Re: New, at the end of my rope, and feeling totally lost and alone.

[Guest guest]

Jolene,

I'm soooo sorry for your pain and everything you've

been through.. I can understand your pain only a

little bit.. I have vestibulitiS and Post herpetic

neuralgia/dermatitis..also have Gen. Herpes...

All I can tell you is DON " T give up.. I've been

through 8 gynos, and now have found one that works

with me.. alhtough frustrating, you WILL Find an

answer, and soon someone will listen.. it could be an

allergy to something, or it could be something else..

KEEP TRYing, and don't ggive up hope sweetie!!

Something will happen, and you'll find what works for

you.. hang in there hon!!! You'll be in my prayers..

God bless,

>

" We will comprehend the word serenity,

and we will know peace... " Pages 83-84

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

I am crying my eyes out here! I am just so confused, and scared,

and fed up! I don't understand my body anymore, and I am scared i

am going to be this way forever.

It sounds like you have been through a great deal, and you sound

like a strong gal.... Has the journey been worht it for you? Do

you have good days now? or is your pain under control? I am so

desperate for some sort of relief..

Hugs to you, thanks for resonding... It makes me feel like I am a

little less alone.

>

> Jolene,

>

> I'm soooo sorry for your pain and everything you've

> been through.. I can understand your pain only a

> little bit.. I have vestibulitiS and Post herpetic

> neuralgia/dermatitis..also have Gen. Herpes...

>

> All I can tell you is DON " T give up.. I've been

> through 8 gynos, and now have found one that works

> with me.. alhtough frustrating, you WILL Find an

> answer, and soon someone will listen.. it could be an

> allergy to something, or it could be something else..

> KEEP TRYing, and don't ggive up hope sweetie!!

> Something will happen, and you'll find what works for

> you.. hang in there hon!!! You'll be in my prayers..

> God bless,

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> >

>

>

> " We will comprehend the word serenity,

> and we will know peace... " Pages 83-84

>

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

Jolene, I feel your pain, sister. I suffered with burning, itching, and sharp shooting pains before I was finally diagnosed with vuvlodynia/vestibulitis. I actually had a tear in my vestibule and it took forever to heal. My symptoms exasperated the medical staff at the student clinic where I was treated. One Nurse Practioner just shrugged her shoulders and said, more or less, that vaginas were just mysterious. After a while I thought that I was crazy. Eventually, I found a urogynecologist who knew what was going on. He was able to help me heal the torn vestibule and relieve some of my symptoms. My vulvodynia still bothers me from time to time (I also have vaginismus, but that's another story...) but at least the validation of my pain and my experience encourages me to go on. Hopefully the ob/gyn will be able to help you out. I wish that I could

tell you what is really going on with you, but I can't. Sorry. Keep taking the warm baths and wear skirts as often as possible. If you haven't already, check out the archives here because there is a ton of great info. I hope that you feel better soon!! Good Luck! Angierubyredgbs wrote: Hi everyone,I am brand new here, and I am completely going insane! I don't know what to do for myself.My name is Jolene, I am a married 31 year old gal, who has a 4 year old son. I stopped living on the 23rd of December... I feel like I am just existing these days.The third week of December I started to feel an "itchy" feeling in my ovaries... that is the only way to describe it.

I thought maybe I was getting a yeast infection, but other than the itchy feeling internally, I had no other symptoms..... And then the pain felt like it might be coming from my bladder... So I went to the clinic on Boxing Day, got antibiotics, and Diflucan for yeast and went on my merry way....Within 3 days, I was in horrendous pain, sitting in the bathub crying my eyes out... it was the most horrible, itchy, burning pain I have ever had in my life.... It felt like it was internal though... inside my pelvis, INSIDE my labia, Inside everywhere, but not an itch I could scratch even....In 2 months, I have gone to the hospital 5 times, the doctors 11 times, and have been written 14 different prescriptions... I have had to go through a completely unnecessary cystoscopy on my urethra/bladder... I have been on antibiotics, Flagystatin for BV, Urispas for bladder and urethral spasms, 4 different kinds of

narcotics, and valium.... and NOTHING helps... The pain seemed all internal at first, but the past few weeks, I am sore externally as well, I feel bruised, and burning down there, and it stings after I pee...It seems like on Day 14 of my cycle, the itchy feeling starts in my pelvis/ovaries, and then it is all downhill from there.... My symptoms might improve over the course of a cycle, but slight at best, and no where near comfortable.For the sake of sounding dramatic, it feels like my life is over as I know it.... I feel like I have let my whole family down, and the stress on my family is so unfair.I go see an ob/gyn in 2 weeks.... I don't know how I will even get through today.What is happening to me?Jolene

Yahoo! Mail

Bring photos to life! New PhotoMail makes sharing a breeze.

