Re: my success story

[Guest guest]

your story sounds like mine! minus the success part ><i'm about your age too... i also thought sex was supposed to hurt. i only have pain on contact.i just start taking the gabapentin last night and i'm working up to 3x week 600mg over the course of a month. i was doing physical therapy but recently stopped because it was just too painful...every session i'd be crying the entire time. i plan on going back to physical therapy once i can tolerate it better (whenever that is).how long were you in therapy? what did they do? how long were you on medication? -katieerynhilliard wrote: hi all, i first saw this support group about a year ago, and at the time i was desperately hopeless about my situation and wanted so much to see some happy stories that would give me hope. now i want to share my success story here in hopes that it will help someone else out there who is suffering. when i lost my virginity at 17 (i am now almost 22), there was a lot of pain. i assumed that was normal for the first time. but every time we tried to have intercourse it was equally as painful. i visited my family doctor and two gynecologists, all of whom told me different things, prescribed useless creams and generally disregarded me. i spent the next three years completely depressed about sex. i accepted in my mind that i would never have painless sex and that no man would ever truly love me... and even if a man did love me, i was sure he

would eventually leave me because of it. i grew to HATE my condition. i wouldn't think about it or talk about it to anyone. i secretly hated my friends for flippantly speaking about sex and taking it for granted. i can not possibly express in words the dark cloud that this put over my daily life. i learned eventually that my older sister also suffered from this condition (genetic? no one knows). luckily, she immediately found a specialist who knew a lot about vestibulitis and did not have to go through years of turmoil like i did. the first time i saw this wonderful gynecologist, he looked at my vagina for a quick second and said "i know what you have just by looking, and it is treatable." i burst into tears right there. he said that it's a shame that so many women suffer from this but are too afraid to see a doctor, and even if they do, most doctors are very unaware about vulvodynia/ vestibulitis. in the beginning i

was using a topical anesthetic. it did take the pain away, but i was not happy with how it interrupted the natural flow of love making. the cream would work best in a loving relationship, but sometimes sex happens casually... and taking 10 minutes to try and get the cream in just the right spot and then waiting 10 more for it to take effect is not my idea of sexy! to make a long story short, what worked for me was a combination of gabapentin (600 mg 3x daily) and cognitive therapy. i can NOT stress how important therapy was, and firmly believe that it is impossible to overcome this condition without it. the gabapentin worked wonderfully, and of course the first time i had painless sex i burst into tears, like a horrible darkness had been lifted from my life. recently, i went off of the medication entirely. i now have moderate pain during intercourse upon entry, but it is bearable and does not last once he is

inside. my whole life has changed because i learned to stop hating my condition and i took control of it. it was not an easy battle, and i am now on antidepressants for the lasting effects this has had on my mood. but i feel happy, healthy and i am in love and having sex often! it's a shame that there is so little research out there, but i want to let people know that we can overcome it and that there is hope. -eh

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[Guest guest]

oh sorry, i thought they were the same. what is cognitive therapy and what did they do?sorry for all the questions,katieerynhilliard wrote: hi katie, i guess i should have specified that i did cognitive (not physical) therapy. the gabapentin did work for me, but i don't think it would have worked had i not addressed all of the emotional issues surrounding the disorder with my therapist. the fact that i can have a healthy sex life today is an equal result of medicine and seeing a psychologist, i

think. - eh hi all, > i first saw this support group about a year ago, and at the time i was > desperately hopeless about my situation and wanted so much to see some > happy stories that would give me hope. now i want to share my success > story here in hopes that it will help someone else out there who is > suffering. > when i lost my virginity at 17 (i am now almost 22), there was a lot > of pain. i assumed that was normal for the first time. but every time > we tried to have intercourse it was equally as painful. i visited my > family doctor and two gynecologists, all of whom told me different > things, prescribed useless creams and generally disregarded me. i > spent the next three years completely depressed about sex. i accepted > in my mind that i would never have painless sex and that no man would > ever truly love me... and even if a man did love me, i was sure he

