Newbie - Lichen Schlerosus or worse?!

[SpannaBanana123]

Hi everyone,
After often reading comments and advice on here I have finally plucked up the courage to join. Apologies now for my ramblings, bear with me!
I suffer with crippling health anxiety and have done so for the last 15 years. I can be fine for months on end but eventually it rears its ugly head again. I am worse when out of routine and being a teacher, I am definitely out of routine at the moment. In the last month alone I have convinced myself I have bowel cancer (father diagnosed with this in 2017 so it is a recurring trigger) and now vulvar cancer.
I have suffered with itching down below every now and again but recently it was quite intense on one side of my clitoris (TMI - sorry!) after a few weeks of on and off itching I decided to take a look. Where there was itching, i could see a tiny patch of raised white skin. It is small but definitely noticeable and raised, feels a tiny bit rough. After no sleep and lots of google (why do i do it? 😭) I made an appointment to see the out of hours gp.
The GP examined me and diagnosed lichen sclerosus (my mother also has this condition so a possible genetic link?? ) and told me to make an appointment with GP who will make a routine referral for confirmation. All was fine until I googled (again, why?! 😭) and was met with horror stories of sex being impossible, vaginas closing up and it felt like it alwys leads to vulval cancer 😢. Naturally I panicked, rang Mum who said she has managed to get it under control so much so it hardly bothers her anymore. Relief!!
Today i went to my GP. She examined me and said the white area felt hard and other parts of my labia looked quite pale but that could just be how they are. I said i had only noticed the small patch where the itching was that looked abnormal. She insisted she wasn't worried and it didnt look suspicious but for peace of mind she would refer me for a biopsy. Now, i kinda knew this would happen but i think hearing 'biopsy' has now sent me into some crazy panic. It isn't an urgent referral and the gp said it is highly unlikely i have cancer and she was mainly doing it for my peace of mind but despite all these things, which should be reassuring, it has sent me into crazy panic that i have cancer or VIN 😢 The GP prescribed Euvomate(?) which i have started this evening.
Hoping some of you lovely people could offer some words of advice, virtual hugs, positive stories about LS. Apologies for the long rambling!

@SpannaBanana123 bless you, this is just like reading about myself. I have health anxiety and I feel you. I can be calm and logical when I’m outside looking in, so much easier said then done I know. As your mum has the same thing, I’m absolutely sure it’s that. The doctor will know how anxious you are and is only making sure so she can put your mind at rest. I feel exactly the same, get anxious when they want to test for anything and anxious when they don’t, just in case they miss something. Try and focus on the very highly unlikely part and try and keep calm. Sending a virtual/ I feel you hug.

Thank you Ramina. Health anxiety is the pits isnt it?! I feel a bit more rational today (i am always worse at night!) Focusing on the fact two doctors have looked and neither were worried in the slightest. Like you I can be so rational when it comes to others but when it is me or my kids all rationality seems to go out the window. Thank you for your message, really appreciate it and its good to know i am not the only health anxiety sufferer out there 🤗

Hello! Please don't despair, health anxiety is so so so common. You're certainly not alone. Do you use Instagram? If so funny allow doctor jillkrapfmd. She is so reassuring about ls. It's not a life sentence, there's ways of managing it, it doesn't progress as rapidly and consistently as worst case scenarios. I understand you're upset and panicked but I can reassure you it can be managed, you can use steroid creams all your life. Please follow doctors advice. Deep breaths and trust the specialists. You don't have cancer, biopsies are needed to prescribe a long term regimen. Sending you a big hug 🤗

Thank you Mia2201 I am on instagram so will definitely give that lady a follow. If this is LS then i dont think i have it very badly (one tiny mark) so hopefully i will have got on top of it early (fingers crossed) I have made an appointment with a CBT therapist who has been recommended to me, as I think my biggest issue is my health anxiety. Thank you for your reply, made me feel much better 😊