Guest guest Posted March 21, 1999 Report Share Posted March 21, 1999 , There is not a reason in the world that you cannot learn how to make soap, especially since you have access to a computer. There are so many helpful people on here that you can learn so much about soapmaking. Do you have access to any bookstores that would carry books on Soapmaking? This would help you also. But there are many many areas here that give you step by step destructions on how to make soaps that will give you an idea of what it takes to make it. Tricia P.S. Soapmaking is very addictive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 23, 1999 Report Share Posted March 23, 1999 Hello Sandy! Sounds like you have the same problem I do! Too many floors in our houses and not enough energy! " L " I also buy my supplies in bulk and try to keep enough on hand so I don't run out in the middle of a great experiment! I just wanted to say " hi " and welcome to you. ette Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 21, 2003 Report Share Posted August 21, 2003 I started eliminating things in my diet and environment that caused me problems. This takes a lot of thinking and decision making but it has paid off in less pain and most days without pain. Sugar and whole wheat bread are the worst. The only remedies I use are: Benadryl cream - occasionally. I have a jar of vaseline mixed with vicks (1/4 vicks and 3/4 vaseline) which I spread on very thinly occasionally and it gets rid of the pain for a while If I am having a flare. Sometimes I use an aloe vera ointment (CarrasynV) and that will also get rid of the pain for a while. Again I spread it on thinly. I use rice flour as a dusting powder and it helps a lot. I only use Basis soap - none of the others. 1. I quit wearing slacks - only dresses. UPDATE - I can now (after five years) wear slacks if they are not tight and are made of soft fabric. 2. Put my digestive tract in order - I had IBS and changed my diet to the extent that I no longer have it. I no longer eat raw vegetables and chew stuff thoroughly before swallowing. Some things cause constipation and others cause the runs. I have found out which are which and eliminate all of them. Sweets and desserts are out - very much sugar gives me a big flare. I tried the HRT's and they did not help. The cortisone creams helped for a little while but they do tend to thin the skin so I did not continue using them very long. I am not plagued with yeast. I had a yeast infection once and made up my mind that I would try to never have another one. When I take a shower I wash my crotch area with my hand - never a washcloth. I do not use a towel to dry it. I never wash socks in the same load with underwear because feet sometimes harbor fungus. I never hang towels on the shower rod because it collects moisture from the steam and could promote fungus. When I finish showering I hang the washcloth on the shower head and then after it is dry I put it in the laundry and use another one for the next shower. I use a clean towel every time I shower and hang up the old one until it is dry, then put it in the laundry. . That way I know that I am preventing any fungus from getting on me from the washcloth or towel. I always rinse my laundry twice. I tried Elavil but it made me sleepy so I stopped that. Even the smallest possible dose. But it did help the pain. I tried the low oxalate diet and it helped a lot but I can eat some of the high-oxalate foods without any trouble so I think it is a matter of finding what I can handle and what I cannot. I cut out all spices (except I can use cayenne pepper but not black pepper) and sugar because they really bother me. Cinnamon is the worst. When I heat anything in the microwave I do not use any kind of plastic containers because I am convinced that something in the plastic enters the food. (like formaldehyde?) I do not wear any clothing that touches my crotch area. Especially no elastic in the legs of my panties. I wear my panties low so that the legs do not touch my crotch. I wear them inside out so the seams do not irritate me. Some people use only cotton but cotton bothers me sometimes because it absorbs water and does not dry out as quickly as the synthetics. After using the toilet I rinse off the area using a squirt bottle and never use toilet paper. I use Kleenex dampened with a little water for wiping. Blot - don't wipe. If I used menstrual pads I would lay a piece of kleenex over them and never let the pads touch me. Some pads are very irritating. My DV started after I had a bout of incontinence and used pads for control. But that problem is gone now. I wear panties to bed so that my nightgown will not touch or get wrapped around my crotch area while I am asleep. Panties with elastic legs cause me no end of pain and irritation. I wear them low (about halfway down my thighs and the elastic even irritates my legs. I use the cotton banded leg panties now and they work well. I do not have athletes foot but did a couple of times in the past. foot fungus can get on the sheets and onto other body parts. I am not comfortable wearing socks to bed and instead wear panties to protect my crotch area. If I ever get another yeast infection I will start wearing socks to bed. If I eat some cranberry sauce (canned is always available) it stops the pain for a while - don't ask me why even though it contains sugar which usually causes me a lot of problems. Canned peaches also stop the pain for a while - drained and rinsed. Vitamin A & D Cream - without Vitamin E - also helps a lot. Vitamin E makes my DV worse. Drinking a lot of water helps. Very often when I start to have a flare I just drink two glasses of water and it really helps. I always try to maintain my weight because if I go on a diet and lose weight, my DV gets worse. Ora > Hi everybody! Just wanted to introduce myself, tell you my history, >and maybe get some advice on certain things. This past year has been >trying for me, both physically and emotionally. I guess I should go >in chronological order beginning with last July. I was diagnosed with >HPV last summer, received acid treatments in Nov, laser surgery in >Feb for internal warts, used Aldara in June for a few externals, and >a little over 3 weeks ago I was diagnosed with vaginismus (due in >part to laser surgery) and vulvar vestibulitis. I was suffering from >hot, burning pain and stinging around the opening of my vagina, >sometimes it would extend to my clitoris. Would last for days at a >time. I sometimes find that if I sit upright for a certain amount of >time I get pins & needles down there, and having a desk job makes >having this downright excruciating sometimes. Next to my shoes my >underwear is the 2nd thing I take off whenever I walk in the door. I >can't stand the feel of them against me! I was terrified that the >pain and discomfort signalled something like herpes, but the >gynecologist did a swab test and told me what it was. Didn't know >that it isn't entirely uncommon for someone with HPV to have this as >well. On top of all this I had an abnormal pap (high grade lesions) >come back last week that's requiring me to undergo a colposcopy on >Sept 4th. Needless to say, I'm trying (albeit not so well) to keep >things in perspective and be positive and not let all this get the >best of me. > I'm using lidocaine right now for when the pain gets unbearable, but >even though I'm using unscented soaps and drying the vulvar area with >a hair dryer (low), I still find little relief. I've heard of certain >soaps (Sebamed mainly) that maintain the normal ph level of the skin, >and is supposed to be safe even for the vulvar area. Any other >suggestions? So long as it isn't anything Aveeno; even their >moisturizer caused me problems. I'm open to just about anything at >this point for some level of relief!! > > thanks!! buttahru. > > > >Please discuss all methods of treatment with your practitioner. NONE of this is to be taken as medical advice but merely opinions offered! > > >*****END OF MESSAGE***** >------------------------------------------------- >Yahoo members can click on: > >http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VulvarDisorders > >On the left side is a listing including Links and > Files . If you click on those you will find much additional >information posted by our members. > >To post message: VulvarDisorders > To Subscribe: VulvarDisorders-subscribe > Unsubscribe: VulvarDisorders-unsubscribe > List owner: VulvarDisorders-owner > >***** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 21, 2003 Report Share Posted August 21, 2003 Thanks, . I looked up zonalon and it is a brand name for Doxepin. It is a tricyclic antidepressant (as is Amitriptyline and Elavil) More information can be found at: http://www.psyweb.com/Drughtm/doxepi.html Some women have mentioned elavil cream but I have not been able to find that on the Web. I believe some of us have used the Doxepin (zonalon). Ora >Ora, just an FYI, I switched from Benadryl to Zonalon (prescription - >and stronger, and less likely to cause sensitivity to itself) and find >it working even better than the Benadryl. Just wanted to let you >know! > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 21, 2003 Report Share Posted August 21, 2003 hi all, i have been on doxepin for vulvodynia for almost 5 years...25 mg at bedtime (that's a very small dose) and it has worked well for me. It was prescribed by a dermatologist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 22, 2003 Report Share Posted August 22, 2003 just curious - topically or orally? > hi all, i have been on doxepin for vulvodynia for almost 5 years...25 mg at > bedtime (that's a very small dose) and it has worked well for me. It was > prescribed by a dermatologist. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 22, 2003 Report Share Posted August 22, 2003 , topical Zonalon ? Did you have it compounded? Dusty Re: new member Ora, just an FYI, I switched from Benadryl to Zonalon (prescription - and stronger, and less likely to cause sensitivity to itself) and find it working even better than the Benadryl. Just wanted to let you know! > > > Hi everybody! Just wanted to introduce myself, tell you my history, > >and maybe get some advice on certain things. This past year has been > >trying for me, both physically and emotionally. I guess I should go > >in chronological order beginning with last July. I was diagnosed with > >HPV last summer, received acid treatments in Nov, laser surgery in > >Feb for internal warts, used Aldara in June for a few externals, and > >a little over 3 weeks ago I was diagnosed with vaginismus (due in > >part to laser