I hate this, please help

[sweetz0625]

So I was diagnosed with IC I guess mild, but after reading I dont really think I have it. When I pee, it just hurts the external area around the clitoris, and the labia, all of that skin. It is VERY tender to touch, and I HATE wiping, actually I DREAD it. But I dont really have urgency and I dont burn that much, maybe once in a while. But I mainly dread wiping after I pee, and even after I pee the skin and stuff is just tender and I can feel it. Also on the top of my vagina on the outer skin underneath of my stomach itches sometimes. My doctor has put me on elmiron, and this is my 4th day, I guess I will see if this will go away. I mean it kinda just started one day last october. What is vulvodynia and does it go away???And does it sound like this is what I have or IC?? I take hot bathes because it soothes the skin around my labia and clitoris, but my main thing is wiping. It hurts SO BAD. I dont even want to touch it, and once I am done wiping it feels like I need to continue like something is not taken care of. Its weird, anyone have any insight?

[Sarojini]

It does sound like vulvodynia, but I'm not a doctor. Vulvodynia is an unexplained tenderness, itching, or general pain in the genital area -- kind of like what you have. You might want to do an Internet search on "vulvodynia" and find some information on it to take with you to your next doctor's appointment.

[mich2604]

try just patting the are dry after you urinate. Ive also used vitamin E, only the Vitamin E in the soft gels, just poke a hole in the capsule and apply to the area. I also would use a squirt bottle to rinse the area after urinating (the sell one in the IC store on this website) certain foods can irritate it to if they are high in oxalates, like spinach and chocolate.

Im taking neurontin now and it helps a lil bit.

have you been evaluated for pelvic floor dysfunction, this can cause pain to that are a too.

hang in there.

[SrMaggie]

I used the squirt bottle for months when I was hurting and then just patted dry the area with a cotton towel. It took awhile, but it did help. You don't even need a special bottle - I used a water bottle with one of the tops that you pull up to open and then push down to close. I just filled it with warm water each time I urinated - which is quite often. Patting dry instead of wiping helps to keep down the irritation. I also used Vagisil - which burned at first, but then proved to be very healing.
I hope you can get some relief.
Maggie

[Angeles]

I use the bottle they seel here in teh IC shop, it is very cheap ($2)
I like it better than a regular bottle b/c the water sprays out better and I think it is more effective.
I don't wipe, I pat gently with soft toilet paper and then blow dry on cool. Of course all that protocol is only at home, when I use the restroon at work or somewhere else I don't rinse with water or blow dry!
How do you guys do when you are not at home, do you carry your bottle? I'm curious.
To me it also looks like the first post is vulvodynia.
I have it since Novemeber last year. I take Elavil and it helps some.. but I constantly have the feeling of a yeast infection, itchiness and soreness. I have yeast overgrowth but with VV the itchiness and all is magnified.

[pingpong]

I have a little 4-ounce bottle I got at a candy-making store, and I keep it in my purse. If I'm going to a place where I won't be able to discreetly fill it with water, I'll do that ahead of time and just make sure the cap is on securely. Otherwise, I just keep one in my purse (and one in the upstairs bathroom, the downstairs bathroom, the bathroom at work....!)

[Angeles]

Thanks Ping pong! yeah I'll get a small bottle too. I spent most of the day at work anyway so it'll be worth it. I didn't think about keeping it filled out with water. That's a great idea. I will also start taking my own toilet paper with me. Ithink for V V is a must. It'll be a lot of work... but some toilet papers in public restrooms are rough.

We have to consider ourselves lucky though, in some poor countries, people use newspapers sheets to wipe or worse:corn cobs...sad but true.

[sami4]

My vulvar specialist recommends Elavil which seems to calm the nerve endings and stop the inflammation.
Sammi