Undiagnosable female issues.
December 17, 2009 2:09 PM Subscribe
I know you are not my doctor. I'm having a female issue that my OB/GYN can't figure out. I need ideas on how to approach this situation.
I have a vaginal irritation. The skin feels raw and irritated on the outside and around my anus.
Also, my feet feel itchy. I don't know if this is related.
In October, I had a UTI and was on antibiotics. I haven't felt right since then. I have been tested for everything, and all tests have come back negative. The test came back negative for: yeast, bacteria, and stds. I had two swabs and a blood test. I don't have any sores and actually the irritation is barely even visible. I have been to my OB/GYN 3 times and my primary once. My OB/GYN has given me a cream for a yeast infection and also a corticosteroid. Neither has worked.
On my last visit, my OB/GYN referred me to a specialist who can see me in late March. This is not acceptable.
So, what should I do? Does anyone have any other ideas? I am considering trying to go to a different doctor, but I am assuming it may take a little while to get an appointment.
My doctor also offered to do a biopsy, but says it will be painful especially in that area. It didn't seem like she was encouraging me to get the biopsy.
Any suggestions on how to approach this situation would be great. I'm very frustrated that I can't figure this out and get it resolved.
I have a vaginal irritation. The skin feels raw and irritated on the outside and around my anus.
Also, my feet feel itchy. I don't know if this is related.
In October, I had a UTI and was on antibiotics. I haven't felt right since then. I have been tested for everything, and all tests have come back negative. The test came back negative for: yeast, bacteria, and stds. I had two swabs and a blood test. I don't have any sores and actually the irritation is barely even visible. I have been to my OB/GYN 3 times and my primary once. My OB/GYN has given me a cream for a yeast infection and also a corticosteroid. Neither has worked.
On my last visit, my OB/GYN referred me to a specialist who can see me in late March. This is not acceptable.
So, what should I do? Does anyone have any other ideas? I am considering trying to go to a different doctor, but I am assuming it may take a little while to get an appointment.
My doctor also offered to do a biopsy, but says it will be painful especially in that area. It didn't seem like she was encouraging me to get the biopsy.
Any suggestions on how to approach this situation would be great. I'm very frustrated that I can't figure this out and get it resolved.
Seconding derm and you might want to switch to the gentlest laundry detergent and body wash (like Cetaphil) you can find.
posted by sageleaf at 2:27 PM on December 17, 2009
posted by sageleaf at 2:27 PM on December 17, 2009
I would get the biopsy - painful, yes, but it seems like one of the few things left that could give you an answer.
posted by peanut butter milkshake at 2:28 PM on December 17, 2009
posted by peanut butter milkshake at 2:28 PM on December 17, 2009
Do you use hormonal birth control of any kind (pill, patch, ring)? If so, I would suggest going off it and seeing if that helps. Hormonal BC can sometimes have funny side effects for some women, even after using them for years without problem.
posted by scody at 2:32 PM on December 17, 2009
posted by scody at 2:32 PM on December 17, 2009
You should probably see a dermatologist, but this sounds like a combo of jock itch/athlete's foot to me. I would get some tinactin spray and see if that helps .
posted by shownomercy at 2:46 PM on December 17, 2009
posted by shownomercy at 2:46 PM on December 17, 2009
Seconding the hormonal birth control and adding: Do you use pads, and are they scented?
Have you tried washing with PH-balanced intimate soaps to help the irritation?
How is your sexlife - does the irritation get worse after sex? Does it hurt when you have sex?
Do you now, or have you ever, taken the strong antibiotics usually prescribed for acne and similar which can throw the protective layer of 'fat' (on the skin) out of whack down under?
posted by dabitch at 2:51 PM on December 17, 2009
Have you tried washing with PH-balanced intimate soaps to help the irritation?
How is your sexlife - does the irritation get worse after sex? Does it hurt when you have sex?
Do you now, or have you ever, taken the strong antibiotics usually prescribed for acne and similar which can throw the protective layer of 'fat' (on the skin) out of whack down under?
posted by dabitch at 2:51 PM on December 17, 2009
Definitely see a dermatologist. I was having unexplainable itching that my obgyn couldn't figure out, but a derm cleared me up. I did have a biopsy, which was not fun but not the worst thing in the world, but it didn't come up with anything.
posted by radioamy at 2:51 PM on December 17, 2009
posted by radioamy at 2:51 PM on December 17, 2009
Also, I think shownomercy's suggestion is correct, have your feet checked out, could be related. The questions are so that you are armed with info once you finally see that specialist.
