I apologize that this will be long. I am 45 years old. It started last Aug with a yeast infection or least I thought it was and nurse practitioner said it was. Treated with diflucan. Went away but in September I got another right away. We decided it was all the lemonade I was drinking. More diflucan although I had to take 3 or 4 doses to get completely rid of it. Beginning of November came and another yeast infection. I said I ate the left over Halloween candy. Took even more diflucan than the last time to get rid of it. Mid December I started eating oranges every day and I got another yeast infection or at least I thought so and I started on diflucan but I could not get rid of that one. Tried over the counter creams with the diflucan and herbs and vinegar douches, everything I read about on here and nothing worked. I got tested for diabetes and that came back negative. I switched from seeing a nurse practitioner to a dr at my gyno office. By Jan 2nd I had the worst day of itching on the labia I had ever had in my life. The dr I had seen between Christmas and New Year's said it wasn't yeast and wouldn't give me anything till she got more test results so I was just left to suffer and get worse. I finally started using a old prescription topical steroid ointment that I had in a drawer for an itchy ear condition that sometimes I am bothered with. In a couple of days I was at least able to sleep and walk without total agony. Went back to my gyno. She did a biopsy for lichen sceloris. She said I had a terrible amount of gross discharge in the vagina but I rarely see any. My itching is all external but sex is painful. There are a couple of spots up in the inside that the rubbing hurts. But I don't have bleeding. I had a hyster 5 years ago and had my uterus removed for fibroids.
Finally with all tests being negative for yeast and lichen she says vaginal atrophy and started me on Premarin estrogen cream yesterday. I am to stay on steriod ointment also. The ointment has me about 50% better, maybe 75% on a good day. I often feel just burning, sometimes it's still itchy. Will I ever be completely normal again? I tried Replens for a couple of days in the middle of all this and it burned really badly. I just want my life back and to feel normal down there again.
I am single but in a relationship with the same man for over 10 years. He is patient but what used to be a good sexual relationship has almost vanished. Is there hope? I have been on an estrogen patch for 3 years also.

Hi there. I was interested to see you mention lichen sclerosus. I have had vaginal/vulval soreness & redness on and off for years, but tests for yeast, BV and more have always come back clear. I have often dreaded I might have lichen sclerosus or even vulvar cancer, although my symptoms don't seem to match those I've read about.

Desperation reached a peak just before Christmas 2005 when I started needing to urinate more often then normal (not painful). Urine tests all came back negative, and I am having a kidney/bladder ultrasound next week. The next step will be referral to a urologist (I cannot tell you how much I want to AVOID having a cystoscopy!! )

However I have this feeling urology is the wrong road to go down; I feel it's no coincidence I also have these skin problems, and wonder if I should be asking instead to be referred to a gynae?

I then read somewhere that dryness/menopause can give rise to a kind of urethritis, which can cause urinary frequency. So I asked my GP if she thought menopause could be the problem, and she laughed at me - I'm 46, almost 47 - maybe she thought I looked younger? Having read so many success stories on these forums about estrogen cream I would love to give these a try at least, but there's no way my GP would give me any with her attitude. I even told her that my periods, once like the proverbial clockwork, for about 9 months have been coming a few days early each month, and are markedly shorter/lighter.

Anyway, I have now ordered a home menopause test kit - I can't believe I've really done it! Does anyone know how reliable these tests are (apparently you pass urine on a special "wand"!).

I have read so much, researched so much, and got nowhere. My latest self-help is trying Replens moisturiser - the first application was today and thank God it did not cause any further burning. Fingers crossed!

Any comments, any answers welcome......hoping everyone who reads this is feeling well!

Rita

Right now I have more burning, than itching. I read the posts on vaginal burning. My burhing is all external. Although as I stated on my first post sex is painful because some places inside the vagina hurt from the rubbing during intercourse.
I am just afraid that no one will ever completely make me feel 100% again. My gyno doesn't seem to realize how frustrated I am. I just don't feel like a woman anymore.

