Re: F/U Question to Dr. Montgomery Re: Extreme Vaginal Discomfort - Need as many opinions as possible
From: Robin (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Thu, 10 Aug 2000 18:53:17 -0500 (CDT)
Hi Lisa,
I'm not Dr. Montgomery, nor am I even a Dr., but I can tell you what
the biopsy is like, as I have had one myself.
They put you on the table and your feet in the stirrups. The Dr. will
use Lidocaine to numb the area that will be biopsied. I won't kid you,
it does hurt....even with the Lidocaine, but the pain did subside after
several hours. It is a very small piece that is removed. The Dr. may
biopsy several areas, or if there is just one area that is bothering
you, then s/he will only biopsy that one area. It takes just a couple
of seconds to do the biopsy. Not long at all.
I hope this helps. It is a good idea to go ahead with a vulvar biopsy
to make sure that they are treating you correctly, as you have said,
nothing has been helping. I went through quite a long while with
itching, being incredibly raw, burning, pain, etc. It was found to be
something of dermatologic in nature. My OBGYN consulted with a
Dermatologist that does deal with Women's Health Issues, and he told him
what to Rx for me, and it did help. I have had to go back to the
treatment a few times, but it worked in a matter of a day or two.
Good luck, and please, keep us posted.
I hope I explained everything well enough.
--
Robin
At Thu, 10 Aug 2000, Lisa wrote:
>
>>At Wed, 9 Aug 2000, Lisa wrote:
>>>
>>>I have been suffering with severe discomfort in my vaginal area
>>>(particularly in the labia minora)for about 4 months. I have been
>>>experiencing burning, irritation, and rawness, but no itching or
>>>discharge. I am not sexually active and I have not changed soaps or
>>>anything like that.
>>>
>>>I have gone to my GYN several times and he seems to believe it is
>>>"vaginitis" and a yeast infection. He has given me many different
>>>creams which have provided some relief, but no cure, and today I feel
>>>like that area of my body is on fire. He also prescribed a vaginal
>>>suppository for the yeast, but it only gave me temporary relief as well.
>>>
>>>I am so frustrated and miserable. I would really appreciate some help.
>>>Thanks.
>>
>>Lisa,
>>I am going to make you an expert in vulvar problems right now. The
>>rules to treat vulvar symptoms are very straight forward. At the first
>>presentation, you listen to the symptoms and do the standard swab of the
>>vaginal/vulvar secretions and place them on a slide to look for the
>>common causes of symptoms, such as yeast, gardnerella, trichomonas and
>>you treat what you think you might see. The second presentation with
>>the same symptoms warrants formal cultures of the vulva/vagina that are
>>sent to the lab to see if anything grows that can be treated
>>specifically. At the third presentation for the same symptoms, you
>>don't have a diagnosis yet because the patient (you in this case)hasn't
>>gotten any relief with the things you have tried for infections. To get
>>the diagnosis, you now need to do a vulvar biopsy. This is a little
>>biopsy that allows the pathologist to tell you exactly what is going on
>>in the skin in the area that is causing the symptoms. There are a
>>plethora of vulvar problems that require specific treatment and aren't
>>infections. The only way to appropriately direct treatment is to get a
>>biopsy. That is where you are currently at-you need a biopsy of the
>>problem area. Now you are qualified to treat everybodies vulvar
>>problems on the Forum...
>>Lynn
>>--
>>Lynn D. Montgomery, MD
>>Director, Maternal-Fetal Medicine
>>Rocky Mountain Perinatal Center
>>Missoula, Montana
>>
>Dr. Mongomery: Could you tell me exactly what the biopsy involves? Does
>it hurt? If so, how much? Is an effective anesthetic used? How long does
>the procedure last? Thanks.
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