Vulvar pain, irritation, possible vaginismus?

[erlgirl-9.livejournal.com]

Aight, all, I come to you with some questions.

I've been having pain with intercourse for quite a while now; in fact, now I'm just not having intercourse at all, and it's taken a toll on my sex drive (which, whilst never very high, is now down to zero) as well as my relationship (frustration, issues, etc). I'm at university and have been to see the doctors so many times now that I'm quite sure they think I'm an attention-getting hypochondriac. I've had one gyno visit scheduled that I attended and was perfunctorily told to take sitz baths and learn to live with it, and one gyno appointment that was scheduled and I missed it: the gynos around here book about six months in advance, and on a university schedule, I can't commit to that, never mind remember. One day I'll have lots of time and money and be able to get in to see the gynecologist within several weeks, or even days, but until then, I languish. In my last appointment to the university's health services, however, I saw a doctor I'd never seen before, and she theorized that I may have vaginismus.

Now, thanks to my lurker-dom on websites such as these, I know sort of what vaginismus entails, and it could well be the cause. Except ... well ... I thought that the whole "muscle spasm" thing meant that my vaginal opening contracted or something, making it hard for PIV sex. That doesn't happen with me. My symptoms are along the lines of:
-burning
-itching
-irritation
-burning when I urinate
-urethretic pain
-air. In my vag. Not just when I'm having intercourse; sometimes, it'll sneak in when I'm lying in a fetal-esque position in bed, and almost always happens when I'm bending over from a position on my knees.It's embarrassing and feels freaky and weird, and I don't think it's normal for it to happen with such frightening regularity. Is it?

The burning and itching encompasses my whole vulvar region, stopping just short of my clitoris. It sometimes feels raw, or like my vaginal discharge is more like vinegar/acid than anything else; it shows no visible signs of inflammation that I or the doctor notice, however. Some days, it burns without my having been active down there - sitting or walking around makes no real difference that I've noticed.

The pain on penetration only occurs around the opening of my vagina; deeper, there is no pain, and good feeling, so it's rather frustrating.

I've been browsing around, and the only things which seem to really match my symptoms are vulvar vestibulitis (which apparently nobody on the internet knows much about) and vaginal atrophy, which doesn't have much more information than the former.

The point I'm trying to get down to here, ladies, is that I feel like some sort of unsolveable puzzle. It's not a UTI, nor is it any sort of STI or infection; I've been tested for them all. It hurts even when I touch it and take time to mentally prepare myself. My question to you is, has anyone ever had these symptoms? Can anyone shed light on my situation? As well, if anyone has vaginismus, would you be willing to share with me what it feels like/what happens? Because I'm so confused right now.

Comments

[archangelbeth]

Burning, itching, irritation, and pain during urination are all suggestive of Yeast Infections and/or Urinary Tract Infections, with a side-chance of Bacterial Vaginosis. I am, however, going to assume that you were tested for all of those by medical sorts who could find their lab results with only one hand and therefore are pretty darn sure about those not being the case... (If you don't trust the medical skills of the people who did the tests, then you might want to keep them in mind if you can find someone who does seem competent, though.)

You may want to look at websites about vulvodynia -- another term that encompasses vulvar vestibulitis. From what you describe, it does sound like your nerves are just raw there.

However, you may also want to consider an allergy of some kind. If you're using, for instance, a detergent or soap that your sensitive bits hate, then you may need to visit a dermatologist and see if your vulva is just in a huge revolt against it. (One which might require some medication to calm down from a vicious cycle of "I HURT! LIFE SUCKS! I GENERATE BIOCHEMISTRY TO HURT MORE!" Though the lack of visible irritation/swelling does suggest that's not entirely likely.

It sounds awful, very much like the descriptions of vulvodynia that I've read, and I hope that it's something less not-well-understood, like allergies instead. Good luck!

It's like a novel going on here

[pinkdramon.livejournal.com]

Have never heard of queefing being a symptom of vaginal pain conditions.

