Female problems, girls only please

[Guest guest]

Ladies,

I saw my OB/GYN yesterday for my physical and got some bad news. For one, my

vulvar vestibulitis, which is inflammation at the vaginal opening is

getting worse. Treatment options are steroids, which used for too long cause

thinning of the skin. Surgical removal of that skin, which I feel is too

drastic at this point or I can use a topical anesthetic sparingly. I am

getting that to help with the discomfort for now as sitting on ice packs in

the coming winter months does not excite me.

I am doing all the recommended treatments, washing my all cotton undies in

baby detergent and using sensitive skin soap etc, that has given me some

relief. However, doctor told me if I ever planned to become sexually active

again it would be a major issue and I would have to come back and see him.

Now, I am sure most of you can understand that sex is not at the top of my

to do list with my pain etc., so that is okay for now.

Problem number two is that my cervix is in really bad shape(inflammation

again) and he had a really hard time to stop the bleeding after my Pap. So,

I now have to go back for an ultrasound next week. I am in a high risk

group for cervical cancer so any prayers would be greatly appreciated. He

also said that intercourse, could cause me severe bleeding. So, I guess

celibacy is on my horizon for a bit. I told him I really was okay with that

as I had my jolly old time in my twenties so to speak, and feel I can go to

my grave saying that I did have good sex before I died!!

Anyway, I was just wondering if any of the other female members have had any

similar issues. My doctor told me that the vulvar vestibulitis is pretty

common in woman with the auto-immune diseases. He is about the best GYN

ever and his mother actually died a year ago to complications due to an

auto-immune disorder so he is really in tune to us girls.

Anyway, my private email is ldudette@... for those of you that don't

trust the guys, and if you are a guy, and have read this far, you know God

is going to whammy you for reading this, lol.

Thanks

Lynn

[Guest guest]

First off..Hi Guys..any good football today??? Ha ha ha no really..this vestibulitis sounds like what I get sometimes..I use a cream that has lidocaine and hydrocortisone in it..just another spot to get inflammed...yuk a rooooo hugs... hope your doc has a rememdy...the thing I use is actually for hemorrhoids...it is a soothing thing..it helps...ok guys now you are really sorry you looked Hugs Liz NJ

[Guest guest]

Hi Lynn,

So sorry for all the new problems - you've definitely had more than your share. I just wanted to tell you that I had cervical cancer and am still kicking after 17 years so there is hope. And to the ladies - get those pap tests yearly. I had a normal one just 11 months before finding I had cancer. I didn't know they were only 80% accurate and that's why a yearly test is so critical.

Good luck Lynn, you know you and all the Stilligans are in my thoughts and prayers.

Be good to yourself,

Barb in SLC

[Guest guest]

I'll post here in case it helps anyone and then anyone can email me

privately as well.

Lynn...I also have female issues. I have vaginal lichen sclerosis

which causes similar discomfort to what you are feeling. The only

help at this point in time -- yea, supposedly they are researching

this, right -- is to do the topical steroids.

I have been on clobetesol for many years now. I just use the

smallest amount. So far, okay. I have recently switched that for

Protopic and Estrace. The protopic seems to help the itch/pain and

estrace helps rebuild the skin. I do not know that these are

appropriate for you, but something to look into. I can also refer

you to some web support groups where you might get more info.

This past spring I had an abnormal pap and turned out it was bad

cells in the vaginal wall instead of the cervix. I went through an

awful injected into that area drug that did a number on me. It

worked though. I too am on the high risk list for female cancers.

Anyways...that's my experience. I am finding that the MTX might be

making me dryer in the vaginal area and aggravating my " condition "

(haven't yet officially said it's an auto-immune disease).

a_cone@...