A long case sent to Dr. Fakir via e-mail and Dr. Fakir’s reply

THESE WERE MY SYMPTOMS FROM 1981

I hope you can help me?  I’m afraid I have a long Email, It’s because I have been suffering for nearly 10 years now and if someone can help me, then they need to know my full history.

1981

It was 1981 when I was about 12 or 13 years old I remember one day I was sitting playing with my friends and suddenly I started feeling itchy all over my body.  The itching was only on my body, not on my Vulva.  I told my mum and she looked at my body, the whole of my body was red and covered with these red lumps.  She took me to the doctors the next day and he said it was an allergy and gave me Calamine Lotion to use for the itching and some tablets to take (the lotion the doctor gave me is used when you have chicken pox as well).  I can’t really remember what really happened after that.  I think my itching was on and off. The itching never really cleared up properly.

1984

In 1984 my parents sent me to Pakistan.  I think I still had the itching now and then. I told my Auntie and she took me to a Homeopathic Doctor and he gave me some Homeopathic Remedies to take.  After taking some various remedies the itching went away.  I never had the itching on my body for a long time.  (I’m not sure if this information is relevant to the problem that I have now).  I decided to tell you this just in case it might help you in finding out what the cause of the Vulva itching is that I am having now.

1985

In 1985 I was still in Pakistan, this was before I was married.  One day I just started to discharge, the discharge was like a black colour.  I also started getting sore just past my bikini line, in the crease of my thighs that I couldn’t walk, wear any knickers or wear anything underneath. I was in so much pain. Every time I washed or went to the toilet the skin that was sore was really hurting and stinging.  It was all red like you have burned yourself and the skin has come off and you can see the red skin. My knickers were always black with the discharge.  I told my auntie and she took me to see a doctor and she looked at the discharge and the sore skin and said it was an infection.  She gave me antibiotics to take and a cream to put on the sore skin.  After taking the antibiotics and applying the cream I was okay.  After a couple of weeks I got the black discharge and the sore skin back again.  My auntie took me to the doctors again and she gave me antibiotics and a cream to apply again.  I had the black discharge and sore skin quite a few times and every time I went to the doctors I always got antibiotics.  Eventually it did go away and I have never had it again. But I did have to take quite a lot of antibiotics.

 1986

I got married in 1986 in London, when I was 17 years.  I had a lot of problems with my husband for 2 years or more, we didn’t really get on very well.  We had our ups and downs and problems.  I had my first daughter in 1987 when I was 18 and my second daughter in 1988 when I was 19. They were born one after the other.  I had a lot of problems bringing them up, it was very difficult. I had to manage on my own.  Bringing the children up on my own was really hard work and it put a lot of pressure on me and I was always stressed out.  I also suffered from a lot of family problems especially between my sister-in-law and her husband.

1988

After having my second daughter I had a Coyle fitted.  When I had the Coyle fitted I developed a lot of problems.  I started getting irregular periods that were lasting about 10 days, I was getting my period every 2 weeks and they were lasting about ten days and they were heavy.  So after 2 years I had the Coyle removed and then my periods went back to normal.

1989 – 1994

We used to live in a Council property.  The property had Air Central Heating.  I suffered from a lot of sore throats.  I would get a sore throat about 3 times a month and I was always on Antibiotics.  Every time I went to the doctor complaining about a sore throat he would give me Antibiotics because nothing else would help my sore throat.  I think I suffered from sore throats because of the Air Central Heating that was in the property.  The heating was warm dry air blowing.  The Air Heating did dry you out and it did irritate your skin, it made your skin very dry.  I was on Antibiotics quite a lot they could have caused the Vulva itching.  I did end up taking Antibiotics at least 2 times in a month.

My daughter was 9 months when she developed Eczema on the whole of her body, we think it was because of the Air Central Heating, because it did really make your skin dry.  I took my daughter to The Royal Homeopathic Hospital in London.  She had Homeopathic remedies and after two years her Eczema went and she has never had it again.

All of my family did suffer from a lot of sore throats and dry skin while we were living at the property.  We moved out of the property in 1994 and our sore throats were better.  We stopped suffering from the sore throats because we had proper Central Heating in our new home.  We did not have the Air Central Heating.

1989

(I’m not sure if this information is relevant either). It was about 1989.   I used to bleach my face to lighten the hair on my face.  I have always used Jolene Bleach Cream to lighten the hair on my face. (I used to use the Bleach Cream every 2 months or so).   One day I steamed my face then after a couple of hours I bleached my face with the Bleach Cream.  I noticed when I took the Cream of these browns marks appeared on my face, like bruises.  I thought I left the Bleach Cream on to long so I put some baby lotion on and the marks went away.

I used the Bleach Cream a couple of times, till one day after using the Bleach Cream I noticed the brown marks again, I put some baby lotion on again like I did before. I thought I left the Bleach Cream on to long again, but the brown marks never went away.

They were like bruises or burned marks. They started feeling itchy.  I never took much notice.  The more I itched the more these brown marks started appearing on my face.  I went to see my doctor and she gave me some creams to use.  (I think they were Steroids).  I just used them.

1991

In 1991 I went to Pakistan to attend my cousins wedding.  I remember I still had the brown marks on my face. When I came back from Pakistan, I went to the doctor again and she gave me some Steroid cream to use.  I used that for a while but the marks never went away.  I also noticed that my face was itchy and whenever I itched, more brown marks started appearing on my face. I went back to the doctor and she gave me more Steroids creams to use, but they did not help.  She referred me to a Chinese doctor, who she said would be able to help me.  I went to the Chinese doctor and she gave me Herbal tablets, creams and an Herbal syrup to take.  I went to her for about a year but nothing helped at all. In the end the Chinese doctor said she cannot help me anymore, she has done what she can.