I don't know if this will help you ladies but I use vitamin E capsules and oil. I had a total hyst several years ago & was given premarin cream. No HRT because I was leery of taking hormones. I used it for a few months till I had a suspicious mammo. I later developed atrophic vaginitis & gyno visits were a huge pain.I'd even had an episode of stinging vaginal pain with some bleeding .I'm single & celibate so sex isn't an issue I'd heard about vitamin E so one nite before bed I took a softgel capsule,put it into the premarin applicator & inserted it into the vagina as far as it would go every night for a week,then just 1- 3 times a week. Also applied a little pure vitamin E oil to the labial area .Voila ! After the first night no more stinging or itching.I also started taking essential fatty acids,evening primrose oil,flax oil & fish oils. You can find them in the health food store. All are good for your skin...your face as well as "down there" plus your overall health. I noticed an improvement in my skin after a few weeks. If you start having dry episodes again just use the capsules & oil more often.Another thing to do is to do lower body exercise because it increases the blood flow to your whole pelvic area Try having a tablespoon of healthy fat daily....olive oil, canola, etc. but watch the calories !

Hello Acapella,

Most UK doctors I've had really don't know much about some of the really annoying meno symptoms we have- like dry vagina/atrophy-and they don't know what to recommend. My doctor didn't even realise that the atrophy won't get better. You can improve things for yourself though. I use Replens and it does work quite well if you're not allergic to it. Vit E can work but I never had much luck with it. I also use a lubricant which I heard about here from America called Astroglide, you can get it in the UK on line at xessentials.co.uk ( I was a bit embarrassed about using the site but the stuff REALLY works if sex is painful ). I don't think they sell it at Boots the Chemist! Well not when I last looked.
Hope this helps.
Antique

Antique, thanks for the suggestions. Part of the problem is getting the problems diagnosed in the first place. I am a demon for self-help so I bought a home menopause test kit which I will be using some time in the next week. If the test turns out positive, at least I have some new angles to pursue on the urinary frequency/soreness/dryness problems.

Big Sigh!

Sela

Was experiencing pain [!] and bleeding w/ intercourse, as well as external itching. My GYN recommended Vagifem [estrogen suppository, 1x a week] treatment. Must say, it works like a charm... Discomfort is gone and itching is 85% better.

Really appreciate the Vitamin E suggestion - will give it a try when itchy next time. I've had some success with "good" bacteria [yogurt] for this too. Figure itching can be caused by upset in bacteria balance...

Hubby is understanding, but must say he was quite relieved when I stopped looking at him w/ daggers whenever he felt frisky!

new

Ouch! I'm going through this right now too! Out of desperation,I bought a tube of A&D ointment for babies diaper rashes and used the cream to see if it would help with the burning and itching .It did and it's helped somewhat. Had more pain this morning so I woke my husband up out of a deep sleep and said HELP!!! I had him insert a vaginal lubricant with silicone to help ease the pain *inside*.What a frustrating problem, it hurts when I urinate because I just got over another episode of cystitis.The urine flows over the dry vaginal tissue and all hell breaks loose with pain.I've just finished a course of Chinese herbs for a severe upper respriatory infection and I'm thinking they may have helped to dry up all mucus in my entire body.Hey lets face it, we do need some mucus to function pain free.I've just started taking one tablet of Promensil ( red clover) again after being off of it for a couple of weeks because it seemed to help in the past with keeping everything lubricated. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if adding a natural estrogen supplement, the right herbs or cream to the routine on a regular basis would help over all with dryness and pain.Great advice about using the vitamin E capsules. I'm going to try that.I also appreciate the advice about taking calcium citrate. It's funny but my urologist just gave me a free sample bottle of that saying that it would help neutralize the calcium oaxalates as they pass out through the urine.Good luck everyone. We sure do need it with this problem huh!

I thoroughly recommend Replens and also vitamin E capsules. I use the Replens applicator to insert a capsule. I also pierce one and apply the oil directly to the appropriate area. It is perfectly safe for those of us who cant take hormones. I have had my ovaries removed and I find it really works for me!

