vulvodynia?

[vmac]

I had a supracervical hyterectomy 5 years ago, and cannot take estrogen replacement of any kind, due to the extreme constipation it causes me.  5 years later, I am now having pain in my vaginal and cervical area, which seems now to only get worse when I try to apply any kind of feminine lubricant. The pain is so bad at times that it throbs. I have been to the emergency room 3 times for this over the past 5 years. I have been reading about "vulvodynia" and wonder if I have this. I know that I do have genital herpes ( which has caused me bladder and urethral neuralgia since I was 21. )
When the pain I'm having now, is really bad, it seems to radiate to different parts of my abdomen, and down the inside of my right thigh,  and I feel chilled and sick all over. I have had some luck with antibiotics with previous attacks ( my doctor and I thinking they were bacterial infections in the place where the uterus was removed. ) But now I notice that the pain continues even after taking antibiotics.

Is it possible that I am having herpes neuralgia, which has now included the cervix and vaginal area, and not just my bladder area? or:

Could my pain be due to adhesions? I am prone to these.  


This discussion is related to Herpes or Vulvodynia.

[auntiejessi]

Oh wow hon - I'm sorry you are going through all this.

Can you use an estrogen insert vaginally?  I'm sure that your vaginal tissues are very thin and dry from lack of estrogen (called atrophic vaginitis).  There is something called vagifem that might help, if you can take estrogen even genitally.

This really could be from herpes, or from the hysterectomy, or its something different causing the vulvodynia.  If you've had PHN for a long time, then maybe its that.

When they are treating you for bacterial infections, are they testing you or just assuming?  I had a hysterectomy almost 5 years ago, but they also took my cervix.  They should still be able to get in there and test for an infection.

Whatever the cause though, this can be treated.  There are good treatment approaches for vulvodynia now, and also for PHN.  The thing about PHN though, is that it doesn't directly affect the cervix or bladder.  Its the nerves to it and around it that are affected.  

AND (yeah, I know - more possibilities), this could be adhesions.  If you get a pulling feeling, that could mean adhesions.

I also have herpes, but got it after my hysterectomy, and can take estrogen.  I'm sorry you are feeling so lousy.  Not to offend you or anything, but I'm assuming you tried increasing fiber, water and maybe used stool softeners when you were on the estrogen?  I ask this because its sometimes the very simple things our docs over look.

AJ

[rily]

I have had vulvodynia for 8yrs and my symtoms ars somewhat like yours. I have alot of burning more than anything,I have been to many doctors with really no luck.This disease is very hard to treat I have tryed so many different pills but I didnt like the way they made me feel. Some doctors have never even heard of this,And i know there are so many women suffering with this!I wish they would do more studies on this! I just pray alot that always helps,anyway good luck to you hope you find relief soon!