Burning & urethral pain, worth making sure you don't have a UTI, also worth considering Interestial Cystitis. This chronic condition likes to hang out with the vulvodynia family, so if you wind up having 1 thing, it might lend credence to the Other.

When I was in the middle of my most acute phase of vestibulitis, I thought the discharge itself was the irritating thing. But it kept on going even after being treated for BV & coming up clear on subsequent exams. I was going to the gyno, about 6 times in as many months.

Vestibulitis, something of a misnomer, you can call it "Vestibulodynia," because the -itis indicates inflammation. Thing is, you don't necessarily have inflammation to have vulvodynia or vestibulodynia. In my case there was inflammation, but that's not always the case.

Vulvodynia can be irritating without stimulation. In my experience, itching CAN be a symptom of vestibulitis, but I've heard others say it is not. I'm leaning towards "Yes" based on my own experience but I know where the "No's" are coming from.

Most, if not all, of these painful symptoms occur in & around the vestibule, rather than inside the actual vagina tube, IF it's vulvodynia.

Vaginismus, I'm also familiar with. Vaginismus, I feel the muscle spasms going on! Sometimes the spasms can feel burny if I have something in there, but that tends to extend further into my vag rather than stopping short at the entrance. I seem to be in a state now where I can kind of work through a spasm or stop one from happening, since I'm getting treatment for it now.

Since I have the vestibulitis mostly under control now, I can say, poking around at the vestibule, in and of itself should not be enough to cause pain. It might feel "Weird," but I can poke around, rub it, push & pull on it (Gently!) what have you.
I have not heard of tales where vaginismus, in and of itself, is responsible for irritation/itching/urethral problems.

These things, vaginismus & the vulvodynia family, aren't super-easy to treat, but there are treatments available. Don't get too freaky-deaky about them yet. I cannot diagnose you I can only throw these things out there. If this is the correct diagnosis, as backed up by a knowledgable gyno or a vulvovaginal specialist, keep in mind there are treatments available... it might just take some trial & error to find the right one for you.
If you have a hard time finding a gyno try calling around and being all like on the phone, "Does this doctor have experience treating chronic vaginal pain syndromes/vaginsmus/vulvodynia/insert suspected thing here." Or ask your current gyno for a referral.

Do the easy & inexpensive stuff first, because it might be a simple infection, sensitivity or allergy. The sitz baths right now might be worthwhile, also switch up your laundry detergent for hypoallergenic kinds; avoid irritating menstrual products. No soap on your vagina or if you must insist on it, then hypoallergenic soap too - I use plain boring sensitive skin Dove. I don't use soap on my vag at all anymore, just a lot of plain boring water. Switch up your lube brand, try Slippery Stuff which like 3 doctors have recommended to me now.

For online info, start with NVA.org (http://www.nva.org). You're in college. Then get The V Book, (http://www.amazon.com/Book-Doctors-Complete-Vulvovaginal-Health/dp/0553381148/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1227411164&sr=8-1) which really everybody should have anyway. Use the school's online database system to look up as much information as you possibly can and read it (Try PubMed, eMedicine & MedLine databases.)
Nowadays there are also several personal blogs & such about living with it on a daily basis. Also, online support groups.
Chances are you'll find better sites as you start googling & clicking around on links & such. Some of the info online & in print is still Crap though.

Mean time, just because intercourse is off the table - and that's actually a good thing, because if you still try to Pork when it hurts, you could wind up developing vaginsmus in response to the discomfort - you don't have to refrain from all sexual activity. So long as it's comfortable, you can still do other things.

[http://users.livejournal.com/urban_faerie_/]

what everybody said before me sounds right on. if you are on hormonal birth control, you might want to look into a different pill. i went through months and months of itchy, burning pain (there was not yeast infection or STD) i was diagnosed with vulvodynia by a specialist who told me there was a chance i needed surgery to get rid of it. that didn't sound quite right to me so i called my gyno and she put me on a lower dose hormone pill. within 2 months the itchiness and pain went away, and now i feel like a new woman. it might be worth it to see if HBC is adding to your woes!

good luck!