First pregnancy - Thrush/Lichen Sclerosis/can changes in discharge cause flare ups?

Women's health
1

Hi,

I got diagnosed with LS about a year and a half ago, after being misdiagnosed with thrush for years and years. 

Ironically I don't think I've had actual thrush till now (a course of antibiotics with pregnancy, inevitable), so I assumed I was having a massive LS flare up. Started applying dermovate again and it got so much worse, which I subsequently found out was because steroid cream reacts with candida and makes thrush increase and worsen if you have it. 

Had two courses of pessaries and applied external thrush cream. Seemed to work but now vulva is swollen and itching is back. I was convinced it was thrush again because felt/looked like it. But went to sexual health clinic and diagnoses was not thrush! I still think it is though - can thrush swab be mis-diagnosed? Or not have enough on it? 

Either way this upset me because if it's not thrush I just feel like I'm being super allergic to my own discharge, which doctor said can change during pregnancy. Has anyone else experienced change in discharge setting off LS? I know I always used to be more itchy before period.

Now I don't know whether to try dermovate again, or leave to see if develops into full blown thrush, or see if BV gel will reset ph on vagina.

Has anyone else been through similar? I'm pretty annoyed that after being misdiagnosed with thrush for years, now I actually think I have thrush I'm being told its LS, which I know the symptoms of now! (Also saw specialist a few days previously who said there were no current active parts!) 

2

Hello,

I have had similar experiences in the past (not been pregnant though) but of issues with thrush and also false test when the skin definitely seems irritated by discharge and feels like thrush.  Once I was told the wrong results by accident!  the nurse checked the record again and she had misread it.  Others times I was told that possibly the timing of the test can just be a bit off for detecting it but the irritation persists beyond this.  Whether I actually have LS is still a bit confusing but what I found most helpful was a cream which has low levels of steroid and anti-fungal so this counteracted the negative effects of the steroid cream interacting with the thrush, can't remember what its name was but I was prescribed this and seemed helpful. 

3

Hi there, I don't know if this will help but when someone is having a LS flare up the discharge is totally white and looks exactly like the consistency and appearance of milk.  Whereas when someone has thrush the discharge is often thick and transparent looking and often has a strong odour.

4

Hi Katie,

   I hear you sister!! I feel like I am in a vicious cycle!! If I use the steriod cream it triggers a yeast infection, if I treat the yeast infection it triggers a flare!! GRRR!!! 

I am at my witts end with this, I have ordered oil of oregano through Amazon and have stopped consuming ALL sugar and bread. I will let you know when I get my oregano pills in if they help break the cycle.

Hugs,

Ann