Personal Question - For the Ladies in the Audience

[Carebear]

This is a bit embarrassing to ask, but here goes.    Before I go on, I want you to know that I have an appointment with my family doctor to have her check this out.

So here it is.  I've had terrible dryness for several years in the "vagaga" as Oprah would say.  I'm postmenopausal.  And I use a vaginal cream as well as Replens, which has helped a great deal.

Today I noticed blood...bright red blood as well as very small dark brown clots.  Well, of course I was very alarmed.  And then it occurred to me that this could be Sjogren's related.  I am also be investigated for a bleeding disorder because I have a coagulation inhibitor, so this may also be the cause.

Have any of the ladies out there had this happen?  And was it determined that it happened because of excessive dryness?

Thanks to those who answer...
 

[eyeamdry]

Yes, have had it happen just like you say.  I also use Replens when  need to as I cannot take HRT because I have had breast cancer.

You should, however, have this checked out asap.  It is nothing to fret about as it could just be dryness.  BUT, because we are open to many things, some of which are very serious, go get checked.  Lucy

[Scottietottie]

Hi Carebear 

I'm with Lucy. Unexplained bleeding needs to be checked out. The fact that it's bright red is actually a good sign I believe but a trip to the doctor is your best option.

Take care - Scottie 

[harlin]

Dryness oh yeah. Dr put me on a hormone replacement to insert and now I have v itching and burning which I quit using 2 weeks ago. she also gave me one by mouth and I don't know if it is contributing or not. I don't seem to be clearing up.  I guess I will call her back on Monday if not better. No bleeding. I had hysterectomy at 27. Was on Hormone replacement for 20 years then dr took me off. This gyn dr said why. I should still be on it. I am so confused. Do I need it or not. One more pill to take.
harlin

[lynnmarie219]

Hi Carebear,

I have been through this as well and it scared me to death! My gyne checked it out and it seems that I had a lot of inflammation and dryness which was actually causing irritation and some bleeding. I also had a hysterectomy years ago so when I saw that I was like "Oh my gosh".

Anyway...please follow through with getting it checked out......hope you get the answers you need asap because I understand the worry!

[Prairie Gal]

Harlin, the cause of my irritation/burning turned out to be Lichen Sclerosis, which the dr. told me is not uncommon for those of us with AI problems.   My gyn finalized the Dx with a biopsy because they need a tissue sample; hurts for about 10 seconds.  The treatment is a steroid cream (Clobetasol) which you use frequently initially (relief occurs within a few days) and then taper off to a maintenance schedule because this is a chronic condition.   Might be worth asking your gyn if this could be your problem.

I  went to my gyn after my hubby said he saw I had whitish 'patches' down there; I could have gotten treated sooner but I'd thought the irritation I felt was from dryness.   If you Google images of Lichen Sclerosis or read about it, you'll note it needs to be treated before it gets bad.

My first thought when gyn confirmed the Dx:  Isn't Lichen the stuff that grows on rocks?   And then:  I wonder if there are any other little 'presents' SjS has up its sleeve?

[Carebear]

Thank you Ladies.  While I wish this on no one, it is somewhat comforting to know I am not alone.

Prairie Gal - You took the words right out of my mouth!  I feel like I should keep a look over my shoulder to see "what's next". Maybe if I see it coming, I can duck!

[Prairie Gal]

Here's info on LS (Lichen Sclerosis) from National Institutes of Health:

Lichen sclerosus appears in:

    * Women (often after menopause)
    * Men (uncommon)
    * Children (rare).

What Are the Symptoms?     Early in the disease, small white spots appear on the skin. The spots are usually shiny and smooth. Later, the spots grow into bigger patches. The skin on the patches becomes thin and crinkled. Then the skin tears easily, and bright red or purple bruises are common. Sometimes, the skin becomes scarred. If the disease is a mild case, there may be no symptoms.

Other symptoms are:

    * Itching (very common)
    * Discomfort or pain
    * Bleeding
    * Blisters.

What Causes Lichen Sclerosus?  Doctors don't know the exact cause of lichen sclerosus. Some doctors think a too active immune system and hormone problems may play a role. It is also thought that people inherit the likelihood of getting the disease. Sometimes, lichen sclerosus appears on skin that has been damaged or scarred from some other previous injury.

Lichen sclerosus is not contagious (it can't be caught from another person).

How Is It Diagnosed?   Doctors can look at severe lichen sclerosus and know what it is. But usually, a doctor takes a small piece of the skin patch (biopsy) and looks at it under a microscope. This allows doctors to make sure that it is not a different disease.

How Is It Treated?    If you have patches on the arms or upper body, they usually don't need treatment. The patches go away over time.

Lichen sclerosus of the genital skin should be treated. Even if it isn't painful or itchy, the patches can scar. This can cause problems with urination or sex. There is also a very small chance that skin cancer may develop in the patches.

Surgery is normally a good option for men. Circumcision (removing the foreskin on the penis) is the most widely used therapy for men with lichen sclerosus. The disease usually does not come back. Surgery is normally not a good option for women. When the lichen sclerosus patches are removed from the genitals of women and girls, they usually come back.

Treatment also includes using very strong cortisone cream or ointment on the skin. You put these creams on the patches every day for several weeks. This stops the itching. Then you use the cream or ointment two times a week for a long time to keep the disease from coming back. Treatment does not fix the scarring that may have already occurred.

You need regular followup by a doctor because using these creams and ointments for a long time can cause:

    * Thinning and redness of the skin
    * Stretch marks where the cream is applied
    * Genital yeast infections.