OP, if your insurance kicks in next week, you can try to treat at home first. Get one of the over the counter and use it religiously. Be sure to use some of the cream where it hurts. You can also try to take a bath with some vinegar in the water, but if you are burning that badly, I'd skip that step. Some yeast does not respond to the over the counter meds, but you'll know by next week, and be able to get to the doc.

Yes, quite likely. I agree with the pp who said it sounds like it is more in your vulvar tissues. I am very prone to yeast of this variety and you have described how it presents for me -- very raw.

Do see a doctor, but if the vaginal swab doesn't show yeast make sure they do a vulvar swab as well. Also good to rule out bacterial causes but as this came on the tail of a z-pack it is almost certainly yeast.

If you're feeling raw, for the love of god do not get one of the topical itch creams, trust me. Fine if itchy, yes, antifungal, but if you're at the point of broken skin they can be excruciating.

I'm actually having a very similiar issue. And I don't mention it to DH because I know he'd make a nasty comment like that (hugs). I've been on hold with my doctors office and finally gave up.

Anyway, until I can actually talk to someone to get an appointment, I've started to use Tea tree oil - wet a cotton ball with water, and a little tea tree oil, and dab it to the affected area. You can get tea tree oil at CVS.

I think mine is from excess sweat/heat/chaffing from going on a run during lunch earlier this week.

Thanks so much ladies. I'm new to the area and haven't made a ton of friends here. My mother or elderly aunts might vaporize if I used the word vulva or burning lady parts in conversation with them.

Our insurance goes into effect on June 1st - but if I need to I'll run to the dr anyway. Again, thank you thank you thank you.

Go to a doctor so you can know for sure what it is! Don't let your husband's asshole comment prevent you from seeking medical treatment, my dear. Assuming it's a yeast infection, then if you get one again in the future (godforbid, but I get yeast infections fairly frequently) you can treat it yourself with confidence that you know what it is.

In the meantime (like right now!), you can buy a tube of anti-itch cream for your ladyregion in the same part of CVS as the yeast infection treatments.

(And as for your question, when I get yeast infections they do often feel more like burning or hotness rather than itching. There is generally a change in my discharge but it's not always a huge amount, just somewhat thicker than usual.)

Anonymous wrote:OP, I don't know how you've managed to live with it for so long already! I'd get to the Dr ASAP so you know whether it's yeast or bacterial. That way, you get an effective treatment right away and you'll also know what to look for next time. (And since it isn't itchy, just painful, I'd get a Dr.'s diagnosis.)

Itchy is usually an internal infection. If it's just the outer area it's more likely to be burning. Doesn't sound bacterial because there is no discharge or smell.

Anonymous wrote:Do I need to see the doctor or can I treat this myself? It's really not internal but it's so painful, I feel like I'm going to wipe skin off every time I use the rest room. I guess I can apply a yeast cream externally.

Do a week long course of monistat and put some of the cream on the outside too twice a day. That should clear it up. YOu should do the internal one along with externally because there is bound to be a bit in there.

OP, I don't know how you've managed to live with it for so long already! I'd get to the Dr ASAP so you know whether it's yeast or bacterial. That way, you get an effective treatment right away and you'll also know what to look for next time. (And since it isn't itchy, just painful, I'd get a Dr.'s diagnosis.)

I take garlic and probiotics when I have a lady infection. I don't do garlic pills, I actually chop up garlic, let it get exposed to the air for a bit and then swallow the pieces like pills. For comfort in that area, I put PLAIN yogurt on it. PLAIN...not vanilla, nothing with sugar but plain yogurt helps soothe it. And you should always take probiotics when you are taking an antibiotic but they are good to take regularly anyway.

That is what I do. You should do what you feel comfortable with. Good luck.

It could also be a bacterial infection. Believe it or not, you can get a kit at CVS that tells you whether you have a bacterial infection -- you can find it near the yeast infection meds.

But honestly, if it's that bad, why not just go to the doctor?

Do I need to see the doctor or can I treat this myself? It's really not internal but it's so painful, I feel like I'm going to wipe skin off every time I use the rest room. I guess I can apply a yeast cream externally.

I always get one with zpack- because it's so strong and fast acting.

Yes, it's yeast. It just means it's your vulvar tissue that is infected. If the infection isn't deep in your vagina you won't get a lot of discharge.

Your husband's comment was nasty...I hope you told him he was acting like a jerk.

OP, you should definitely see a doctor. Sounds like a urinary tract infection (but I am not a doctor). It is treatable. DO NOT SUFFER ANYMORE!!!!! Go to the doctor asap and forget your husband. It's your body - get help!! Good luck!

and is there always discharge?

I think I may have one. I feel kind of burny down there. I'm almost raw, like the skin is thinned out and it hurts to wipe after I pee. It burns to pee, not the sensation of urinating but the urine hitting my vulva. I'm not itchy at all, just this burn-like feeling that wont go away, it's worse in the evening or after I wipe when I go to the bathroom. It's horrible after sex so I've been avoiding sex. I thought it was a yeast infection but the thing its there is no yeasty discharge which makes me second guess myself.

I was on a zpack for a mild ear infection but I honestly had this burning prior to taking the zpack.

I am also taking topamax, synthroid, & zoloft. I don't see that a flaming raw vulva is a side effect of either med. This really seems to have started in the last month.

Of course I very casually mentioned to my husband that I wanted to head to the doctor because I felt a horrible burning pain when I went to the bathroom and I wanted to get checked out, he looked at me like I was nuts and asked me who I was sleeping with.

Any advice or any suggestions on what this might be other than an STD - I doubt it is. DH works from home and I am not sleeping with anyone else. What is this crazy raw vulva that burns like hell with no vaginal discharge. Please advise.