DERMATOLOGIST

I went back to my doctor and she referred me to a Dermatologist at my local hospital in London.  When I went to see the Dermatologists he said it was Pigmentation Marks and it happens in Asian people.  He told me first to try a cream called ‘Fade Out’ for Pigmentation Marks, which I used and it did not help.  Then he gave me a Pigmentation Lotion to use.  I think it was supposed to burn the brown marks on my face, but that did not work either.  When I went back again the doctor just gave me Steroids Creams/Ointments to use but again nothing helped.  I ended up using quite a lot of Steroids Cream/Ointments. The doctor gave me the strongest one but that didn’t help either. Then I had a Biopsy done of the face to test the skin, but that came back normal.  The doctor said there was nothing wrong with the skin.  I just ended up going backwards and forwards. I felt really itchy on my face only.  Every time I itched these browns marks just kept appearing.    In the end the doctors said they could not help me anymore, they have done want they can and given me the strongest Steroid Cream/Ointment, there is nothing else they can do or give me.  (I think I saw the Dermatologist for more than a year).

The brown marks were not getting better, my skin was feeling so dry and itchy and I had so many dark brown marks on my face, they looked so awful.  I was so conscience about them. So One day I decided to try Homoeopathy.  I got a letter from my doctor to refer me to a The Royal Great Ormond Street Homeopathic Hospital in London.  I went to my first appointment.  It was quite a long appointment.  The Homeopathic doctor asked me quite a lot of questions.  She asked me everything from the beginning, how it all started and if I had any family problems.  I told her everything, she prescribed me with some Homeopathic Remedies.  I also suffered from a lot of Headaches and sore throats.

When I started taking my Remedies I felt a difference the first week for my Headaches.  I saw the doctor for quite a long time and in the end the Homeopathic Remedies helped get rid of the brown marks on my face, they disappeared.  She was a very good doctor.

1995/1996

Over the years I did suffer from a lot of family problems from my sister-in-law, most of the problems started in 1991.

In June 1995 the family problems got really bad, I had a really big trauma, that it affected me really badly.  (My sister-in-law and her husband beat me up and the police was involved as well).  I was always sad, depressed, moody and shouting at the kids and arguing with my husband. I also found it very difficult to cope with everything, bringing up the kids, family problems and problems with my husband as well.  I nearly had a nervous break down.  The trauma that I had hit me really badly.    Every time I saw my sister-in-law I would get all hot and start shaking.  I had to have counselling for a year and I was also on Antidepressant Tablets. It also affected the relationship with my husband.

The Counsellor told me to start writing everything down that I felt and was thinking about.  She said it would help me relieve the anger and everything I was feeling.  She said sometimes it helps if you write everything down.  I did start writing everything down.  I ended up writing a book and it did really help me.

It took me a long time to get over everything.  I suffered for a long time. Eventually I did get over it with the help of the counselling and writing everything down.

1995/1996

At the end of December 1995 I went to Pakistan for 4 weeks for a holiday.  I developed Eczema on my face, especially where my eyes were. The doctor I used to see left at The Royal Great Homeopathic Hospital in London so I was referred to another doctor at the Homeopathic Hospital.  I sometimes used Steroids on my face for the itching because my face was so itchy and it used to burn and sting.  I had to use the Steroid, but I only used to put a thin layer on my face.  I also developed Hayfever, which I never had before in my life.  From that day onwards I just developed all sorts of problems. (Itchy face, Hay fever, the itching was on my face).  The Homeopathic doctor said it was Eczema and due to stress.  I had Homeopathic remedies for the Eczema on my face and the remedies cleared the Eczema.

1996

(This is when the Vulva itching started.  I don’t know if it was to do with the family problems I was having or the trauma I went through in 1995 with my sister-in-law or because of all the Antibiotics I had taken – the Antibiotics could have affected the immune system or disturb the imbalance of yeast in your body.

I came back from Pakistan in January 1996.  The Vulva itching started sometime in 1996 maybe May/June, can’t remember the exact month, which I have had for nearly  10 years now.

The itching started of very light itching.  At first I didn’t take much notice of the itching, but it got worse. I went to my local doctor and they said it was Thrush.

They gave me a cream called ‘Cansten Cream’ and Pesserines to insert inside the Vagina. The itching went away for a couple of weeks and then the itching came back again. I went back to the doctor again and they gave me Creams and Steroids to use.  The creams didn’t help. The Vulva itching went on for a couple of months and I was going backward and forward to the doctor. In the end the doctor referred me to the Dermatologist at St. George’s Hospital in Tooting, London.

When I went to see the Dermatologist they did a Smear Test and said it was Thrush, and they gave me a Steroid Cream to use.  I used the cream but it did not help at all.

I went back again for my next appointment and again they gave me Steroid Creams/Ointments to use.  Every time I went back they gave me Stronger and Stronger Steroid Creams/Ointment to use.  The Vulva itching was not getting better it was getting worse.

The Dermatologist have even given me tablets to take eg. Daktarin and Diflucan Tablets, which did not help at all and they have also given me a Hormone Patch to put on my thigh, which made me feel sick and did not help.  I have used every cream and the Strongest Steroid Ointment/Cream you can think of. I have tried everything.  I have had so many tests done, Full Blood Tests, Thyroid Test, lots of Smear tests done and many more, but all the tests I have had done have always come back normal.

The Dermatologist could not find anything that was causing the itching on my Vulva.  I think I saw the Dermatologist for about a year. In the end they said they couldn’t do anything, so they referred me to the Gynaecologist.

GYNAECOLOGIST

I was referred to the Gynaecologist but they couldn’t find anything either. I have had things poked into me to find out what the problem is, by the Gynaecologist.  I’ve had several Smear Tests done, but the results were always normal. I have also had a Biopsy Test done of the Vulva.  I am not sure what the doctors actually tested me for when I had a Biopsy done. The results came back normal for the Biopsy test.  They said there is nothing wrong with the skin on the Vulva, it is normal.

The doctors have also seen inside my Vagina through a camera, they found a Polyp, which they removed. After having intercourse I used to bleed a lot and cause of the bleeding was because I had a Polyp, since they have removed it the bleeding has been fine but they still couldn’t find the cause of the Vulva itching, everything else was fine.

I was just pasted backwards and forwards to the Dermatologist/Gynaecologist Departments who could not help at all and I am not sure if it is a Dermatologist or a Gynaecologist problem.  In the end the Dermatologist/Gynaecologist could not find out the cause of the itchiness. They said to try out Homeopathic Treatment.  I wanted to try out other treatments before I went for Homeopathic. I contacted London’s famous and expensive street of experienced doctors and one of the doctors recommended Dr Pauline Dowd a Dermatologist at the Women’s Hospital at Euston in London.

