New and unsure!

Hey ladies,
I just got diagnosed with vvs after seeing countless doctors and finally a gyno. All my swabs for yeast and bv have come back negative in the past 6 months since my symptoms started... although sometimes (like now) my symptoms feel more like a yeast infection than vulvodynia. I just wonder what you ladies have for symptoms..
I certainly have the tell tale signs like intense pain during intercourse - but sometimes it subsides if I "ride it out" (pun not intended), I also have localized pain in my vaginal entrance, which can be really severe.
but then I have intense intense itching almost non stop... and sometimes I even have a white discharge, nothing bad just... not normal.
My gyno gave me a lidocaine prescription which I will start tomorrow... I've been applying coconut oil but it barely does anything, still taking probiotics just to be sure... was taking them when doctors kept telling me "its probably yeast", even had one doctor assume bv so treated myself for that too. Boric acid would help me for a little bit before... maybe a day before I started feeling itching, but now that doesn't work. Baking soda baths help for a couple hours, I even had three whole days without any symptoms last week, which I think was thanks to two baking soda baths in two days. But mostly trying to keep away from applying to much gunk to my lady parts, because I've been doing that for 6 months straight and nothing has been effective in the long run. My gyno says she thinks its a nerve problem because it started 6 months ago which was when my and my partner got together - and she thinks it was a "traumatic vaginal event" which would make sense because my new partner gave me genital HSV-1 (which is pretty traumatic vaginally and mentally.)
I'm just at a loss and was hoping you could give me feed back on your symptoms!

Hey mollyashlie!

Everyone with VVS has unique symptoms, to the point I'd think that each person on this site probably has a slightly different story. For me, I currently have provoked vaginal opening pain only, and only with penetration (however, I used to be much different, and had generalized pain with inflammation at all times). VVS has a zillion different etiologies, with the only common feature being that it results in pain. A few considerations for your specific case, though:

1) Have you ever gotten your vaginal pH assessed? A too-low vaginal pH can indicate an overabundance of the ordinarily good vaginal flora, lactobacilli acidophilus, and cause something called cytolytic vaginosis. This is a disorder in which the surface layer of vaginal skin (epithelium) is irritated so much by the excessive acidity of the bacteria, it becomes chemically burned and sloughs off. Discharge in this condition looks a lot like yeast discharge, but for an entirely different reason -- it is full of dead epithelial cells, which also have a white and chunky appearance. This is alleviated by sitz baths, which work to elevate vaginal pH. I'd consider finding out if you have any alterations in pH or lactobacillus, if the sitz baths work for you.

2) HSV-1 can be a source of nerve pain, because all herpes viruses make neurons their home upon infection. I don't think there's any body of research on HSV and vulvodynia, but it would make sense for it to cause inflammation to the nerves upon first infection. This may clear up on its own depending on how HSV and your body interact (it is almost always most intense on initial flare, and will stabilize over time; though there are exceptions).

3) Find a doctor you trust and who doesn't trivialize your symptoms, VVS is a challenging experience and you need a good team to work with. Don't be afraid of trying new things, like physical therapy, acupuncture, or changing your diet, because every single person will have a different trigger and therefore most likely a different solution, too. Some people also use surgery, and this is amazingly effective for some women. There is help out there and a light at the end of the tunnel, the key is not giving up.

Hey molly,

Welcome to the forum! I don't have much to suggest to you yet as but im in the same boat as you hun. I've not been able to shed much light on the cause of my own pain (unprovoked burning in vaginal opening & a little inside). It really is horrible, the fact it is constant and a really burning stinging acidic sore pain. It almost feels like a wound. I'm so sick of living with it now. Just know you are not alone and we will get answers. Above poster had some really great suggestions! , I too will take those on board.