Does anyone have this issue?

My pain is pretty much external and is stronger in the vestibule. My biggest problem seems to be that the external area does not have normal moisture. About 8 days after my period I do get more of the slicker moisture and for that short time the pain stops but then it begins again.

My pain used to be the entire external, the opening and part of the vagina near the opening. I was using an estrogen for a short time and it at least helped the vaginal pain to improve.

OH and I also seem to have a toilet paper allergy issue now as I get red, inflamed and swollen if I use it. This is pretty miserable. I'm not sure what else to use.

Does anyone else seem to have this dryness issue?

Hi time2reclaim. Yes I have dryness and was told I was menopausal. It definitely makes vulvodynia worse. I cannot take estrogen so I use KY Jelly.

Hi,
It maybe worth trying an oil/water based natural lube which doubles up as a moisturiser a good brand that hasn't caused me irritation is called yes! It's a natural product and doesn't contain any horrible chemicals !


Kt

I've been using emu oil and it helps a lot but still doesn't cut the pain

Hello, the only toilette paper I can use on a regular basis is Charmin Ultra Soft and the oil I use for that painful dryness is organic cold-pressed coconut oil. It's very soothing and doesn't stain things. I hope this helps. Nancy

I have the issue with moisture and I am starting menopause. Every doctor I have seen told me "it may sound crazy", but use Crisco oil - yes, the same thick, white lard-looking stuff you would fry chicken in. It's cheap and a can could last for an awful long time. I finally bought some and it works!

kristinewarning@yahoo.com wrote:I have the issue with moisture and I am starting menopause.  Every doctor I have seen told me "it may sound crazy", but use Crisco oil - yes, the same thick, white lard-looking stuff you would fry chicken in.  It's cheap and a can could last for an awful long time.  I finally bought some and it works!

I have heard to try Crisco before but haven't yet. Have you had no issues with any sort of vaginal infections if you have sex and are using it? I am so afraid of having to use any meds again on the girly parts.

I use a completely natural organic moisturizer called Yes. It is wonderful. It's on amazon but I order it from GB.

meelie wrote:I use a completely natural organic moisturizer called Yes. It is wonderful. It's on amazon but I order it from GB.

Do you use the water or oil based product?

I found the ingredients interesting in the water based. There is flax extract which I don't know if it has any hormonal effect as an ointment on the genitalia, I do know there is a possibility of flax being similar to estrogens.

I use the water based. I have tried the oil based for those rare sex moments but I still like the water best.

I've never read anything about flax having a hormonal effect on anything. I know it is a great anti inflammatory and other things. I give it to my horse for COPD and arthritis. Seems to help so far.

The best lube to use is yes water based lube it's non irritant. And most the girls with the horrible condition use it. It's not cheap but I promise u it won't irritate. You can buy it at Amazon online. I always use it

Can you use the Yes as a moisturizer for inside as opposed to a lube for pre-sex?  I thought I'd read somewhere you could use it either way and it was helpful for dryness.

Also, I recently saw in Hannafords something I thought was interesting -- it was I think, Organic -- Coconut Oil Crisco...  I made a mental check in my head to remember this if I ever needed it.  Currently I melt my coconut oil and apply it externally/internally a bit.  I think it has helped.

I've also made a switch on tp - no perfumes etc...  also washing undies in washer, either with no soap or I've tried a new natural type soap, its called: Molly's Suds...?   link:mollys suds

Has anyone heard of that or think it might be ok?
I also have bought a menopausal vitamin that has black cohosh, Dong quai, wild yams, clover, sage, soy, vitex in it.

I also bought the Key E inserts, which are interesting to say the least -- I think they are good, my big thing is to get the nerve up to approach about having sex at some point soon and see if anything has helped.  Even a little would be good.  I was into my routine of my "therapies" as I call them and then we went camping for 5 days so I wasn't able to do anything then, so now I need to build up my applications and then my courage again...

Sorry to go on here on this thread but I'd love to hear from anyone who has any thoughts on my 'therapies'.     I've gotten most, if not all of these ideas on this board and I so appreciate it.

Yes can definitely be used internally as a moisturiser. It comes in prefilled applicators which can be used for that purpose (or the bigger tubes).

Also, Yes just came out with a vaginal moisturizer that is supposed to be longer lasting than the water based lubricant, but it hasn't been out long enough to have a ton of reviews.

In my opinion, I wouldn't waste the money on the Yes prefilled applicators. I find them difficult to use, and they can leave a lot of product behind in the applicator, which feels like a huge waste to me. I personally just buy disposable applicators and fill them myself. That way I know there is no product waste.

I had used coconut oil in the past and really liked it until it clogged a pore on my inner labia    It was huge and VERY painful (had to have a doctor examine it). However, I had been using it right before bed, and I was wearing a pantyliner so it wouldn't stain my clothes or the bedsheets. So that wasn't a very breathable situation for my skin. I seem to be one of the few women that has to worry about this kind of stuff on my lady bits, but I figured I would throw it out there as something to watch out for.

Below is a good website to check to see how a product rates for things like skin allergies and irritations. They rank things like cosmetics and sunscreens, too, but the below link is for Molly's Suds. Overall it has a good rating, but each individual is different in what can cause irritation. It's interesting to see how horrible a "gentle" laundry detergent can actually rank with all the nasty chemicals they contain. I spent weeks combing through this site, but I ended up deciding to just make my own laundry detergent, which is cheap, easy, and as free of chemicals as I can get while still cleaning clothes  

http://www.ewg.org/guides/cleaners/5835-MollysSudsLaundryPowder?formulation=6803