergic reaction usually to anti inflammatory meds) especially since it might also be affecting the urethra (urinary track).

I take naproxen daily. But have for a number of years. I was given a steroid at my last RA appointment about 3 weeks ago as well?

Could it spark something after so long?

I am just worried with the bleeding and the growth/pylop etc. It was all linked. I aren't normally an anxious person.

I also agree it sounds like it could be Behcet’s. It’s a tricky diagnosis to pin down, but if suspected, you can be referred to one of the specialist centres for the condition that the NHS has in a few UK locations.

So it would be worth mentioning it to the gynecologist on Wednesday?

DP wants me to call the GP tomorrow, but I don't think it will be worth it with going on Wednesday

I was also wondering if it is an autoimmune thing - I have ceoliac disease and it started as child with mouth ulcers which is apparently quite common.

mention it to all your health care providers someone will be able to piece together.
my ds developed sj syndrome after snowboarding and being prescribed naproxen. within 5 days he had what he believed was a cold sore on his lips, a sore throat and had spent the past 2 days in the dr's office being investigated for rectal herpes! was awaiting the lab results.
i, as a nurse have seen 1-2 cases of sj syndrome and knew right away it was an allergic reaction NOT 3 separate issues.

Honestly I would be almost certain the GP won’t know about Behcet’s. I would speak to the gynae at your appointment.

Thanks both.

I'm hoping they've gone down a bit by then, especially the ones in my mouth. But I will definitely mention it all to them

@INeedANewNameForThis how did the appointment go?

I have sarcoidosis in my joints and bones; rheumatologist says it's clinically the same as rheumatoid arthritis. Some of the biologics and immune suppressors cause terrible mouth ulcers and I also have a genital ulcer that recurs 2 or 3 times a year. They look NOTHING like herpes, because they're not. I was referred for oral cancer when they were at their worst, but they weren't that, either. Just a side effect of methotrexate injections and prednisone.

All this to say Take folic acid supplements! My doctor prescribed them and they started working right away. I can eat tomato based sauces and ketchup again. I haven't had any mouth lesions for months.

You can develop an allergic reaction to a medication or food at any time, the fact you've been on it for a long time doesn't rule it out. I had to move from Napeoxen to Celebrex a few years ago because it started making me throw up and crazy itchy for hours every time I took it. I can't remember how long I was on it beforehand but probably over 5 years.

It's not until Wednesday. They're still there but not as bothersome.

I am on methotrexate and biologics too. I do take folic, but only once a week. Would it be worth asking if I need to up it?

Definitely. Taking it daily made such a difference for me. Before, the ulcers were making it hard to eat, and sometimes hard to talk.

Also, my dentist suggested using Oral-B Mouth Sore Rinse. I use it whenever I feel them coming on, either as a rinse or dabbed on the sores directly. Very helpful for pain relief. I couldn't find it on Amazon UK, but I've included a photo with the ingredients listed.

I hope this helps. They are a fiendish misery!

Thank you so much.

You've helped a lot!

So I've been. He was lovely. Really reassuring. He's sending me for a scan for the bleeding.

He examined me and the pylop isn't a pylop. I didn't really understand what he called it, but its basically thinning/scarring of my cervix. Which explains the spotting I get occasionally after sex. He used some nitrate (I think) to burn away the tissue.

Regarding the ulcers, which were a lot less angry, he isn't worried and he thinks it's down to my meds, steroids and my immune system being so low.

Will update again if anyone is interested after my scan. Thank you all for the advice and support.