New Here ~~~~

Hi all,   
I'm new here!
I'm a junior in college and was recently diagnosed with VVS. I had been taking birth control for the past year and 2 months before getting diagnosed, since it was the only thing that worked for my skin. Of course, I'm one of those people who hates hates hates blood, so I would always skip the sugar pills and start a new pack.
I got a yeast infection once, and didn't think much that the applicator hurt to use. The YI went away, but I went to gynecologist anyways. When she swabbed me, I nearly fell off the table! She was surprised and asked if I had any problems with tampons (I hadn't in the past).
Long story short, YI came back because of antibiotic she prescribed me. It was awful and the gynecologist couldn't even examine me because just touching the vestibule with a q-tip set me off the table.
By now, I'm on my third doctor. I just finished my period (had stopped taking BC pills) and the itching came back. I was getting really tired of taking Diflucan, so I looked for some home remedies. I tried Gentian Violet, which only ended up burning my vagina. Really fun! (I think that's why I'm having issues now).

I finally found a specialist in my city, nonetheless. I went to visit him, and he diagnosed me with VVS and secondary vaginismus. He said it was due to my BC pills. So basically, I can never take those bad boys again. I've been using estrace cream which helped a TON, but ever since I started on spirolonactone 2 days ago, it's been acting up again. I just feel burning on the left side, but it's not ALL the time? And it's not super painful, just annoying! Any advice?
Thanks! Nice to meet all of y'all

I just got a note that you posted on one of my old posts. I have not been on this forum for a while. I don't have time to write my whole story out, but you might be able to find it if you search for my old posts. In a nutshell I have vulvodynia which started out as irritation when I used tampons and through multiple creams and treatments later ended up as severe burning and vestibulitis. I found a dr in AZ and spent lots of money to travel and see him. He has been an absolute life saver. He retired from the Mayo clinic and opened up a clinic just to treat chronic vulvar/vaginal issues. I am on month 4 of treatment and would say I feel 75-80% better. Google him - Dr Fowler in AZ. His website seems a little quirky (more like a business than a dr's office), but he knows his stuff! He has me on a regime of anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and estrogen creams. Send me a message if you want to know more. And keep your head up. This is a nasty disease and it is easy to get depressed and feel alone and isolated. Ive joined another chat board that has been very helpful and has pulled me through this mess. Having a support network is priceless!

Welcome to the forum!

Do you have any other symptoms besides the vulvodynia? How old are you?

What makes the doctor say that BC pills caused the problem? Has the doctor done a 4 week blood test? Doind a blood test once a week to see what your hormones are actually doing? Hormone imbalance can cause a lot of issues, especially if you have come off the pill. I am just about to go through this test nyself after seeing over 10 useless doctors who would not check my hormones.

If it is on your left side only it may be nerves, or it could be to do with an internal issue. There are so so many different things that could be causing it.

907hopeful -
I'll definitely send you a message! I go to Dr. Brooks at AZ Vulva Clinic.

sailor_moon -
Thanks!
Nope, this is it. I'm 19. I had never had any issues before I took BC, and after stopping it for a month and applying Estrace cream to the opening, the q-tip test no longer hurt, just felt a little sensitive when I was swabbed, but no way like when I almost fell off the table the first time!
I went in yesterday, (his nurse had seen me about 3 weeks ago and noted that the skin was looking much better) and he noted there was a lot of redness and tenderness now. I think it may be due to my taking of spironolactone (anti-androgen). It was only after I started taking it that I started feeling uncomfortable again down there (after a month of feeling GREAT!!! I was able to use the 5th dilator in the pure romance set with very little pain, just some discomfort from the stretching) and I was doing some research today, it seems that the vestibule needs a balance of testosterone/estrogen, and my theory is that my testosterone level was already low, so the anti-androgen therapy (again, for my face   ) could've reduced it so much that it was near 0! I'm debating getting a hormonal blood test done when I go in to get a shot at my GP on thursday. Although, am going to go see specialist tomorrow, just going to request the estrogen/testosterone compounded cream. He seemed perplexed and couldn't figure out how it could be the spironolactone, but apparently it's a new procedure to do a compounded cream of both testosterone and estrogen.
Oh, before I forget -- he examined me and said the sore spot on the left is my muscles spasming, so was prescribed a valium suppository. Helped a TON.

907hopeful wrote:I am on month 4 of treatment and would say I feel 75-80% better. Google him - Dr Fowler in AZ. His website seems a little quirky (more like a business than a dr's office), but he knows his stuff! He has me on a regime of anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and estrogen creams. Send me a message if you want to know more.

907hopeful - How have things been going since seeing Dr. Fowler? I just started week three of his treatment.