I have had excellent vaginal health up until a month ago. What started as a suspected Yeast infection has ended in a diagnosis of LS & Vaginal Atrophy. I am a 3 yrs post complete (minus cervix ) Hysterectomy due to complications from Colon surgery, 40 yro, happily married, healthy sex life, Woman. I have been very "willy-nilly" about taking my estrogen and assume thats at most to blame for the atrophy but the diagnosis of LS has left me utterly floored. It seems to be very early and mild but the horror stories and photos over the internet are so disheartening; I feel absolutely doomed, forever. I feel as if my Womanhood is gone and that my Husband will lose interest in a Woman who is unable to be intimate even though he promises that isnt the case. I am consumed with thoughts of it, day and night . So many questions.... So many fears.... One of the symptoms I've been having this past month is an overwhelming amount of pressure in my Lady Parts. Can anyone tell me if this is normal of LS? Or possibly the Atrophy? I started steroid cream and estrogen cream ( and changed over to a patch so i won't forget ) and am Praying something gives at some point. Can anyone please tell me the normal symptoms of LS (and atrophy if anyone is familiar)? I appreciate any feedback and any responses at all. I feel so alone and so utterly useless It feels as though my GYN handed me a Life sentence, without Parole. Thank you all, in advance
For most people, it gets better with treatment. It took me about a year of trial and error before I started to feel largely normal but for some it just takes a few weeks. In addition to this group, there is a Facebook support group, Lichen Sclerosus, A 5 Star Support Group, that i found especially helpful in figuring out what to do to help myself in addition to the steroid ointment my doctor prescribed.
The pressure you feel down there happened to me, too. It was one of my first symptoms.
just wanted to tell you that you are far from alone, im 17 and have had LS for my whole life and there are hard times but you can live with it, my advice would be to try everything suggested to you in order to find what helps you best. am really sorry you are feeling so depressed after the diagnosis
I feel for you so much. I go through the same thoughts almost daily. I’m 32, single and feel like I’ll never be in a relationship again, womanhood completely stripped away. I’m trying to be more positive as i don’t have a 100% diagnosis yet, but that seems really difficult to nail down as well.
What did they see or do to give you that diagnosis?
We are here for you!!!
As it happens, I just watched a video of a professional presentation by Prof Gayle Fischer, at the Annual Women’s Health Update, 2016 (Australia). If you google “Optimising Management of Lichen Sclerosus and Chronic Thrush” and “HealthEd” you should come up with it. Be sure to spell Optimising the British way. The video is presentation of a professional research project that was done (it’s also out on the web and interesting). Basically, it talks about how if you follow the protocol you should have great results. Go take a look …and a deep breath.
I did not expect such quick replies. I am typing between tears . Thank you all so much. I thought I was crazy about the pressure. As for my exam I got real answers from my GYN aftee having seen my GP and my GYN’s PCA first. He finally, upon GOOD inspection saw “two small white spots” which, honestly, I had noticed but since the other’s kept saying Yeast… I figured it was Yeast or just discharge. He said, " i tried to wipe it away, thinking it was discharge or cream" it won’t go away" . That was about it. I had hernia repair surgery 8 wks ago and he found some concern in a “hot spot” near my incision and rushed me out for a CT scan so we talked very little of the LS. By the time I got home.. and looked it up…OH goodness, I was hysterical. Literally. I have had many, many health issues , from a perforated intestine down to Thyroid disease but this, talk about being thrown a curve ball. I dont even know how to act. I love to sing, I can’t even stand music now. I feel all my happiness is gone. S punds so silly to say out loud. I have three healthy kids and 2 small Grandbabies that I adore but suddenly my ENTIRE life for a minth revolves around vaginal pain and trauma. It’s absolutely maddening . I cannot fathom being only 17. And, btw, seeming to have much more a grip than me at 40. Thank you all again . I am so glad I reached out.
Thank you for replying and I absolutely cannot fathom having been diagnosed from such a young age. You are a very strong Individual.
