I sometimes wonder if the burning I'm experiencing is truly from VA. My first gynecologist and dermatologist feels I am experiencing irritation. The second gynecologist said it could be either VA or vulvodynia. She said if the hydrocortisone works, it is probably vulvodynia. The pelvic pain doctor feels the burning is caused from VA, but I could also have vulvodynia.
I am going to try the compound in about a week and see if that helps or it will burn like the estrace. If it's irritation and not VA, it will not help but make matters worse. If that happens, I don't have a Plan D.
That is so confusing isn’t it what is vulvadema isn’t the same as vale different
please let us know ?what the difference is
H I made a mistake it is supposed to sa VA
How long have you had burning sensations and what other symptoms do you have?
I have vulvodynia, I went to many gynecologists, and they never knew how to help me. I tried Estrace but it made the pain worse, my symptoms got worse and worse the first year when I started feeling pains.
Vaginal or vulva pain lasting more than six months could be considered vulvodynia and it is not curable. I asked the last gynecologist if it was vulvodynia or VA and she said it could be either. The pelvic pain dr. is the one who diagnosed me with VA. None of the other doctors knew this?
Hi, Seline,
My burning began last November when I had IV antibiotics for bacterial pneumonia. I developed a yeast infection and used two doses of Monistat 7 and two doses of Terconazole. One dr. diagnosed me as having a bacterial infection (even though my cultures were negative - go figure) and she prescribed Metrogel. Another gyno prescribed Replens and the pelvic pain dr. prescribed estrace which exacerbated the burning. I have tried numerous presciptons and OTC creams to use externally and each and every one burned. The least burning ointment was OTC hydrocortisone 1%. It calmed the burning somewhat as well as the itching. I just picked up a lidocaine/hydrocortisone rx. I used it yesterday and I didn't feel it helped much. I don't think I was applying much, so today I applied more and I seemed to be better.
What are you using now? I am going to pick up a compounded estrogen cream week after next. I think I was using too many things prescribed by too many doctors.
Vulvodynia is a condition of the nerves - neuropathic pain - where the nerves in the external vulva area become hyperactive and hypertensive - touch is experienced as pain and there’s can be a constant burning sensation. It I should caused by physical or chemical trauma or can Ben post infection. Neuropathic pain is notoriously difficult to get rid of - it took me 2 years to be pain free from the Vulvodynia.
A woman of any age can get Vulvodynia whereas VA affect menopausal women. The problem is that you can have Vulvodynia at the same time as VA and the trauma of the VA and reactions to some of the treatment can cause Vulvodynia. VA can be treated with HRT. If someone’s still has burning after HRT treatment then they probably have vulvodynia. See my post “how I cured my vulvodynia” to read my, and other women’s success stories.
I don’t believe my vulvodynia is neuropathic pain, vulvodynia has no known causes or factors. It’s can happen at anytime if anyone’s life’s, you’re right but I believe my pain is due to unbalanced flora. Dr. Fowler tests the vaginal fluid to see what’s happening to the flora, what’s missing, and what’s to excessive. For instance I had an overwhelming number of bad bacteria, rare good bacteria, lack of estrogen, and my squamous cells weren’t fully maturing. I don’t believe that it’s neuropathic pain for every person it varies.
Seline,
I agree. Vulvodynia may be neuropathic, but it can also be caused by chemical irritation as mine was. The term is used for any vaginal pain lasting more than six months for whatever reason or even be idiopathic.
My vulvodynia was caused by repeated and persistent thrush and chemical irritation from the home treatments I stupidly tried. You can test for it by touching lightly with a cotton bud and if you feel that as pain them the nerves are overactive and hypersensitive, registering touch as pain.
I cured my vulvodynia. See my post “how I cured my vulvodynia”. Other women have posted their success stories on the and some have tried my treatments and had success with those.
How would I find your post? I'm new to the forum.
Click on my name and it will take you to my info page. That post is listed in my discussions.
Thanks for the info. I have a hunch that the amitriptyline is helping you the most. I can't take it because I'm on amiodarone which is a QT drug and I can't take two QT drugs concomitantly or there is the possibility I can go into a dangerous heart rhythm.
I tried lidocaine/hydrocortisone 0,055. The first time I burned, but I attributed it to not applying enough. Yesterday, I applied plenty and it was one of my best days. I applied as much today and I'm burning again! What helps one day doesn't work the next. We are leaving tomorrow, so I am experiencing how much I should apply if any at all before going on my road trip. I was thinking of using nothing and carry the lidocaine in my purse if I get really bad. I am picking up the compounded estrogen next week and I don't have high hopes, for nothing so far is working. Thanks for sharing your story.
The amitriptyline helped me sleep and dulled the pain a little but it wasn’t until I started the acupuncture session s that I had noticeable improvements each time I had a session - 10 sessions and I was pain free. Other women have been cured with acupuncture and didn’t take amitriptyline. Lidocaine stung me and made the burning worce. Hydrocortisone thins the skin and I didn’t want that.
Yep, I think it is the lidocaine that is burning in the tube of lidocaine/hydrocortisone I am using. It has a lot of inactive ingredients, two of which are alcohol. My OTC hydrocortisone only has inactive ingredients of mineral oil and petrolatum. When you had acupuncture, where did they place the needles? Did they use electricity? I have heart rhythm problems and I'm leery of using electricity anywhere on my body. The gynecologist said in the low dose of hydrocortisone I'm using (1%) it would not thin the skin. I'm leaving now and won't be back until Wednesday. Thanks.
Dearest Lorrie
i hope you can have a good road trip I wish you the best! My heart goes out to you with all that you are going through and all the medications.....I so think that is your problem and just wish you could give that area a rest...I wish a doctor can diagnose you properly!! Lorrie what is your age? Are you Post menopause?
Blessings,
Wendy
I couldn’t tolerate any medical creams or products on the sensitive skin. Everything stung me and made me worce. My dr said that I was probably reacting to other ingredients such as preservatives or ph adjusters. For example, they use sodium hydroxide to adjust the ph - that is caustic soda otherwise known as lye. It is highly caustic and used to unblock drains. Why put that in products intended for human skin!!! The only thing I could tolerate which was very soothing and made the pain bearable was saginil gel which is specifically made for reducing the overactivity of the nerves in vulvodynia by acting on the mast cells. It is made in Italy and you have to get it posted from there, straight from the manufacturer epitec, paying by PayPal. Other than that the only things I could tolerate were natural oils.