bummed

[Guest guest]

Hello,

I just need to put this out there. Reply if it strikes a chord with you.

I battled with vestibulitis for about 7 years. Finally last summer it

seemed to have vanished after the birth of our son. Actually, all

feeling had vanished from my vagina and surrounding areas. It was

better than having painful intercourse but frustrating too because I

remember sex with intense pleasure. Absolutely numb sex then just

seems pointless and blah. In January, I started having itching and

after seeing a few different docs, I finally found one that would

listen to me and not just blow me off like too many do. She

prescribed a steriod cream that helped with the itching but then

caused very painful burning. It would disappear after a few days of

using the Estrace cream but then the itching would return. I got so

frustrated, I took a medication holiday and ignored my vagina. The

itching hasn't returned since my period and I started to use the

estrace here and there again. Over the weekend, I felt like I had a

sore developing between 5 and 6 o'clock. I couldn't see anything, it

looked a little swollen compared to the other side but not red or

anything. Then, yesterday, I found a tiny tear. The doctor found

another. She had no answers for me except to say that if I have now

developed lichen sclerosis, the treatment will be the same - Estrace

and Testosterone. She did say that lichen sclerosis is only for sure

diagnosed with a biopsy but we didn't do that yesterday. I'm

wondering if any of you have some answers.

After using the estrace for ~5yrs is my body dependent on it and

because I took a break, the skin got very fragile and tore?

Do vestibulitis and lichen sclerosis go hand in hand?

Will I ever have pleasurable sex again? Yesterday was our 8th wedding

anniversary. Will this always be an area my husband and I struggle with?

Thanks for reading. I don't feel like discussing this with any of my

friends because they really don't understand and only offer pity. I

don't want pity, I want answers and reassurance that things will

eventually be better. I beginning to believe there are neither when

it comes to vulvodynia.

[Guest guest]

,

You need to get on over to the Yahoo group for Lichen Sclerosis ASAP!

Fantastic group where you will learn all you need to know and then

some. Sounds like pretty classic LS. You don't have to have a

biopsy...some do, some don't. The biopsies are very often false

negatives (ie you can have LS and it may not show up on biopsy) and

there are LOTS of things to try, although estrace and testosterone are

a great start.

Melinda