Potential help for vaginitis, irritated vaginal skin and urethra

[stacey02]

For the year prior to my IC symptoms starting, I battled either a yeast and/or vaginal bacterial infection. Even when I had a temporary break from the infections my skin was super thin, red and easily irritated. My doctor recommended eating yogurt (now that I have IC, I just take a pro-biotic, it has the good bacteria found in yogurt in pill form, the one I have used and really had luck with is Florajen). She also recommended that I do sitz baths in something called Instant Ocean. THis can be purchased at a pet store. It is used in salt water aquariums. She and another doctor had found that it helped patients regulate the pH in the vaginal area and also helped toughen up the skin. BE CAREFUL NOT to use this product if you have any tears, IT WILL BURN. Use the mixing ratios as directed on the box. I put warm water in a tupperware tub and mix in Instant Ocean and sit in it with my knees up to my chest (obviously might be better ways, but this was faster and easier for me, plus, for some reason I thought I remember reading that this position helped the pelvic floor muscles, it is similar to the position you would be in if you were say peeing in the woods). Make sure you rinse the area that was soaked very well. It can irritate your skin otherwise. I try to sit in it for about 15 minutes, but sometimes my skin may only tolerate 5 minutes. Do what is comfortable. I do these sitz baths when my skin starts to feel itchy or I feel my urethra is becoming overly sensitive. Please use caution when doing this. I don't want to be the reason for anyone's additional pain if your skin or urethra is very sensitive. YOu can buy a box of Instant Ocean at PetSmart for around $11.

[stacey02]

I just went in and corrected my post but I had forgotten to add that you should rinse the area very well after doing the soak. It can irritate and burn if you don't. I usually try to soak for about 15 minutes but sometimes my skin may be too sensitive and I only do about five minutes. Do only what feels comfortable.

[ICNDonna]

Thank you for sharing. I definitely advise people to talk with their physicians before trying this.

Donna

[leelee88]

I agree Donna! And please do NOT do this if you think you might have Vulvodynia!!

Signs and symptoms:

The word "vulvodynia" means "painful vulva." Your vulva consists of the pad of fatty tissue at the base of your abdomen, the labia, the clitoris and the opening of your vagina.

The main vulvodynia symptom is pain in your genital area, which can be characterized by:

Burning
Soreness
Itching
Stinging
Rawness
Painful intercourse
Throbbing

The pain you experience may be constant or intermittent and can last for months or even years, but can vanish as suddenly or mysteriously as it started. A similar condition, vulvar vestibulitis, may cause pain only when pressure is applied to the area surrounding the entrance to your vagina.

Vulvar tissue may look minimally inflamed or swollen. More often, your vulva appears normal.

Causes:

Doctors don't know what causes vulvodynia, but contributing factors may include:

Injury to or irritation of the nerves surrounding your vulvar region
Past vaginal infections
Allergies or a localized hypersensitivity of your skin
Muscle spasms
Changing estrogen levels that occur with menopause
Many women with vulvodynia have a history of treatment for recurrent vaginitis or vaginal yeast infections. Some women with the condition have a history of sexual abuse. Vulvodynia isn't sexually transmitted or a common sign of cancer

[Angeles]

Thanks for the tip on the salt. I hope it si not too rough on an already irritated skin.
I have never had a sitz bath but....question... do you actually sit in something resebling a big bowl with water in it? do you soak all at once: anus, vagina, etc? sorry if my question sounds silly it is just that I read/ hear sitz baths recommended for vulvodynia, anal fissures, etc. all the time. Sitz baths with aveeno soothing oat and some use Epson salts.

Wouldn't it be better to soak a large cotton ball or wash cloth with whatever helps with V V and apply it directly to the vulvar area only, for a few min?

I just think Sitz bath may be great for men... but for women, it may be a little risky, b/c of potential vaginal infections from bacteria from the anus swimming in the water, if you are sitting in the same water that soaks all at once. I'm probbably exagerating a little but, why risk it?:elvis:

Now, if you are just soaking the vulva and not the anus (although they are so close, then cool beans!)