The Vulva itching could be eczema, an allergy, an infection or a skin disease or Scabies.  The doctors said it is not Scabies. I have basically seen the Dermatologist/Gynaecologist Departments at my local hospital and they said they have nothing to give me anymore and can’t help me.  All the Creams/Ointments and Steroids I have used have ruined my skin on my Vulva and may have made my problem worse.  The Steroids have also made my skin on my Vulva thin which has damaged the skin.  The skin on the Vulva has gone so thin that if I pull the skin it will tear and the skin has also shrinked. I can’t even put Hair Removal cream on my Vulva because if I do, the cream burns the skin within a minute and the skin will come off straight away and go all red like I have burned it badly, that’s how thin the skin on the Vulva has gone. I have to shave the hair on my Vulva with a razor now and that does irritate the skin and I always feel itchy after shaving.  I have to wash with Dettol after shaving.

DR PAULINE DOWD A DERMATOLOGIST

I went to see Dr Pauline Dowd a Dermatologist at the Women’s Hospital at Euston in London, who was recommended by a doctor at Harley Street.  She just took one look at my Vulva and said it was Eczema and prescribed me with Baleum Oil Liquid to wash with and a Steroid Ointment to apply on my Vulva. The Baleum Oil Liquid only helped for one week.  She said the itching will go away itself in time.  I was not happy and I never went back to her because she was useless and not helpful at all.

THE DEPARTMENT OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY VULVA/VAGINAL

DISEASE CLINIC HOSPITAL IN AMERICA

I accessed some information about The Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Vulva/Vaginal Disease Clinic Hospital in America from the Internet.  The hospital is specialised in Vulva/Vaginal problems.  I phoned the hospital and explained my problem to a nurse at the hospital, she was very nice and understood my problem.  She said to me that that my Vulva/Vagina Itch could be Vulva/Vaginal Lichen Planus, Vulva Lichen Simplex, but without examining me she could not diagnose me.  The nurse said to wash my Vulva with Bicarbonate Soda, which would help soothe the itching.  She said she would find out if there was anyone in London that could help me.

The nurse in America phoned me the next day and said there is a Dr Sally Neill in England a Dermatologist/Gynaecologist specialised in Vulva/Vagina Itching in London.

DR SALLY NEILL SPECIALISED IN VULVA/VAGINA PROBLEMS

I went to see Dr Sally Neill and she said she wasn’t sure if she could help me.  I described my problem to her and she said it was Dysaesthetic Vulyodynia, which is a pain but because I have an itch not a pain, therefore it is Dysaesthetic Itch.

Dr Sally Neill said the illness I have is to do with Stress and Depression, she also said it was something in my nerves – the itch is not the real thing it is just in my nerves/brain, basically what she meant was I am imagining the itch, it is not real.

She did not examine me she just took one look at my Vulva and said it was Dysaesthetic Itch.

She prescribed Lignocaine Ointment 5% and she said if the Ointment doesn’t help, then to use Doxepin 5% Cream and if that doesn’t help then take Doxepin Tablets, which is an Antidepressant Tablet and to increase the dosage if it is not working.  I asked Dr Sally Neill if my problem was something like Vulva/Vaginal Lichen Planus, Vulva Lichen Simplex or Vulva/Anal Lichen Sclerosis but she said No.  I also asked her if I need any tests done e.g. Full Blood Test, Thyroid Function Test, Serum Iron and Liver Function Test.  She said you could have them done if you want to.  She should be telling me to have the tests done not me telling her if I should have the tests.  She said to wash my Vulva with Emulsifying Ointment.  I wasn’t very happy with her she didn’t really explain the illness very well.  She just said it was Stress and to cut down on what I was doing and work Part-time.  I have been told by a lot of doctors that it is to do with Stress, because the Vulva itching started in 1996 when I was having family problems and counselling.

I used the first ointment she prescribed, Lignocaine Ointment 5%, but it did not help at all.  I then used the second cream she prescribed Doxepin 5% Cream, it worked for the first three weeks very well.  It stopped the itching. I was very pleased, but after using it for 3 weeks it suddenly stopped working, the itching came back again.  Dr Sally Neill said if the Doxepin 5% Cream doesn’t work then to take Doxepin Tablets.  I haven’t didn’t take the tablets because I was to frighten to.  The tablets cause side affects, Drowsiness, Dry Mouth and other side affects.  She also told me to apply Zinc and Castor Oil as a barrier on my Vulva.  I wasn’t happy with the doctor so I didn’t go back to see her again.

I just got so fed up.  I have seen so many doctors and no one could help me. I couldn’t carry on suffering anymore so I decided to type up an email explaining my problem and send it to all the doctors eg. Gynaecologists, Dermatologist, Homeopathic Doctor, Acupuncturist and Chinese Herbalist.  I phoned up quite a lot of the doctors and explained my problem.  After a few days the doctors returned my email and said they could not help me.

I received an email from an Acupuncturist to say that he could help me.  He said he had helped someone that had a similar problem like mine and he had cured her by Acupuncture.

2001/2002

ACUPUNCTURIST

I went to see the Acupuncturist.  On my first appointment I told him how the itching started.  He had my email that I sent him so he knew my situation.  He felt my pulse and looked at my tongue.  He did some Acupuncture on me.  I went to work after I had the Acupuncture done.  I felt quite relaxed and happy.  The first week of the Acupuncture I felt quite a difference, my itching was much better there was quite an improvement in my itching.  I felt good in myself as well.  I started my period that week and to my amazement I did not have any itching like I normally do. Usually I feel so itchy a couple of days before I start my period, my breasts feel itchy as well, but I had no itching at all.  The second time I went to see him I told him and he was very happy as well.  He said it seems to be working.  I had more Acupuncture done.  But the second time I had the Acupuncture done the itching came back and it just went on from there.  I had about ten sessions with the Acupuncturist and only twice I felt the itching was a bit better.

The Acupuncturist said I have a lot of heat, damp, dryness in me and my body is really run down and I am really stressed.    I also suffer from a lot headaches, I get them everyday. The Acupuncture only helped my headaches a bit.  I did get quite depressed because I really thought the Acupuncture was going to work because I felt a difference in the first week.  I told the Acupuncture that the itching just seems to be getting nowhere its still the same, I don’t know if it is getting better or worse.  He did say to me that sometimes the itching does get worse before it gets better, but I was getting nowhere.

