I had an anal fissure (worst pain of my life) several years before the labia lichen sclerosus began. I have read that there might be a connection. If the doc that did that repair surgery had known, I wonder if I could have prevented all this pain and suffering? Hind sight of course. Like many others I was misdiagnosed for quite a while and therefore the fusion got started really well before I could get correct treatment. No local GYN can handle this and I have to drive about 500 miles to go to a specialist every four months. Expensive and time consuming, but I don't really trust anyone else to help me.
I so relate to this: I too had anal fissures starting years before my LS diagnosed and I too was misdiagnosed. I still see different doctors for the two different things - am seeing a new consultant soon (a proper specialist) and hope that I will be able to have a joined-up conversation. Every best wish.
Hi Bettie
I am convinced that surgery or a skin trauma is the culprit for much of LS. I had a "posterior repair" after a prolapse 3 years ago after which my LS (or maybe LP) started. Then a year later I had a shoulder op and the worst bit was the Lichen which started up under my arm nearby which I couldn't get to because of the bandaging. Then last year I tried treating 2 warts on my arm with proprietary acid from the chemist and immediately next to them I had an itchy rash, easily treated with a little dermovate.
So I think any skin trauma opens up the possibility of Lichen.
It really is a disaster, one way or another, but always containable, so don't give up trying to find someone local. Maybe try yahoo group for LichenSclerosis, where they have a good list of sympathetic practitioners.
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My LS involves both vagina and anus - the common pattern is for a figure 8 encompassing both. It's not unusual but, as there were several years between your symptoms, I don't think your doc could reasonably have made a connection. Indeed, there may not have been one.