Hi, I thought this might make an interesting discussion point:
when I had vulvodynia in 2013, I researched everything that could be contributing to it. One thing was the chemicals in toilet paper. In order to produce the pulp from the wood to make the paper harsh chemicals are used, typically caustic soda and sodium sulfide. This "chemical pulp" is then bleached, then colour or scent may be added. Could these residual chemicals in toilet paper be contributing to the irritation experienced with VA? Would you put caustic soda (drain cleaner) or bleach on your vulva, even if you didn't have VA?
Since I had vulvodynia I have used toilet paper that is made without nasty chemicals and without bleach to wipe after I've had a wee.
Interesting point there suki
Hi suki
I also suffer with vulvodynia. can i ask how you are managing the pain? Do you know if their is somethin in particular in toilet paper that we should check before we buy?
thanks...
I have heard it should be white and unscented. Another thing i thought of the other day..i am always analyzeing everything,is how often when applying cream etc do i not rinse my hand well after useing a scented hand soap etc. I try and make sure i rinse well and any towel i use to dry my hands i make sure i havnt gotton toothpaste on it etc. I also rinse my towels and underwear twice and only use an unscented laundry detergent.
Yes, I use an unscented kind-to-skin laundry detergent and conditioner (for hypoallergenic people). I also wash my hands with a wash intended for the female "intimate area" and rinse very well. I also get my hubby to wash his hands with that before he touches me there. I wash with organic unscented no nasty chemicals body wash, shampoo and hair conditioner (stuff runs down in the shower). I have my own hand towel separate from the rest of the family. I dry my intimate bits by dabbing with the chemical and bleach free toilet paper. I wash down there (outside the outer labia) with Saginil wash (the partner to the gel specifically designed for vulvodynia) and I wash the vulva itself by wiping with coconut oil using an organic chemical free no bleach cotton wool pad. In the UK tap water has added chemicals including chlorine (a bleach) which increases the PH (makes it more alkaline) - the PH of the skin is around 5.5 (acidic) and the vagina is even lower, raising the PH of the vagina makes it more susceptible to infection (thrush, bacterial vaginosis). I read that after washing the skin with water it takes the skin 2 hours to get back to its natural PH. When I am out and about and cannot wash my hands with the wash I use, I apply coconut oil after going to the loo with those cotton pads. This all may seem rather obsessive compulsive, but my vulvodynia was cured after 1.5 years and I DO NOT want to have such a painful and debilitating condition again, especially now I have vagainal dryness.
After researching all this I have come to realise that the products that we use on ourselves on a daily basis are full of unnecessary chemicals which can irritate our skin e.g. glycerine, sodium hydroxide (caustic soda), sodium lauryl / laurith sulphate, citric acid, parabens. Luckily there seems to be a backlash starting against this and there are lots of natural organic nasties-free products available.
Oh, yes, those chemicals I listed above - there have been studies
where they have put these neat on skin under a dressing and left it there for a few days. The skin was red raw and irritated when the dressing was removed. They even did this on a children's science programme here in the UK with SLS - if you had seen the man's arm after a few days you would never use products with SLS in again (it is in most washing products). I realise these chemicals are used in a very diluted form in products, but the concern is about repeated use (after all, we wash every day).
Ive noticed how urine can really affect the vulva,especially if its very concentrated. I have to make myself start drinking more water as that helps. I apply an ointment or vit e before putting on underwear because of being dry and the underwear being uncomfortable because of it. Sometimes I think its counter productive though as i feel it causes the underwear to stick to the skin. Any ideas about that? Im trying to protect the skin from friction ,urine and dryness,but I still get irritation.
Wear no underwear! I am lucky because I work mainly from home, so I wear baggy jogging bottoms in the cold weather, a skirt in the hot weather, with no knickers underneath. Best way for vulvodynia and VA. When I do go out and about I apply pure silicone lube to the sensitive area - this is very slippery and long lasting (I use the Astroglide Diamond silicone gel). It prevents friction - after I apply the coconut or Yes oil with the cotton pad, I put some silicone lube on the bit of skin posterior to the vaginal opening (again using the cotton pad), which is where I get sore and that is the area that is fragile for me (it used to split during intercourse until recently when I started massaging that bit with oils).
I have said before that I am sensitive to products on that area - water based lubes sting, but pure silicone lube is fine. So during intercourse we use a lot of Yes oil with silicone on top for its slipperiness.
Oh yes, and when out and about, I usually wear a panti pad in my knickers to stop any oil stains coming through - again, organic unbleached cotton. However, recently I stopped wearing pads and just wear loose fitting trousers and loose knickers. If I am wearing a thin skirt or dress in the summer, I have to use pads because the oil is very evident on the back of the skirt where I have been sitting! Silicone lube also helps with stopping the pad from irritating.