The Acupuncturist said he would see if he could refer me somewhere else.  He said there was a really good Acupuncturist in Brighton and Wimbledon in London who are both specialised in Skin Problems.

I also got some advice from quite a lot of other Acupuncturists and they all said that you should really feel a difference in a few sessions.  If you haven’t then that means the Acupuncture is not working.  I went to see a Chinese doctor who was near where I live and explained my problem, she said the same thing, that the Acupuncture is not working and she said it was an allergy and gave me some Herbal tablets and a Herbal lotion to wash my Vulva.  I showed the Herbal Tablets to my Acupuncture before I starting taking them and he said they were good and I could take them.  I took the, tablets the first week I didn’t feel any difference.  I thought it was to soon for any improvement.  The Chinese doctor did say it would take a week or so.

I was still having my Acupuncture.  I went back the second week and bought some more Herbal tablets.  I still didn’t feel any difference the second week.  I noticed that at work my cheeks started feeling so hot and were so red.  After a few days I noticed that these brown marks appeared on my cheeks, like the brown marks I had in 1989 after when I bleached.  I went back to the Chinese doctor and told her about the brown marks on my face and she said it was the heat.  I said I have been taking them for two weeks and haven’t felt any improvement to the itching.  I was still having the Acupuncture as well.  She said you need something stronger.  I will give you some Herbal Tea to take and some to wash your Vulva.  I took the Herbal Tea for one week but I have felt no difference.

My itching on my Vulva and body seemed to have just got worse and worse.   I didn’t go back to the Acupuncture or the Chinese doctor because I just didn’t feel any difference.  My itching got worse.  I wasn’t feeling that itchy before I started the Acupuncture and taking the Herbal tablets and teas.

ALLERGY TEST

My Acupuncture said to have an Allergy test done, he said it might be an Allergy that I have.  I had the allergy test done.  The test did not show much. There wasn’t really anything I was allergic to.

THE ROYAL HOMEOPATHIC HOSPITAL IN LONDON

I made an appointment with The Royal Homeopathic Hospital in London I went there for quite a few years.  I was given so many different Homeopathic remedies but none of them helped the Vulva itching. The doctors there couldn’t cure the Vulva itching.  When I attended The Royal Homeopathic Hospital in London I think the Homeopathic remedies didn’t work because I was using Steroids Creams/Ointment at the same time.  I later found out that Steroids Cream/Ointment and Homeopathic don’t work together that’s why my itching never got better. I gave up in the end because I attended for quite a long time, maybe 1/2 years.  I got fed up so I decided to try and find a Homeopathy doctor privately.  I knew that Homeopathy did not give you any side effects if it didn’t work.

When I was attending The Royal Homeopathic Hospital in Great Ormond Street in London and I asked the doctor if it was Vulva Lichen Simplex.  She said if it was you would be able to see it on your Vulva because the skin would look different.  She said the Vulva itching could be Contact Vulvitis and stress.

I did find out why the Homeopathic remedies did not help the Vulva itching when I was attending The Royal Homeopathic Hospital, it was because I was still using the Steroid Creams on the Vulva because the itching was so bad, as well as taking the Homeopathic remedies. Apparently I found out that Homeopathic remedies and Steroids don’t work together that’s why the Homeopathic remedies that were prescribed never worked.

I searched on the Internet to try and find a good Homeopathic doctor and some information about Homeopathy. I joined this Homeopathy Group on the Internet.  I typed out my Vulva itching problem that I have and emailed it to the people in the group.  A lot of people replied back to my email and gave me all sorts of advice.  A lot of people in the group also said that I have been taking to many medications and sometimes that can make the problem worse. They advised me to stop taking everything and give my body a break so that I can clear my body before I start taking any Homeopathic remedies. I was taking Homeopathic Remedies, which were prescribed by the Royal Homeopathic Hospital, Acupuncture and Herbal Tea.  My itching was so bad.  I stopped taking everything.  I didn’t take anything for 2 months.  I was giving my body a break of all the medications I was taking.  My body needed a fresh start.  I also started drinking a lot of water to clear out my body of everything I had been taking.

Over the years from 1991 until 2002 I have basically developed so many skin problems.

It started of as itching on the face, which turned into brown pigmentation marks.

SINCE 2002

When I joined the group in the Internet someone suggested a Homeopathic doctor in London who had 40 years experience.  I telephoned her but she lived a couple of hours away from me, so she recommended a Homeopathic Clinic, it was a University.

The University had opened up a Homeopathic Clinic where students practised Homeopathic treatments in there final year the doctor said it was very good and there was always a supervisor that supervised the students.  She said the supervisors were very experienced. She also said that sometimes she attended the University as well.

From 2002 I started having Homeopathic treatment at the University of Westminster.  My vulva itching was a bit better than before but it was still there.  Some days the vulva itching was bad and sometimes it was okay. I went there for two years.

After two years the student I was seeing finished her degree and opened up her own Clinic so I went there for about a year, but I found that the Vulva itching was okay sometimes.  The last couple of months it got quite bad and it came to a point where it just wasn’t getting better it was getting worse and no matter what remedy she gave nothing would help.  So I decided to change Homeopathic doctors because I got so fed up, the Vulva itching just seem to be stuck at one point, it just wasn’t getting better.

Again I searched through the Internet and found a Homeopathic doctor who had 20 years experience in Women’s problems.  I went to see her. I saw her twice.  The Vulva itching got a little bit better.  But sometimes it got worse again.  The doctor gave me Sepia, which didn’t help, she then gave me Graphites 200 and Aurums 30C and Allergens for Hayfever.  The Graphites only helped for a couple of days.  I wasn’t really happy with her.  It seemed like she was only treating me for the Vulva itching.

I also suffer from Depression, Headaches/Migraines, Hayfever, Irritable Bowel Syndrome and sometimes body itching.

This is all the symptoms of the illnesses I suffer from.

VULVA ITCHING

The symptoms of the Vulva itching are as follows:

The vulva itching was a little bit better since 2002, but it has started again.  I still feel itchy before I start my period, when I am on my period and after I go to the toilet.

