New member

New member · misstrish Thu Jan 19, 2012 4:39 pm

Hi! I'm 21 and I've had vaginal itching consistently for the last 2 years. At first all the doctors I went to said it was a yeast infection, but since none of the treatments for yeast has worked my newest doctor thinks it's vulvodynia or something related to that. I've been suffering alone so it's nice to know there are other women out there who are experiencing the same thing. Here's hoping that we can all find a cure!

Re: New member · JemimaSurrender Thu Jan 19, 2012 4:42 pm

Heyy.

It's nice to see someone else who has the itching! I get it on and off, along with the consistent pain, but it's not really recognised as one of the symptoms.

Check out some of the posts on here and see what you think. If you're like anyone else, just reading other people's experiences offers you some relief!

Re: New member · Sarah001 Thu Jan 19, 2012 5:15 pm

Itching isn't usually a symptom of V, it can be but a skin condition should be ruled out first by a vulvar dermatologist so if you haven't seen one already ask for a referral before you accept the V diagnosis.

Re: New member · misstrish Thu Jan 19, 2012 5:35 pm

Yeah I thought it was weird too, since every website ever says that pain is the number one sign of vulvodynia, and I've never had anything like that. But my doctor has looked a number of times and says it doesn't look like a yeast infection, and different people's sense receptors or whatever interpret signals from the brain differently, so it's possible that what would be pain for someone else is itching for me. I've been wanting to get in to see a dermatologist for a long time, but I don't really know where to find a vulvar one... it's also difficult because I'm at college right now and not very close to home, so it's difficult to see a doctor over a long period of time, and dermatologists are always booked months in advance. I'll definitely try to look into it though. My skin gets really dry in the winter, particularly on my hands (to the point where they crack and bleed pretty badly), so maybe it's possible that I have some kind of skin condition that's perpetuating it.
Although, I did have a biopsy done at one point and they didn't find anything wrong, except the skin was slightly thickened. I'm not sure if that means anything though.

Re: New member · Sarah001 Thu Jan 19, 2012 8:50 pm

The way I got to see a vulval dermatologist was a referral through the GUM clinic at the same hospital, usually the ones who specialise in vulvar skin conditions travel around the various hospitals in their area and see women on a monthly basis. You could ring your nearest hospital and ask if they have one or if not where the next hospital that does is and go from there. Anyone with itching should get checked out by a dermatologist, I have a friend who gets eczema on her vulva and it causes lots of itching and thickened skin and she gets creams to use on each break out so it's no longer a constant thing and is mostly under control. It took me about 3 months to get the first appointment but after that she arranged to see me on a regular basis, mine wasn't a skin condition but most of the V dermos also deal with pain conditions in the vulvar so she was in charge of my medication. It's definitely something you should look into, if it was yeast it would show on a swab so that could easily be ruled out by who you see now or a GUM clinic. Let us know how you get on.

Re: New member · JemimaSurrender Thu Jan 19, 2012 10:10 pm

Sarah001 wrote:The way I got to see a vulval dermatologist was a referral through the GUM clinic at the same hospital, usually the ones who specialise in vulvar skin conditions travel around the various hospitals in their area and see women on a monthly basis. You could ring your nearest hospital and ask if they have one or if not where the next hospital that does is and go from there. Anyone with itching should get checked out by a dermatologist, I have a friend who gets eczema on her vulva and it causes lots of itching and thickened skin and she gets creams to use on each break out so it's no longer a constant thing and is mostly under control. It took me about 3 months to get the first appointment but after that she arranged to see me on a regular basis, mine wasn't a skin condition but most of the V dermos also deal with pain conditions in the vulvar so she was in charge of my medication. It's definitely something you should look into, if it was yeast it would show on a swab so that could easily be ruled out by who you see now or a GUM clinic. Let us know how you get on.

How weird! I've just made a post about this under "Red Spots"!

Words of advice · AroraNightfire Fri Jan 20, 2012 5:50 am

My Vulvodynia started at the age of 18, 9yrs ago in the form of a chronic itch all over the inside part of my vulva and vaginal opening. I was given yeast creams to use externally in the begining and it soothed it but didnt cure it long term. 3yrs ago I was given a skin thinning steroid cream that I used for this mysterious debilitating itch for 2yrs. It soothed it when I applied it but after about 1yr 1/2 of using it it started to feel slightly more raw when I used it. I ignored it and continued using it. I had to stop it about 1yr and some months ago because it felt like someone had took a blow drier to my groin. I started to not be able to wear pants and sitting down was impossible. NEVER EVER use a skin thinning steriod cream for itch longer than a few months even if the itch persists!!!!! Please dont!! Im trying to write a book about everything Ive gone through. I would talk about it all hear but Im not so sure.

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