surgery) and vulvar vestibulitis. I was suffering from > >hot, burning pain and stinging around the opening of my vagina, > >sometimes it would extend to my clitoris. Would last for days at a > >time. I sometimes find that if I sit upright for a certain amount of > >time I get pins & needles down there, and having a desk job makes > >having this downright excruciating sometimes. Next to my shoes my > >underwear is the 2nd thing I take off whenever I walk in the door. I > >can't stand the feel of them against me! I was terrified that the > >pain and discomfort signalled something like herpes, but the > >gynecologist did a swab test and told me what it was. Didn't know > >that it isn't entirely uncommon for someone with HPV to have this as > >well. On top of all this I had an abnormal pap (high grade lesions) > >come back last week that's requiring me to undergo a colposcopy on > >Sept 4th. Needless to say, I'm trying (albeit not so well) to keep > >things in perspective and be positive and not let all this get the > >best of me. > > I'm using lidocaine right now for when the pain gets unbearable, but > >even though I'm using unscented soaps and drying the vulvar area with > >a hair dryer (low), I still find little relief. I've heard of certain > >soaps (Sebamed mainly) that maintain the normal ph level of the skin, > >and is supposed to be safe even for the vulvar area. Any other > >suggestions? So long as it isn't anything Aveeno; even their > >moisturizer caused me problems. I'm open to just about anything at > >this point for some level of relief!! > > > > thanks!! buttahru. > > > > > > > >Please discuss all methods of treatment with your practitioner. NONE of this is to be taken as medical advice but merely opinions offered! > > > > > >*****END OF MESSAGE***** > >------------------------------------------------- > >Yahoo members can click on: > > > >http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VulvarDisorders > > > >On the left side is a listing including Links and > > Files . If you click on those you will find much additional > >information posted by our members. > > > >To post message: VulvarDisorders > > To Subscribe: VulvarDisorders-subscribe > > Unsubscribe: VulvarDisorders-unsubscribe > > List owner: VulvarDisorders-owner > > > >***** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 22, 2003 Report Share Posted August 22, 2003 > Hi everybody! Just wanted to introduce myself, tell you my history, > and maybe get some advice on certain things. This past year has been > trying for me, both physically and emotionally. I guess I should go > in chronological order beginning with last July. I was diagnosed with > HPV last summer, received acid treatments in Nov, laser surgery in > Feb for internal warts, used Aldara in June for a few externals, and > a little over 3 weeks ago I was diagnosed with vaginismus (due in > part to laser surgery) and vulvar vestibulitis. I was suffering from > hot, burning pain and stinging around the opening of my vagina, > sometimes it would extend to my clitoris. Would last for days at a > time. I sometimes find that if I sit upright for a certain amount of > time I get pins & needles down there, and having a desk job makes > having this downright excruciating sometimes. Next to my shoes my > underwear is the 2nd thing I take off whenever I walk in the door. I > can't stand the feel of them against me! I was terrified that the > pain and discomfort signalled something like herpes, but the > gynecologist did a swab test and told me what it was. Didn't know > that it isn't entirely uncommon for someone with HPV to have this as > well. On top of all this I had an abnormal pap (high grade lesions) > come back last week that's requiring me to undergo a colposcopy on > Sept 4th. Needless to say, I'm trying (albeit not so well) to keep > things in perspective and be positive and not let all this get the > best of me. > I'm using lidocaine right now for when the pain gets unbearable, but > even though I'm using unscented soaps and drying the vulvar area with > a hair dryer (low), I still find little relief. I've heard of certain > soaps (Sebamed mainly) that maintain the normal ph level of the skin, > and is supposed to be safe even for the vulvar area. Any other > suggestions? So long as it isn't anything Aveeno; even their > moisturizer caused me problems. I'm open to just about anything at > this point for some level of relief!! > > thanks!! buttahru. Hi, Buttahru, you have a lot of stuff going on, and I suspect the stress is probably making the pain situation worse. A few thoughts - It really matters what I sit on. My car seat is very comfortable, and my desk chair is not. I would suggest getting a soft pillow for your office chair. It doesn't need to have a hole in the center or anything like that that would be embarrassing to explain. Plenty of people have pillows like that. Unlike another poster, who suggested wearing underpants to bed, I wear only a flannel nightgown (Lanz of Salzburg, available many places and on the web). It does not wrap around my crotch. Wearing underpants for any length of time makes me worse. I occasionally use a sparing amount of & First Aid Cream if I am having burning. It stings for a few seconds, then seems to help for some time. I have found that Lidocaine only helps me for