Suki I'm full of admiration at the research you've done and what you've achieved from it. My thoughts with the pad and the generous amount of coconut oil I use is that some is invariably soaking in to the pad so it might well be 're applying itself' during the day. But as I said once before, I did notice that one type of pad irritated but the one I use now (which also comes in a longer length so prevents any oil going through to clothing for me) is fine. I think you may well be right, what you said about toilet paper etc. as well. I use a fresh flannel to dry myself there every time, after the shower and that works for me, but I dab, rather than rub.
Yes, gentle dabbing is a must. Panti pads also contain bleached cotton or other chemicals that are absorbent. The adhesive can also be an irritant. Which is why I sought out organic unbleached ones.
I am a university researcher by profession, so I also apply that to my life too!
Ah - that's interesting:-))))
Lee - the irritation that you experience from panti pads, is it due to friction or due to the chemicals in the pads? If it is the chemicals, you need to find natural organic unbleached cotton pads. If it is the friction, try silicone lube. If possible try to go commando.
Chemical free toilet paper is hard to find. I used to by Papura on the Internet, but it is not sold any more. They do, however do tissues which I use - just put a tissue on top of the ball of toilet paper so that it is the tissue that touches me.
Catts, how long have you had vulvodynia? What are you doing to get rid of it?
I had vulvodynia for 1.5 year, starting in summer 2015. I cured it with a combination of amitriptylene, acupuncture (western), manual sensitisation and pelvic floor exercises. Plus all the suppliments I take and organic scent free nasty chemicals free stuff for my body. Also apply coconut oil to my vulva after I go to the toilet. There is also a wonderful gel called Saginil gel that you can get form the Italian manufacturers website (Epitech) which has a great pain soothing effect - it was developed from natural plant extracts especially to tackle vulvodynia. That gel make may daily life bearable then I believe the amitrip together with acupuncture and manual desensitisation cured me. I have written about all these things elsewhere on this forum - I don't know if it is possible to find them.
You do not have to accept just managing the pain - it is curable. You just need to find what works for you.
Catts, if you click on my name, you can look at all the discussions I have contributed to.
Hi again Catts,
i found thus thus previous post of mine:
I was diagnosed with vulvodynia in summer 2013. I was given amitriptyline. I gradually worked my way up (5mg increases every 2 weeks, otherwise I got side effects - have to cut the tablets in half) to 50mg. It did help - it made day to day living more bearable, but sex was still out of the question. What finally got me better was acupuncture - western acupuncture given by a qualified doctor - it compliments the amitriptyline in damping down the over active, hyper sensitive nerves. Manual densensitisation also helped to retrain the nerves to register touch as touch and not pain - stroke yourself on the area that is painful, with lots of oil based lube ( coconut oil is great), very gently and only once to start with. Very gradually increase the number of strokes and pressure. You have to do it once every day and only enough so that you do not significantly increase your pain. I did it until I was up to 200 fairly firm strokes, then I started to put my finger inside - from this point on you can start training with vaginal dilators e.g. Amelle, or you can just increase number of fingers. Pelvic floor exercises can also help - I did these too. There is a good book which takes you through the pelvic floor exercises and manual desensitisation steps called "Seven steps to pain free sex". I did all the above and, after 1.5 years was having wonderful pain free sex again, then got dry due to menopause!
you may also want to try the saginil gel - that really helped me, but did not get rid of the pain completely. My GP recommended it (but could not provide it) as some of her patients had got complete pain relief from it.
Also, as discussed on this page, take care what you put on there.
Hi suki
thanks so much for all the information you have given me i really appreciate it.i have been suffering for 12months.im currently taking 75mg of lyrica 3 times a day and 25mg of amitriptyline a day.i also started using coconut oil lately.i also have started doin pelvic floor exercises every day.some days are good and others are bad.its hard to find help ive seen so many doctors and specialists who really dont know how to help like a lot of people i suppose.im currently waiting for an appointment to see a pain specialist.i am also in the menopause i think thats what triggered all this with me unfortunately but im trying to stay positive.thanks again for all the information im hopeful ill find what will help me 
I got up to 50mg amitrip. The person who really helped me and recommended the things that worked was a consultant dermatologist who runs a vulval pain clinic. She said I needed to be on 50-70mg amitrip - can you up your dose? I could only do it by upping it by 5mg every 2 weeks (cut the 10mg in half). I really really recommend western acupuncture - this is acupuncture performed by a qualified doctor. I just got better and better after each session.