Found a lump, and other downstairs issues :(

**PumpkinZulu** · August 8th, 2012, 12:51 PM

Have been calling around to get into a GP (getting really sick of the not taking new patients line), so in the meantime I'm asking here. Totally embarrassing, so I'm hoping someone can help me out

Firstly, I have some form of infection

At first I thought it was just thrush, I know that pregnancy can sometimes cause that. But honestly, the only symptom I have is (extreme) itching and redness. No discharge, absolutely no smell. In fact, I'm drier than normal which make it sorer. I tried thrush cream but that has made it worse. I'm so incredibly itchy I can hardly function, it's incredibly painful

As I said, I've been trying to get in to a doctor but to no avail yet. I've no idea what's up, or how I can make it any better. Sigh.

Anyway, I've had so much pressure lately downstairs, I have a small haemorrhoid which sucks. But last night, I noticed I have a fair sized lump in my vagina, just to the left and a bit below my clitoris. It's the size of a thumb nail, protruding from under the skin. It is soft and doesn't hurt, but I can feel its much bigger under the surface too. So I need that checked out because it's seriously freaky. My first though was varicose vein, I'm so hoping its not. So yeah, those are my downstairs dramas, which have left me feeling like I'm falling to bits and totally miserable. Any suggestions for either, and any suggestions to relieve the itching?

**HotI** · August 8th, 2012, 12:53 PM

ring your midwife

**little_O** · August 8th, 2012, 01:00 PM

Bepanthen?

With the lump my doctor told me that sometimes the little glands there can swell.

Hope you can get to a doctor/midwife soon

**PumpkinZulu** · August 8th, 2012, 01:01 PM

I called my midwife this morning, just waiting to hear back, hopefully soon (now!!).

**Olive** · August 8th, 2012, 01:04 PM

How long has the itchiness been there? Could be vestibulitis, the lump could be a Bartholins Cyst, I had one during second pregnancy xxxx

**PumpkinZulu** · August 8th, 2012, 01:05 PM

I'd say nearly a week now. I thought it was getting better, but then the last two days it's been terrible again.

**Arcadia** · August 8th, 2012, 01:07 PM

Re itching, have a bath with bicarbonate soda. That always helps me for bacterial infections or thrush. Could you have dermatitis? I found my skin so sensitive down the while pg and I had to stop using body wash in the shower and even changed shampoo. I am fine as long as I don't use any soaps at all. Can you wash your hair in the sink and ban all soaps in the shower and see if it helps. To relieve the itching I just used natural yogurt smeared over the area. Wear a pad though because it's messy. If you still have some applicators from e thrush cream, put yogurt in a bowl and suck it into the applicator then insert into your vagina. Doing this at bedtime is best.

As for the lump. Vein, gland, not sure. Can you go to the royal women's?

**Starfish** · August 8th, 2012, 01:09 PM

Have you recently changed the soap/shower gel you're using? I've found in the past that some have made my skin very dry and itchy down there...
Re the lump - I've experienced something similar a few times in the past, but each time it went away after a day or so. The gland explanation sounds about right.
Hope you get to see a GP soon. What is with the "no new patients" line?? It doesn't make any sense...

**Butterfly Dawn** · August 8th, 2012, 01:21 PM

Batholins cysts are common and most go away.
Yogurt tampon? probiotics?
I would ring your mw
Hope you can get some relief soon.

Sorry if it doesn't make sense, the barefoot princess is covering me with kisses

**PumpkinZulu** · August 8th, 2012, 01:49 PM

Thanks all. Yogurt and bicarbonate bath are great tips! Sucks cos I've been missing out on all DD's baths because obviously I can't bathe with her right now. No change in soaps etc, only change has been pregnancy.

**Tinks** · August 8th, 2012, 01:52 PM

You're not using printed or scented toilet paper by any chance? They cause me to get irritated exactly like you've described.

No idea about the lump.

**PumpkinZulu** · August 8th, 2012, 02:17 PM

Thanks all. Yogurt and bicarbonate bath are great tips! Sucks cos I've been missing out on all DD's baths because obviously I can't bathe with her right now. No change in soaps etc, only change has been pregnancy.

**Ginger** · August 8th, 2012, 02:22 PM

did you get into the gp?

**Astrolady** · August 8th, 2012, 02:42 PM

Lily, I feel your pain..literally LOL. I had small outer hemorrhoids. The cream the doctor told me to use seemed to make me even more itchy, so I went back and she said that the hemorrhoids had cleared but it looked like the cream had given me thrush. My problem is I generally scratch during the night and wake myself up doing it. So even though I am currently on a treatment of thrush cream I have taken layers of skin off down there which is causing more grief than the thrush itself.

I hope you have some answers soon, specially about that lump.

**LionsandBears** · August 8th, 2012, 02:48 PM

Coconut oil may help too. It's both anti-bacterial & anti-fungal.

**PumpkinZulu** · August 8th, 2012, 04:02 PM

No joy with local GP's, but my midwife got back to me and I've made an appointment with my old GP for next week in case I'm not better. Midwife and I had a chat and she thinks thrush, and that it's so itchy because if taken a layer or two of skin off and to try natural remedies (yogurt, garlic, salt or bicarbonate bath) and cut out all sugar and see if that helps. She though the lump was probably a gland too, said wait until thrush is cleared up and see if it goes down. So that's the plan and if I'm still not better next week I'll head to the GP. Thanks guys. Damn vagina troubles