Re: thanks for the suggestions, guys

[Guest guest]

, I highly recomend seeing the specialist in Milwaukee. Her name is Dr. on and she has given me hope again. Not all of her patients require surgery. That is the last thing she suggests. I saw her for a year before she recomended surgery to me. She generally starts out with Estrace cream which that along with the temovate is the only thing that has given me any relife other then the surgery. I have had some other issues that have gone on that kept me from recovering as quick as I could (chronic upper respratory infections that absolutly required antibiotics gave me chronic yeast for over 3 months). But just this week I have been able to have sex for the first time in over a year. And I enjoyed every minute of it!! I experienced very little pain. I would say that I am about 80% recovered and may be even better after a skin tag left over from the surgery is taken off. Dr. on was my only hope and she came through for me. I will never forget that. It sounds to me as if you have vulvar vestibulitis. If so, you will likely do really well with her treatments. The estrace will help rebuild your tissues and the steriod cream will help with the inflammation untill the estrace has done its job. The only issue that can get in the way is that Dr. on does not take insurance, so you will have to pay the out of network % with your insurance if you have a ppo plan. I got around that by getting my general practitioner to write a letter to insurance stating that Dr. on is the closest doctor who can help me and that no one in my plan can provide this service. Under an exception in the plan handbook, I can have her covered in network (if the closest doctor is not in network, and is more then 30 miles away they will pay in network with a doctor statement of medical necessity). Your plan may have a similar exception and if they do, it would be well worth the trouble to look into it. If you have any questions on Dr. on, treatments, or the surgery, I would be happy to answer them for you. Where do you live? Are you in WI? I am from the twin cities MN. Dr. on is a 6-8 hour drive for me, and worth the drive. Bunny thanks for the suggestions, guys hi there again... i have this kind of stinging and burning thing in cycles, every few months, and i'm sure these suggestions will help alot with that, but my main symptom is painful intercourse... do you guys know of any ways to deal with that? I was put on amitryptiline, but that didn't work, just made me ornery... my gynecologist said ther is a high correllation between vulvar pain and depression, which i'm being treated for, and he suggested i see a psychiatrist and get on some antidepressants, but if that's the only solution, i don't want to be on drugs for the rest of my life. he also suggested i might see a specialist in milwaukee, and there's a surgery that is pretty sucessful. I really miss being able to have sex with my boyfriend...*****END OF MESSAGE*****-------------------------------------------------To post message: VulvarDisorders To Subscribe: VulvarDisorders-subscribe Unsubscribe: VulvarDisorders-unsubscribe List owner: VulvarDisorders-owner *****

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

The specialist your Dr is talking about is probably

Dr. on. She is great. I drive 6 hours

to see her (I live in the Twin Cities, MN). I would

highly recommend her. Infact I am driving to

Milwaukee this Friday for an appointment.

She trys a number of different treatments before she

suggests surgery to anyone. Most of the treatments

did not work long term for me (I have had Vestibulitis

and LS for over 15 years). So I opted for the

surgery. The surgery was a success and I have little

to no pain.

Please let me know if you have any questions about Dr.

on or the surgery I had.

in MN

--- amandaschlicher wrote:

> hi there again... i have this kind of stinging and

> burning thing in

> cycles, every few months, and i'm sure these

> suggestions will help

> alot with that, but my main symptom is painful

> intercourse... do you

> guys know of any ways to deal with that? I was put

> on amitryptiline,

> but that didn't work, just made me ornery... my

> gynecologist said

> ther is a high correllation between vulvar pain and

> depression, which

> i'm being treated for, and he suggested i see a

> psychiatrist and get

> on some antidepressants, but if that's the only

> solution, i don't

> want to be on drugs for the rest of my life. he

> also suggested i

> might see a specialist in milwaukee, and there's a

> surgery that is

> pretty sucessful. I really miss being able to have

> sex with my

> boyfriend...

>

>

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi, ! When I read your message, I thought, oh

brother, another doctor telling a woman with

vulvodynia that she's depressed... I hope he

explained that vulvodynia can make you depressed

(like, who *wouldn't* feel some depression, especially

when she's just figuring out she has this crummy

illness?), rather than depression causing vulvodynia.

