Sooooo Itchy

[andrea1]

I am itchy as hell... and you know where... Imagine me in a huge lecture hall trying to stick my hand down my pants without being noticed. It's been well over a month (maybe two? three?) and my vulva is unbelievably itchy. I've tried two different kinds of creams and they just burn. I have tiny little bumps, but I think it's from scratching. I try not to, I really do, but it's so bad sometimes, I can't help it. What is it?!?! I don't have any kind of discharge or anything, so I don't think it's a yeast infection... What else could it be?

[Briza]

I've had both yeast and bacterial vaginosis infections without discharge and a lot of itch. I'd get tested for both at your gyn. If it comes back negative, ask for a prescription for some lidocaine gel. It can give good if only temporary relief. Most OTC stuff can cause contact irritation if you have IC and/or some form of vulvodynia. Cold packs between the legs also help! Sorry you're suffering...I have been there many times. I know this is gonna sound crazy but I have MANY times used a cold can of soda between my legs while sitting at my desk at work just to get relief from the burn and itch...Helps best if you're wearing a skirt :lmao: But sounds like your really need to see your gyn. If it turns out to be bacterial vaginosis, it will probably be treated with antibiotics (Flagyl) so make sure you get a script for Diflucan in case you end up getting a yeast infection from the antibiotic, and more than one dose if you're dr is willing. In the meantime, make sure you wash anything you wear below the waist in nonscented detergent and no dryer sheets or other fabric softeners. Probably best to wash with just plain water down there for now, soap can be a major irritant, too. Best wishes...

[leelee88]

I agree with Briza,

You need to go get checked to rule out an infection, If is an ifection and its not treated it will only get worse..But if its not an infection it could be a few other things.. When I have a vulvadynia flare I have the itchy feeling down there also it could be an allergic reaction to something you are eating.. I know when I eat anything with lots of sugar I itch down there..And one other thing. If you have changed your soap or laundry soap that can also make you have a reaction.. Hope this helps and you get some relief really soon.. I know this feeling and its VERY annoying..Good luck!:angel:

[ICNDonna]

I agree that you need to see your doctor to find out what's going on. It could be that it's something very simple and curable.

Donna

[tigger_gal]

please go to the doctor and get checked.

[andrea1]

I called my dr's office today and they said that I can wait until I get home from school to come in, but if it gets worse to see someone here. I'm okay with that, considering everything else that's going on. If it is a yeast infection or vaginosis, what could happen if I wait too long?

[kjd]

have you had a biopsy? do you suffer with vulvodyina? I have itching too and know how you feel

hugs

x

[andrea1]

Unfortunately, I suffer from having an old gyn that doesn't really listen to me. I'm working on finding a new one when I get home for the summer.

[Briza]

Andrea
I don't think you'll die from leaving yeast or BV untreated:), but you're going to continue to suffer, I don't know how long it is til you go home? Even a regular GP can do an exam and test you for these things and prescribe treatment, and if it is one of these things, you could get treatment and relief really fast! I saw your other thread, so I understand you're dealing with a lot of pain issues:grouphug: that seem to be more on your mind right now, but if I were itching like you described I'd be at the dr ASAP, and you said it's been going on for a couple months already. Around your age, I started having a lot of problems with yeast and bv, that lasted throughout my twenties. Found out a few years ago when I was 35 that one of my fallopian tubes is blocked with scar tissue...my gyn thinks it might be due to all of those infections I had and may have contributed to my eventually developing vulvodynia. So if I were you, I wouldn't wait!:angel:

[L. Thomas]

Hate to tell you this but I found out that IC can mimic a yeast infection. My instills have lidocane in them. 1cc reamins in the catheter after the instill. After I remove the catheter I allow the mixture in the syringe to drain over the entire vulva/ peritoneal area. I am amazed at the symptoms that I can have that end up being IC. Who would have thought that IC would cause sleeping problems? It is almost like IC is the root of many of my "evils".