[Guest guest]

So sorry Jolene - none of us deserve this dratted condition.

My advice - when you see a gyn -

1.) It may be wise to not take any medicine that is prescribed unless you

have had a culture done or a biopsy done which CONFIRMS that there actually

is an infection. Sooooo many docs listen to the symptoms, assume it is

yeast or BV and just prescribe. In the meantime, you are taking meds for

something that doesn't exist and may be exacerbating the condition. If

they suspect yeast - they must do a culture and have the lab identify the

strain of yeast infection present. As with any other disease, some yeast

meds treat some strains and some yeast meds simply won't work on another

strain, so until y ou know for sure there is an infection and the strain -

you aren't going to fix the problems.

2.) Some women are allergic to their own hormones. Can you be tested for

hormonal allergies?

3.) Even though you are young you could be having a hormonal problem (in

this case not allergy) where you either have too much or too little of

female or male hormones in your body, causing these reactions. You need to

get your hormone levels tested. For women who menstruate,there are certain

times of the month when testing is best done - and you can find that info in

our archives or probably by googling for it.

4.) There is a connection between hormonal imbalances and thyroid

malfuction. You should ask to have your thyroid tested.

5.) You should make a list of anything you want looked into and take that

list with you. Tell the doc that you are in a support group of other women

who have similar problems and these are some of the tests which have been

done for these women and you want them as well.

6.) Ask for and keep a copy of all your tests so that you are sure what has

and has not been done.

7.) Have you had all the standard tests, i.e. STD's, Herpes, HPV etc?

Some of these lie dormant for long periods and you could well test positive.

Don't give up, your life is not over. Keep a journal of your pain levels

and where they fall in your cycle - this may be useful down the road. By

planning and plotting the course of your search to end your pain, you are

participating in your own recovery and that feels good. You need a doc to

work with you and who will listen to you , so don't be afraid to state your

needs to the doc. After all, you are the consumer - and are paying

her/him.

I keep a journal of EVERYTHING.... so that if I have a high pain day, I look

back through the pages and see the last time or few times I had similar pain

and I look for similarities in the things I ate, drank, did or bathed in

that day. If I see a pattern developing - I stop the suspect thing and go

from there.

It seems to me that this conditon is not a single thing gone wrong in our

bodies, but a culmination of problems all come together to hurt like the

devil in our most private areas. That has been the case for me, as I had

many contributory factors. Some ladies are a little more fortunate and can

nail their cause right off - but 4 years on this list makes me believe that

most of us have several issues going on at once - so it will take patience,

conviction and determination to rule out or rule in all the various

probabilities.

Please keep us posted, we know how you feel.

Dusty

New, at the end of my rope, and feeling totally lost and

alone.

Hi everyone,

I am brand new here, and I am completely going insane! I don't know

what to do for myself.

My name is Jolene, I am a married 31 year old gal, who has a 4 year

old son. I stopped living on the 23rd of December... I feel like I

am just existing these days.

The third week of December I started to feel an " itchy " feeling in

my ovaries... that is the only way to describe it. I thought maybe

I was getting a yeast infection, but other than the itchy feeling

internally, I had no other symptoms..... And then the pain felt

like it might be coming from my bladder... So I went to the clinic

on Boxing Day, got antibiotics, and Diflucan for yeast and went on

my merry way....

Within 3 days, I was in horrendous pain, sitting in the bathub

crying my eyes out... it was the most horrible, itchy, burning pain

I have ever had in my life.... It felt like it was internal

though... inside my pelvis, INSIDE my labia, Inside everywhere, but

not an itch I could scratch even....

