Had my appt yesterday!

Ok so I've been prescribed this cream it has Gabapentin 6% Amitryptiline 4% Estradol 0.01% In versbase cream; 0.5ml twice a day. I'm so confused I think I had an information overload yesterday I'm sure my doctor said to use internally but on the label it reads for external use only, is this only said as a precaution for others? Can't wait to use it! Also I had that cotton tip test (or whatever it's called) oh my gosh I'm still sore today from it, is that normal?
Thanks

Hi Louise

As far as I am aware, the warning for external use only is so people dont eat the cream! but double check with your pharmacist

by the way dont eat the cream lol

I would say its quite normal to still feel pain after your vulval has been prodded! Even though it was prodded only a little it can still create a flare up.

Especially if the dr was actually trying to find the exact sore points. I have not had that test done, was wondering if I should do it myself to see what exact areas are worse than others?

I dont want to cause a flare up but hey I get them anyway!

I've had that test done at the GU clinic, mine was basically painful everywhere I have red skin which is almost all over the inner area. Any provocation will cause pain for a day or so afterwards, think wearing jeans and how long that can create a flare up for!

I'm not sure I'd bother Sebby, it will just cause more pain and won't tell you anything other than it hurts. They only really do it to establish how much it hurts if they poke it and if it hurts where the skin looks normal, pretty pointless test really now that I think about it!

Arh no point then..

Vulvas are so senitive. I notice the pain start right away as soon as I put underwear on in the morning and I only wear white lose cotton knickers!

Same here, I can't feel much until I get out of bed and start moving around. Granny knickers at our age. Actually no sex life at our age, that's a tragedy isn't it?!

Nope no bloody sex life...

and in my 30's im supossed to be at my peak! I dont even know what that means!

I had the Q tip test done but I have generalised so my pain is on the outside and unprovoked so all the time (and not to touch).

Were you happy with the appointment Louise? Besides the ouchey bit of course. I'm after some of that cream. Do you think the Dr was knowledgeable? Is it wait and see what happens with the cream or do you have other treatments?

Oh my Gosh my gynaecologist was amazing! I came to her with all the research I had done and she said that it was a classic case of vulvodynia, she also agreed that it isn't really spoken of and that often doctors say that it's "all in your head" which it is not, she also stated that unfortunately some doctors aren't well trained in this area especially if they're from the 'old school'.
The cream is good just getting used to it atm but will let you know how I go (I still feel a bit burny at first then relief)... this gyno said hopefully I will have a successful outcome even tho it's a year on I've come to someone relatively early as she has seen women that have come to her 12yrs on!!! I'm hoping it will go away soon... I've also been reffered to a physio that specialises in pelvic floor as my right pelvic floor muscle is stronger than the other (which I need to relax this contributes to my vaginisums). This lady was amazing, the examination was SO quick and I didn't even know where my pelvic floor muscles were until she pointed them out to me. Another thing she mentioned to me is that after all of this is dealt with I may have to have a small operation at the opening of the vagina as it has torn easily through sex/ tampons which could be causing flare ups sorry if that was too graphic by the way haha.
Also the Q tip test I guess was useful to me in a way as it made me realise one side was more painful than the other but it hurt!! I'm glad that my gyno knows exactly which points are causing me grief...
It was nice talking to her and knowing that there is hope, I just wish I didn't have to think about this anymore haha And what's with the granny knickers ?? Oh my gawwsssh!!! I'm in my late 20's can't have sex properly and have this hideous undies on under my beautiful clothes waaaaa..

I'm so glad for you Louise and that's a smiley face now! I had a hard job not hugging my specialist, she was so nice. After the F$%*&N bitch I had before I thought it was the funny farm for me.

I got a letter from my specialist today she's going on maternity leave .........HOW SELFISH!!! It's just like bloody hairdressers! Find a good one and they either bugger off overseas or have a child. She also said keep going with the physio because it can be just as effective as the drug regime for localised provoked V.... Ummm I have generalised unprovoked that she diagnosed so I'm hoping that's just her baby brain. She said she had heard of Gaba (I know yours is the WACA) cream but hadn't used it. I'm not sure where I would put it as my pain likes to move around. Since I started physio I now get it in my backside and down the back of my thighs as well. I've been madly googling to see how those nerves join up.

Wooohooo Bridget Jones undies all around!

Take care
V.

The pain in your buttocks and down your legs could be from the external hip rotators, they have a strong fascial connection with the pelvic floor and can refer to those areas (the piriformis also sits over the sciatic nerve and glutes and backs of thighs is typical sciatic nerve pattern). I find I have trigger points in the pelvic floor that refer all over the hip region so it could be that. I get burning down the front of my thighs and sometimes the inner thighs as well which I'm sure is related, pesky pelvic floors can refer all over and there's quite a few nerves they can squeeze too.

Im so glad you have found a good and knowledgeble dr louise!

Let us know how you get on with the treatment. What is the cream you are using?