Blunt and overly honest post about my vagina!

[daydreamingthroughmotherhood]

Hi all, desperate 29 year old first time Mum here… baby is 7 months old now and my vagina is in tatters!!
It all started during pregnancy, I had constant thrush!! Which then turned into a rash, a bikini line rash, my vagina felt like it was covered in tiny tiny cuts!!
I ended up having an emergency c-section, which thank god because I don’t think my vagina would of survived a natural birth..
7 months later and my vagina is still not right. I have been back and to to the doctors, all I get from them is ‘don’t use soap down there (which I don’t) and here’s some thrush cream’.
Currently, my vagina is so painful. It’s burning, itchy, discharge, feels like cuts all over, INCREDIBLY DRY. There’s no smell to it whatsoever, or to the discharge.

Can anyone give me some advice please on what I need to do/who I need to see please.
I’ve done so much googling, I feel like I could be low in estrogen? Due to how dry my vagina is…
I’m 29, could it be perimenopause?

fyi, I don’t use any soaps down there, no feminine products, I haven’t even sodding shaved for months because the skin is that fragile and sore, I’ve just been trimming - grim.

Please can anyone give me some advice, without sounding dramatic, it is ruining my life. My partner is dying to have sex but I just can’t. It would be agony for me. I can’t wear certain clothes because it is agony, even sitting down on my couch is agony.
I’ve lost quite a bit of weight since having my baby, I’m now 13 stone. I used to be 17 stone!!!
So I don’t feel I’m too overweight anymore.

Honestly, I just want this vaginal pain/irritation/dryness to stop, I need it to. My mental health is suffering because of all the things I don’t feel I can do anymore.
Feel free to ask me anything, I have no filter at this point. I’m that desperate to feel healthy down there again!

I would get reoccurring thrush, stopped using ‘feminine wash’ and only use completely basic not scented in any way toilet roll and o no longer get flare ups

These won't cure anything but I promise they will soothe symptoms if it's your labia as opposed to in the vaginal canal.

https://www.boots.com/vagisil-soothing-oatmeal-intimate-wipes-12-pack-10204262?traffic=paid.shopping&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19965642474&gbraid=0AAAAA-AdmwQRdROxaniCJKgIDnig_xjTl&gclid=CjwKCAjw4efDBhATEiwAaDBpboYWN2QqAOCSXpFEtkEOuh6chZA4YzmzllzB8lhUrZGToiLDWl5xGRoCoJoQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Random but also are you taking vitamins? I used to have this and it was low iron. Keep on top of my iron and all is well.

maybe ask for a blood panel while you’re at the GP?

btw not shaving is not “grim”. It’s normal and healthy, and won't exacerbate your issues, like you say.

Yes, I recently got an infection and was also prescribed Fluconazole. I think that you need to insist-if your GP won’t prescribe it, insist on a gynecological referral. It’s ridiculous that you’re being allowed to suffer like this.

I had similar after having my baby and it was awful. I thought I’d never have sex again! This really helped the paper cut like tears and also the dryness and soothed it.

https://www.kegel8.co.uk/products/kegel8-gold-miracle-balm

I’m no expert but the burning and itching definitely sounds like an infection to me-I had exactly those symptoms during my recent infection. I’m 50 so it wasn’t as a result of childbirth! 😂.

Please push for a gynae appointment. 💐

Hi. As others have said you need a proper diagnosis but in the meantime if you can bear it a vaginal moisturiser like Yes V. M may help with dryness and soreness. You need to buy an applicator separately to get it to the right places.

Is there a walk in GUM clinic? If you’re showing symptoms of something (which you are) they should see you the same day or very quickly. Call them. Also chase Gp for a gynaecologist apt. But if they keep you waiting for an appointment make a big fuss or go private. This really needs to be treated or you’ll lose your mind.

Side note. Any other area of fungal infection? Persistent thrush is thought to sometimes somehow be related to other fungal things in the body such as toe nails / feet. Apparently it’s hard to get rid of one without the other. Could be old wives tales.

You need probiotics with bacillus rhamanous in them if you are going to take them for thrush, as that’s the candida eating one. Bioglan is the brand I use..

This ^
my first thought too when you mentioned the paper cuts

what steroids have you had? Very strong Steroid ointment, usually Dermovate, is the steroid of choice to deal with this if it is LS

dermatology, vulval or not, or GUM clinic are what you need.

UPDATE - So I’ve had swabs done (again).
STI swabs came back all clear, I also had a HVS (high vaginal swab) done, that’s come back clear of thrush but positive for a staph infection…

Doctor wants me to do 7 days of antibiotics, but not the same antibiotics as I’ve previously had as she feels the staph infection I have must be resistant to the antibiotics I’ve already had.

I asked if I can see a gynae, she said she will put a request through.
She wants me to do a blood test as well to check hormones I think…

What does everyone think? Is this really bad? Should I be worried about passing onto my baby? I wash my hands excessively already due to being concerned because of how much I’m suffering down there😐

Hey Op, sounds really uncomfortable! I had something very similar during pregnancy and after my baby was born - it actually only went away when she was around 2. I really thought I was going through menopause as it was so dry, sore and uncomfortable.
I went to the gp too, and they said it was most likely hormonal, and it would solve itself which it did eventually.
Sorry, purely anecdotal, but may provide some hope! X

Yes VM comes in preloaded little applicators, or a large tube. You don't buy anything separately. It's good stuff and will instantly help you to feel more comfortable.

I feel for you. Since a pregnancy a few years ago then I have had insane itching on and off it’s more controlled now than it’s ever been. But still itchy but I can have sex and I have no vaginal dryness, but have been diagnosed with thrush a number of times since. Mine looks like little paper cuts more towards my Perineum but on the bad days my skin feels like it’s splitting. I have good days or maybe weeks without it. I tried water, aqueous cream, various topical treatments from the GP I had a steroid one for a bit which worked really well, I’ve had blood tests and swabs done and all ok sometimes comes back with thrush sometimes nothing. Currently I am either using aveno body wash or (which I think has been working really well) is Superdrug’s body wash for psoriasis, and I’ve had a good few weeks since using it.

I forgot the link this is what I use Shower gel

Hi OP you have my sympathy!

I struggled with the exact same thing for the past nine or ten months. My children are all older and I'm mid forties so I assumed it was hormonal. I tried literally everything though - from threadworm treatment to estradiol to steroid cream. Also tried Canesten several times. Eventually I decided to see a private gynecologist, who upon examination said instantly it was a heavy thrush infection. I was surprised as I had treated myself with Canesten to no avail already. But he told me to use just the pessary last thing at night, and not to move after inserting it. He also advised to insert it as high as possible into the vagina. I had to repeat this twice a week for three weeks and it has helped immensely. My symptoms are vastly improved.

Best of luck, hope you get relief from your condition soon.

You’ve had loads of advice but could I just add- make sure your toilet roll is not scented. Whoever thought that scented toilet roll was a good idea must have been a man!