In 2 months, I have gone to the hospital 5 times, the doctors 11

times, and have been written 14 different prescriptions... I have

had to go through a completely unnecessary cystoscopy on my

urethra/bladder... I have been on antibiotics, Flagystatin for BV,

Urispas for bladder and urethral spasms, 4 different kinds of

narcotics, and valium.... and NOTHING helps...

The pain seemed all internal at first, but the past few weeks, I am

sore externally as well, I feel bruised, and burning down there, and

it stings after I pee...

It seems like on Day 14 of my cycle, the itchy feeling starts in my

pelvis/ovaries, and then it is all downhill from there.... My

symptoms might improve over the course of a cycle, but slight at

best, and no where near comfortable.

For the sake of sounding dramatic, it feels like my life is over as

I know it.... I feel like I have let my whole family down, and the

stress on my family is so unfair.

I go see an ob/gyn in 2 weeks.... I don't know how I will even get

through today.

What is happening to me?

Jolene

**IF REPLYING TO THIS POST, PLEASE REMOVE ORIGINAL POST, THANKS**

Our HOME page is http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VulvarDisorders

to search our archives, files, articles, etc.

***

[Guest guest]

,

I'm sorry sweetie.. it took me a couple of years to

find relief, but it is temporary.. you will get

better!! It just stinks going through it.. listen to

the women in this group, and they'll give good

advice.. they have helped me tremendously. BUT get a

good gyno (maybe female) that will understand and

listen to you.. check into finding a vulvular

specialist.. they are out there, and they can at least

give you a diagnosis to start and treat.. the

Vestibulitis test is easy.. ask them to do it.. I

think it would explain alot.. Hang in there! I had

just about given up hope too, and lo and behold, I " m

on an antiseizure drug for seizures that is helping

it, with some lidocaine gel for sex.. keep fighting

sweetie, and you will get through this..

Hugs,

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > >

> >

> >

> > " We will comprehend the word serenity,

> > and we will know peace... " Pages 83-84

> >

> >

> >

> > __________________________________________________

> >

[Guest guest]

Hi Jolene,

Welcome hon but I am SO sorry for all you're going through and in such a short time, my goodness me, *sigh* what a shame.

I've no idea either of course, but it 'almost' sounds like it 'might' be a progesterone allergy. I say that mainly because of you saying it all started mid month and that's when our estrogen starts to go down & lessens and progesterone kicks in (to prepare the body for pregnancy).... plus if you are taking birth control pills, progestin is the main ingredient in those.

Of course I've no idea hon but there are women who do have progesterone sensitivities or allergies. One thing you 'might' want to try is taking an antihistamine because progesterone increases histamine output too and histamine (and other cytokines) can be part & parcel of our inflammation, esp. itching, burning etc. so that might help to reverse it.

Just my two cents hon. I am so sorry. A few clips below on that for what it's worth. But I sure hope you find some help soon, that's crazy to have gone thru what you said............

''In 2 months, I have gone to the hospital 5 times, the doctors 11 times, and have been written 14 different prescriptions... I have had to go through a completely unnecessary cystoscopy on my urethra/bladder... I have been on antibiotics, Flagystatin for BV, Urispas for bladder and urethral spasms, 4 different kinds of narcotics, and valium.... and NOTHING helps...''

And yet not one of them helped? WOW that really is amazing, I'm assuming you gave each enough time in between to see if it worked. So who knows just 'maybe' it 'might' be a P. allergy.. Believe me hon just throwing straws out in the wind, I sure wish you the best.

hugs

Dee~

AUTOIMMUNE PROGESTERONE DERMATITIS

Autoimmune progesterone dermatitis (APD) is a condition in which the menstrual cycle is associated with a number of skin findings such as urticaria, *itching* eczema, angioedema, and others.

In affected women, it occurs 3–10 days prior to the onset of menstrual flow, and resolves 2 days into menses.

Women with irregular menses may not have this clear correlation, and therefore may be missed. We present a case of APD in a woman with irregular menses and urticaria/angioedema for over 20 years, who had not been diagnosed or correctly treated due to the variable timing of skin manifestations and menses.