• I don’t know what the cause of this Vulva itching is. It might be a disease, I could be allergic to my Discharge and my Period because that is when the Vulva itching is bad. 
• When the itching is bad before I start my period it might be because I discharge before I start my period and the discharge irritates the Vulva skin.
• When I am walking and I start feeling itchy, it could be because I am discharging and the discharge is irritating the skin on the Vulva.
• When I wash my Vulva and it gets wet and I feel itchy it could be because I have used so many Steroids and they have made the skin on the Vulva thin and damaged the skin, that might be the reason why I feel itchy when water touches the Vulva skin.

• When I sit down and the itching on the Vulva is better it could be because the discharge stops coming out and that’s why I don’t feel itchy and when I stand up I start feeling itchy.
• I did suffer from a lot of sore throats and I was always taking antibiotics. I don’t know if this has caused the Vulva itching – taking a lot of antibiotics can disturb the imbalance of yeast in your body.

A couple of days before I start my period the itching is very bad on my Vulva and when I am on my period the itching is bad as well.  When I have finished my period the itching seems to calm down for a little while.

• Sometimes a day before I am due to start my period, I know that I am going to start my period because my body goes all hot, itchy, clammy and feels so uncomfortable. If feels like my body is doing something. When I have finally started my period my body relaxes the itchiness, clammy feeling and everything else my body is feeling goes away but my vulva still itches before my period and during my period. (I haven’t had this feeling for a while now).
• A day or two before I am due to start my period, when I come home from work in the evening I wash my Vulva because it really smells so I have to wash it.  When I have washed the Vulva I start feeling really itchy, the itching is like a prickly itch, like needles are digging into the Vulva and by itching the Vulva it becomes red, swollen, it hurts and I have lumps on it.
• When I have started my period.  I have to wash my Vulva with Dettol.  I find that helps the itching especially when I am on my periods, by washing with Dettol the itching seems to calm down for a bit.  I think it is because Dettol is antiseptic that’s why maybe it helps with the itching.
• When I have started my period I feel so uncomfortable and dirty.  I find it really difficult to wear any knickers during my period because I feel so itchy.  I just want to take everything off and walk around with nothing on and let the Vulva have some air so that it can breathe, especially when I have had a shower or washed my Vulva.

The Vulva itching that I get before my period, is not always to do with me discharging before my period.  Sometimes I don’t discharge before I start my period and I still get the Vulva itching. The itching normally starts sometimes a week before I am due to start my period.  When I have only one or two days left to start my period the itching gets worse.  I start feeling itchy on my Vulva/Vagina and Back Passage, my body starts to feel itchy as well.  The itch is like a prickly itch it is so irritating and I feel so uncomfortable all over my body. I get this really awful and irritating itch in my back passage.  When I get this feeling I know straight away that I am due to start my period, sometimes I have this feeling a week before I am due to start.  When the itching gets bad I just want to take my knickers and Shalwar of because I just can’t stand the itching.  Even washing with Dettol doesn’t help.

I have also noticed that when I have a shower or wash my Vulva when I come home from work there has been white dry patches on my Vulva, it is patches of dry skin which feel really itchy they hurt and sting, especially when I itch.  The white dry patches are just above the opening of the Vulva.  I have to put a moistures onto the Vulva to moisture the skin to stop it feeling itchy.  If anything touches the Vulva skin, like my knickers or anything that I am wearing underneath when I have the white dry patches of skin it really iratates it, stings and really feels itchy.

Symptoms for when I have washed my Vulva:

• When I have washed my Vulva and it gets wet after washing it with the water it always itches, the water makes the Vulva itchy.  The itching is worse after washing. 

• After washing I have to wait till the Vulva is dried thoroughly in open air before I put my knickers on or anything underneath otherwise it feels itchy.
• If the Vulva is wet and I don’t wait till it has dried thoroughly and I put my knickers on I start feeling itchy.
• Sometimes I have noticed that after I have washed my vulva it is very dry and then the Vulva itches more.
• Everyday when I come home from work I wash my Vulva.  I have noticed that when I have washed my Vulva I normally let it dry before I put my knickers on, then the itching is okay.  After a while when I go to the toilet to urinate and I wash my Vulva with water, it starts feeling itchy straight away and when I put my knickers on I feel even more itchy and the Vulva becomes red and swollen and I get lumps on it because of itching, it also feels very sore because of itching. This normally happens in the evening.
• Sometimes the Vulva itching is okay when I have washed and been to the toilet.

• As soon as water touches my Vulva and it gets wet I start feeling itchy.
• When I have a shower I like to walk around with nothing on underneath I don’t feel itchy then.
• I have to let the vulva breathe and dry and have some air. The Vulva has to dry in open air. It feels so nice and the itching is okay. 

• When I have a shower in the mornings I let the Vulva dry and before I leave for work I go to the toilet and as soon as I go to the toilet and urinate and wash my Vulva with water I start feeling itchy. I have to wash my Vulva with Dettol so that I don’t feel itchy.
• On the way to work in the morning when I am walking my Vulva starts feeling itchy.

Symptoms of Vulva itching after I have been to the toilet

• Every time I go to the toilet and pass my urine I wash my Vulva with water when my Vulva gets wet after washing it with water I start feeling itchy.
• When I’ve been to the toilet and my vulva gets wet after washing it with water and if I put my knickers on when the Vulva is wet I start feeling so itchy. 
• I try and dry my Vulva thoroughly with toilet paper when I have been to the toilet. I have to always put Aqueous Cream, every time I have been to the toilet, if I don’t put Aqueous Cream on then my Vulva really itches.  The Aqueous cream doesn’t help that much it just keeps the Vulva moistured.
• I only wash with Dove Soap for Extra Sensitive Skin and Perfume Free to wash my Vulva with.  I have to use a Soap with moistures in it. I can’t use any other soap otherwise my vulva gets dry and starts to feel itchy.
• When I go to the toilet and wash my Vulva with water I do dry myself but my knickers get wet and the more my knickers get wet after going to the toilet the wetness starts to irritate the skin on the Vulva and the Vulva starts to itch. In the end I have to take my knickers of and walk around with just my Shalwar on.
• Sometime when I am desperate to go to the toilet my Vulva starts to feel itchy.

