Odd health question - is anyone familiar with a conditon called Vulvodynia?

[Anonymous]

This falls into the potential category of TMI - but I had a second c-section last month. Immediately following (like, that night) I started experiencing what I can only describe as extreme burning/stabbing/throbbing pains around my vaginal area (in the right side of the labia, if I'm describing it correctly). Since then, it has continued. It is by far the worst at night when I'm in bed and the only way I find some relief is to actually sit up and even better, walk around, which provides some relief so that hopefully I can get back to sleep before the pain comes back and continues to keep me awake. I did make an special appt. for this with my OB/GYN. She did an exam and seemed a bit puzzled. She recommended a few things (ice pack, ibuprofen) and mostly decided to take a "wait and see" approach and talk about it again at my six week appt. (next week). After much searching through Dr. Google, I finally came across something that matches my symptoms - Vulvodynia. Just curious if anyone here has experienced this as well or is familiar with this condition? If so, how did you find relief? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

I suffered from vulvodynia. Hopefully that is not what you are experiencing.

There are two pretty good books. One is called "The V Book" and the other is "The Vulvodynia Survival Guide."

[Anonymous]

I am familiar with it.

There's an organization:

http://www.nva.org

[Anonymous]

From the website linked above:

Monday's Dr. Oz Show Features Vulvodynia Segment
Be sure to tune into The Dr. Oz Show on Monday, January 11th, when Dr. Oz will discuss the diagnosis and treatment of vulvodynia with Jennifer Ashton, MD, a New Jersey-based obstetrician-gynecologist and CBS News medical correspondent. The segment also features interviews with Lisa and Debbie, two vulvodynia sufferers, as well as with Christin Veasley, NVA's associate executive director, and her husband Melvin.

Visit these sites to check your local listings:

http://www.doctoroz.com/sites/default/files/oz_wheretowatch.pdf

http://www.tvguide.com/Listings/default.aspx

After the broadcast, please take a few minutes to visit the show’s web site and send a brief e-mail to Dr. Oz and the show’s producers. Let them know that you appreciate their coverage of this important women’s pain condition and that you’d like to see it covered again in the future. You may do so here: http://doctoroz.com/contact.

[Anonymous]

Also: "Everything you wanted to know about vulvodynia":

http://learnpatient.nva.org/

[Anonymous]

OP here Thanks for the quick recommendations. I can't believe it so happens there's going to be a Dr. Oz show about it on Monday. I'll definitely be tuning in.

13:08 - Were your symptoms mild or limited in the beginning and then gradually got worse? The burning at night is pretty intense and uncomfortable but so far my day symptoms have been extremely mild to nonexistent. Yet, even in the past couple of days I'm starting to notice slightly increasing pain during the day as well which makes me nervous that it's getting worse.

[Anonymous]

Find a new OB/GYN and get a second opinion. I lived with pain for years, because I assumed I wouldn't be taken seriously. When I finally cracked (was heading toward divorce) my doctor took me very seriously.

Is it like inflamed skin pain? If so, try aveeno oatmeal bath. Also, you can put aquafor on the area and see if that offers you any relief. What also helped me is switching to organic cotton underwear. Expensive, non-sexy, but so worth the lack of pain. Stop wearing any pants that may be tight in the crotch area.

My OB actually prescribed me a pain-relieving ointment. It made a world of difference. But I can't remember if it was vulvodynia or something similar (I remember when I googled the term, they both came up togethor).

[Anonymous]

OP -- try these specialists:

http://www.cvvd.org/contact

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP -- try these specialists:

http://www.cvvd.org/contact

I had a very negative experience with this practice. I saw Dr. Andrew Goldstein in D.C. He said that he couldn't do anything at all for pain that was not intercourse pain. In other words, generalized pain when the area is not being touched. For intercourse pain (i.e., vulvar vestibulitis) he would perform surgery. $850 fee, doesn't take insurance. He also wouldn't listen to me at all.