posted by dabitch at 2:53 PM on December 17, 2009
posted by dabitch at 2:53 PM on December 17, 2009
IANAD, but am a vagina owner, and I have to be very careful about which detergents and soaps I use as it causes hideous itching. In fact, I don't tend to use any soap at all - your vag is self-cleaning, like an oven. Something to try while you are waiting for the docs apt.
posted by poissonrouge at 3:14 PM on December 17, 2009
posted by poissonrouge at 3:14 PM on December 17, 2009
Itchy feet and vaginal area can also be symptoms of diabetes or liver issues, FWIW.
posted by thebrokedown at 3:34 PM on December 17, 2009 [3 favorites]
posted by thebrokedown at 3:34 PM on December 17, 2009 [3 favorites]
Did they test for fungal infections? Could be something like athlete's foot.
See if witch hazel gives any relief.
posted by gjc at 4:27 PM on December 17, 2009
See if witch hazel gives any relief.
posted by gjc at 4:27 PM on December 17, 2009
Itchiness could be due to any number of things. I'll second keeping yourself well-aired out -- cotton undies, no pantyhose or try crotchless pantyhose -- and washing any clothing that touches that area in mild, unscented detergent. No scented dryer sheets, no perfumed tampons, no scented wipes, no douches. Avoid rayon-based maxipads during your period. And, yeah, birth control pills can make things worse.
It could be something like lichen sclerosus. If your doctor is suggesting a biopsy, that may be what she's suspecting. I've had the biopsy, and apart from the momentary burn and prick of the anaesthetic, I didn't feel a thing, so don't let fear of real pain turn you away from a diagnostic tool you may need.
Ask your doctor what diagnoses she's thinking of. If you can see a dermatologist soon, they may be knowledgeable enough to treat it. (I know I finally got the care I needed from a derm.)
Good luck! This may just be temporary irritation that you can take care of yourself. But if it doesn't resolve, see as many doctors as you need to get this diagnosed and treated.
ON PREVIEW: I would COMPLETELY avoid tinactin or witch hazel anywhere near your vulva if you're feeling irritated. Trust me on this. I tried Vagisil before I was diagnosed and wanted to die.
posted by clowncar at 4:32 PM on December 17, 2009
It could be something like lichen sclerosus. If your doctor is suggesting a biopsy, that may be what she's suspecting. I've had the biopsy, and apart from the momentary burn and prick of the anaesthetic, I didn't feel a thing, so don't let fear of real pain turn you away from a diagnostic tool you may need.
Ask your doctor what diagnoses she's thinking of. If you can see a dermatologist soon, they may be knowledgeable enough to treat it. (I know I finally got the care I needed from a derm.)
Good luck! This may just be temporary irritation that you can take care of yourself. But if it doesn't resolve, see as many doctors as you need to get this diagnosed and treated.
ON PREVIEW: I would COMPLETELY avoid tinactin or witch hazel anywhere near your vulva if you're feeling irritated. Trust me on this. I tried Vagisil before I was diagnosed and wanted to die.
posted by clowncar at 4:32 PM on December 17, 2009
the comment from "thebrokedown" regarding possible liver issues seems lost amongst the other replies so I would like to second that.
Liver issues were my first thought. Please talk to your doctor.
More info: some serious medications can cause this - it's a side effect of Neptazane and whatever chemotherapy my aunt is currently on.
posted by andreap at 4:43 PM on December 17, 2009 [1 favorite]
Liver issues were my first thought. Please talk to your doctor.
More info: some serious medications can cause this - it's a side effect of Neptazane and whatever chemotherapy my aunt is currently on.
posted by andreap at 4:43 PM on December 17, 2009 [1 favorite]
What antibiotics were you put on? I had a UTI in college and was on Cipro, which stayed with me for months afterwards and was not comfortable at all. If you were on Cipro, it could be it. However, I am nthing the dermatologist as well.
posted by ThaBombShelterSmith at 4:49 PM on December 17, 2009
posted by ThaBombShelterSmith at 4:49 PM on December 17, 2009
People have mentioned perfumes, but you might be allergic/sensitive to something else (i.e. latex, spermicide, lube etc...) I had the "constant irritiation that wouldn't go away" until I was diagnosed with a latex allergy when being tested for a food allergy.
A change in diet or environment could also affect your body chemistry. What else changed around October?
Does the specialist have a "please call" list for people who can fill in for canceled appointments? I thought I'd have to wait 3 months for a dentist appointment, but they put me on the call list and I was in within a few days. Can't hurt to ask!
posted by cathoo at 5:00 PM on December 17, 2009
A change in diet or environment could also affect your body chemistry. What else changed around October?
