[adelaisalice]

Hey,

So here's the story of my horrible vaginal issue so far -

Over the past few years I have had thrush almost every few weeks, which lasts in itself for a week or so after starting medication, but six months or so ago I developed some strange symptoms, I took my usual thrush medication, which is a clotrimazole pessary and fluconazole tablets. My vulva and vaginal opening became incredibly irritated, like they were raw, it's been itchy at times but not as bad as thrush usually is. I was tested for thrush and bv and supposedly was clear of anything. I developed a bartholins cyst, and have been back to the doctor regularly but she's pretty much given up. Sex is obviously really sore, I feel like my skin is on fire, even touching the vulva is sore, I don't have any abnormal discharge or smell, the skin is just raw and swollen and it's very uncomfortable, from the outer lips to the opening, the clitoral hood looks like a car tyre it's so swollen. It seems to fluctuate on a day to day basis from not so bad to really bad. I use unperfumed soap and wear cotton underwear. I don't use tampons as I physically can't because of the pain. The cyst has been dismissed as not the cause of the pain although I'm not sure. I've been on several steroid creams and other treatments but to no effect. My doctor has just passed me over to a gynecologist who has me on a huge waiting list, but she wants me to be tested for endometriosis, which I'm sceptical of. I see all these vaginal conditions online which just sound so similar to mine but my doctor just doesn't have a clue. I just wondered if anyone else had experienced similar discomfort and what they did about it or were diagnosed with. I'm so frustrated, it's really affecting how I feel and my intimacy with my husband. I don't know where to turn, this is also on top of fertility issues so it's hard to have my sex life affected by it too! I really hate my body at the moment.

Sorry this is so long, any advice or experiences would be greatly appreciated.

[Patti-here]

Just a guess and I'd imagine this has already been done, but I'd ask anyway,, just speculation on my part, but have you been checked for a yeast infection ?

[jns]

Thrush is a yeast infection.

I have lately read up on gentian violet which I had for oral thrush once or twice as a child. It is very staining but a very effective fungicide. Google [gentian violet vaginal thrush] for information.

[Patti-here]

Oh,, Oops,, never having a yeast infection I didn't know the difference.