This condition is known as autoimmune progesterone dermatitis (APD) due to the fact that progesterone is most frequently identified as the etiologic agent.

In women with irregular menses, the diagnosis may remain elusive for years.

Progesterone has also been reported to have a direct histamine releasing effect on mast cells. Oral contraceptives (OCPs) are often tried as initial therapy, but have had limited success, possibly due to the fact that virtually all OCPs have a progesterone component.

=======================

[Guest guest]

I am crying my eyes out here!  I am just so confused, and scared,

and fed up!  I don't understand my body anymore, and I am scared i

am going to be this way forever.

______________

I have been where you are and now I am pain free (at the moment)--and I just wanted you to know that you are not alone. You have come across a great resource and support *here* on this list. I was terrified, in pain, confused and after many. many doctors, meds--the whole trail of sorrow, I found my way out. I did this with the help of the ladies here, my family, a good Doc and by sheer force of will.

Be strong. Hang in there. The body can and will heal itself. Your mind is a powerful weapon against this ordeal. There is hope.

Anne

[Guest guest]

Thanks so much Dee for responding to my post. I just picked my son

up from preschool, and cried all the way there.... Every bump or

vibration in the car hurt like heck!

I am wondering if I have some sort of hormonal issue, or imbalance

of some sort.. But I don't know if dermatitis would fit the

category that I am in. Wouldn't that be externally seen? I have

looked down 'there' (it is funny that we refer to it that way isn't

it?), and on my labia, on the edges, it is redder than the rest, but

other than that, I cannot see anything... the rest of the pain seems

like it is more internal... inside...

I live in Canada, where the health care system is not set up to help

anyone these days... hence all the trips to the ER and the doctor.

Through all of this they have only done 1 pelvic swab for STD's

which came back negative, and they have been treating me blindly

since then.

3 of the medications I wasn't able to take because of side effects,

and they were all for bladder spasms and such, which hasn't truly

been the problem. They did the cystoscopy without any sedation at

all, and scraped membranes from my bladder for testing, for nothing,

it all came back negative as well... just for my doctor to tell me

that " OH yes you can have urethral symptoms from gynecological

issues " and then sent me home with 150mg Diflucan X 7 days in a

row, with 6 repeats on the prescription. WHo knows why? I told her

I didn't have a yeast infection, but she said I could have an

overgrowth without the normal symptoms.

I was supposed to get my period on Monday, and so far nothing (I am

FOR SURE NOT PREGNANT!), and I am in agony.... I just don't know

what to take for the pain anymore.

I have been on Diflucan, Norfloxin, Flagystatin, prydium X2,

Diflucan X 7, urispas, ditropan, maxeran, toradol, percocet,

ativan... the list goes on and on... and I keep going back, and they

keep giving me more drugs.... and nobody even wants to look at me.

3 trips to the ER, and not one attending would call in an OB/GYN

consult, because they are too 'busy' to deal with issues such as

these.

The Ob/gyn I am seeing on the 13th has a great reputation, and he is

supposed to be a gentle and a kind man, so I am hoping he will help

me. I feel like a horrible mom, and horrible wife, and just plain

horrible right now... I think through all of this I have become

really depressed.

Thanks for being there. As I start again with the tears......

Jolene

>

>

> Hi Jolene,

>

> Welcome hon but I am SO sorry for all you're going through and

in such a short time, my goodness me, *sigh* what a shame.

>

> I've no idea either of course, but it 'almost' sounds like

it 'might' be a progesterone allergy. I say that mainly because of

you saying it all started mid month and that's when our estrogen

starts to go down & lessens and progesterone kicks in (to prepare

the body for pregnancy).... plus if you are taking birth control

pills, progestin is the main ingredient in those.

>

> Of course I've no idea hon but there are women who do have

progesterone sensitivities or allergies. One thing you 'might' want

to try is taking an antihistamine because progesterone increases

histamine output too and histamine (and other cytokines) can be part

& parcel of our inflammation, esp. itching, burning etc. so that

might help to reverse it.

>

> Just my two cents hon. I am so sorry. A few clips below on

that for what it's worth. But I sure hope you find some help soon,

that's crazy to have gone thru what you said............