Does the specialist have a "please call" list for people who can fill in for canceled appointments? I thought I'd have to wait 3 months for a dentist appointment, but they put me on the call list and I was in within a few days. Can't hurt to ask!
posted by cathoo at 5:00 PM on December 17, 2009
Really, seriously, please: if you do not own a vagina or work with vaginas professionally, you might want to refrain from making suggestions about what to put in them. The rule of thumb is: if you would not put it in your mouth, do not put it on, in, or near your vagina. (The tissue is very similar.)
I'm seconding a dermatologist, as well as the interim suggestions of no soap, lots of air, and cotton only. In addition I would suggest a supply of light cotton liners so you can change them several times a day to keep things dry. You might also consider dumping any commercial pads, tampons, diva cups, etc you are using and switching to cloth, at least for now.
posted by DarlingBri at 5:27 PM on December 17, 2009 [1 favorite]
I'm seconding a dermatologist, as well as the interim suggestions of no soap, lots of air, and cotton only. In addition I would suggest a supply of light cotton liners so you can change them several times a day to keep things dry. You might also consider dumping any commercial pads, tampons, diva cups, etc you are using and switching to cloth, at least for now.
posted by DarlingBri at 5:27 PM on December 17, 2009 [1 favorite]
Sounds like something fungal, not necessarily related to your girl parts, but unfortunately found its way there. Go to a dermatologist. Do you sit "indian" style in a way that could have gotten a fungal infection on your foot onto your crotch?
posted by WeekendJen at 5:50 PM on December 17, 2009
posted by WeekendJen at 5:50 PM on December 17, 2009
After being on strong antibiotics for something nongirl related, I had similar issues. They went away eventually, but waiting is never comfortable. I figured it was a yeast infection or jock itch.
posted by herbaliser at 6:02 PM on December 17, 2009
posted by herbaliser at 6:02 PM on December 17, 2009
excema possibly; any inclination to taking probiotics to try and balance you out? I've done that when taking antibiotics and come back with much much reduced post-antibiotic discomforts.
posted by tilde at 6:43 PM on December 17, 2009
posted by tilde at 6:43 PM on December 17, 2009
I also had a really long-term reaction to a high caliber antibiotic. (I generally stick to tier 1 like amoxicillian if I need anything, but after bone surgery, they insisted that I take something at the cipro level.) It took months, seriously, months, for my body to reregulate itself again.
This will sound really weird, but applying organic, full fat, yogurt helped my irritation go away.
What I did is make yogurt from whole milk, but any commercial yogurt with no additives, sugars, flavors, etc should be fine, and then strained it through one of those mesh coffee filters for a few hours...as though I were making lebbne (yogurt cheese)...just until most of the whey had filtered out. Then, just using fingertips, I applied a thin layer of yogurt to the irritated area, and let it sit for 15-20 minutes, then removed with an warm/cool damp clean cloth.
Assuming 4-6 applications per day, I got rid of the irritation in about 3 days, if I remember correctly.
(Again, I know it probably sound weird to anyone who didn't grow up with flower children parents...but I swear, yogurt is an unsung medical miracle.)
posted by dejah420 at 8:05 PM on December 17, 2009
This will sound really weird, but applying organic, full fat, yogurt helped my irritation go away.
What I did is make yogurt from whole milk, but any commercial yogurt with no additives, sugars, flavors, etc should be fine, and then strained it through one of those mesh coffee filters for a few hours...as though I were making lebbne (yogurt cheese)...just until most of the whey had filtered out. Then, just using fingertips, I applied a thin layer of yogurt to the irritated area, and let it sit for 15-20 minutes, then removed with an warm/cool damp clean cloth.
Assuming 4-6 applications per day, I got rid of the irritation in about 3 days, if I remember correctly.
(Again, I know it probably sound weird to anyone who didn't grow up with flower children parents...but I swear, yogurt is an unsung medical miracle.)
posted by dejah420 at 8:05 PM on December 17, 2009
Piling on here in favor of dejah420's solution. Me too, and yogurt (plain, of course) applied to the affected areas worked a miracle. Antibiotics kill pretty much everything, even the benevolent microorganisms that live in mucous membranes which can, in turn, cause thrush/candida overgrowth reactions. Take acidophilus capsules orally for a couple of weeks if you really want to accelerate your healing.
posted by Lynsey at 10:11 PM on December 17, 2009
posted by Lynsey at 10:11 PM on December 17, 2009
« Older What first sparked your interest in computers? | Why am I in love with my husband's best friend? Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Wordwoman at 2:14 PM on December 17, 2009