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How to diagnosis chronic, itchy vulva - all tests negative?
In June 2016 I had sudden onset vulvar itching. It is mostly limited to the labia majora and labia minora. It is very intense - I thought maybe it was a yeast infection so I went to see my doctor and she tested me for everything. Yeast, STDS (even though I am not sexually active and have never been), ureaplasma/mycoplasma, allergies, BV, etc. Nothing came back positive. Tests were repeated twice. Still negative. There is no redness or bumps or anything that my doctor can see that is abnormal. No abnormal discharge or smell.
So I am doing the following: - Using hypoallergenic detergent - Hypoallergenic soap and shampoo - Double rinsing underwear after washing - washing vulva thoroughly with water in the shower (no soap directly on it) - washing with water after I use the bathroom - applying ice - applying lidocaine and using antihistamines daily - only wearing white cotton underwear - no underwear at night
I went to my OBGYN and she gave me lidocaine gel and antihistamines to take daily which I have been doing for 6 months. Lidocaine relieves the itching for about 1-2 hours but I have to reapply like crazy. It is especially bad at work as I have to take bathroom breaks every 1-2 hours to reapply gel.
I literally feel like I have chickenpox, that's how bad the itching is. My issue right now is that I have no relief. Not even for 1 day. I have tried everything. I am considering seeing a dermatologist to get another opinion but I am losing hope.
My doctor thought it could be lichen simplex and gave me a steroid cream to use for a few weeks. It did not improve.
I just want this to stop. If I have to deal with this forever I don't think I can cope with that. I wake up multiple times during the night because of the itching. If any one has had this experience before and has found a cure - please let me know what you did to make it stop. Even just a few weeks of relief would be amazing. Please only suggest things that I have not tried yet. I'm using this as my last resort because I am not getting anywhere with my doctors. I'm willing to try anything.
So I am doing the following: - Using hypoallergenic detergent - Hypoallergenic soap and shampoo - Double rinsing underwear after washing - washing vulva thoroughly with water in the shower (no soap directly on it) - washing with water after I use the bathroom - applying ice - applying lidocaine and using antihistamines daily - only wearing white cotton underwear - no underwear at night
I went to my OBGYN and she gave me lidocaine gel and antihistamines to take daily which I have been doing for 6 months. Lidocaine relieves the itching for about 1-2 hours but I have to reapply like crazy. It is especially bad at work as I have to take bathroom breaks every 1-2 hours to reapply gel.
I literally feel like I have chickenpox, that's how bad the itching is. My issue right now is that I have no relief. Not even for 1 day. I have tried everything. I am considering seeing a dermatologist to get another opinion but I am losing hope.
My doctor thought it could be lichen simplex and gave me a steroid cream to use for a few weeks. It did not improve.
I just want this to stop. If I have to deal with this forever I don't think I can cope with that. I wake up multiple times during the night because of the itching. If any one has had this experience before and has found a cure - please let me know what you did to make it stop. Even just a few weeks of relief would be amazing. Please only suggest things that I have not tried yet. I'm using this as my last resort because I am not getting anywhere with my doctors. I'm willing to try anything.
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