Help what is wrong with my vagina?

[Firstsitdowntoday]

I have had stinging and burning pain around the opening of my vagina for 3 weeks. First the gp thought it was thrush and prescribed cream and tablet. Improved for about a day and then symptoms came back. So gp prescribed long course of tablets and took a swab. No improvement so was given demo ate to use. No improvement told to use sudocream and this point swab came back negative for everything.
The skin in my vagina and vuvla is red and sore and is starting to split. I can hardly walk. I have also tried boric acid pessary, balance activ and multi gyn. The only thin giving me some relief is the topida spray I have started using. I have not worn underwear for the last three days but it isn't getting better. I am at the end of my tether. And due to go on holiday with kids next week....not sure how I am going to cope.

God that sounds awful. Could you have severe uti? And please don't take this the wrong way but could you have an sti at all?

Also consider maybe a print gp if you can. I went with what I thought was bad thrush or BV that go kept palming me off with. Turns out I've got lichen sclerosis ffs.

Private! Not print ffs.*

Lichen planus?

I don't think I have a uti, I did have one which I had antibiotics for. Which is why I think thrush was considered most likely. I have had an stu check and it was all clear.

Inverse psoriasis?

Or lichen sclerosus if there are white patches?

I had had the corticosteroids in dermovate which I thought was the treatment for lichen sclerosis? But it didn't help also I have no itching just a burning sensation and the skin inside my vagina is now splitting.

There are no white patches

It may not be the right type of steroid cream. Might be worth investigating.

Could also be lack of oestrogen- doesn’t matter what age you are, lack of oestrogen can happen at any age. Your doctor can prescribe oestrogen creams to try - Ovestin or Vagifem.

I occasionally use dermovate for inverse psoriasis - it's all around my vulva and right up my bum crack.

It's burns awfully and the skin splits.

I find the best relief comes from using Doublebase flare relief which I get from
Amazon or Sainsburys.

I use it instead of soap and apply it after washing too. Plus I use it on toilet paper throughout the day when needed.

It couldn’t be an allergy could it? To toilet paper or detergent?

I don't know how old you are OP but I had similar and was eventually told it was due to perimenopause. I was prescribed a cream which cured it within days. I had tried various antibiotics and creams before, with very little effect. A nurse realised in the end.

i agree with @Afterfire

i don't know how old you are op but I needed ovestin from 35

I was going to suggest peri too, the dryness and discomfort is something else

BV was my first thought then another pp mentioned something. You aren't using scented toilet paper or pantyliners? Change of wash powder or soft rinse?

I hope its sorted soon, you must be feeling utterly miserable

I had this and it was dryness - caused by hormones after birth and starting to BF. I used Ovestin for a few months until my hormones settled.

I am 37. I have just checked and the split in my vagina wall is now looking like a small ulcer.....it is so painful I don't know what to do with myself.

I don't think it is dryness as I ambhaving alot of white discharge.

This sounds horrendous OP! You need to go back and see a doctor again, preferably female IMO.

Go and make an appointment at a GUM clinic, we don’t just deal with STIs! GPs don’t always have sufficient knowledge or experience with genital dermatology but GUM consultants do. You’ll get answers there, or an appropriate referral

Sounds awful. Try vitaflora supplements alongside your treatment, have really helped me

Sounds like a Bartholins cyst from the ulcer description.

As PPs have said. At 37 it really could be low oestrogen.

An oestrogen cream/pessary could be all you need.

You poor thing, it sounds like it could be herpes to me. Definitely go back to GP or GUM clinic.

Low oestrogen isn’t just about dryness. It actually thins the walls and skin of the vagina and leads to soreness and an increase of things like UTIs and thrush. (There are also oestrogen receptors in the bladder so if you don’t have enough oestrogen there it can cause all sorts of issues). I’m still going with the lack of oestrogen theory.

I started to use Ovestin (which you can also use externally as well as internally) from 37. Im now 41 and wouldn’t be without it.