Discharge

• I do discharge throughout the day, the discharge is – whitish, yellowish colour and fishy smell.
• I discharge quite a bit before I start my periods, especially a day or so before I start my periods. Sometimes I can feel the discharge come out but there is nothing on my knickers.
• When I am at work I discharge throughout the day and by the end of the day my knickers smell and I have a yellowish, brownish discharge on my knickers.  I have to go home and the first thing I do is wash my Vulva.
• I discharge before I start my period and the discharge makes the Vulva feel itchy.
• Sometimes I can feel the discharge come out and it does make my Vulva itchy and sometimes I can feel the discharge or something come out but there is nothing on my knickers.
• When I Ovulate I think I feel itchy.

Other Symptoms of the Vulva itching

·         Sometimes the itching is worse in the morning and evenings.

·         When I get hot I start sweating down below and I start itching and when I get stressed I get all hot and my Vulva starts sweating and I start feeling itchy.

• When I feel really itchy at home or work I sit down and then the Vulva itching feels better, the itching always feels better when I sit down, but as soon as I stand up I start feeling itchy again.
• I normally sit down and cross my legs and when I am feeling really itchy I have to move about when I am sitting down.
• The whole of the Vulva area itches and sometimes my back passage itches as well.
• Sometimes if I feel really itchy I have to wash my Vulva with Dettol, which makes it feel a bit better.

• When I am feeling itchy on the Vulva my body starts feeling itchy as well

and I just want to go to bed.

• When I want to urinate or have the urge to urinate I start feeling itchy.

Apart from feeling itchy before starting my periods, after urinating and after washing my Vulva I still feel itchy during the day at work and at home. At work I have to keep sitting down, I can’t stand up.

These are the main problems of the Vulva/Vagina itching

• Itching before period
• Itching during period
• Itching after period
• Period offensive smell
• Itching from vaginal discharge
• Itching between lips of vagina
• Itching Vulva/Vagina/Back Passage at back and front in evening
• Itching at front and back of Vulva/Vagina/Back Passage when not urinating
• Itching at front and back of Vulva/Vagina/Back Passage after urinating
• Itching Vulva/Vagina/Passage after urging to urinate
• Itching all over Vulva
• Itching passage
• Itching when walking
• Itching when Vulva is wet
• Itching after washing
• Itching when standing up
• Itching feels a little bit better when sitting down
• When Vulva is really itching in the evening the body start to itch as well.
• Vulva itches all day

Details of Period

• I normally have a 28-30 day cycle but since I have been back from Pakistan I have been getting my period every 25 days.
• The duration of the period is 4/5 days.
• The first day of the period is light

– second and third day is medium flow

– fourth day is hardly nothing just very light brown, red discharge 

– fifth day there is nothing, I have normally finished on the fourth day.

• The period does smell.
• I get period pains a week before I am due to start my period, sometimes the pains start two weeks before I am due to start.

I don’t understand why the itching get worse a couple of days before my period and when I am on my periods and also when my vulva is wet after washing, having a bath.  In the morning and evenings the itching gets worse, sometimes I itch all day.  I only suffer from external itching on the outside of the Vulva.  Sometimes my back passage itches as well.  I’m not sure if there is something wrong with the skin on my Vulva because of using so many things e.g. Steroids, Creams etc, they have ruined the skin.  By using the Steroids they have made the skin on my Vulva thin and there is nothing to see on my Vulva/Vagina, there is no infection nothing just an itch.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING THE

VULVA ITCHING IN THE EVENINGS AFTER WASHING

The Vulva itching has got worse in the evenings when I come home from work and wash my Vulva. I let the Vulva dry thoroughly before I put my knickers on, although I have let the Vulva dry, I still feel itchy when I have put my knickers on.  In the evening when I go to the toilet to urinate I wash my Vulva with water and as soon as I have washed the Vulva with water I start feeling so itchy.  I put the Aqueous Cream on but that doesn’t help. The itching starts as soon as water has touched my Vulva.  The itching is a prickly itch and the whole of my Vulva, Vagina and back passage feels so itchy, basically the whole area itches.  It is like needles or ants are crawling under my Vulva skin.  Because I am feeling so itchy the Vulva starts hurting and it is sore to touch and hard.  Because of the itching I can’t even stand up, by sitting down the itching is a bit better.  The itching calms down a bit when the Vulva starts to dry.  My whole body starts to itch because of the Vulva itch. I just can’t do anything when the Vulva itching is like this it drives me mad.  It’s so itchy and it hurts and the Vulva goes red. The itching is so bad that it has come to the point that I am too scared to go to the toilet in the evening now because of the itching. Sometimes I have to wash with Dettol when the itching is this bad.  I just feel like taking my Shalwar and my knickers of and walking around with nothing on so that the Vulva can have some air, by walking around with nothing on the itching does get a bit better.

Sometimes the itching is this bad when I am due on my periods, it could be a week before or a couple of days before my periods are due.  The itching also really bad in the evening when I have urinated and when I have washed my Vulva.

When I am feeling itchy my Vulva smells a lot as well even after I have washed it.

Also when I wake up in the morning and have been to the toilet and urinated and washed the Vulva with water the same thing happens I feel so itchy and my Vulva really smells. I just want to take everything of that I am wearing underneath.

When I am at work and I urinate and wash the Vulva with water the itching is not too bad, but I have to sit down and cross my legs after I have urinated.  Also when I am at home during the day, and I urinate and wash the Vulva with water the itching is not too bad. 

When the Vulva itching gets bad.  I get really depressed, irritable, angry, moody and start shouting.

This itching has started since I have been taking the Homeopathic remedies that the doctor in Karachi prescribed me with.

I have also noticed that in the last week or so I have developed a prickly itch all over my body. (I only get this itch sometimes, not everyday. It is like unexplained itching from nowhere and for no reason).

My body, head, back of my neck, back passage, my face and the whole of my Vulva has been feeling itchy. When I am feeling itching all over my body I start feeling cold and get goose pimples and I just want to go to bed and sleep. I had the same itching last week and this week and I am due on my periods. My Vulva was really hurting because of the itching, it was feeling hard and red. When I touched my Vulva it was like something was prickling it, like needles. It is very difficult when I at work because when my Vulva and back passage is feeling itchy I have to sit down I can’t stand up because the Vulva and back passage feels itchy.  I’ve never had this kind of body itching before, it is since I have been taking the remedies that Dr Tauheed prescribed.