You may very well need some antidepressants, and if

you are showing signs of depression, you shouldn't

feel embarrassed to get some medication to help you

through the rough times. But I hope you're not

blaming your vulvodynia on depression! Vulvodynia can

happen to any of us, from the most happy-go-lucky, to

the most depressed. OK, off my soap box.

I was hoping would respond to you, and bless

her, she already did. It sure sounds like you have

vestibulitis, although it's possible to have both

vestibulitis and neuropathic (dysesthetic) vulvodynia,

like I do. I hope you can afford to go see Dr.

on, or some other specialist, who can thoroughly

check you out and make a diagnosis. No offense to all

the good gynecologists out there, but most of 'em

aren't trained and experienced enough to diagnose and

treat vulvodynia, and that's a shame. From what I

have heard about Dr. on, you can expect a very

thorough exam, which is what you need right now.

Good luck, , and please keep in touch.

Suzy

P.S. Amitriptylene (sp?) is categorized as an

anti-depressant, but it is used in vulvodynia patients

to " turn off " the nerve pain signals from dysesthetic

vulvodynia. It doesn't work for every woman, and if

you don't have neuropathic pain, I don't think it

would do very much for you (correct me if I am wrong,

ladies!). ]

--- amandaschlicher wrote:

> hi there again... i have this kind of stinging and

> burning thing in

> cycles, every few months, and i'm sure these

> suggestions will help

> alot with that, but my main symptom is painful

> intercourse... do you

> guys know of any ways to deal with that? I was put

> on amitryptiline,

> but that didn't work, just made me ornery... my

> gynecologist said

> ther is a high correllation between vulvar pain and

> depression, which

> i'm being treated for, and he suggested i see a

> psychiatrist and get

> on some antidepressants, but if that's the only

> solution, i don't

> want to be on drugs for the rest of my life. he

> also suggested i

> might see a specialist in milwaukee, and there's a

> surgery that is

> pretty sucessful. I really miss being able to have

> sex with my

> boyfriend...

>

>

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

,

Has Dr. on ever worked with patients that got vulvodynia,

etc as a result of a surgical procedure (the same with a lot of

infections) before? If yes, how did she treat them? I can't

get up there to see her but I would like some input from her if

possible on this so that I can share the info with my dr on how

or what we need to do in regards to my situation. You can

e-mail me off the list for the specifics.

Also if you have Yahoo Messenger IM me at: sokokl.

=====

Kristy

http://www.geocities.com/sokokl/kristyspersonalpage.html

Hoping to be a nurse soon but for now just a Medical Secretary who does a lot of

learning from reading on the Net, books, my dr(s), as well as sharing my own

personal experiences.

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

i am from platteville, wi, and i go to university in whitewater, wi,

about an hour drive from milwaukee. thanks for the information, it

was very helpful

amanda

> ,

>

> I highly recomend seeing the specialist in Milwaukee. Her name is

Dr. on and she has given me hope again. Not all of her

patients require surgery. That is the last thing she suggests. I

saw her for a year before she recomended surgery to me. She

generally starts out with Estrace cream which that along with the

temovate is the only thing that has given me any relife other then

the surgery. I have had some other issues that have gone on that

kept me from recovering as quick as I could (chronic upper respratory

infections that absolutly required antibiotics gave me chronic yeast

for over 3 months). But just this week I have been able to have sex

for the first time in over a year. And I enjoyed every minute of

it!! I experienced very little pain. I would say that I am about

80% recovered and may be even better after a skin tag left over from

the surgery is taken off. Dr. on was my only hope and she

came through for me. I will never forget that.

>

> It sounds to me as if you have vulvar vestibulitis. If so, you

will likely do really well with her treatments. The estrace will

help rebuild your tissues and the steriod cream will help with the

inflammation untill the estrace has done its job. The only issue

that can get in the way is that Dr. on does not take insurance,

so you will have to pay the out of network % with your insurance if

you have a ppo plan. I got around that by getting my general

practitioner to write a letter to insurance stating that Dr. on

is the closest doctor who can help me and that no one in my plan can

provide this service. Under an exception in the plan handbook, I can

have her covered in network (if the closest doctor is not in network,

and is more then 30 miles away they will pay in network with a doctor

statement of medical necessity). Your plan may have a similar

exception and if they do, it would be well worth the trouble to look

into it.

