vulvodynia or yeast??

[grace 2]

Does anyone else with vulvodynia get yeast infections and confuse the two? I've been to my gyn thinking I had yeast 3 times in the last 2 mo. and it wasn't. I get a discharge itching and burning. I guess it's the vulvodynia flaring. I have had a few yeast infections in the last 8 months too. So this is very confusing. :confused: How can you tell the difference without a visit to the dr?? I also am dealing with vaginal atrophy and have upped my oral estrogen in the last month. I'm really hoping part of the vulvodynia problems will be helped with that. Thanks for any feedback! Grace

[grace 2]

HI, Thanks for replying. I can relate to the constant yeast infection feeling. It never is completely gone. There are times when the dr. sees yeast on a slide, but other times it's not there. They have cultured it a couple times and nothing grows either. Have you tried anti-hystamines for this? My dr. thinks that could help. I can't do them on a regular basis , because of side effects. I'm going to try Quercetin, it's a supplement that is similar to an anti-hystamine. I've had this burning since last July.:( I've also tried estriol cream and vagifem, but they flare up my symptoms. Right now I'm increasing my oral estogen in hopes of some relief. I'll let you know if I have any success. Good luck to you too!:) Grace

[Rita_Lorraine]

HI! I see I am not the only one suffering with this constant burning, itching and redness. :( It is soooo frustrating! I have been battling this for 2 months now and nothing seems to help me. First I went to my Uro, thinking it was a flare up from my IC. He gave me hydrocortizone cream and some anti itch pill. All the cream did was make it burn worse. And the pills made me so tired! I waited a few weeks, but it only got worse. So I went to my GYN. She did a swab, looked at in under the microscope and said it was yeast. She gave me the one dose of Diflucan. It seemed to help, but then it came back full force!:headbang: So, last week I called her and told her and she prescribed Tetrazol cream. A 7 day cream. It has now been 4 days, and it is still burning!!!!!!! Arrgg! Sometimes I wonder if the docs know anything! So, do I wait the 7 days or do I go back and let her guess again? I am so sick of doctors I could scream!!:cussing: I am going to ask her about it maybe being Vulvar vestibulitis or vulvodynia. I am still not sure what they are, or if there is a cure for it. But, I DO know that I have to get relief soon before I go crazy!!:loco: Have either of you found relief yet? And if so...what did they do for you??? And suggestions as to what I should do??? Thanks for listening! Hugs, Rita_Lorraine:butterfly

[grace 2]

HI:) I'm wondering if either of you have had a hysterectomy?? I know my estrogen levels are low right now and the cells in my vag. are "imature". I've read that one of the reasons for the vulvo. is lack of estrogen. I had the vulvo. stuff happening before I had the IC act up. Anyways, Rita, not sure if I have any suggestions, Mine is slightly better, If at the worst time it was a 10, it's now down to a 6-7. It does flare up still, especially if I use a soap other than dove, for sensitive skin, or use just about anything in the vaginal area. My IC is a little better too. I've been doing bladder instillations of heperin, lidocaine and marcaine. I have 3 more to go. My dr. belives that this could settle the nerves in that area down and it can help the vulva symtoms too. Not sure if that is what is happening or not. I'm also on elmiron and we have upped my oral estrogen, as my vulvo. flares up with the vaginal estro. creams. They also say that anti-hystamines and elavil help vulvodynia, by interferring with the nerve transmissions, I think. I know I'll never do anymore vag. creams for yeast if I can help it, causes it all to flare for me. I hope you both find relief! This is no fun:shake: Grace

[Rita_Lorraine]

Thanks Grace for your reply! I have been using Terazol cream now for 4 nights and I dont' seem as itchy and burning soooo I am crossing my fingers it is working. I do have another GYN appt in June for a Pap so if this is still flaring I am definetly going to ask her to do more tests on my and find out if my hormones are just all out of balance. I am 46 and already have alot of menepausal symptoms, so that just may be my problem. Do you know how they test a person to see if their estrogen levels are low? Is it a simple blood test? I really don't want to do hormone replacement therapy though. I've heard bad things about them. Anyways, thanks again and I hope you are feeling better soon too!
Hugs, Rita:kiss:

[Rita_Lorraine]

Just me again!I forgot to answer your question about having a hysterectomy. No I haven't. Have you? And I agree..this is NO fun! LOL Take care! Rita :hi:

[grace 2]

Rita, blood tests can tell them alot about your hormone levels. The way they found out the cells in my vagina are imature is by looking at a slide under a microscope just like when they check for yeast. I had a hysterectomy in 2000. I've had to do hormone replacement and I agree with you on not replacing if you don't have to. I do the bio-identical hormones that are compounded. Lots of times if you do certain supplelments like vitamin c & b etc eat good, and exorcise, you can help your symptoms too. I have a friend who had a lot of yeast problems during menopause, from the hormone adjustments her body went through. I hope your treatment takes care of it. :) Grace

[ChrissyH]

I have used the terazol cream before a couple of times for yeast infections. Some of the side effects of terazol are itching and burning. While using the cream, I still had a lot of itching and thought that the infection was still there. When I went back for a follow-up, there was no more yeast. I have found that the terazole ovules (vaginal suppositories) work better for me and don't cause as much itching. So you may just be having a reaction from the cream. If after you're done using the cream, and you are still having the itching and burning, so back to the doctor to make sure that the yeast is all gone.