LOL hey orange juice and milk are another example of things that are good but not together :) Or whiskey and cigars ... but oh wait, those are actually good together and the more the better
Did you doc give you any topical steroids for the contact dermatitis? If that's what it is, even mild topical steroids (desonide is a popular one for sensitive areas) should be able to bring it down quickly. Weird that you would get the irritation only in the vulva area, but maybe nitroglycerin or its metabolites are excreted in urine?
If it makes you feel any better (probably not), our docs here don't really know much about applying the various fissure ointments either. It's like black magic, and everyone has their own way of doing it. I was a fan of the "baby oral syringe in the butt" approach but some others swear by the "finger in the bunghole" method In fact if you look at the medical literature, even it doesn't have any real agreement on the single best way. If you're getting it around the anal opening and maybe ever so slightly inside, you should be doing it right.

Yeah, the Gynae gave me a topical steroid cream called Dermol. I've been using it for a few weeks now, but the situation hasn't improved that much. If it was the Nitro, then perhaps it will just take a little more time! I did use it for a long time ... about 6 months. I've done some searching and found that Nitro is excreted via the Kidneys and urinary route, so perhaps that is why I've had irritation in the area that urine would contact and not around the butt, where I was actually applying it.
The painful urination has actually decreased in frequency. The level of pain is still quite severe when it happens, but definitely less often. Painful urination is a documented possible side effect, but I guess not too many experience it, because it isn’t listed on the leaflet that is with the Rectogesic box. I kinda hope that this stuff is responsible for all of these problems since that would be easier, as I’m not using it anymore. Oh well, I suppose time will tell!

Hey Guys,
I just thought I'd update this post for the sake of closure. It seems that Rectogesic is definatelynot responsible for my problems with painful urination and vulval irritation. I've been diagnosed with something called Vulvodynia, which translates roughly to 'Painful Vulva Syndrome' Although it isn't generally painful ...
For me, it mascarades as thrush with basically the same symptoms of itching, burning and general discomfort.
It's essentially a pain syndrome, which is not good news as I've had some very unpleasent experience with this before (previously in my neck .... for years!) It had cleared somewhat. I thought it was gone ... No such luck. It just manifested itself somewhere else. Anyway, rest assured, Rectogesic does not cause these symptoms. I've heard no reports from anybody else having this side effect, so this supports this conclusion at least a little.
Between this and fissure, it's going to be hard to eke any happiness out of life :( Don't quite know how I'm going to continue.
Sorry to be so grim.

Oh, that's a bummer - the last thing you need is another problem down there. I really hope there is something that can be done for you with this syndrome. Is there a medication for it, or other therapy? Maybe an accupuncturist (I've never done this, but these things have you grabbing for any cure). I know it is tiring to have to be your own doctor and advocate all of the time.
Take a little mental break if you can, for a day, and then try to tackle one problem at a time. Let us know how you are doing.

Thanks BB. God, I'm just exhausted. I thought my body had thrown all the worst stuff it could at me. I've had all sorts of problems since I was about 18. But this .... permanently? ... There? Seriously, someone or something wants me dead. I've been a good person, I think. It just seems as though you'd have to do something to deserve all of this.
The Gynae has prescribed Amitriptaline (not sure of that spelling) as it can sometimes help. She said that (as ususal) I don't fit into a normal "diagnostic box", so she seemed unsure about it.
I feel like I'm nearing the end of what I can cope with.
Just, dont know what to do. Don't think I can tolerate this forever.

Dang - just lost my message! Will try to recapture it.
I can imagine that you feel exhausted - I mean, it is enough with an AF! One reason I got my AF (I think) is because I was spending about 45 minutes in the bathroom drinking gallons of water to get rid of a urinary tract infection. Now I just pray I won't ever get both at the same time. So I can only imagine how you feel. You must feel like going to the doctors and saying "could you just take away this whole section here please" (except that we need it!)
What do you think about your doctor's diagnosis? I'm a big fan of the 2nd opinion. It just seems strange that this should hit you at the same time as the AF and using medications.
Just to grab at some straws- have you had any gum problems lately? I ask because some one I know has had "lichen planus" which often affects the gums, but can also affect the vulva - it can be like a rash or a pain. It has to do with the immune system, I think. It's worth looking up.
I can imagine that you are at a low point right now - tired and hurting. I think you need to take a rest and be kind to yourself. You didn't do anything to deserve this. Just hang in there, because it will get better. If it helps, write here, and we can do all we can to help you!
Take care!