> would eventually leave me because of it. i grew to HATE my condition. > i wouldn't think about it or talk about it to anyone. i secretly hated > my friends for flippantly speaking about sex and taking it for > granted. i can not possibly express in words the dark cloud that this > put over my daily life. > i learned eventually that my older sister also suffered from this > condition (genetic? no one knows). luckily, she immediately found a > specialist who knew a lot about vestibulitis and did not have to go > through years of turmoil like i did. the first time i saw this > wonderful gynecologist, he looked at my vagina for a quick second and > said "i know what you have just by looking, and it is treatable." i > burst into tears right there. he said that it's a shame that so many > women suffer from this but are too afraid to see a doctor, and even if > they do,

most doctors are very unaware about vulvodynia/ vestibulitis. > in the beginning i was using a topical anesthetic. it did take the > pain away, but i was not happy with how it interrupted the natural > flow of love making. the cream would work best in a loving > relationship, but sometimes sex happens casually... and taking 10 > minutes to try and get the cream in just the right spot and then > waiting 10 more for it to take effect is not my idea of sexy! > to make a long story short, what worked for me was a combination of > gabapentin (600 mg 3x daily) and cognitive therapy. i can NOT stress > how important therapy was, and firmly believe that it is impossible to > overcome this condition without it. the gabapentin worked wonderfully, > and of course the first time i had painless sex i burst into tears, > like a horrible darkness had been lifted from my life. > recently, i went off of the medication entirely. i now have moderate > pain during intercourse upon entry, but it is bearable and does not > last once he is inside. > my whole life has changed because i learned to stop hating my > condition and i took control of it. it was not an easy battle, and i > am now on antidepressants for the lasting effects this has had on my > mood. but i feel happy, healthy and i am in love and having sex often! > it's a shame that there is so little research out there, but i want to > let people know that we can overcome it and that there is hope. > > -eh > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > Take the Internet to Go: Yahoo!Go puts the Internet in your pocket: mail, news, photos & more. >

Be a better Globetrotter. Get better travel answers from someone who knows.Yahoo! Answers - Check it out.

[Guest guest]

oh sorry, i thought they were the same. what is cognitive therapy and what did they do?sorry for all the questions,katieerynhilliard wrote: hi katie, i guess i should have specified that i did cognitive (not physical) therapy. the gabapentin did work for me, but i don't think it would have worked had i not addressed all of the emotional issues surrounding the disorder with my therapist. the fact that i can have a healthy sex life today is an equal result of medicine and seeing a psychologist, i

think. - eh hi all, > i first saw this support group about a year ago, and at the time i was > desperately hopeless about my situation and wanted so much to see some > happy stories that would give me hope. now i want to share my success > story here in hopes that it will help someone else out there who is > suffering. > when i lost my virginity at 17 (i am now almost 22), there was a lot > of pain. i assumed that was normal for the first time. but every time > we tried to have intercourse it was equally as painful. i visited my > family doctor and two gynecologists, all of whom told me different > things, prescribed useless creams and generally disregarded me. i > spent the next three years completely depressed about sex. i accepted > in my mind that i would never have painless sex and that no man would > ever truly love me... and even if a man did love me, i was sure he

> would eventually leave me because of it. i grew to HATE my condition. > i wouldn't think about it or talk about it to anyone. i secretly hated > my friends for flippantly speaking about sex and taking it for > granted. i can not possibly express in words the dark cloud that this > put over my daily life. > i learned eventually that my older sister also suffered from this > condition (genetic? no one knows). luckily, she immediately found a > specialist who knew a lot about vestibulitis and did not have to go > through years of turmoil like i did. the first time i saw this > wonderful gynecologist, he looked at my vagina for a quick second and > said "i know what you have just by looking, and it is treatable." i > burst into tears right there. he said that it's a shame that so many > women suffer from this but are too afraid to see a doctor, and even if > they do,

