A few questions...some advice please?

Hey Georgia,

I will definitely try it if the specialist I go to in a few weeks recommends it. My main problem is itching, no straight-forward pain...would Lyrica work for itching?

So far the doctors don't think I have Vulvodynia because I have so many other symptoms going along with my vulva problem...they don't know if it is all related or whether it is 2 separate issues, but given that it all started at the same time I believe they are related. I'm even going to be having an Endoscopy and Colonoscapy to rule out Chrones disease ect.

How did you go about not having horrible side-effects the second time round? Lower dose?

I have had this problem for a year now and am not getting anywhere.....I have not stopped seeing doctors since it all started. I am acting as fast as I can....waiting to see specialists is ridiculously long.

I have gotten so much info from this site, I am so glad I joined.

I'm not 100% sure about the itching. Some research says nerve pain isn't typically itchy and others put it down as a text book symptom. I get really itchy pubic hair (my only symptom now) and mine is definitely nerve related. You might not want to answer, but where exactly does it itch? (Sorry, could be TMI here...). If it's on your pubic hair, it's likely to be nerve related, if it's anywhere more mucous-y I guess it could be yeast? But you've probably gone down that route and been tested for yeast right? (Sorry I can't see the original messages so can't remember what you said!)

In any case, I'm not a Dr and Zarli's advice is spot on, there's nothing more valuable than a referral to a good gynae in this situation.

In terms of my dose of lyrica, I'm on a higher dose now than I was then - just because I want to hit it harder this time. I didn't get any relief from ami and thought I might need it stronger than last time. As i said, my only side effect really was weight gain last time so I'm just more careful about what I eat (I was pretty mental about anything I put in my mouth the first few months!) and upped the exercise and it's been fine. I was even able to lose a bit of weight. Although, I get a really bloated tummy for some reason. I think it's gas or something. But it's not a huge deal.

Everyone is different and reacts differently to meds, but just be totally wary of the potential side effects so you know what your looking for.

Lol there is no such thing as TMI on this forum! The itching and inflammation is all down either side of where my Labia majora meets my actual vulva if that makes sense, and goes all the way down to my vesibule/perenium area. It is not where any hair grows.
There are a couple of tiny tiny area of the vulva itself that are itchy too.

Yeah I have been tested for yeast about 20 times, I even had 2 biopsies which showed only non specific chronic inflammation. And I took fluconazole for 6 weeks.

However the more I read about yeast the mire suspicious I am about the situation!

The Gynae I am seeing in a few weeks has practiced in South Africa and Canada before he moved to Australia, so I am hoping he will have a bit more knowledge than your average Aussie Gynae. I can only hope.

Lol there is no such thing as TMI on this forum! The itching and inflammation is all down either side of where my Labia majora meets my actual vulva if that makes sense, and goes all the way down to my vesibule/perenium area. It is not where any hair grows.
There are a couple of tiny tiny area of the vulva itself that are itchy too.

Yeah I have been tested for yeast about 20 times, I even had 2 biopsies which showed only non specific chronic inflammation. And I took fluconazole for 6 weeks.

However the more I read about yeast the mire suspicious I am about the situation!

The Gynae I am seeing in a few weeks has practiced in South Africa and Canada before he moved to Australia, so I am hoping he will have a bit more knowledge than your average Aussie Gynae. I can only hope.

I used to get a stingy, eally painful raw feeling all around there and it was often super red and angry looking and I was sceptical of how a nerve med could help that sort of pain, but low and behold it did. So I guess was in the end nerve related!

Your gynae will fingers crossed have some answers... Definitely recommend lyrica over amitriptyline as it works much much quicker (if they don't give you both). Your lucky in Aus you don't have to beg for the meds you want like we do here in the UK! (I'm Australian but have lived here 6 years!)

Good luck and let us know how it goes!