about an hour. When the pain gets really bad, I use a slight amount of prescription vicodin. I find Ivory soap more comfortable to use than Basis. I never wash any more in that area with soap, however, just water. My doc said Ivory was " harsh and alkaline " . I dunno why it seems better for me. I suspect maybe since oxalic acid is thought to be a problem for some people, and it seems to be for me, maybe the alkalinity helps counteract that. Cranberry juice causes me to flare. I am about to try Desiprimine, whoich is reportedly less sedating than elavil (Iamatriptyline.) It has been coumpounded to not contain cornstarch or dyes, both of which I seem to react to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 22, 2003 Report Share Posted August 22, 2003 p.s buttahru, Two foods that cause me a problem are corn and soy. You may find that the food and med list that causes you problems is different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 27, 2003 Report Share Posted September 27, 2003 Hi, i'm new to this group, and i'm not exactly sure that vulvar vestibulitis is my problem, but from the symptoms, i'm almost 100% sure it is. there are so many posts, and i don't know where to start. i was just wondering if someone could give me some advice. thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 27, 2003 Report Share Posted September 27, 2003 I guess the first thing I would ask is - what kind of doctor are you seeing now for your symptoms? Sometimes regular ob/gyns just don't understand VVS and tell their patients there is no cure. Do not listen to doctors like that! Ask the group about specialists in your area. A possibly long drive can really be worth it if most doctors near you are not qualified to treat this complex disorder. And we can all give you information on what has or has not worked for us. Just ask in SF > Hi, > > i'm new to this group, and i'm not exactly sure that vulvar > vestibulitis is my problem, but from the symptoms, i'm almost 100% > sure it is. there are so many posts, and i don't know where to > start. i was just wondering if someone could give me some advice. > thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 27, 2003 Report Share Posted September 27, 2003 I don't think that there are any specialists in my area. I live in a small country in the Caribbean, so I think that they only way to see a specialist would be to visit the States. Any information that anyone here can give me would be appreciated: normal symptoms, specialists to see, medications to try...I think I've even read some posts about diet contributing to the problem...anything you can give me would help. Thanks > > Hi, > > > > i'm new to this group, and i'm not exactly sure that vulvar > > vestibulitis is my problem, but from the symptoms, i'm almost 100% > > sure it is. there are so many posts, and i don't know where to > > start. i was just wondering if someone could give me some advice. > > thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 12, 2003 Report Share Posted December 12, 2003 Dear Maere Hi, welcome, although I suffer from vulval excema, I find this an amazing support group with regards to help and loads of wonderful information, good luck !!!. We are all looking for the light, and can understand how desperate you feel. I live in CT, where do you stay ?, is your gynae a vulvar specialist, as I feel that this is important ? Kind regards Mandy -----Original Message----- From: Maere Sent: 12 December 2003 08:35 To: VulvarDisorders Subject: new member hi everyone i joined this group yesterday and received an e-mail asking me to introduce myself. i'm 29, live in south africa. english is my second language (in case my language seem strange at times (- i was diagnosed with vestibulitus a week ago. my gyne had to go look in her books to find a diagnosis. i have since spoken to her, and she seems as lost as i am. she says there's not really anything we can do about it, that it is a very intricate problem, i have to learn to live with it, etc. she's prescribed a topical painkiller, which (for various reasons) can't work as a long term solution. she seems to think it can. so at the moment i feel disappointed with my body, betrayed almost. and lost, with no light at the end of the tunnel. and desperate, 'cause i can't really talk to anyone except my husband about it. and that's my story. maere Please discuss all methods of treatment with your practitioner. NONE of this is to be taken as medical advice but merely opinions offered! *****END OF MESSAGE***** ------------------------------------------------- Yahoo members can click on: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VulvarDisorders On the left side is a listing including Links and Files . If you click on those you will find much additional information posted by our members. To post message: VulvarDisorders To Subscribe: VulvarDisorders-subscribe Unsubscribe: VulvarDisorders-unsubscribe List owner: VulvarDisorders-owner ***** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 15, 2003 Report Share Posted December 15, 2003 thank you, thank you, thank you to everybody who replied to my e-mail. you've been a great help & comfort. for those who asked, i live in pe. maere Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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