I am going to ask my GYN for a biopsy. Though the thought of a sample skin being taken from down there does not sound fun, I’d rather know, 100% than to treat something that could be misdiagnosed. I am also planning to ask for a referral to a Vulvular (sp) dermatologist . Are you have a biopsy?
Thank you. My niece actually suggested that Facebook support Group but I don’t want to join using my my name. I don’t know why I feel such a need to be hush hush about this diagnosis but I only feel comfortable sharing it with a very select few.
My pressure feels so intense it seems like it couldn’t possibly be related. You are the first besides myself on any forum, or any informational outlet I have seen mention pressure Thank you so much for confirming.
I watched the entire first half on LS. I paused and came back here when she got to the Thrush. I was quite impressed by her study. She actually put to rest a couple of my worries. I truly appreciate you telling me about it. Thank you
The FB group is private…while you use your name, so does everyone else…it doesn’t show on your public feed. I’m in it too.
I understand exactly what you are going through! Let me reassure you that your thoughts are normal! Completely normal! I wish I could reach through this phone and give you a hug because when I was diagnosed with this I needed several hugs and quite a bit of support through friends and family. DON’T blame yourself like I did in the beginning. My doctor constantly reassured me I did nothing wrong that it was hereditary The majority of the time this starts when you are going through menopause. Sometimes it starts earlier and sometimes it starts later. Stay in contact with all of us. Jackie
I had a biopsy on Monday. I have had lichen’s for over a year. I was first diagnosed with ano-genital acanthosis niricgans. This has turned all outer genital areas black, and now on top of that the white patches and irritation from the Lichen’s. The worst thing about the biopsy was the shot for numbing. The punch biopsy did not cause any pain. I get overwhelmed having both of these diagnoses. I told my doctor I feel as if she should be wearing a Haz-Mat suit.
The biggest thing to be aware of is that it’s kind of like playing whack-a-mole with a blindfold…there are all kinds of complicating things…I thought I was having a flare, but it turned out to be a UTI, I thought I was having recurring flares and it was an external yeast reaction to the steroid (doc gave me a cream and all is well). I tried borax, but get itchy from it…so now I’m on boron supplements. Turns out vaseline can promote the yeast, while coconut oil is a natural anti-yeast. Olive Oil makes me itch…and on it goes…You just have to see what works. But YOU WILL be fine…
Meant to say, having* sorry. Typos are many for me, right now.
Yes, even though the “negative” might not be accurate, if its positive, hopefully it does bring some peace of mind within the devastation - I just have gone through so much the last 2 years I need to know what it is. I’m going to have the biopsy done on Aug 8 
Thank you. I am seeing that. Because, with the atrophy my GYN has me using estrogen cream every night until my next appt. So, this Estrace (sp) cream comes out during the day and it burns like fire. Now, yesterday, I thought I felt “some” better. Today? Nope! Back to square 1. I can see this is going to be a game of cat and mouse.
I am sorry things have been so frustrating for you, as well. I bought some Coconut Oil today. Another forum suggested V A&D ointment,so I bought that. BIG nono . Burned like raging, hot lava. Definite Whack-a-mole.
My obvious “go-to” is to say I hope it is negative. However, in the very least, I pray you get answers. I feel like there is someone, somewhere, cursing me. I have been a month in and I’m so over this, I cannot fathom 2 yrs, unanswered. Have you been receiving treatment for LS even without a definitive diagnosis? Or just waiting it out? At first I did not realize how to reply so I am not sure if you saw my deeper explanation in conjunction to your earlier question of how I got diagnosed, below all the comments.
I am so, very sorry. I never once considered any sort of disease or condition of the genitals before this, besides an STD or Cancer. Now, here… seeing and knowing all these things exist, it is almost too much to bare. It is traumatizing. I wish I had something encouraging to say in reply, but, I think the only thing I know TO say is, hi, I’m here too…
I mean to say , never was aware they existed. Considered was a bad choice of phrasing.