Post by ouchy on Feb 9, 2006 1:14:17 GMT -5
My gyn. has totally helped me by doing what he should have tried in the first place! For almost 5 years I have been bothered by vaginal irritation, sometimes yeast, once overgrowth of normal bacteria, but even when the infection was cured, I still had pain, dryness, and extreme irritation. I noticed that all of my symptoms started the second time I had sex (not talking about endometriosis pain). I used a spermicide that I had an allergic reaction to, and from that moment, everything seemed to spiral downward. I decided never to use spermicide again, but anything else I would use...other lubricants, Replens, etc. would really, really irritate the vaginal lining. Well, taking continuous birth control with a high progestin for endometriosis didn't do much to help the moisture down there, either. Basically, I was dried out like with menopause, just from that alone. Then add in the 5 years of chemical irritation. My gynecologist finally realized it was a chemical irritation, switched my birth control (which i haven't tried the new brand yet--I'm finally taking a withdrawal week), and told me not to put any more chemical lubricants or anything vaginally. He told me to only use EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL as a lubricant or anytime I am feeling dry, and he told me to use...get this... CRISCO in the big blue can for vulvar irritation. Well, after only three days....I forgot what being "normal" felt like! Today is the first day in almost 5 years that I have not had ANY discomfort! I thought that a lot of this pain could have been related to my endometriosis....but I am guessing that 98% was just due to drying out and chemical irritation! And, I have to tell you that the olive oil was very soothing, and the Crisco actually worked better than the steroid creme he gave me to rub in down there! Sometimes the simplest most natural remedies work the best! And to think about it, a pure vegetable oil has to be healthier than a steroid creme! I can't express howwwwww excited (trying not to get my hopes up) I am to have a glimmer of health in my sight! Even if it was just for this one day, it has been a blessing! For anyone with sensitivities to chemicals, I totally recommend olive oil and Crisco!!!!