TMI but is this thrush?!

[NeededANameChangeAnyway]

I have googled and just don't know.
I'm really itchy around the vulva but using the canesten cream nips like crazy and doesn't seem to do much. No discharge. No internal itch. No pain when peeing. At times I could literally claw myself to bits but then, if I ignore and don't scratch, the itch goes away. This has been going on for ever. Could it be an allergy?? Some other problem I don't know?

Look up Lichen sclerosus maybe?

Googled that and its not it.
You can't get a doctor's appt near me unless your head is hanging off so it's Dr Google.

Bumping for any other thoughts!

Flocean anti itch cream was a life saver for me with exactly the same symptoms you describe

You can get it on Amazon

I'll have a look, thanks!
Did you ever find out what was wrong with you?

How old are you? I have this and think it may be the start of peri, I’m 39. I’ve made myself bleed scratching the itch. Building up the courage to see my doctor but haven’t managed it yet.

Omg, I have this! No discharge, nothing internal, just itchy, and gets worse if I don’t canasten it. Worse in the heat. Never goes away. I also assume peri - I’m 40. No proper ‘diagnosis’ though.

The canasten with hydrocortisone in works for me to take the itch away when it flares up - you can get it from pharmacies including online ones. It’s sold for athletes foot but you can honestly say how you intend to use it and they’re fine with that - it’s a recognised treatment.

This was my first sign of peri at 41. Vaginal oestrogen from the GP helped.

I stopped taking it though and the itching has come back now. It’s awful!

45, so maybe??

I think I need to seriously consider this!! I don't think I have any other symptoms though but I guess it has to start somewhere!
Building up the courage to make a doctor's appointment....

The cream may only relieve a surface itch...it won't treat any Thrush higher up, which, if it's Thrush, the cream won't touch.
I would treat with a Canesten pessary/AND Fluconazole, orally, ( especially if you've had it a few days; it will have taken hold. Then wait 48-72 hours and see.
There's no harm in doing that, then eliminating it as a cause, and seeking extra help. The Canesten cream with Hydrocortisone is good for established symptoms.

It could well be Atrophic Vaginitis ( where the tender vaginal skin gets friable/excoriated from lack of Oestrogen). But I would treat as Thrush first, and see. If only, when you go to see the GP, you can say you've treated and eliminated it, the symptoms are still there, and need an extra look/alternative diagnosis/treatment.

At the start of peri vaginal dryness can mean that we can’t produce the typical white coating associated with thrush (this also happens with Sjögren’s syndrome which is under diagnosed and more common than people realise in women over 40) so it may be thrush. I’d treat as thrush anyway, won’t do any harm; and go from there. Then try some vaginal oestrogen longer term to see if it helps, get the cream rather than pessaries (Ovestin or estriol not Vagifem).

Get some vaginal oestrogen. Am on a one woman education drive about this!

Yes I think it is lumped under the category of vaginal dryness as a peri symptom. I am 50 so that would make sense. I don't have a dry vagina - but it isn't thrush and it isn't the itchy rash I get elsewhere sometimes as the betnovate cream didn't work, and this cream absolutely did after one application so give it a go. Like PPs the itch was so bad it was driving me crazy so I am super happy to have found this.

Oh wow I've literally just been to the doctors this week with the same thing! I did a full course of thrush / BV pessaries but they made zero difference so they've done a swab and sent it off. Will see what it comes back with...

Vaginal dermatitis? I used to suffer until l started with estrogen cream.

Thanks all, I will read all the suggestions and make a plan!

Just to add to this-I had exactly same thing and oestrogen vaginal cream has helped immensely within first week .

47 and deffo in peri