By the way - how is it going with your AF?
I just wonder - if your sphincter is in spasm, maybe it is causing other nearby bodily parts to spasm?
I am no doctor, but I've had some loose thoughts about about the inter-connections of the organs and muscles down there. And I have no idea, but I wonder whether there is a connection to some muscle spasm related hormones that ends up affecting not just the sphincter but the female organs as well. I've had some of the pain of my sphincter spasms spread over the border into the peri-anal region and also it felt like it ached in my vagina.
I'm just rambling with my ideas.
But I think in your case, a really good specialist would be key.

Hi BB,
Thanks heaps for you support. I guess I'm not exactly 'happy' with the diagnosis, if you know what I mean. However, this Dr does come highly recommended. I searched for the right person as this had been going on a while. This Doc is extreemly well qualified. The Drs at the main city Hospital said she was the best and that if she couldn't help, nobody could. Apparently, she's a bit famous in her field. I may get a second opinion though. I know it's never a bad idea!
She was very kind ... professional, but kind. I always feel anxious after seeing specialists that I have forgotten something, some crucial point or piece of information that would have changed the diagnosis or treatment. Perhaps I've forgotten to ask a really important question and now it's too late. I've got a long list building up in my mind as we speak! Stupid I guess ... The hard part is putting your trust in someone. You find out all you can about them, their credentials etc, but at the end of the day there's always a little faith involved. And stylish shoes! Of course that's a must! I will not see anyone who doesn't wear stylish shoes!!
I don't get the sphincter spasms as bad as some others on this board do. Mostly, for me the severe pain is reserved for BM time, especially now that I'm only able to use Vaseline to help it along. Unfortunately, even after about 20 months of this sillyness I still haven't gotten the food/fibre+water+laxative= MIRICLE SOFT POOP issue sorted out.
I know I'm not alone here!
Your thoughts on the "inter-connections of the organs and muscles down there" actually do strike a chord with me. This has occurred to me before aswell. I'll add it to my list of things to ask next time.
Thanks for this. I hope you're right ... I hope things do get better. I think I could cope if things got even a little bit better.

Hi Sphinctersaurus (what a name!) -
Stylish shoes! - that cracks me up! You wouldn't have liked my last doctor then. She was a nervous wreck disaster wearing sandals and socks. Anyway - somehow I picture all NZ-ers walking around with hiking boots No?
(that's about all I know about NZ, is that there are beautiful mountains!)
Sounds like you've had a lot of doctors and done a lot of leg work to find them - but that second opinion could be helpful. Also, I was thinking - maybe if you can fix the AF problem, you could see how that affects the other problem. Have you seen a surgeon or considered LIS?
You haven't reach the holy grail of Miracle Soft Poop yet? Maybe the stool softener/laxative that you are using isn't as effective as it should be? Have you tried them all?
I remember my disaster-doctor asking me on my way out the door if my poop was soft - I was taking fibergel, and I thought it was pretty soft, so I said yes. Now that I take Movicol, I know what soft really means! It wasn't until they were really soft that I started to feel more functional.
Also, have you tried a probiotic? I take one in the morning. Maybe it doesn't help with the softness, but it does help with digestion and keeping the stomach working, and it is part of my voodoo routine now.
My own thoughts (as a complete amateur) are that there must be a connection with the pain... since the vulvodynia problem is so obscure, maybe trying to take care of the AF is the lesser of two evils.
Hang in there! And be good to yourself today!

Ok - saw on one of your old posts that you were taking Lactulose. Have you gone over to Movicol?