> ''In 2 months, I have gone to the hospital 5 times, the

doctors 11 times, and have been written 14 different

prescriptions... I have had to go through a completely unnecessary

cystoscopy on my urethra/bladder... I have been on antibiotics,

Flagystatin for BV, Urispas for bladder and urethral spasms, 4

different kinds of narcotics, and valium.... and NOTHING helps...''

>

>

> And yet not one of them helped? WOW that really is amazing, I'm

assuming you gave each enough time in between to see if it

worked. So who knows just 'maybe' it 'might' be a P. allergy..

Believe me hon just throwing straws out in the wind, I sure wish you

the best.

> hugs

> Dee~

>

> AUTOIMMUNE PROGESTERONE DERMATITIS

> Autoimmune progesterone dermatitis (APD) is a condition in which

the menstrual cycle is associated with a number of skin findings

such as urticaria, *itching* eczema, angioedema, and others.

>

> In affected women, it occurs 3-10 days prior to the onset of

menstrual flow, and resolves 2 days into menses.

>

> Women with irregular menses may not have this clear correlation,

and therefore may be missed. We present a case of APD in a woman

with irregular menses and urticaria/angioedema for over 20 years,

who had not been diagnosed or correctly treated due to the variable

timing of skin manifestations and menses.

>

> This condition is known as autoimmune progesterone dermatitis

(APD) due to the fact that progesterone is most frequently

identified as the etiologic agent.

>

> In women with irregular menses, the diagnosis may remain elusive

for years.

>

> Progesterone has also been reported to have a direct histamine

releasing effect on mast cells. Oral contraceptives (OCPs) are

often tried as initial therapy, but have had limited success,

possibly due to the fact that virtually all OCPs have a progesterone

component.

>

> =======================

>

[Guest guest]

Dusty,

thank you so much for all your adivce, I have to print out your

reply, there was so many useful things in it.

At the beginning of all of this, they did a swab for STD's, and that

came back negative, but they didn't look for anything else. And

have continues to blindly treat me for this and that.

I started last month keeping a chart with the days of my monthly

cycle, and my pain level, or when symptoms change, so I guess that

will probably be somewhat useful. I will make sure I take it to the

specialist's appointment when I go, and keep it up. It doesn't have

everything in it, but I guess it is a start. The only thing I know

for sure, is it feels like a million mosquitos stinging my ovaries

every month on the 14th day of my cycle, and between the 14th and

the end of the month, I am in AGONY... It doesn't ever go away, or

improve really, but the level comes down a notch probably 2 or 4

days out of the entire month, and then starts working its was up to

excrutiating again.

I really didn't know that we could be allergic to our hormones... I

had no idea. I am going to try to confidently ask for all my

hormone levels to be checked... thank you for that.

I just feel a shadow of hope, in finding this group. I have been

living in isolation and fear for awhile now.

Thanks again!

Jolene

-- In VulvarDisorders , " Dusty "

wrote:

>

> So sorry Jolene - none of us deserve this dratted condition.

>

> My advice - when you see a gyn -

>

> 1.) It may be wise to not take any medicine that is prescribed

unless you

> have had a culture done or a biopsy done which CONFIRMS that there

actually

> is an infection. Sooooo many docs listen to the symptoms,

assume it is

> yeast or BV and just prescribe. In the meantime, you are taking

meds for

> something that doesn't exist and may be exacerbating the

condition. If

> they suspect yeast - they must do a culture and have the lab

identify the

> strain of yeast infection present. As with any other disease,

some yeast

> meds treat some strains and some yeast meds simply won't work on

another

> strain, so until y ou know for sure there is an infection and the

strain -

> you aren't going to fix the problems.

>

> 2.) Some women are allergic to their own hormones. Can you be

tested for

> hormonal allergies?

>

> 3.) Even though you are young you could be having a hormonal

problem (in

> this case not allergy) where you either have too much or too

little of

> female or male hormones in your body, causing these reactions.

You need to

> get your hormone levels tested. For women who menstruate,there

are certain

> times of the month when testing is best done - and you can find

that info in

> our archives or probably by googling for it.

>

> 4.) There is a connection between hormonal imbalances and thyroid

> malfuction. You should ask to have your thyroid tested.

