The Cure?

6 years ago, I suddenly had the most horrifying burning in a place that is meant to give birth and have joy. It happened on a weekend, so I went to an emergency room and the nightmare was about to begin. The doctor on duty took a smear test and told me I needed to see an OBGYN, gave me DYFLUCAN pills to take and to call my doctor on Monday. I took the pills and tried to make an appointment with my regular OBGYN, he believed this was not serious enough a problem for a visit and prescribed more Dyflucan on the phone, needless to say: It got worse.

To make the story short, I saw 6 doctors, each attempting another medication. Finally the smear test taken at the Emergency place I had gone to earlier got back and showed that I had an echoli (bacterial infection) and needed antibiotics, not anti yeast medication, which actually caused a yeast infection on top of the bacterial infection.

Finally finding #7 doctor, by this time having a full-blown yeast infection, # 7 then gave me 7 DYFLUCAN pills (Label saying to take no more than one pill, if needed, repeat after 10 days}. By that time I had taken 12 within 10 days. I was burning, as if a burning torch was between my legs, no sleep, no relief, only horrible pain. No Doctor wanted to handle this affliction. My GP, sent me a registered letter, telling he no longer could be my GP, because He could not handle my problem and it was his right to not treat me as his patient any longer. BESIDES BEING IN SO MUCH PAIN, my emotions ran wild, I simply wanted to die. Could not wear clothing below the belt, because it caused immense pain. Days ran into weeks, weeks into months, my life was at a stand still, my business down the drain. . Finally I was referred to a Dermatologist, she at least knew what I had and gave it a name: VULVODYNIA. It was obvious to her that I had severely injured my nerve endings, due to the trauma of incorrect medications and applications. Dr. Betty Bellman, in Miami FL, was my first sign that there was someone out there that at least knew what was ailing me.

She gave me heavy doses of several antidepressants. I do not react well to medication and tried to tell her that the side effects were very bad. She pushed me to take them or “how could she help me” I took higher and higher doses. I am an older person and my heart, blood pressure and general health got as bad as the VULVODYNIA. The pain was slightly better, because I was doped up. I then got a lung infection, a side effect on page 30 of the warnings about Amitriptyline. My new and wonderful Internist told me I had to wean off the medications, which gave me the side effects. My health improved, but VULVODYNIA was still there.

Some one suggested a wonderful (HAH) new doctor in Atlanta Georgia, (mind you I live in Florida). He specializes in VULVODYNIA and surely he would help me. So, I put my dog and my husband in the car and we drove 700 miles to Atlanta. And went to this genius. He greets me with hand extended, shaking my hand vigorously and saying “Congratulations, you are my last VULVODYNIA patient, my accountant told me I can not afford to have any more of you VV ladies, because I can see three patients in the time it takes to see or treat one of you. “ I was flabbergasted and my mouth fell open. He then said, that he would examine me anyhow. (How kind of him) He then left the room for 15 minutes in the very vulnerable position of female examination (ladies we all know that one). 15 minutes later he returns, jubilant and said to me: You see, I can see 3 patients in the mean time. I got more and more upset by this man and his method, I allowed him to look at my painful lady parts and he said: “Ah yes, you have VULVODYNIA, I can operate on you, we could do it this afternoon, but you would have to stay in Atlanta overnight, or more and there will be some pain, but you are used to that aren’t you? So let me explain what we can do:

“ In short horrifying terms, he would use a laser on the vulva. I AM NOT EVEN ABLE TO USE TOILET PAPER I SCREAMED AT HIM. I put my clothes on and ran out of that office so fast, to my husband waiting patiently with our dog, in the car. Sobbing out my story to him and urging him to drive away fast, I wanted to get as far as possible from the horrible pain-inflicting idiot. Oh my God, what else can these doctors do to our poor female parts?

Of course the story does not end there, it has many other moments with in a period of 3 years. The end result is that helping myself and getting feedback from others with VULVODYNIA, helping others with my experiences and supporting them. Getting support from my husband and from the new and great doctors I have found through this mess.

DR. Maryann Child succeeded to make some of the symptoms get lighter and there finally was some relief after several sessions. NO side effects, also I found great help from the Internet in the VULVODYNIA Support web page, Lauren Kunis being kind enough to have this helpful page). Finding many ladies who suffer from the same nasty problem.

I now have many good days, when it flares up I panic that it will start all over again, but, good days return. I take no medication for the VV; my only medication is for the blood pressure.

There is a light at the end of this tunnel and I turned the switch on myself.