Re: HPV? Estrace? I need help

April 12, 1999

Hi All:

I just got back from a very frustrating visit with my gyno. Here's a bit of

background. I've had VV for ages, but it excelled when she treated me for HPV

last May in her office. She put it on clitoris area and ever since I can't

wear jeans or anything tight around that area without extreme pain. I hate

it, but I can live with it. What I can't keep on living with is the second

you touch my clitoris in one area it's so painful I cringe. The pain

increases as the finger is pulled away from it. So even though I'm not having

sex right now, obviously, that is out of the questions for me, now I have the

whole emotional area I'm not even approaching with myself right now since I'm

single. Deep inside I'm not really ignoring the emotion as much as I think I

am when I leave the gyno office and reality hits again.

My question is this. Since May of last year I've been in this horrid pain.

Clitoris and the lip area is raw. Not to look at. To look at I'm so perfect.

Don't we get sick of hearing that! Grrrr. It feels very painful to touch or

to wear jeans. I went back after she did the HPV four weeks later last year

and she said it was all clear. Meantime I've been walking around in pain. I

went back to her last month for my yearly check up. No yeast, no UTI's, no

nothing. So she suggested I come back to be looked at again for HPV. I never

went back.

Thursday I wore jeans after a month of relief. (Don't ask me why, but it just

wasn't as painful) The minute I sat down in the jeans it cut into that area

and I've been in hell ever since. Since I have that pain and raw lips I

decided now is the time to see her. She wasn't as caring. God forbid we see

these doctors more than once a year.

She suggested that it is the HPV back and I should come in another time so

she could do the vinegar wash and biopsy a few places. This pain has been

ever since she did it, so it's not like it let up and now I'm in pain again.

Now here is my confusion. If it is HPV, what can I do? I mean the stuff she

used in her office did this to me. The home cream is just as awful. And HPV

comes back under stress and leaves supposedly if you have a good healthy

immune system, which I don't. I have CFS.

Do I go back and have her see if it is HPV? Is this what is hurting my

clitoris or is it the treatment last May? Do I start to apply Estrace on the

area and will it clear it up? I know Estrace isn't a cure for HPV, but it

does grow back layers of skin that she might have taken away from me. Any

suggestions? I'm at my wits end. I want a sex life back. Duh, don't we all.

To have the clitoris area painful means oral is even out.

I asked her what my alternatives are if it is HPV? She said not much. They

all scar. She could give me injections and that would be temp. so why go

through that. Then she mentioned Physical Therapy. Does that work? Then she

mentioned a Uro/Gyno who is laser happy. Any input would be so gratefully

needed right now. I keep feeling like I'm just going to go deeper into my

shell, you know? Having Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/FM is hard enough with

dating, but to be sexless. Urgh.

Help! Thanks for listening and I'm so sorry this is so long. I couldn't

figure out how to edit it down some. Lainey Lainey9911@...

April 12, 1999

Lainey,

I am a little confused by your post. HPV causes vaginal warts, did you have

them? There is NO treatment for the virus but there is for the warts. From

your post, it sounded like you do not have warts, just the virus. My doctor

has done alot of research on HPV and VV. he feels the HPV virus does not

cause VV. Treatments for warts can aggravate it but not cause it. I would get

a second opinion before having the biopsy's done. I have heard from alot of

women that they are very painful and can aggravate the condition. PT using

biofeedback may be helpful. Have you considered surgery? I had a

vestibulectomy 12/98 and am completely pain free. I would only have this done

by a doctor who specializes in this though. Here is a good link that has a

list of doctors. Maybe you can find one in your area.

<A HREF= " http://www.pelvicpain.org/index.html " >Welcome to the International

Pelvic Pain Society

</A> Good luck!

Beckie

April 13, 1999

Hi Lainey,

As far as I know, many doctors think HPV causes our pain. New studies show

that this is not true. I was diagnosed with HPV and told that this is VD. I

was hysterically upset. I am such a prude how could I have VD? My husband

and I cried for weeks. Then I asked them to send the biopsy to another lab.