[andrea1]

So then if it were caused by IC, that would explain the itchiness without the discharge? Am I way off here?

[andrea1]

Briza- that did it for me. I'll get it checked out this week. I'm so scared that one of these many things I'm dealing with now will affect my fertility in the future. I don't know what I'd do if the privilege of having children was taken away from me.

[L. Thomas]

Don't think that I am saying that all itching is IC. But it is another symptom of IC.

My itching did not respond to treatment for yeast infection. That is exactly what it felt like. My urogyne suggested to "drain" the contents remaining in the syringe after my instill over the affected area. They offered to write a prescription for a lidocane cream but draining was sufficent to take care of the problem.

I didn't have any other symptoms and the itching did not get worse. Naturally I would have contacted them if the itching continued or additional symptoms appeared.

[Briza]

IC can cause some vaginal symptoms, too, but from my experience, severe itch is usually yeast or bv. I can't say for sure that's what you have, but it seems that younger women are more prone to bv, why I don't know, and whenever I had a bv infection, I usually had less discharge than with a yeast infection. I do have vulvodynia now, and the symptoms can mimic a yeast infection, but my vulvodynia symptoms usually are more burning than itch. I've seem to grown out of these infections, thank goodness, it was a vicious cycle of bv and yeast for many years. I'm glad you're going to try to get to the dr soon. Let us know how it goes. Best wishes!

[rjyoon]

I have had referred bladder pain that itched tremendously since my IC started. I used to scratch myself while I was asleep -- scratched through my clothes & was bloody before I woke up. As soon as I voided, the itching would go away. It was my primary symptom when I was a teenager, now it just reappears once in awhile. I guess I'm thankful I didn't feel it as pain, but it wasn't any fun.

[andrea1]

rjyoon- wow! I'm definitely not like that. I'm glad you're not like that all the time anymore.

Bacterial Vaginosis is the one that you can get from wearing thongs, huh? I used to work in an obgyn office and I remember the girls in the front singing the thong song when they got in lab results :)

[Briza]

rjyoon- .
Bacterial Vaginosis is the one that you can get from wearing thongs, huh? I used to work in an obgyn office and I remember the girls in the front singing the thong song when they got in lab results :)

:biglaugh: I never heard that one but I guess anything is possible! :lmao:

[verdicries]

andrea,
please go get it checked. yeast can spread into the bladder (ew) and bv can cause premature labor (NOT that you're pregnant lol) and pelvic inflammatory disease if untreated long enuf. the flagyl will clear it up asap but DO get some difulcan b/c it will cause a yeast infection yuck.

hope you're feeling better!

[jen74]

I just went to my gyne because I was having a discharge. I thought for sure it was bacterial vaginosis, but the culture was clean. By the way, Bacterial vaginosis will not cause PID unless you have the infection and have some sort of procedure done in the vaginal area that is invasive. At least that is what my gyne said. She said you dont even really need to treat it. She said the basic reason women get treated for BV is because of the nasty fishy smell in produces, which in my case when I had BV awhile back, it did not have any odor, so it does not always have to have an odor.
I doubt you have a yeast infection though since you have no discharge. I would see your doctor for sure though just to make sure. There are alot of things that can cause itchiness in the vulva area. There is yeast, vulva vestibulitis, Lichen Sclerosis, Lichen planus, the list can go on and on. It is always best to get checked. It could be something so simple like a allergic reaction to something as well. Hope you get some relief soon.
Jen

[leelee88]

This topic interst me because I have itching some times but I know its not yeast.. You would know it was yeast to because it feels like ants are biting you down there, sorry but thats the way it feels for me.. Now when I have just a itch I have often wondered what was causing it, because it did not respond to yeast meds and it would come and go..OHHH AND FYI If you do have IC the creams for yeast can set you on fire!! but anyways I am glad to have read these post its very interesting to see that other people have the same symptoms...

[ABliske]

I wouldn't worry that it will affect your fertility, but the sooner you can treat it the better.