Guest guest Posted December 31, 2001 Report Share Posted December 31, 2001 Hi, Daphne! I don't know the answers to your ph questions, but I wanted to respond to your rectal problems. Boy, can I relate to that!!! My first vulvodynia symptom was actually rectal burning, followed soon thereafter by lots of vulvar burning. A few months later, I developed anal fissures (which I later found out affect more than a few of us vulvodynia patients), which my colo-rectal doctor said weren't healing because my tight pelvic muscles were cutting off blood flow to the area. Talk about agony! There were many days when I would have *gladly* taken an increase in vulvar pain, if the rectal pain would just go away! The burning and pain in 2 places darn near drove me mad. Anyway, I've had 2 kinds of rectal burning: (1) dysesthetic rectal burning from the pudendal nerve firing. I could feel that as burning along my butt " crack " . (2) rectal burning from the fissures. I could feel that burning (and PAIN!!) directly in my anus (don't you love discussing these issues?? LOL). The dysesthetic rectal burning was helped tremendously by physical therapy. The anal fissures were helped tons by rectal massage (it's just like internal vaginal massage that PTs do, only they massage the pelvic muscles accessible through your rectum). Nitoglycerin ointment and sitz baths also helped, but it was the massages that put me over the edge toward healing. My wonderful vulvodynia doctor suggested the rectal massage and did my first one. Despite my embarrassment, I noticed I felt better afterwards. My husband and my PT then began doing it on a regular basis. Boy, that has helped me a lot. It permitted my fissures to heal completely, according to my colo-rectal doctor. And now, when I get a little tear, I go back to the sitz baths and nitro, and the massages, which have been done continuously, even though I healed (my rectal/pelvic muscles still get somewhat tight). All this butt chatter on my part is not to gross you out but to let you know I FEEL your pain - literally, and to perhaps give you some way(s) to help your pain. My butt is not 100% yet, but most of my days are butt-pain free, and the few that aren't are still much more bearable than the bad old days. Good luck, Daphne, and I hope you get some pain relief and answers very soon. Love, Suzy --- jsndsparsons@... wrote: > Can anyone tell me what the optimal ph balances > are through the cylce?? > As usual I had to open my big mouth lastnight about > not having any rectal > burning for the last 2 weeks and the vulvar burning > being better, so this > morning it was kind enough to return, I am getting > bummed out about the > estrace being my answer. > I ask about the ph because I can have sex without > burning in the first half > of my cycle and it gets progressivly worse until my > period starts. I wonder > if this is a ph thing, the hormones being out of > wack I'm sure doesn't help > this either. > Is there some way to test ph at home?? so that I > can see what is happening > when it is good and when it is bad?? > Daphne > __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 31, 2001 Report Share Posted December 31, 2001 i haven't had any fissures, just burning when I mentioned it to the doc. at u of m she asked me if I had a hemoroid??? for a few months a while back I had this intense itching right below my tail bone. when I went to cali. last month he checked my nerve and since then It has gone for periods of time returned shortly and gone again, so I have to wonder if there is a connection. As for my vulvar burning I know the skin is super sensitive especially in the 2nd half of my cycle when semen burns it like acid ,In the first half that doesn't happen thats why I ask about ph. I am working on the estrogen part of the problem see if that helps. i need to find a new doctor AGAIN!!! frustrating I will be broke before I get anywhere. Thanks for your chat, I've had 4 babys and this for 2 years nothing embarrasses me at this point!!! Daphne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 2, 2002 Report Share Posted January 2, 2002 If you don't have fissures or hemmorrhoids, then it sounds like your rectal burning *could* be dysesthetic. Frustrating and painful as hell, isn't it? My doctor told me that many women are like me - they'd give almost anything to be rid of the rectal pain and just deal with the vulvar pain on its own. I know what you mean about not getting embarrassed easily any more. That's another one of vulvodynia's " gifts " to me. LOL I can talk about private body parts without getting the least bit squeamish any more. Take care! Suzy --- jsndsparsons@... wrote: > i haven't had any fissures, just burning when I > mentioned it to the doc. at > u of m she asked me if I had a hemoroid??? for a > few months a while back I > had this intense itching right below my tail bone. > when I went to cali. last > month he checked my nerve and since then It has gone > for periods of time > returned shortly and gone again, so I have to wonder > if there is a > connection. As for my vulvar burning I know the skin > is super sensitive > especially in the 2nd half of my cycle when semen > burns it like acid ,In the > first half that doesn't happen thats why I ask about > ph. I am working on the > estrogen part of the problem see if that helps. > i need to find a new doctor AGAIN!!! frustrating > I will be broke before I > get anywhere. > Thanks for your chat, I've had 4 babys and this > for 2 years nothing > embarrasses me at this point!!! > Daphne > __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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