I used to suffer from Eczema on my face, on my eyelids a long time ago and I had Homeopathic remedies and the Eczema went away. (I only get this itching on the face and eyelids sometimes, not everyday).  I have noticed a couple of days ago the Eczema on the face and eyelids has started to come back again it is since taking the Homeopathic remedies that Dr Tauheed prescribed.

BODY ITCHING

Body itching is much better now since 2002.  I only feel itchy now and then or if I get stressed and hot or it my Vulva really starts feeling itchy, this normally happens in the evenings not everyday. I only get this itch sometimes. It is like unexplained itching from nowhere and for no reason.

The symptoms of the Body itching are as follows:

• Sometimes the body itching is worse in the morning and evening and when I feel hot or cold.
• Sometimes when I have had a bath I feel hot, sweaty and itchy.
• I have also noticed that the body itching gets worse in the evening, when I am just sitting down and I will suddenly start itching. My body gets hot and when I itch these red marks and lumps appear where I have itched.  It is like unexplained itching from nowhere and for no reason. (I haven’t had this itching for quite a while now).
• When I get stressed I start itching on my body and I get all hot.
• Sometimes red lumps appear on my thighs and I feel itchy or sometimes red spots and lumps just suddenly appear on my legs and thighs, which feel really itchy and painful. As they gradually fade away they leave browns marks on my legs.  (This normally only happens when I remove my hair from my legs and the hair starts growing back. I haven’t removed the hair from my legs for quite a while so I have been okay.
• Sometimes my breasts and nipples start to itch, and get very hard and delicate, especially a couple of days before my period.

HAYFEVER

The Hayfever has been fine since I have been taking the Homeopathic Hayfever Drops that the doctor in Karachi prescribed me with.  The Hayfever only starts around April and lasts throughout the summer until about September here in London.  The Hayfever will most properly start in April next year if the Homeopathic Hayfever drops haven’t worked.

The symptoms of the Hayfever is as follows:

NOSE : The Hayfever normally starts end of April, May time.

• I start getting an itchy, blocked and runny nose.
• The itching, blocked and runny nose is worse in the morning when I wake up and in the evening.
• At night my nose is always blocked and runny I can’t sleep properly or breathe properly.  I have to leave my mouth open to breath and sleep with my mouth open.
• Dust also makes the nose and eyes itchy, the dust really irritates the nose.

EYES: My eyes are really itchy.

• They are very itchy when I wake up first thing in the morning and also in the evening.
• Sometimes I wake up at night because my eyes are feeling so itchy.
• Sometimes the itching throughout the day is like a prickling itch.
• When my eyes are feeling itchy they get all red and swollen and I can’t stop itching them.  The itching makes the eyes red and swollen.
• The eyelids are itchy as well.
• The whole of the eye itches, both the corners of the eyes as well.
• Putting cold water, Nettle Tea Bags or Euprasia Homeopathic liquid soaked in cold water makes the eyes better and soothes the eyes.
• If I touch my eyes they start to itch.

SNEEZING: I normally sneeze first thing in the morning when I wake up.

• If I touch my nose or blow my nose I start sneezing.
• Using a tissue to blow my nose or touch my nose with the tissue makes me sneeze
• Throughout the day I have sudden sneezing.  If I sneeze, it’s about three sneezing in one go.

IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME

The symptoms of the Irritable Bowel Syndrome are as follows:

• My stomach is always bloated.
• I suffer from a lot of wind and gas.
• Every time I eat something my stomach gets so bloated and gets so big.
• After eating my stomach gets so bloated and I start feeling sick and I always get a lot of gases and wind after eating.
• When my stomach is bloated is looks like I am 3/4 months pregnant
• Wheat gives me a lot of wind and gas.
• Salad gives me a lot of wind and gas.
• I find it difficult to read Namaz and keep my Wuzu because I have so much wind.  During Namaz because I have so much wind sometimes I have to stand stiff so that the wind doesn’t come out.
• During Ramzan the gas and wind gets worse.  I pass too much wind and my stomach is so bloated and hard.
• Bloated after eating
• Bloated trapped wind
• Bloated lower part of stomach
• Flatulence after drinking milk
• I feel nausea in the morning when I wake up
• When I go to the toilet to open my bowels, for a little while my stomach is okay.  Then after a while the bloatness and wind and gases starts again.
• I go to the toilet everyday but sometimes I don’t open my bowels fully. I sometimes still feel the urge to open the bowels more but nothing comes out

· I do get constipated quite a bit.  When I am constipated I don’t go to the toilet everyday and I have to really strain when I do go.

• My motion is smelly as well, especially when I am constipated.
• If I don’t go to the toilet everyday to open my bowels I get so much wind and gases my stomach is so bloated and hard.  I start feeling ill and sick and I find it so difficult to read Namaz because of the wind.  When I eventually open my bowels I do feel a bit better but I don’t open my bowels fully.  I really get constipated and it is a struggle, I have to sit in the toilet for a long time and the toilet really smells as well.
• The only time I open my bowels everyday is during Ramzan because you eat heavy food, but I still get a lot of gas and wind.

