Sore vulva and dilators

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It’s been a while since I last posted. Been using dilators since June following brachytherapy with no problems . Developed a uti about a month ago so rested dilators for a week or so , on restarting have developed very sore , red raw vulva area , used sudocrem as other creams seem to aggravate . My cancer nurse just said I must continue dilators but try just once a week . I use Yes lubricant with dilators as our pharmacy cannot source Sylk . Both nurse and GP say to use emollient , aqueous cream etc but nothing helping . Also have a bladder prolapse which adds to the situation . Has anyone else had this problem or suggestions as to what to use ? 

  • Hi Rethead

    I am sorry to hear that you have had a UTI and have now developed some very sore skin in your vulval area. It sounds really uncomfortable and you have done the right thing in getting checked out. 

    How are you cleaning the dilator? I wonder if there is any irritation due to any soap product or even a change in washing powder. 

    I have found some general advice here.

    Vulval care advice - Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

    It may also be worth posting your question directly to the nurses. 

    Ask a cancer expert | Macmillan Online Community

    I hope that you can find something that helps very soon, but if it continues I would advise going back to your GP. It may be that something different needs to be prescribed to heal the soreness before returning to your normal routine. 

    Jane

           

    Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

  • Thankyou Jane , dilator cleaned with soap and water but now just using water . No change in washing powder etc only use water to wash so feel like I’m doing all the right things . If no improvement will brace myself for the Monday morning scramble for a GP appointment !! 

  • Sounds like you are doing all the right things so maybe time to get checked again. 

           

    Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

  • Just to say that it’s possible that the soap could have been the original irritant. I was advised to use only water from the start so I just ran it under the hot tap after use. 

  • If you want to try Sylk, it’s available on eBay - that’s where I get mine from. Both Yes and Sylk contain plant based ingredients - but have different main ingredients. 

  • Hi Rethead

    I wonder whether a barrier cream might help I imagine every time you have a wee it irritates the area. Also drinking plenty of water might help.

    Hope it gets better soon it sounds awful

    Linda xxx

  • Thankyou. I’ve been using sudocrem but not really helped , just to add to my woes I think I’m getting another uti this morning , wondering if my urine is causing the soreness ?

  • Oh bless you that’s horrible. It’s quite possible your urine is causing the soreness. I have vaginal atrophy and sometime my vulva gets really sore and when I wee it’s agony. I use Vaseline or a barrier cream to try and protect it I also drink loads of water and cranberry juice …

    Linda xxx

  • Thankyou Linda , I have tried Vaseline today which seems to help ( can’t beat the old remedies) drinking loads of water and cranberry until I can hopefully see GP tomorrow. 

  • I asked the nurses here for dilator advice and they were very helpful. Do hope you can have some treatment for it soon.