Happy New Year!

I have been negligent about posting, which in my case is a good thing. I have been doing pretty well since I last posted. I have discontinued my use of amphi/bactro gel and am just using the Estrace at night. I will sometimes use Estrace in the morning if things are starting to feel "suspicious" down there. I have also determined that it is really important for me to stay hydrated. I have a tendency to get a little burny if I am not very hydrated.

I am still having the random "cysts". I have been repeatedly assured that they are normal by the doctors and not sign of any larger issue, but they still make me nervous. I never had them prior to DIV. There is no rhyme or reason to the pattern of appearance--I have tried tracking to no avail.

I hope this continues!

Update

I am about halfway through until my next follow up visit. I think I have found some kind of balance with my new medication combo. I am supposed to be using the compounding cream twice a day--but I am only using it once a day in the morning. I am not supposed to use it at the same time as the Estrace, and when I went with out the Estrace for two weeks things started to go south (no pun intended). So I am using the compounding cream in the morning and the Estrace in the evening before bed. I am generally doing okay.

One thing that I have mention before that I am experiencing are the cysts. They show up about once a month with no pattern to the time of the month. My doctors have confirmed they are cysts, but have no reason for why I am getting them. Has anyone else experienced this too?

And We're Back to This Again

I saw my doctor again for my 3 month follow up. We are keeping the DIV diagnosis but adding back in the provoked vulvodynia diagnosis for the perinum area. I thought I had ripped it, but I was wrong. I am now waiting for a compound cream to just do in that area. I am really nervous about adding something to the mix, because I have been having a lot of good days with just the Estrace cream, although I will admit that I am worried that I am starting to slip in the sex comfortableness area. I keep reminding myself that this is only for 2 months and if it doesn't work we can go back to what I am doing. I am just worried that if it aggravates the situation I won't be able to go back.

Why oh Why can't my vagina behave normally!

So I have been doing pretty well the last few weeks, however, nothing is ever easy with this situation! I had pain while wiping so I checked it out and found a dime sized lump on my labia minora. It is painful to the touch, hard, smooth and with no head. I am STD free and in a monogamous relationship, but neeedless to say this has caused me a major freak out. My friend thinks it might be a boil. I have emailed my specialist to see what she thinks and if I should go see her, go into my regular doctor, or wait this out. I have also looked up all the Estrace side effects to see if this is one of them. I hate this and I hate how freaked out I get whenever anything happens to me down there! And of course with my luck things like this only happen down there after 6pm when the doctors offices are all closed!

Pattern to the Pain

I have been tracking how things feel "down there" for the last several months in a journal and I am definately seeing a pattern regarding when I hurt and when I am okay. The most interesting part is that there it appears to be a pattern and it appears to be linked to my cycle.

Trying the Gym Out Again

So after not going to the gym since September because I have been trying to get the DIV under control, I decided today was the day to give it a try. I have been doing pretty well for the last month with my estrogen treatments and I am NOT liking how my spring clothes are fitting so I figured I need to try something. I wore my loosest pants and did about 20 minutes on the recumbant bike and 20 minutes on the elliptical machine. Then I flew home, showered and put on a nightgown so I would have no clothing pressure.

I definately am out of shape and kind of horrified that my bum and legs hurt after 20 minutes on the bike, but on the other hand I am proud of myself for biting the bullet and giving it a try. So far tonight I doing okay afterwards, so keep your fingers crossed I have not aggravated the DIV because I would like to try again on Thursday!

Dear Prudie Question

Article on Slate from last Thursday regarding someone with similar pain issues. Check it out at http://www.slate.com/id/2249388/