>

> 5.) You should make a list of anything you want looked into and

take that

> list with you. Tell the doc that you are in a support group of

other women

> who have similar problems and these are some of the tests which

have been

> done for these women and you want them as well.

>

> 6.) Ask for and keep a copy of all your tests so that you are

sure what has

> and has not been done.

>

> 7.) Have you had all the standard tests, i.e. STD's, Herpes,

HPV etc?

> Some of these lie dormant for long periods and you could well test

positive.

>

> Don't give up, your life is not over. Keep a journal of your

pain levels

> and where they fall in your cycle - this may be useful down the

road. By

> planning and plotting the course of your search to end your pain,

you are

> participating in your own recovery and that feels good. You need

a doc to

> work with you and who will listen to you , so don't be afraid to

state your

> needs to the doc. After all, you are the consumer - and are

paying

> her/him.

>

> I keep a journal of EVERYTHING.... so that if I have a high pain

day, I look

> back through the pages and see the last time or few times I had

similar pain

> and I look for similarities in the things I ate, drank, did or

bathed in

> that day. If I see a pattern developing - I stop the suspect

thing and go

> from there.

>

> It seems to me that this conditon is not a single thing gone wrong

in our

> bodies, but a culmination of problems all come together to hurt

like the

> devil in our most private areas. That has been the case for me,

as I had

> many contributory factors. Some ladies are a little more

fortunate and can

> nail their cause right off - but 4 years on this list makes me

believe that

> most of us have several issues going on at once - so it will take

patience,

> conviction and determination to rule out or rule in all the various

> probabilities.

>

> Please keep us posted, we know how you feel.

>

> Dusty

>

> New, at the end of my rope, and feeling totally

lost and

> alone.

>

>

> Hi everyone,

>

> I am brand new here, and I am completely going insane! I don't

know

> what to do for myself.

>

> My name is Jolene, I am a married 31 year old gal, who has a 4

year

> old son. I stopped living on the 23rd of December... I feel like

I

> am just existing these days.

>

> The third week of December I started to feel an " itchy " feeling in

> my ovaries... that is the only way to describe it. I thought

maybe

> I was getting a yeast infection, but other than the itchy feeling

> internally, I had no other symptoms..... And then the pain felt

> like it might be coming from my bladder... So I went to the clinic

> on Boxing Day, got antibiotics, and Diflucan for yeast and went on

> my merry way....

>

> Within 3 days, I was in horrendous pain, sitting in the bathub

> crying my eyes out... it was the most horrible, itchy, burning

pain

> I have ever had in my life.... It felt like it was internal

> though... inside my pelvis, INSIDE my labia, Inside everywhere,

but

> not an itch I could scratch even....

>

> In 2 months, I have gone to the hospital 5 times, the doctors 11

> times, and have been written 14 different prescriptions... I have

> had to go through a completely unnecessary cystoscopy on my

> urethra/bladder... I have been on antibiotics, Flagystatin for BV,

> Urispas for bladder and urethral spasms, 4 different kinds of

> narcotics, and valium.... and NOTHING helps...

>

> The pain seemed all internal at first, but the past few weeks, I

am

> sore externally as well, I feel bruised, and burning down there,

and

> it stings after I pee...

>

> It seems like on Day 14 of my cycle, the itchy feeling starts in

my

> pelvis/ovaries, and then it is all downhill from there.... My

> symptoms might improve over the course of a cycle, but slight at

> best, and no where near comfortable.

>

> For the sake of sounding dramatic, it feels like my life is over

as

> I know it.... I feel like I have let my whole family down, and the

> stress on my family is so unfair.

>

> I go see an ob/gyn in 2 weeks.... I don't know how I will even get

> through today.

>

> What is happening to me?

> Jolene

>

>

>

>

>

> **IF REPLYING TO THIS POST, PLEASE REMOVE ORIGINAL POST, THANKS**

>

> Our HOME page is http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VulvarDisorders

> to search our archives, files, articles, etc.

>

> ***

[Guest guest]

HI Jolene,

Well hon for one thing you aren't alone anymore... *smile* Believe me most of us have been thru hell and back and we of all people do understand how you're feeling hon. So just rant and rave here all you want to, we've got broad shoulders, *smile*..

