Hi - I'm new.

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone,

I'm a new member of the list (although I've been stalking for a ahort

while) and I thought it was about time to introduce myself. I'm 25

years old, living in Philadelphia and I've been battling vestibulitis

and vulvadynia for 6 years.

I thought it might be a good time to share my story after seeing

Sally's post regarding pain with intercourse - as those are also my

only symptoms. Within the last three months I've finally found a

treatment (truameel injections) that has done wonders for my pain and

quality of life and I'm keeping my fingers crossed hoping it sticks.

I was diagnosed with my first yeast infection at 19 and while it

cleared up quickly once diagnosed, the irritaion, burning and painful

intercourse never completely went away. Occasionally it would flare

up, I would see a doctor, they would do a culture, 50% of the time

they found small amounts of yeast, 50% of the time they found

nothing, but they always sent me home with another stronger yeast

treatment saying my symptoms should improve. They never did.

For three years I battled these 'flare ups' never really knowing why

I wasn't getting any better. I started trying to ignore the problem

thinking 'next week it will be better'. My relationship began to fall

apart as our once healthy and enjoyable sex life, crumbled into

fighting, shame and sadness. It took about 3 years for my fiance to

get fed up and insist we see a couples therapist or he was leaving.

We happened to find a couples sex therepist who specialized in female

sexual disorders and as soon as she got me to admit and describe the

pain I felt, she immediatly reccomeneded I see Kellogg-Spadt, a

pelvic and sexual health doctor who specialized in vestiblitis. When

I finally saw and was diagnosed, I felt a million times

lighter - finally having a name for how I was feeling. I was quickly

dissappointed though at the range of options available for treatment.

I tried the estrogen and steriod creams for about a year and although

they brought some initial relief, I was never pain-free. Plus having

to apply creams twice a day was difficult for me commit to (and

really killed any chance of intimacy!). I took a break for a while

and when I tried to get back on the cream-wagon, the results were not

as good.

At this point I was working with 's wonderful assistant Jenn and

she suggested I try Trumeel injections. They just finished a study

with them and had wonderful results they were planning on publishing

soon. I have to be honest and say I was petrified of the injections.

Not just the potential pain, but more having to come face to face

with my diagnosis and fully accept that I am a woman living with

vestibulitis. I know it sounds hokey, but I really did have to learn

to accept myself and this illness.

So anyway, I finally got the injections and after 5 treatments, I've

had sex practically painlessly for the first time in 6 years!!! I

just about cried. Granted, I'm no where near 100%, but the

significant improvement has finally made me feel like my pain, my

relationship and my life have so much more potential. I'm sure alot

of you can relate to that heavy burdening feeling of fear that your

sexual pain will lead to the end of your relationship.

I still have swelling and minor irritation for about 1-2days after

intercourse and I won't lie, those shots are painful!! But for the

amount of relief I've expierienced, they are completely worth it.

Thanks for reading my little novella! I'm happy to find a group of

women going through similar things I'm going through and I hope I can

add to your community with support, understanding and hope.

Thanks and have wonderful weekends!