A sort of success story and then not

Hey everyone
Hi
So before I start I should explain that my vagina and I do not get along, like all of us here it's the 'problem' area. I've had Vaginismus and vulvudynia since I was 24 and it seemed I couldn't have sex at all. Anyway low and behold I met a new partner at 31 I might add, so there's been a big gap of not doing anything sexual and we managed to have sex on two separate occasions. I was so happy to actually feel normal for once. I'm sure many of us can relate, it was literally so lovely, I could have cried. I just thought that was it for me....and then we actually managed to do something everyone else takes for granted!
Everything was fine at first because we used organic lubricant and condoms but after 2 weeks I've developed awful thrush that just won't clear. It's making me really depressed. Surely it would have developed sooner if it was realated to me having sex? Anyone have any ideas?

Hi,

Are you completely sure it's thrush? A test at the doctor's office came back positive?

The reason I ask is that a lot of women with vulvovaginal issues think they have an incurable yeast infection when that's not the case, and yeast creams will just make the issue worse.

I hope you find relief soon

Hey, thanks for replying. Well, I had a swab taken on Saturday and the DR said it very much looks like thrush...apart from STIs is there something vulvudynia related it could be then?

Unfortunately just because something looks or feels like thrush, it doesn't mean that it is thrush, but if you're convinced it is, I would highly recommend only using the anti yeast/thrush pill for treatment and not creams/vaginal products. They are horribly irritating, and many of us, including myself, have had lasting pain from the creams.

Vulvodynia is different for everyone. Depending on your symptoms, it could be anything from a product sensitivity (e.g. condoms, soap, lube, laundry detergent, shampoo, etc.) to overactive nerves. Even if some women have similar symptoms, the cause could vary greatly.

What are your specific symptoms (internal burning, vulvar itching, vulvar swelling, etc.)?
Are they worse at any particular time (e.g. penetration, urination, before your period, etc.)?
What have you tried so far to find relief either vaginally, on the vulva, or orally?
What have you actually been tested for (e.g. BV, yeast, STDs, etc.)?

I'm not a doctor, but my best advice is to stop everything, especially if you are still using vaginal treatments. I've found that I've made the most significant progress when I stopped adding irritating products to my vulva and vagina.

Hi
Wow thanks so much for trying to help, it's very kind of you. Yeah, I think I'm going to wait and see what the swab results are, the DR said she was reluctant to put me through anything else until she gets the results of those back. To be honest, I've had this for a long time now (probably always had it) and so it hadn't flared for a long time. There is a bit of soreness inside my vagina but mostly its external it itching and soreness...including just this weekend my inner thighs :-/ ....I don't think it was the penetration that made it flare because it about 2 weeks later that this started and afterwards I was sore (I could tell something had been inside)but then it settled down. I do feel better since taking the second oral pill. Thanks for the advice about the cream - I'll stop using that.

Graceface wrote:Hey, thanks for replying. Well, I had a swab taken on Saturday and the DR said it very much looks like thrush...apart from STIs is there something vulvudynia related it could be then?

I have had a gp carry out a swab and tell me she was so sure I had thrush she wasn't even going to send it off, and yet it came back negative - it seems to be a symptom for some of us, that we get a thrush-like discharge. I would stop treatment until you get your results, or only take an oral thrush treatment.

Silly as it sounds, but could you be allergic to his shower gel or hand soap? Maybe ask him to use bbrands you know you're alright with?

Coop wrote:

Graceface wrote:Hey, thanks for replying. Well, I had a swab taken on Saturday and the DR said it very much looks like thrush...apart from STIs is there something vulvudynia related it could be then?

I have had a gp carry out a swab and tell me she was so sure I had thrush she wasn't even going to send it off, and yet it came back negative - it seems to be a symptom for some of us, that we get a thrush-like discharge. I would stop treatment until you get your results, or only take an oral thrush treatment.

Silly as it sounds, but could you be allergic to his shower gel or hand soap? Maybe ask him to use bbrands you know you're alright with?

Hello

That is very interesting as I've been sure I've had thrush before and have it come back negative, but that was with a self test, so I assumed I'd done it wrong...Hmmm, maybe it is that then? I am also super stressed out with other stuff at the moment and so I'm going to wait and see what the test said but maybe it's all causing a massive flare up

Yeah, I guess I could be, anything is worth a shot isn't it...I'm doing the Candida diet again now...ie: no sugar at all and hardly anything you can eat (not even peas!! - peas?!) so going to see if that helps....

I know how horribly stressful this can all be. Try to be kind to yourself while healing. Sometimes we just need to get out of our own way to find lasting relief. I know that my issue was extremely exacerbated because of the treatments my doctor and I threw at it.

Soaking in a nice warm epsom salt bath can help provide temporary relief, but avoid the scented epsom salts!

Graceface wrote:

That is very interesting as I've been sure I've had thrush before and have it come back negative, but that was with a self test, so I assumed I'd done it wrong...Hmmm, maybe it is that then? I am also super stressed out with other stuff at the moment and so I'm going to wait and see what the test said but maybe it's all causing a massive flare up  

Yeah, I guess I could be, anything is worth a shot isn't it...I'm doing the Candida diet again now...ie: no sugar at all and hardly anything you can eat (not even peas!! - peas?!) so going to see if that helps....

The interesting bit was that about 4 years later, I went to a new gynae, she also said I had thrush and told me to use a treatment, only for the test to come back negative again.... I don't think there is harm in a candida diet or the epsom salt suggestion - there are no chemicals to cause any side-effect!

I would agree on being very cautious using thrush creams! I had various ointments thrown at me which all exacerbated the problem! If in doubt, take the oral thrush pill, and then be gentle with yourself. I'm sure mine was never thrush and my skin reacted so badly to the creams.