trulyblue

Hi, Karen!  My name is Donna.  I am 52 years old and have been diagnosed with vaginal and vulvar dysplasia, as well as the lichen sclerosis previously spoken of in this message discussion.  Although I have not used Aldara, my Effudex treatment sounds very similar .....  created open sores, burning, and escruciating pain.  I am fair complected, strawberry blonde hair .... well, before coloring to hide gray (HA!) ... and freckles.  My gyn/onc prescribed Lidocaine, which numbs the area and stops itching.  This is applied topically as needed.  He also suggested Diaparene as a protective agent.  Who would have ever thought I would be buying Diaparene at age  52, let alone to use on myself.  Both of these did help, but there was still pain.  I had so many sores after the first three treatments that I had to stop for a month.  In any event, I return on 7/14 to see if the treatment worked, and if not, what is the next step.  I am scared and already frustrated with the pain from my treatment.  Reading about treatments for this disease is very, very scary and stressful.  Thanks to everyone who shares on this forum.  I makes me feel I'm not alone.

I am so glad that you have the 6-month reprieve!  I'll be waiting to hear about your next visit. 

 I use a steriod cream for the LS in between treatments, as well as lidocaine for pain and itching from the Effudex treatments, in between treatments.  I also use a diaper cream to protect areas from burning.  OUCH!!!!  I have 2 treatments left.  My next appointment is July 14th to see if it worked.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

 Take Care,

Donna

 

On 4/12/2008 trulyblue wrote:

I have been diagnosed with mild vaginal and vulvar dysplasia which is multifocal.  I also have lichen sclerosis.  Even though my dysplasia is mild, because of the multiple locations, the gyn/onc is treating me with Effudex.  OMG!!!  Talk about painful!  I only did 3 treatments, and the pain was almost unbearable.  I returned to the gyn/onc for a checkup and I explained that I had not done a treatment in 10 days.  I apparently had a lot of escoriation and ulcers both vaginally and vulvar.  I am not to begin treatments again for other 2 weeks.  The doctor prescribed lidocaine for the pain/itching, as well as suggested I use Desitine for protection.  My question is:  Is this much pain common?  Will it get better with continued treatments, or is this pain I will have to live with until my 12th treatment in early June?  I appreciate your input.

Hi, Carol!  Sorry it took so long to respond.  I did continue the Effudex treatments.  The doctor lessened the amount of Effudex in half and also lenthened the time within application, so it is not as bad.  However, I am spotting vaginally now and perhaps in my vulva.  I have very deep pain occasionally in my vulva.  I'm not sure what that is about.  Treatments are at bedtime, and the next day, I feel completely exhausted with abdominal and vulvar pain.  I'm not sure why that occurs.  I just know it does.  I have three more treatments.  Then I wait six weeks.  I go back July 14th to see if it worked.  I'm just very glad right now I am on summer break so I can rest.  I feel very tired.  However, apparently after 50 one falls apart, because I am now being checked for diabetes.  I was healthy a couple of years ago.  It is very frustrating to have all of this at once. Thank you for your inquiry.  I will post further as time goes by.  I have another treatment tonight.  Take care ....

I have been diagnosed with mild vaginal and vulvar dysplasia which is multifocal.  I also have lichen sclerosis.  Even though my dysplasia is mild, because of the multiple locations, the gyn/onc is treating me with Effudex.  OMG!!!  Talk about painful!  I only did 3 treatments, and the pain was almost unbearable.  I returned to the gyn/onc for a checkup and I explained that I had not done a treatment in 10 days.  I apparently had a lot of escoriation and ulcers both vaginally and vulvar.  I am not to begin treatments again for other 2 weeks.  The doctor prescribed lidocaine for the pain/itching, as well as suggested I use Desitine for protection.  My question is:  Is this much pain common?  Will it get better with continued treatments, or is this pain I will have to live with until my 12th treatment in early June?  I appreciate your input.

I was recently referred to an gyn/onc for dysplasia of the vagina and vulva.  I also have been diagnosed with lichen sclerosis.  The oncologist prescribed Effudex to be used twice a week.  After 3 treatments, the pain was horrible.  The burning everytime I urinated made me shake.  I waited for 10 days until my next appointment before doing another treatment.  I was told I had lots of redness still from the treatments, to wait another 2 weeks before continuing treatments, and prescribed lidocaine to help with the pain and itching.  I would be interested in hearing from anyone else who has undergone this type of treatment.  I just never dreamed it would be so painful.