This is me

Hi all,

Ok so here is my story. I had been getting chronic yeast infections since I was around 12, being a shy 12 year old I was way too embarrassed to tell even my mum so I would suffer in silence-finally I got my mum to buy me canestene which would offer short term relief then the yeast infection would come back. I did start seeing my doctor and was always diagnosed with thrush.
In uni I finally had some tests done which came back negative for thrush but I was still getting the itch so I assumed they must be wrong and continued using canestene. Iv pretty much used some type of cream on my Foof every day since I was 12
Anyway I got used to it in a way and just decided I would never get to be one of those sexually active, normal girls.
Iv also used panty liners every day since I was 12 which Im sure doesnt help.
Anyway last year when I was 26 I fooled around with a guy Id known for years (things were ok foof wise so I took a chance) we didnt have sex but did fool around (for the record I have never had sex not for lack of offers just because its too painful and Im scared that I would be laughed at for telling guys Im a virgin at 27-this is the only area of my life that I lack confidence in) after that the pain, itching, burning seemed to be worse so I convinced myself I had caught herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhoea, HPV you name it I convinced myself I got it. I went the doctor and was diagnosed with thrush Again and then I cracked. I booked myself into a sexual health clinic and saw a doctor who diagnosed vaginal eczema and gave me some treatments-they didnt work so I went back and was referred me to a specialist in the clinic called Doctor Rudy.

He was a godsend, he sat with me for 1 and 1/2 hours listening to my story he did the cotton bud test and told me I was a classic case of Vulvodynia. It was a relief to have a diagnosis but its still the start of a battle.
Now it seems to come and go I can have a few weeks of no pain and its amazing I feel almost normal but then Ill get my period and I always have a bad week or two after my period. So bad that I was still convinced I had an STD so after a month or so I went back to the original sexual health clinic doctor and burst ino tears in her office and begged to be tested for everything, she examined me and took samples and all came back negative-again she was lovely and assured me I didnt have an STD or Herpes (which is my biggest fear) and it was Vulvodynia.
So here I am, Im having a very bad couple of weeks and needed to talk and saw this forum and was hoping to meet other people in similar circumstances and gain some knowledge, remedies etc. And get some questions answered/answer some questions.


Does anyone else have 'cyclical' pain? Mine is always worse after my period and I seem to have one patch where the pain and burning is worse-Dr Rudy called it localised (I think thats the right term)
He has told me that there are some treatments including anti-depressents, has anyone tried this? or Seeing a nuerologist? He said that because my vaginal nerves are used to being itchy and in pain the nerves are confused as to how they should react.
Also to be careful regarding what I use washing wise-soaps etc and be careful with washing my clothes in certain washing powders...

Right well I think I have said enough-I have a tendency to waffle so just call me out on it.
Thanks for reading.
Pepper7

HI Pepper7
Im new to this site and your story has some similarities to mine in that I have had itchiness as part of my symptoms, have been treating myself for thrush for some time and managed as my symptoms weren't constant. Now they have reached a point where I have pushed the doctors for a diagnoses, have been testing negative for thrush and I also tested negative for herpes (which was also a huge fear for me too) and Im currently waiting for my specialist appointment (August -blah!)so I can be formally diagnosed as my doctor doesnt feel she can properly manage my conditioon any further than suggesting sigmacort twice a day -
My symptoms also appear to be cyclic getting worse before a period and subsiding shortly after but I can now also be set off by sex - whch isnt painful at the time but rather the day after.
Ill be interested to see what anyone has to say in regards to your questions as well.
Good Luck with everything
BNL

Hi BNL,

I honestly think that my V was caused by constant Yeast Infections and it damaged the nerves because I didnt get it treated properly.
Doctos can be so frustrating I ended up going to a free sexual health were I got lucky with the specialist. I went back the other day to get a prescription for amitryraline and to ask for a referral and I got lucky again-the doctor I saw used to work with a gynie who specialied in vulval disorders so shes reffered me to her.
Iv posted about my results avoiding sugar and they have been amazingly good-Im on my 11th day sugar and pain free, I would advise that and seeing how diet changes affects the pain while you are waiting for your appointment (August???that sucks I hate how doctors take forever to arrange appointments) It has worked so, so well for me.
The week after my periods are the absolute worst so this will be my first sugar free period so Ill post how the pain is.

Is your more of an itch or a burn? Mines gotten to the point where its like a raw itch, its too too sore to scratch but the itch drives me crazy! And the pain is in two places
Good Luck!!
Px