most doctors are very unaware about vulvodynia/ vestibulitis. > in the beginning i was using a topical anesthetic. it did take the > pain away, but i was not happy with how it interrupted the natural > flow of love making. the cream would work best in a loving > relationship, but sometimes sex happens casually... and taking 10 > minutes to try and get the cream in just the right spot and then > waiting 10 more for it to take effect is not my idea of sexy! > to make a long story short, what worked for me was a combination of > gabapentin (600 mg 3x daily) and cognitive therapy. i can NOT stress > how important therapy was, and firmly believe that it is impossible to > overcome this condition without it. the gabapentin worked wonderfully, > and of course the first time i had painless sex i burst into tears, > like a horrible darkness had been lifted from my life. > recently, i went off of the medication entirely. i now have moderate > pain during intercourse upon entry, but it is bearable and does not > last once he is inside. > my whole life has changed because i learned to stop hating my > condition and i took control of it. it was not an easy battle, and i > am now on antidepressants for the lasting effects this has had on my > mood. but i feel happy, healthy and i am in love and having sex often! > it's a shame that there is so little research out there, but i want to > let people know that we can overcome it and that there is hope. > > -eh > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > Take the Internet to Go: Yahoo!Go puts the Internet in your pocket: mail, news, photos & more. >

Be a better Globetrotter. Get better travel answers from someone who knows.Yahoo! Answers - Check it out.

[Guest guest]

oh sorry, i thought they were the same. what is cognitive therapy and what did they do?sorry for all the questions,katieerynhilliard wrote: hi katie, i guess i should have specified that i did cognitive (not physical) therapy. the gabapentin did work for me, but i don't think it would have worked had i not addressed all of the emotional issues surrounding the disorder with my therapist. the fact that i can have a healthy sex life today is an equal result of medicine and seeing a psychologist, i

think. - eh hi all, > i first saw this support group about a year ago, and at the time i was > desperately hopeless about my situation and wanted so much to see some > happy stories that would give me hope. now i want to share my success > story here in hopes that it will help someone else out there who is > suffering. > when i lost my virginity at 17 (i am now almost 22), there was a lot > of pain. i assumed that was normal for the first time. but every time > we tried to have intercourse it was equally as painful. i visited my > family doctor and two gynecologists, all of whom told me different > things, prescribed useless creams and generally disregarded me. i > spent the next three years completely depressed about sex. i accepted > in my mind that i would never have painless sex and that no man would > ever truly love me... and even if a man did love me, i was sure he

> would eventually leave me because of it. i grew to HATE my condition. > i wouldn't think about it or talk about it to anyone. i secretly hated > my friends for flippantly speaking about sex and taking it for > granted. i can not possibly express in words the dark cloud that this > put over my daily life. > i learned eventually that my older sister also suffered from this > condition (genetic? no one knows). luckily, she immediately found a > specialist who knew a lot about vestibulitis and did not have to go > through years of turmoil like i did. the first time i saw this > wonderful gynecologist, he looked at my vagina for a quick second and > said "i know what you have just by looking, and it is treatable." i > burst into tears right there. he said that it's a shame that so many > women suffer from this but are too afraid to see a doctor, and even if > they do,

most doctors are very unaware about vulvodynia/ vestibulitis. > in the beginning i was using a topical anesthetic. it did take the > pain away, but i was not happy with how it interrupted the natural > flow of love making. the cream would work best in a loving > relationship, but sometimes sex happens casually... and taking 10 > minutes to try and get the cream in just the right spot and then > waiting 10 more for it to take effect is not my idea of sexy! > to make a long story short, what worked for me was a combination of > gabapentin (600 mg 3x daily) and cognitive therapy. i can NOT stress > how important therapy was, and firmly believe that it is impossible to > overcome this condition without it. the gabapentin worked wonderfully, > and of course the first time i had painless sex i burst into tears, > like a horrible darkness had been lifted from my life. > recently, i went off of the medication entirely. i now have moderate > pain during intercourse upon entry, but it is bearable and does not > last once he is inside. > my whole life has changed because i learned to stop hating my > condition and i took control of it. it was not an easy battle, and i > am now on antidepressants for the lasting effects this has had on my > mood. but i feel happy, healthy and i am in love and having sex often! > it's a shame that there is so little research out there, but i want to > let people know that we can overcome it and that there is hope. > > -eh > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > Take the Internet to Go: Yahoo!Go puts the Internet in your pocket: mail, news, photos & more. >

Be a better Globetrotter. Get better travel answers from someone who knows.Yahoo! Answers - Check it out.