>

> If you have any questions on Dr. on, treatments, or the

surgery, I would be happy to answer them for you.

>

> Where do you live? Are you in WI? I am from the twin cities MN.

Dr. on is a 6-8 hour drive for me, and worth the drive.

>

> Bunny

>

> thanks for the suggestions, guys

>

> hi there again... i have this kind of stinging and burning thing

in

> cycles, every few months, and i'm sure these suggestions will help

> alot with that, but my main symptom is painful intercourse... do

you

> guys know of any ways to deal with that? I was put on

amitryptiline,

> but that didn't work, just made me ornery... my gynecologist said

> ther is a high correllation between vulvar pain and depression,

which

> i'm being treated for, and he suggested i see a psychiatrist and

get

> on some antidepressants, but if that's the only solution, i don't

> want to be on drugs for the rest of my life. he also suggested i

> might see a specialist in milwaukee, and there's a surgery that is

> pretty sucessful. I really miss being able to have sex with my

> boyfriend...

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

i should clarify about the depression... i've suffered from mild

chronic depression since i was a young teenager, and i'm being

treated by a psychologist, not a psychiatrist, so i'm not on any

antidepressants right now (or have i ever been). I know about

amitryptiline being a neuropathic drug and stuff, and i'm not sure

exactly what he would hope to accomplish by trying to get me on paxil

or something, but he suggested i see a psychiatrist at my clinic.

anyway, just wanted to clear that up. he didn't suggest to me which

could have caused which, only that there was a correllation.

> > hi there again... i have this kind of stinging and

> > burning thing in

> > cycles, every few months, and i'm sure these

> > suggestions will help

> > alot with that, but my main symptom is painful

> > intercourse... do you

> > guys know of any ways to deal with that? I was put

> > on amitryptiline,

> > but that didn't work, just made me ornery... my

> > gynecologist said

> > ther is a high correllation between vulvar pain and

> > depression, which

> > i'm being treated for, and he suggested i see a

> > psychiatrist and get

> > on some antidepressants, but if that's the only

> > solution, i don't

> > want to be on drugs for the rest of my life. he

> > also suggested i

> > might see a specialist in milwaukee, and there's a

> > surgery that is

> > pretty sucessful. I really miss being able to have

> > sex with my

> > boyfriend...

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

Thats great that you are so close to Milwaukee. That will be easyer if you decide to see her. There is another gal on this list Tracey who is seeing Dr. on and is in WI as well. You guys should talk:) Bunny thanks for the suggestions, guys> > hi there again... i have this kind of stinging and burning thing in > cycles, every few months, and i'm sure these suggestions will help > alot with that, but my main symptom is painful intercourse... do you > guys know of any ways to deal with that? I was put on amitryptiline, > but that didn't work, just made me ornery... my gynecologist said > ther is a high correllation between vulvar pain and depression, which > i'm being treated for, and he suggested i see a psychiatrist and get > on some antidepressants, but if that's the only solution, i don't > want to be on drugs for the rest of my life. he also suggested i > might see a specialist in milwaukee, and there's a surgery that is > pretty sucessful. I really miss being able to have sex with my > boyfriend...> > > > >

[Guest guest]