It came back with severe inflamation.

I called the Center for Disease Control about HPV. They said HPV is

painless. My vulvar specialist even told me that everyone has HPV like we

all have the Herpes virus in our systems ( cold sores, chicken pox, etc). He

said his 3 year old probably had HPV. It doesn't mean it is an STD and it

doesn't cause this pain.

I believe the HPV treatment caused your pain, just as I believe the Temovate

burn on top of a yeast infection caused my pain. I think HPV treatments will

only hurt you further. The Estrace is probably a much better bet.

Good luck and God bless,

Sandi

April 13, 1999

Becky:

Thanks for answering my post. It was very informative. I had a positive

biopsy for HPV twice in my past. Since I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome I was

explained by my immune doc this can be common for a weakened immune system. I

had NO visible warts so like you explained, it must be the virus of HPV, not

the warts. She did a biopsy a few years ago in the 6'clock area and I was

okay with treating myself at home, although I didn't go the full course. Sex

was a little uncomfortable upon entry and still is after that round. Last May

she did another vinegar wash because my clitoris was itchy and painful, she

spotted some white spots around my clitoris and burnt it off in her office.

Once again, no visible warts just white when she looked at it with the

vinegar. Ever since then I've been in extreme pain and now she wants to look

again thinking it must be the HPV that has returned, when in fact, this pain

isn't new, it's the same constant pain from when she did it in May.

After reading your note, maybe I have HPV again and it's adding to the pain

of my VV or this is just scarred tissue or raw nerve endings from the burning

off in her office. Thank you so much for the link for doctors because all day

I've been feeling like I need a second opinion from someone who knows more

about all this. I don't feel she does.

BTW, what is a " vestibulectomy? " You mentioned you did well with that

surgery. (I was so glad to hear that for you!) Did you have HPV also? What

was the reason for your surgery, VV pain? Thanks again, Lainey

April 13, 1999

Sandi:

Thank you so much for your post. I went through the same thing you did when

first told about HPV. I was with a new boyfriend and I was mortified. I

really pride myself on being careful and I haven't had that many

relationships since I was married a long time and from then on, I have had

long term relationships using protection. So when I was told HPV I cried and

felt so dirty. I happen to have CFS and my immune doc (who is so

knowledgeable about all this) was such an angel. I went to him in tears and

he said it doesn't mean you have HPV, it just means since your immune system

is low right now, it can test positive for it. I had no warts so that was why

I felt so confused. I was so stupid to let her burn it off. From what I've

read since it (the virus) comes and goes depending on how stressed we are.

With what we go through with our VV, it can get very stressful!

Thank you so much for your advice. You're right it was the treatment that did

this and since you went through the same with the cream you used, I am going

to go for the Estrace. It seems to help so many on here. Did you try it yet,

Estrace? Did you get any relief? I'm sorry the cream did that to you. So many

of these things are so harsh for us. Let me know how you do, okay? Thanks

again, Lainey

April 13, 1999

Hi Michele D:

Hey, thanks. I'm all for the natural approach. My doc had suggested Vitamin E

so I'll just add what you told me too. Thanks for looking it up for me. It

can't hurt! I hope. <g> Lainey

April 13, 1999

Hi Lainey,

I was reading your letter about HPV and that your doctor burned off some

white spots she saw and that you didn't have warts. Also I think you said

you have the same constant pain and are wondering if you need this procedure

again? I have the constant burning and pain that sounds similar to what you

are explaining. However to my knowledge have never had HPV or warts. I

can't even imagine how painful it must have been to have those spots burned

off an already burning painful area, OUCH! I know we are all trying to

figure out all of the stuff we seem to have but in my own opinion I find that

whenever I put something on that area, be it vaseline, crisco, estrogen

cream, you name it, I somehow seem to get increased burning and discomfort.

I know this isn't true for everyone so you may well be able to use the

estrogen cream (Estrace). Since you are very sensitive in that area maybe

you would consider getting a natural estrogen cream without any added

ingredients. I sure hope you get some much needed relief and soon!

Take care

Darlene

April 13, 1999