[Guest guest]

i have not considered physical therapy, and since i have never tried

it i can not recommend/ dissuade people from it.

the reason i do encourage cognitive therapy (ie talking to a

therapist) is because having an unusual medical problem becomes a huge

emotional block in your life. i was not able to take the steps toward

where i am now until i broke down the emotional walls i had about my

problem. i had seen so many doctors and specialists who weren't able

to help me that i turned the problem inward and was happier to not

think about it or deal with it. i became really depressed, like i was

living with a secret that no one could understand or relate to. plus,

i didn't want to bother dating because i had already decided that i

hated sex. these are issues that no medicine can solve - they are

problems that need to be addressed with a therapist.

once i started TALKING about my vestibulitis and accepting that i have

it, rather than hating it, i was able to continue to seek medical

advice in a really pro-active way. it was then that i found a great

doctor who opened my eyes to the fact that a lot of women have this

problem, and that there are effective treatments out there.

i went from being utterly hopeless to enjoying an active sex life. i

know that there are a lot of women going through the dark period that

i went through, so don't give up.

- eh

> > hi all,

> > > i first saw this support group about a year ago, and at the

> time i was

> > > desperately hopeless about my situation and wanted so much to

> see some

> > > happy stories that would give me hope. now i want to share my

> success

> > > story here in hopes that it will help someone else out there

> who is

> > > suffering.

> > > when i lost my virginity at 17 (i am now almost 22), there was

> a lot

> > > of pain. i assumed that was normal for the first time. but

> every time

> > > we tried to have intercourse it was equally as painful. i

> visited my

> > > family doctor and two gynecologists, all of whom told me

> different

> > > things, prescribed useless creams and generally disregarded me.

> i

> > > spent the next three years completely depressed about sex. i

> accepted

> > > in my mind that i would never have painless sex and that no man

> would

> > > ever truly love me... and even if a man did love me, i was sure

> he

> > > would eventually leave me because of it. i grew to HATE my

> condition.

> > > i wouldn't think about it or talk about it to anyone. i

> secretly hated

> > > my friends for flippantly speaking about sex and taking it for

> > > granted. i can not possibly express in words the dark cloud

> that this

> > > put over my daily life.

> > > i learned eventually that my older sister also suffered from

> this

> > > condition (genetic? no one knows). luckily, she immediately

> found a

> > > specialist who knew a lot about vestibulitis and did not have

> to go

> > > through years of turmoil like i did. the first time i saw this

> > > wonderful gynecologist, he looked at my vagina for a quick

> second and

> > > said " i know what you have just by looking, and it is

> treatable. " i

> > > burst into tears right there. he said that it's a shame that so

> many

> > > women suffer from this but are too afraid to see a doctor, and

> even if

> > > they do, most doctors are very unaware about vulvodynia/

> vestibulitis.

> > > in the beginning i was using a topical anesthetic. it did take

> the

> > > pain away, but i was not happy with how it interrupted the

> natural

> > > flow of love making. the cream would work best in a loving

> > > relationship, but sometimes sex happens casually... and taking

> 10

> > > minutes to try and get the cream in just the right spot and then

> > > waiting 10 more for it to take effect is not my idea of sexy!

> > > to make a long story short, what worked for me was a

> combination of

> > > gabapentin (600 mg 3x daily) and cognitive therapy. i can NOT

> stress

> > > how important therapy was, and firmly believe that it is

> impossible to

> > > overcome this condition without it. the gabapentin worked

> wonderfully,

> > > and of course the first time i had painless sex i burst into

> tears,

> > > like a horrible darkness had been lifted from my life.

> > > recently, i went off of the medication entirely. i now have

> moderate

> > > pain during intercourse upon entry, but it is bearable and does

> not

> > > last once he is inside.

> > > my whole life has changed because i learned to stop hating my

> > > condition and i took control of it. it was not an easy battle,

> and i

> > > am now on antidepressants for the lasting effects this has had

> on my

> > > mood. but i feel happy, healthy and i am in love and having sex

> often!

> > > it's a shame that there is so little research out there, but i

> want to

> > > let people know that we can overcome it and that there is hope.

> > >

> > > -eh

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > ---------------------------------

> > > Take the Internet to Go: Yahoo!Go puts the Internet in your

> pocket:

> > mail, news, photos & more.

> > >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > ---------------------------------

> > Be a better Globetrotter. Get better travel answers from someone

> who knows.

> > Yahoo! Answers - Check it out.

> >

>