As I wrote my original one on the very slight possibility of it being hormonally related and possibly progesterone as the culprit , 'that' is what I was keeping in mind for more of the internal pain problems and not so much the tissue itself hon from what you explained, since those hormones would affect your whole body. (tho that one piece I sent was on P. dermatitis) But that's what I felt too was that you had more of an internal pain than external and what was odd that you explained it as 'itching' but not being able to get to it, I dont think Ive ever felt an 'itch' symptom internally like that.

(ummmm just a thought, how about diabetes? ) Oh well, just thinking out loud there. and by any chance had you tried any other drug during that time or eaten a different food? It might have been an allergic reaction and some drugs can do that and foods.

OH a quick thought......... did you mean to say itchy inside the vagina? If that's the case then yes many can feel that weird feeling but if you meant inside of your lower abdoman that's what threw me so I'm not sure which it was, *chuckle* forgive me.

On the other hand some of it must have been felt externally if you were sitting in the tub hon. Forgive me I'm trying to get a clearer picture. Have you tried ATARAX? That's a prescription (here in the USA) it's an antihistamine, anti itch med taken orally hon esp. for hives.... that too is just a thought or I would try an over the counter antihistamine too as I mentioned esp. if you're itching.

Of course it could be a thousand different things or reasons (as yeast itches with many) and with so many organs we women have in there who knows. *grin*. Did they do an ultrasound looking for tumors, or a possible ectopic pregnancy, or a cyst on your ovaries or a fibroid possibly (tho fibroids usually dont hurt early stages) it could be bladder or urethra.......

......it could even be a pelvic floor dysfunction & muscle contractions, or some organs twisted like a fallopian tube wrapped around something, (I had that with a tipped uterus that would catch my ovaries and send me thru the roof with pain) Heck it could even a bowel problem and you could feel that as well in the areas you described too. So you can see a gazillion things that it might be hon and why it's so hard to even try to narrow it down. *sigh* Believe me I feel your frustration.

Dusty had some really great ideas of things to rule out or get checked and one of them was the hormones so it might be worthwhile to do that...I would, and then to especially not be using any meds intravaginally or orally (say for yeast or a bacterial infection) unless you know absolutely that's what it is. A thyroid test was another great one she mentioned to have done.... but I'm not sure if you'd have internal pain like you're going thru if that was the problem (tho it sure can a cause of many other problems).

Ummmm ok, I quit, LOL my mind is roaming all over the place.

I am just so sorry and know how frustrating all of this is. *SIGH*.... grrrrrrrrrrrrrr Keep chatting hon and maybe something else will strike us. Hang in there though. hugs

Dee~

[Guest guest]

Heya Jolene,

I feel for you and understand the negative emotions

that pain of this nature triggers. If this goes on

much longer I would really advise seeking some

counselling. I have had VV for over 4 years and wish

that I had sought psychological support at a much

earlier stage (waited nearly 3 years). With such

support you will have the strength to seek the medical

answers you so desperately need. Try not to distance

yourself from your family too, especially your

husband, and just keep talking about your feelings

(might be an idea to give your husband a chance to

have his say too, though men tend to not have so much

to say!).

You are definently in the right place to gain a sense

of support, so you are off to a good start!

Take Care,

Ruby xx

--- rubyredgbs wrote:

---------------------------------

Thanks so much Dee for responding to my post. I just

picked my son

up from preschool, and cried all the way there....

Every bump or

vibration in the car hurt like heck!

I am wondering if I have some sort of hormonal issue,

or imbalance

of some sort.. But I don't know if dermatitis would

fit the

category that I am in. Wouldn't that be externally

seen? I have

looked down 'there' (it is funny that we refer to it

that way isn't

it?), and on my labia, on the edges, it is redder than

the rest, but

other than that, I cannot see anything... the rest of

the pain seems

like it is more internal... inside...

I live in Canada, where the health care system is not

set up to help

anyone these days... hence all the trips to the ER and

the doctor.

Through all of this they have only done 1 pelvic swab

for STD's

which came back negative, and they have been treating

me blindly

since then.

