You know what? Good information can make all the difference. Yesterday, Peter and I made a Barnes and Noble run. In the midst of all the women's health books, there was one lonely little book on vaginal and vulva health. I was sort of put off by the title The V Book (by Elizabether Stewart MD). However, I started perusing it and was instantly won over. It is a tremendous book - well written, factual, and of all things, delightfully funny. Just my kind of book.
Anyhoo, here are the initial important things I've gleaned:
- The more common name for my condition is Vestibulodynia (VBA). Google pops up seven pages of information on Vestibulodynia as opposed to a pathetic three pages for Vulvovestibulitis.
- It is not that uncommon. Which on the one hand is good - misery loves company. And there will be more information. But I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy. The intense pain and unwelcome constant arousal is a hideous combination.
- People can improve and get back to normal functioning. Yea!
- Tricyclic antidepressants are the major treatment for this disorder. I started my Imipramine on Friday night - I took about 15 mgs. I woke up Saturday morning significantly improved. The pain and discomfort returned about four hours after I woke up. So I need to build up my dosage over time. But even that brief respite was a real thrill. I do respond with medication.
- I'll also start using an estrogen cream at night, add in some pelvic floor exercise to my yoga routine, start again with pelvic floor physical therapy, and try, of all things, boxer shorts. That last one should be fun! I'm going to go for white cotton shorts with red hearts!
- It is also very clear that the Pudendal nerve plays a big part in all of this. So I need to get my implant working again. It stimulates the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Sacral nerves which the Pudendal nerves originates from.
- I spoke with my urologists's office on Friday. Evidently, Medtronic (the maker of my Interstim implant) has developed new coating for the leads. The coating promotes more scaring so they will anchor better. So this means when I have surgery in February, they will pull out my old leads and put the new leads in. I actually am not looking forward to that - I think the scar tissue that formed around my old leads will probably make the procedure a little more difficult than the first go around. And this is a surgery where the patient is awake. So it may be unpleasant.
4:57:14 PM 
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