Irritation from wearing pants

[notmybestday]

Hi all --

I have this new symptom of irritation in my lady parts (mainly the clitoral area) from wearing pants. The pants don't even have to be tight, just the slightest contact with the ribbed cloth of the crotch area sets off the irritation and the need to use the bathroom. I already know that skirts and loose clothing are encouraged for IC'ers, but does anyone know how to alleviate this symptom or what exactly is causing it?

As always, thanks for your help.

[OrlandoP]

Hi all --

I have this new symptom of irritation in my lady parts (mainly the clitoral area) from wearing pants. The pants don't even have to be tight, just the slightest contact with the ribbed cloth of the crotch area sets off the irritation and the need to use the bathroom. I already know that skirts and loose clothing are encouraged for IC'ers, but does anyone know how to alleviate this symptom or what exactly is causing it?

As always, thanks for your help.

Hey there, I go on and off with pain in vulva, clitoris, and rectum. From what I understand, the nerves are all very interconnected down there, so it may flare and remit, too. You may be getting some vulvodynia. Don't panic--I only get it on and off, maybe a couple of times a year.

In the meantime, I'd check the Vulvodynia forum. There are lots of good suggestions about detergents, baths, and taking it easy!

[humpieumpumkin]

I get that from jeans. Its misrable. Hope you can find something more comfy.

Erika:hi:

[Berkshire Road]

I get it from jeans too, or anything that has a seam right through the crotch. One things that helps is to wear a pantyliner, which keeps the seam from touching me (you just have the flat pantyliner in contact, which helps keep the seam from irritating). If it's really bad, and I have a strong reason to want to wear well-fitting pants, I will use lidocaine jelly along with the pantyliner to partially numb that area.

Looser clothing, of course, is effective. I never used to wear so many skirts as I do now!

I hope you find something that helps. A lot of us have been through the same thing. It is miserable, but it probably won't last forever.

[notmybestday]

Oh, fantastic. Sorry for being a ball of negative energy, but this is just too much all at once.

Is it possible that I'm dealing with a yeast infection as well? It's slightly itchy, I have a bit of discharge, and it doesn't smell all too fun down there...

Thanks all. You all are troopers for dealing with this.

S.

[mom_in_ma]

It's definitely possible you have a yeast infection. But, irritation can also cause increased discharge and IC can most definitely cause irritation in your female bits. Might be worth having your gyno at least check it out.

[Berkshire Road]

Oh, please see a doctor about a possible infection! I know any time I get "smelly" down there, it's an infection. But this last time, there was no smell, I didn't get it checked out, and (long story short) eventually ended up in the hospital with a 105 degree fever and a kidney infection.

Any time you have an increase or change in symptoms, infection is a possibility. I just don't want anyone to have to go through what I did.

[OrlandoP]

Oh, fantastic. Sorry for being a ball of negative energy, but this is just too much all at once.

Is it possible that I'm dealing with a yeast infection as well? It's slightly itchy, I have a bit of discharge, and it doesn't smell all too fun down there...

Thanks all. You all are troopers for dealing with this.

S.

Please don't worry yourself too much about this. Get a test--I think you can even get a test at the drugstore now for yeast if it's before you can get to a doc.

One thing I believe is really important--diseases are now often referred to as "multi-factoral" or "multi-modal", if I have the terms right. What that means is, you have a set of symptoms, perhaps all related to the same thing which really isn't exactly like anyone else's in the big category called, "insert disease here".

I started putting new titles to myself when I would get upset: IC, IBS, vulvodynia, PFD...I have symptoms of each. That doesn't mean I have forty diseases!

[zippidydoula]

I get it from jeans too, or anything that has a seam right through the crotch. One things that helps is to wear a pantyliner, which keeps the seam from touching me (you just have the flat pantyliner in contact, which helps keep the seam from irritating).

I also use pantyliners . I get the ones that are made from cotton & unbleached. I got them at a health food store and the price was comparable to the regular ones that you can buy anywhere. I wear them everyday now and it's helped me quite a bit. I also think that it was not only my jeans, but my laundry detergent and fabric softener that was hurting me.

I hope that you feel better.

~Noel~:)

[carjet]

If it turns out that you have Vulvadynia, there are plenty of people on this site that can answer questions on that as well. I have it and it is no fun. What I have found that helps me the most is: Wear white 100% cotton underwear (I prefer GAP underwear as they are really soft and don't have any extra material in the crotch area); mainly wash your "area" with water and only occasionally use a non-fragrance, sensitive skin soap; wash your clothes in fragrance free detergent- if possible rinse twice; wear loose, stretchy clothing (J.Jill makes really comfortable yet stylish clothes); use Lidocaine for pain. If having a flare, using an ice pack helps. My physician has also put me on Lyrica which has helped somewhat. But whatever it may be per your previous e-mails, please see your doc!

[Ivy79]

Oh! That happened to me for years. It stinks, I'm sorry. I thought it was a yeast infection, just pain from the IC, etc....turns out I have Chronic Lichen Simplex. I use Clobetasol every night and it really has been very effective. For the first time in about 4 years I went out and bought jeans. I also have boric acid suppositories that I use after sex because I have a semen allergy that gives me yeast like itching. Both of those have been very helpful. I hope this helps.
Ivy