Hey Suzy, Good comments on depression and vulvodynia, I don't remember if I covered that or not when I responded (already erased the message). Depression is very likely not the cause of any of our symptoms, but like you said anyone in our position is bound to end up with some symptoms of depression after what we go through, and this depression should not be ignored anymore then the vulvodynia should be blamed on it. , If you see Dr. on, she will likely prescribe either zoloft or paxil for the the chronic pain loop that can occur when you have pain or irritation in the area over a long period of time. The dose will be low, so if you are suffering from depression in addition to the vestibulitis, be sure to talk to your regular doctor about additional medication. Elivel (amnitriptoline) is often prescribed as well, but Dr. on swears by the SSRIs for some reason. I do have to say that I have less side effects on the Zoloft then I did when I tried the Elivel which did nothing for me anyways. Dr. on likes to cover all the bases and not all of us get exactly the same treatment. Bunny Re: thanks for the suggestions, guys Hi, ! When I read your message, I thought, ohbrother, another doctor telling a woman withvulvodynia that she's depressed... I hope heexplained that vulvodynia can make you depressed(like, who *wouldn't* feel some depression, especiallywhen she's just figuring out she has this crummyillness?), rather than depression causing vulvodynia. You may very well need some antidepressants, and ifyou are showing signs of depression, you shouldn'tfeel embarrassed to get some medication to help youthrough the rough times. But I hope you're notblaming your vulvodynia on depression! Vulvodynia canhappen to any of us, from the most happy-go-lucky, tothe most depressed. OK, off my soap box. :)I was hoping would respond to you, and blessher, she already did. It sure sounds like you havevestibulitis, although it's possible to have bothvestibulitis and neuropathic (dysesthetic) vulvodynia,like I do. I hope you can afford to go see Dr.on, or some other specialist, who can thoroughlycheck you out and make a diagnosis. No offense to allthe good gynecologists out there, but most of 'emaren't trained and experienced enough to diagnose andtreat vulvodynia, and that's a shame. From what Ihave heard about Dr. on, you can expect a verythorough exam, which is what you need right now. Good luck, , and please keep in touch.SuzyP.S. Amitriptylene (sp?) is categorized as ananti-depressant, but it is used in vulvodynia patientsto "turn off" the nerve pain signals from dysestheticvulvodynia. It doesn't work for every woman, and ifyou don't have neuropathic pain, I don't think itwould do very much for you (correct me if I am wrong,ladies!). ]--- amandaschlicher wrote:> hi there again... i have this kind of stinging and> burning thing in > cycles, every few months, and i'm sure these> suggestions will help > alot with that, but my main symptom is painful> intercourse... do you > guys know of any ways to deal with that? I was put> on amitryptiline, > but that didn't work, just made me ornery... my> gynecologist said > ther is a high correllation between vulvar pain and> depression, which > i'm being treated for, and he suggested i see a> psychiatrist and get > on some antidepressants, but if that's the only> solution, i don't > want to be on drugs for the rest of my life. he> also suggested i > might see a specialist in milwaukee, and there's a> surgery that is > pretty sucessful. I really miss being able to have> sex with my > boyfriend...> > > > __________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

I think that was a pretty good explanation of it, better articulated than mine:) C-Bunny Re: thanks for the suggestions, guys The reason that your gyn prescribed a low dose tricyclic antidepressant isprobably that these drugs prevent serotonin reuptake, not necessarilybecause you are depressed. For depression, the doses would be higher.Serotonin is a neurotransmitter and more of it being available allows thenerve impulses to complete their circuit and lessen the sensation of pain.That is my understanding....I am not an expert.It stands to reason that there is a close association between vulvardisorders and depression, but it is a chicken and egg question.I used to be on Doxepin, another tri-cyclic anti-depressant, but the sideeffects were intolerable: dry mouth and urine retention. in MI> hi there again... i have this kind of stinging and burning thing in> cycles, every few months, and i'm sure these suggestions will help> alot with that, but my main symptom is painful intercourse... do you> guys know of any ways to deal with that? I was put on amitryptiline,> but that didn't work, just made me ornery... my gynecologist said> ther is a high correllation between vulvar pain and depression, which> i'm being treated for, and he suggested i see a psychiatrist and get> on some antidepressants, but if that's the only solution, i don't> want to be on drugs for the rest of my life. he also suggested i> might see a specialist in milwaukee, and there's a surgery that is> pretty sucessful. I really miss being able to have sex with my> boyfriend...>> >>>> *****END OF MESSAGE*****> -------------------------------------------------> To post message: VulvarDisorders > To Subscribe: VulvarDisorders-subscribe > Unsubscribe: VulvarDisorders-unsubscribe > List owner: VulvarDisorders-owner >> *****