I've had pelvic and vulva pain for 14 months, starting with the birth of my daughter in February 2016. Sometimes it is a burning pain, sometimes aching, and sometimes pressure like during childbirth. I almost always feel the pain, especially while standing and walking, often it hurts so badly I have to lay down.
I am currently seeing a specialist at a vulvodynia clinic near my home. She believes my symptoms are caused by tightened pelvic floor muscles - tightened in response to pain from frequent yeast infections, which I had no idea I was having. So her plan is to get the yeast under control, then pursue physical therapy to work on relaxing my pelvic floor muscles.
I believe this is a logical, practical plan, but the pain is affecting every single area of my life, and I'm desperate for relief. I'm wondering if any of you have experiences similar to mine, especially in regards to frequent yeast infections as a source of muscle tension and pain?
Thanks so much for reading,
Love, J
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mrsmousey
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I haven't had frequent yeast infections but I've had overly tight pelvic floor muscles or pelvic floor dysfunction as it's sometimes called in response From pain from endometriosis, adenomyosis and painful bladder syndrome. I went private for physiotherapy as I could be seen the following week rather than waiting on a list for a women's physiotherapist. It has helped me enormously and I'm going back to see her again as I can feel some of the symptoms of muscle pain creeping back in. I went to the women's health physiotherapist on the advice of my endometriosis specialist and it's great that this option has been suggested to you as frequently pelvic floor dysfunction is overlooked by gynaecologists and specialists as a source of pain. Feel free to ask any questions here and I will be happy to answer them for you or you can message me privately if you prefer
Thank you so, so much for taking the time to read my post and reply, it means more than you may know!! I am curious as to what you use for birth control? I currently have Mirena iud but I don't love it -and- I read recently that it can cause recurrent yeast infections.
That's not a problem I'm happy to help especially as I know how isolating pelvic pain can be. I am on zoladex which isn't a birth control - it creates a chemical menopause but condoms still have to be used as there is still the chance of pregnancy. Unfortunately birth control pills, mirena etc were all ineffective for controlling the adenomyosis along with the 3 week long periods and extreme pain. It also helps with the pain from endometriosis but I'm due to have another laparoscopy for that in the next few months to remove all endometriosis. I never got on with the mirena despite two attempts but would have stuck to it if it had helped. It is something that you either got on with or you don't. Have you tried the implant in the arm? That might be an option for you as it's very similar to the mirena but doesn't feel as invasive as the mirena as that what puts a lot of women off trying it I've added a link to the nexplanon site with further information please don't be put off the side effects - the zoladex treatment I'm on I'm one of the small number of women to not get a single side effect despite the information leaflet dedicating a whole page of potential side effects
I think with most birth control there is the chance of recurring yeast infections and progesterone only pills aren't effective for preventing pregnancy. Has your specialist suggested anything? I'm just wondering if it's possible that it's something you are using such as washing powder and conditioner, soaps etc. Also has your partner been treated for yeast infection? It's just men often show no symptoms so it goes undetected and he could be reinfecting each time - so it gives the impression the infection is a chronic recurring one when really it isn't. The specialist wouldn't need to see your partner he can simply present to his GP.
I hope this helps and once again feel free to ask any questions
Hello you could try vagikool it's a freezer gel pack that my daughter uses and it helps with the vulval pain. We also got a tens machine which she says takes away the pain. We have only had it for a few days so are still on the low settings but so far so good.
I ordered a vagi kool, it just arrived today and it is in the freezer now, I'm looking forward to trying it! Glad your daughter is finding some relief.
hello we the miropure rechargeable massager unit the 12 mode one £25 on Amazon as it's fda approved we got a cheap made in china one which hurt so don't do that lol
I'm new on here too. OMG....this is exactly what's I'm feeling. But the pain is in my vulva and rectum. I've been trying to figure out what to do. I'm as clueless to what it is. How did it happen? It is ruining my life!! I feel like a prisoner in my own home. Scared to even use the bathroom or walk or sit. Right now I don't have an doctor. I've been going to this free clinic and the nurse practitioner is as clueless as me. Any advice on how to control it any one?
Ice helps me tremendously! I haven't yet tried the vagi kool i ordered but i was using frozen condoms for relief: fill a condom with 1/2 water and 1/2 rubbing alcohol or 2/3 water and 1/3 rubbing alcohol. The alcohol is to keep it from freezing completely solid. I wrap mine in a damp paper towel and lay it on my vulva. Depending on how tight/sore you are it can be inserted as well, I haven't been able to do that though.
I hope you are able to find some relief! Another thing that helps me is using my peri bottle after peeing instead of just toilet paper. Do you have a peri bottle? Mine's from my delivery, it's really just a squirt bottle though, nothing too special!
I have a squirt bottle. My vulva....where can I purchase a vagina cool? Thanks by the way for the condom method. I going to try it. Now I've heard something about a ten machine. Have you tried that? Just curious?
I have not tried a tens machine. I purchased my vagi kool from Amazon! It was about $25 for the cold pack and ten sleeves for it.
Have you tried physical therapy? My vulvar pain is caused my pelvic floor muscle dysfunction so in the past physical therapy has helped some... it was painful though.
No I haven't tried physical therapy. How does that go? Do your doctor set it up or do you go to a specialist? Was it a waste of time? I'm trying to find a doctor who can tell me more on this situation. Was your doctor helpful?
Go to your nearest walk in sexual health clinic as they usually have walk in clinics and they will be more helpful than a&e and the Drs if they don't know about vulval pain. That's the quickest way to be seen. My daughter uses a vagikool icepack to help with the pain so you could try something cool down there and memory foam cushion for sitting on and a tens machine. Good luck Hun.
My obgyn was incredibly helpful. He's in a practice with 10-15 other drs so i imagine they see women in our situation pretty often. He referred me to physical therapy and his office prior authorized it through my insurance. It was expensive because we hadn't met our deductible at the time so most was paid out of pocket, but on the plus side, now our deductible is met for the rest of the year
Kelly (my therapist) did a pelvic exam to assess my muscles and if I was prolapsing. The actual sessions consisted of her putting her fingers inside my vagina and pressing on specific points of my pain (trigger points) while I did contracted/released my muscles in line with my breathing. It is PAINFUL but gradually started to be less painful as I kept going, usually once a week or once every other week. My home exercises involved breathing and stretching my pelvic floor muscles.
So I did benefit from it but it seemed it kinda leveled off - eventually it felt like I wasn't improving as much as I had in the first few months. I am planning to go back soon though, because I feel so tight and in so much pain. It seems it was helping me more than I thought ?
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