Shadygap - the only way to test for Lichen Sclerosis is by biopsy... was this done? the only thing that helped with the itch from LS was a strong steroid ointment or cream... the typical white patches of skin did not appear for nearly a year after the itch started, so my diagnosis took time.. too much time!!

I was wondering about the Vit. E......dont they say do not use oil based products in this area..Might clog the glands that produce the little bit of lube when still get.

Just curious.....kinda needing the help.

Vicki

Hi Vicki I havent read that but I can say what really helped me even better than the straight Vit. E is the salves I use I can tell you the ingredients if you would like them . I already buy them in a jar and one has wild yam,vitex, comfrey infused with organic olive oil, organic coconut oil,vite e , esstianl oils and flower essences. This one I use as a lubricant with the hubby and when I get a lil itchy and irratated. The other one also has oil ingredients but also has tea tree oil good for yeast infections. That one I use when the vulva and vagina are sore and it seems like a dryness or yeast infection. So these are all oils I dont have a problem with the glands because it seems to help repair the lining I guess and the soreness is gone. Hope this helps everyone has to do what works for them. If you want the ingredients to the other salve you could PM me I dont mind, Take care Tinkybug

I USED to suffer from yeast infections immediately after my menses every single month for many years. I used to insert a boric acid capsule (recommended by my gyno) into the vagina and this would off-set the over alkaline environment. It used to be much cheaper and easier than the creams. 1 cap would often be all I needed.

I USED to also bleed sometimes after intercourse and my doc put it to my two large fibroids. This now has completely stopped and I wonder if I bled because my skin was irritated all of the time due to the yeast infections. OR WAS I SUFFERING FROM VA ALL ALONG? My fibroids are now larger, the yeast infections left my body about 8 mos. ago and I now never have burning skin, or bleeding after sex.

I wonder why my body has changed and the yeast has stopped?

Has anyone else had chronic yeast infections that suddenly come to a stop? I am not complaining believe me but I am just curious as to what my hormones might be up to.

I have other increased peri symptoms as in night sweats, tender breasts, anxiety, etc.

Perikat

My gyno just put me on Premarin cream for dryness, tightness, and irritation in the vaginal area along with some bleeding after intercourse. It seemed to take days (or was it weeks?) to recover after sex and I was afraid to keep putting my hubby off too long. Using a personal lubricant wasn't working for me so I chose to use the Premarin (for now).

What other alternatives have worked for you all? I was on the Pill for 24 yrs. but stopped this past year and am going on 8 months without a period. I take a woman's multi-vitamin daily. I am 46 y/o.

Any suggestions? Thanks, all!

Lynne

Hi Girls I would just add that it seems as some people are prone to yeast, uti or Astrophic vaginits (spelling) and others arent.
I have battled with these for a while. I finally got the UTI's in control on my own no thanks to the many docs I saw.
Now I am 53 but still get regular periods so I am in peri and I had just gotten over a long run without any vagina irratation and wham a few weeks ago here I went again , I did find a SALVE that really really helps me, its all natural and there are 2 kinds one for yeast infections and the other I use as daily or weekly maintance to keep that area moist.
I went to a new gyno and that wasnt any help he said I am probably Estrogen Dominant and need progesterone.
I already had figured that out but he didnt give me anything and said not to use any type of HRT creams there because they are absorbed right away and it could be more dangerous.
So for now I am about 85% done with it I think the heat doesnt help either.
I also have put tea tree oil cream there and it has helped but it could sting if you are too sensitive.
I think mine is Hormone related and it seems to happen right after my period when Estrogen takes over more.
So good luck and hope this helped someone, Oh the woes of the sore Genies Tinks

Check out the articles I've linked to in this message covering vaginal dryness, atrophic vaginitis, et al. You'll find them here: http://www.power-surge.com/php/forums/index.php?showtopic=6816

I've included links to numerous transcripts with experts in this area at the above link.

Dearest

Thank you very much Dearest there is alot of stuff here I had never read before Tinkybug