3 of the medications I wasn't able to take because of

side effects,

and they were all for bladder spasms and such, which

hasn't truly

been the problem. They did the cystoscopy without any

sedation at

all, and scraped membranes from my bladder for

testing, for nothing,

it all came back negative as well... just for my

doctor to tell me

that " OH yes you can have urethral symptoms from

gynecological

issues " and then sent me home with 150mg Diflucan X 7

days in a

row, with 6 repeats on the prescription. WHo knows

why? I told her

I didn't have a yeast infection, but she said I could

have an

overgrowth without the normal symptoms.

I was supposed to get my period on Monday, and so far

nothing (I am

FOR SURE NOT PREGNANT!), and I am in agony.... I just

don't know

what to take for the pain anymore.

I have been on Diflucan, Norfloxin, Flagystatin,

prydium X2,

Diflucan X 7, urispas, ditropan, maxeran, toradol,

percocet,

ativan... the list goes on and on... and I keep going

back, and they

keep giving me more drugs.... and nobody even wants to

look at me.

3 trips to the ER, and not one attending would call in

an OB/GYN

consult, because they are too 'busy' to deal with

issues such as

these.

The Ob/gyn I am seeing on the 13th has a great

reputation, and he is

supposed to be a gentle and a kind man, so I am hoping

he will help

me. I feel like a horrible mom, and horrible wife,

and just plain

horrible right now... I think through all of this I

have become

really depressed.

Thanks for being there. As I start again with the

tears......

Jolene

>

>

> Hi Jolene,

>

> Welcome hon but I am SO sorry for all you're going

through and

in such a short time, my goodness me, *sigh* what a

shame.

>

> I've no idea either of course, but it 'almost'

sounds like

it 'might' be a progesterone allergy. I say that

mainly because of

you saying it all started mid month and that's when

our estrogen

starts to go down & lessens and progesterone kicks in

(to prepare

the body for pregnancy).... plus if you are taking

birth control

pills, progestin is the main ingredient in those.

>

> Of course I've no idea hon but there are women who

do have

progesterone sensitivities or allergies. One thing

you 'might' want

to try is taking an antihistamine because progesterone

increases

histamine output too and histamine (and other

cytokines) can be part

& parcel of our inflammation, esp. itching, burning

etc. so that

might help to reverse it.

>

> Just my two cents hon. I am so sorry. A few

clips below on

that for what it's worth. But I sure hope you find

some help soon,

that's crazy to have gone thru what you

said............

> ''In 2 months, I have gone to the hospital 5

times, the

doctors 11 times, and have been written 14 different

prescriptions... I have had to go through a completely

unnecessary

cystoscopy on my urethra/bladder... I have been on

antibiotics,

Flagystatin for BV, Urispas for bladder and urethral

spasms, 4

different kinds of narcotics, and valium.... and

NOTHING helps...''

>

>

> And yet not one of them helped? WOW that really

is amazing, I'm

assuming you gave each enough time in between to see

if it

worked. So who knows just 'maybe' it 'might' be a

P. allergy..

Believe me hon just throwing straws out in the wind, I

sure wish you

the best.

> hugs

> Dee~

>

> AUTOIMMUNE PROGESTERONE DERMATITIS

> Autoimmune progesterone dermatitis (APD) is a

condition in which

the menstrual cycle is associated with a number of

skin findings

such as urticaria, *itching* eczema, angioedema, and

others.

>

> In affected women, it occurs 3-10 days prior to

the onset of

menstrual flow, and resolves 2 days into menses.

>

> Women with irregular menses may not have this

clear correlation,

and therefore may be missed. We present a case of APD

in a woman

with irregular menses and urticaria/angioedema for

over 20 years,

who had not been diagnosed or correctly treated due to

the variable

timing of skin manifestations and menses.

>

> This condition is known as autoimmune progesterone

dermatitis

(APD) due to the fact that progesterone is most

frequently

identified as the etiologic agent.

>

> In women with irregular menses, the diagnosis may

remain elusive

for years.

>

> Progesterone has also been reported to have a

direct histamine

releasing effect on mast cells. Oral contraceptives

(OCPs) are

often tried as initial therapy, but have had limited

success,

possibly due to the fact that virtually all OCPs have

a progesterone

component.

>

> =======================

>

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