Guest guest Posted May 21, 2008 Report Share Posted May 21, 2008 HI ... awwwh hon it sure sounds like LS with that itch especially...and your doctor is correct that the E & T is used for tissue restoration just as it is for any vulvar problems if the tissue is involved and all infectious agents have been ruled and not from other reasons like Pelvic floor dysfunction, or diet or radiating pain, etc.... but if it's in the skin those two hormones (estradiol & testosterone) are what the skin lives and thrives on whatever the cause, so that helps restore the tissue (those splits, fissures, color, tone etc.etc and gives it back it's elasticity. (and even unfuse labial adhesions if you might have that, not always, but has in many cases). Then the topical steroids are used to give symptom relief, like the itch, inflammation, burning, pain etc.... In fact the topical steroids are often used in a 'first protocol' for most vulvar pain as well, (again once other things are excluded) since they help give relief. BUT in the case of LS ... the steroids are the strongest and most potent... where with other non LS cases they might use a far lesser strength, a steroid is also used for a dermatitis as well. Anyway hon a suggestion is to join the LS group where LS is the main focus and so many have been made well... it's at: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/LichenSclerosis/ I'm the owner of this one and that one.. and some members are on both groups as they may also have vestibulitis too, and the Estrace or estradiol and T. is excellent for that as well. In a paper Dr.J. Willems wrote... he had women preparing for vulvar surgery with vestibulitis because it helps the skin heal so much better with the upcoming surgery. But many of them ended up cancelling the surgery because the Estrace worked so well. ; ) Anyway hon do consider joining us there as well. It's double this membership so it's extremely active but they'll all know what you're going thru. Hugs honDee bummed 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 itseemed to have vanished after the birth of our son. Actually, allfeeling had vanished from my vagina and surrounding areas. It wasbetter than having painful intercourse but frustrating too because Iremember sex with intense pleasure. Absolutely numb sex then justseems pointless and blah. In January, I started having itching andafter seeing a few different docs, I finally found one that wouldlisten to me and not just blow me off like too many do. Sheprescribed a steriod cream that helped with the itching but thencaused very painful burning. It would disappear after a few days ofusing the Estrace cream but then the itching would return. I got sofrustrated, I took a medication holiday and ignored my vagina. Theitching hasn't returned since my period and I started to use theestrace here and there again. Over the weekend, I felt like I had asore developing between 5 and 6 o'clock. I couldn't see anything, itlooked a little swollen compared to the other side but not red oranything. Then, yesterday, I found a tiny tear. The doctor foundanother. She had no answers for me except to say that if I have nowdeveloped lichen sclerosis, the treatment will be the same - Estraceand Testosterone. She did say that lichen sclerosis is only for surediagnosed with a biopsy but we didn't do that yesterday. I'mwondering if any of you have some answers.After using the estrace for ~5yrs is my body dependent on it andbecause 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 weddinganniversary. 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 myfriends because they really don't understand and only offer pity. Idon't want pity, I want answers and reassurance that things willeventually be better. I beginning to believe there are neither whenit comes to vulvodynia.------------------------------------**IF REPLYING TO THIS POST, PLEASE REMOVE ORIGINAL POST, Thanks for your cooperation! ***** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 22, 2008 Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 Thanks for the support! It's exactly what I needed. I'll check out the LS group. One wierd thing I don't really know what to do with is that my husband seems to think that nothing has changed, almost happier with this diagnosis than with the vestibulitis being gone and my complaint of itching and burning. I wasn't happy with the itching and burning but to me, having a diagnosis of LS is as devastating as having vestibulitis. I'm so glad to hear that you've had success with the E and T and I'm interested in possibly trying different bases like Emu oil. I'm glad that this diagnosis allows him to be more understanding but I don't understand why. Thanks again! > > HI ... > > awwwh hon it sure sounds like LS with that itch especially...and your doctor is correct that the E & T is used for tissue restoration just as it is for any vulvar problems if the tissue is involved and all infectious agents have been ruled and not from other reasons like Pelvic floor dysfunction, or diet or radiating pain, etc.... but if it's in the skin those two hormones (estradiol & testosterone) are what the skin lives and thrives on whatever the cause, so that helps restore the tissue (those splits, fissures, color, tone etc.etc and gives it back it's elasticity. (and even unfuse labial adhesions if you might have that, not always, but has in many cases). > > Then the topical steroids are used to give symptom relief, like the itch, inflammation, burning, pain etc.... In fact the topical steroids are often used in a 'first protocol' for most vulvar pain as well, (again once other things are excluded) since they help give relief. BUT in the case of LS ... the steroids are the strongest and most potent... where with other non LS cases they might use a far lesser strength, a steroid is also used for a dermatitis as well. > > Anyway hon a suggestion is to join the LS group where LS is the main focus and so many have been made well... it's at: > http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/LichenSclerosis/ > I'm the owner of this one and that one.. and some members are on both groups as they may also have vestibulitis too, and the Estrace or estradiol and T. is excellent for that as well. > > In a paper Dr.J. Willems wrote... he had women preparing for vulvar surgery with vestibulitis because it helps the skin heal so much better with the upcoming surgery. But many of them ended up cancelling the surgery because the Estrace worked so well. ; ) > > Anyway hon do consider joining us there as well. It's double this membership so it's extremely active but they'll all know what you're going thru. > > Hugs hon > Dee > > > bummed > > > 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. > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > **IF REPLYING TO THIS POST, PLEASE REMOVE ORIGINAL POST, > Thanks for your cooperation! ** > > *** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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