HEADACHES/MIGRAINES

The symptoms of the Headaches/Migraines is as follows:

• I have been suffering from Headaches since I was pregnant with my first daughter
• The headaches started when I was pregnant.  I normally got a headache in the evenings.
• I had Homeopathic treatment for the Headaches when I was having problems on my face.  The Homeopathic remedies did work for a while but I am still suffering from the headaches.
• Sometimes I wake up in the morning with a headache and a heavy head
• I suffer from headaches everyday
• The Headache normally starts at lunchtime around 11am/12pm in the afternoon.
• When the headaches starts and during the headache I start feeling sick, nausea, dizzy and light headed.
• I get a heavy head, my eyes get all heavy and I start feeling tired and sleepy and I just want to lie down.
• When I get the headache the head hurts all over, sometimes to one side or different places.
• I get a headache from open air when I go out
• I get a headache when I get a cold and cough
• As soon as I get a headache I have to take a tablet, it I don’t take anything then the headache turns into a migraine.
• If the headaches turn into a migraine it gets really bad and I start feeling sick, sometimes I am actually sick.
• If I get a Migraine I have to lie down with a scarf tied to my head and close my eyes for a while.
• When I get the headache I have to take a strong tablet.  Paracetomal does not help or any other mild tablet does not help. I have to take Solpadine Dissolvable Tablets.  Solpadine are the only tablets that work, they have to be dissolvable, so that they can work quickly.  They are very strong and addict able.
• During Ramzan I have to take Solpadine tablets for my headache everyday because I always get a headache when I am fasting.  If I don’t take a tablet when I am fasting then I get a really bad headache and it turns into a Migraine and then I am really sick, ill and feel dizzy.  Although I take a tablet during fasting I do still get a mild headache and I start feeling sick, dizzy and light headed.
• Sometimes when I get a mild headache I try to avoid taking Solpadine and use a balm like Vicks on my forehead, it only helps a tiny bit.

DEPRESSION

The depression has been okay since I have been taking Biocalm Homeopathic capsules that the doctor in Karachi prescribed me with but I get depressed when the Vulva itching gets bad.  I get irritable, angry, moody and start shouting.

I have been suffering from Depression for quite a few years now.  I did not realize I was suffering from depression until I started reading about it and my condition got quite bad.  I started getting a lot of depression attacks.

The symptoms of the Depression are as follows:

• I am always depressed.
• I feel sad all the time.
• Nothing makes me happy anymore.
• I want to cry all the time.
• I don’t like being at home on my own anymore.
• I don’t like going out.
• I get bored and depressed when I go out.
• I don’t like been left on my own.
• Not easily amused.
• I like to have company all the time.
• Dislikes member of the family.
• Don’t feel like doing anything.
• Sometimes I feel sick when I wake up in the morning.
• Sometimes I feel helplessness.
• I have changeable and variable mood swings
• I feel unhappy, discontent, displeased and dissatisfied.
• Unhappy grief over things of little importance.
• Mental depression about things of little importance.
• Always feel like weeping, crying and tearful mood.
• Worry about things of little importance.

Mouth Thrush

Sometimes I get Mouth Thrush, the Symptoms are:

• I do suffer from Thrush in my mouth quite a bit, especially if I have taken a lot of tablets, like Paracetomal for Headache or Sore Throat lozenges.

• When I get Thrush I feel sick, especially in the mornings when I wake up.
• My mouth is dried
• My tongue is white
• I have bad breath
• I don’t feel like eating anything
• I have a horrible taste in my mouth
• My body aches and hurts.

Other problems I suffer from are:

• I am always tired and aching

• I always wake up with a Headache and a heavy head.
• I always wake up with my body aching and hurting.
• When I wake up in the mornings sometimes I feel sick
• I always feel sleepy
• I never feel refreshed after waking up
• I don’t sleep well at night
• I toss and turn a lot all through the night
• Sometimes I will wake up in the middle of the night and I then can’t go back to sleep.  This happens nearly everyday.
• I always wake up before it is my time to get up, sometimes an hour or more before and then I can’t go back to sleep.

Other information

I don’t know if the Vulva/Vaginal itching is Vulva Lichen Simplex, Vulva/Vagnal/Lichen Planus or Vulva/Anal Lichen Sclerosis. I know the itching is not Thrush because I have had lots of test done for Thrush and they have always come back normal and I know the itching is not Eczema otherwise the Steroids would of helped the itching. My Vulva is not red or dry it is just normal.  The skin on the Vulva looks normal there is nothing to see.

The only cream, which I found used to help a bit, was Eurax it gave a soothing feeling, nothing else helped. Eurax only helped for about 20 minutes but because I used it for such a long time it didn’t really help the itch.  I tried Tea Tree Cream, Vasagill,  Lanacane Ointments and Baleum Oil Liquid, but nothing helped.  The Baleum Oil Liquid only helped for a week or two.

I don’t wash with soap, I use soap free things like Johnson’s Johnson, Sanex, Imperial Leather for sensitive skin. I have changed my washing powder, and I always wear cotton.  I have to wash using something because my Vulva really smells.

When I go out I have to take my Aqueous Cream with me, I am always conscious. It is stopping me from going out, and it is affecting my life.  I am finding it very difficult to cope with the itching.  I feel like I am the only one with this problem, it makes me angry and depressed.

I have seen so many doctors, Private and through the NHS in London and also been to so many hospitals.  I have spent so much money seeing Private doctors. No one knows what the problem is and no one so far has been able to help me or find out was is causing my itch on my Vulva/Vagina.

I would like to continue with Homeopathic treatment I know it will help one day, it is just a matter of getting the right medicine.  I try not to give up I just stick to the Homeopathic Remedies and hope one day they will work. I know Homoeopathic is the best treatment for all illnesses because if it doesn’t work then it doesn’t harm you or give you any side effects like other medicines do, especially Steroids, which have ruined my skin.

I would really appreciate your help and advise in this matter. I just want someone to diagnose my problem and cure me.

Name and personal information withheld.

Reply by Dr. Ahmad Fakir Muhammad

Thank you for your interest in homeopathy and my method of treatment.

Vulva itching, migraine, irritable bowel syndrome, depression, etc., are but different manifestations of a central disturbance. Any treatment that aims at individual complaints is bound to fail. Only a synergetic homoeopathic approach targeting the central disturbance has the chance to succeed. If the central disturbance is removed, you will get well, In shaa Allah.

Though you have tried to be as meticulous and thorough with the details as possible, there remains a lot a good homoeopath would like to know. Your all complaints are curable by the grace of Allah. The journey to normalcy will not be an easy one; it is expected to be long and tortuous and would demand a lot of patience both from you and your homoeopath.

I feel, you must see a good homoeopath in person. Internet consultation cannot be expected to be as effective as a one on one consultation.

To know what a good homoeopath must possess, please check the following links:

https://homoeopathy.com.pk/choosing-a-homoeopath/

https://homoeopathy.com.pk/credentials-of-a-homoeopath/

https://homoeopathy.com.pk/the-homoeopathic-interview/