Lichen Sclerosus Podcast

Hey, welcome. In this episode, I decided to take a little break from the interviews, and speak from the heart. This is something I felt compelled to speak on. I want to talk about not letting Lichen Sclerosus control your life; not letting it rob you of the vibrant and wondrous person you are.

I want to thank our sponsor, Lichen Sclerosus Support Network (LSSN) for making this podcast possible. LSSN is helping get people diagnosed earlier and get the treatment and care they deserve. Follow them on IG and FB @lichensclerosussupportnetwork and visit their website lssupport.net.

Also, be sure to check out our membership at lssupport.net/joinwarriors.

Or join us every other Saturday in the free virtual meetups. Find out more information and signup at lssupport.net/connect.

Visit lssupport.net/lscontrol for full show notes.

Today, I am here with Dr. Cynthia Wesley (aka Dr. Cyn), a board-certified OBGYN with over 16 years of experience and a vulvar skin expert. Dr. Cyn is passionate about vulvar care, hygiene, and grooming. She will share her tips on how to take care of your vulva when you have Lichen Sclerosus.

We discussed everything from using the bathroom, bathing, moisturizing, hair removal, and more. So many great tips in here.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

Dr. Cyn’s website: drcynobgyn.com

Dr. Cyn’s exclusive vulvar products waitlist: beautybelowmd.com

Pre-order Dr. Cyn’s new book here: beautybelowbook.com

Dr. Cyn’s social media: @drcynobgyn on Facebook and Instagram

For complete show notes and all the links mentioned in this episode visit https://lssupportnetwork.org/grooming.

Thank you to our sponsor, Lichen Sclerosus Support Network. Working towards getting people diagnosed earlier and getting treated better. Be sure to follow them on IG and FB @lichensclerosussupportnetwork and visit their website lssupportnetwork.org.

Also, be sure to check out our membership at https://lssupportnetwork.org/membership.

Hey welcome!

This week I'm so excited to finally publish this episode with Ashley Stump. She's a pelvic floor physical therapist who knows all about Lichen Sclerosus.

I learned so much during this episode, we talked about what pelvic floor physical therapy is, why women with Lichen Sclerosus need it, what to expect on your first visit, and we talked about lubes.

We talked about so much, so much gold and she even gave us tips on what to look for when you're looking for a new pelvic floor physical therapist, and some resources are where to find one.

For complete show notes and all the links mentioned in this episode visit lssupport.net/pfpt.

Thank you to our sponsor, Lichen Sclerosus Support Network. Working towards getting people diagnosed earlier and getting treated better. Be sure to follow them on IG and FB @lichensclerosussupportnetwork and visit their website lssupport.net.

Also, be sure to check out our membership at lssupport.net/lswarriors.

I'm so excited to bring back one of my favorite guests. Lou!

If you don't know who Lou is go back and listen to the episode "Lou's Diagnosis Story". She is so much fun and I could not wait to speak with her again.

We go in-depth on my story and discuss some of the decisions I made.

My hope is that you learn something from my experiences or at the very least know that you are not alone.

Please reach out:

IG - https://www.instagram.com/lichensclerosuspodcast/

FB - https://www.facebook.com/lichensclerosussupportnetwork

Website - lichensclerosuspodcast.com

Don't forget to signup for the virtual meetup. - https://www.subscribepage.com/lsconnect

Does stress cause Lichen Sclerosus flareups? The effects of stress on LS have not been researched. However, my personal experience is that they are connected. Other women in public forums have also associated their Lichen Sclerosus flareups with their level of stress. In today’s hectic and scary environment it is important that we manage our stress and minimize our flareups.

The changes implemented to contain the coronavirus are affecting a lot of us. Children are out of school. There is a shortage of toilet paper, soap, and medicine in the stores. Sporting events and large gatherings are canceled. The fear of the unknown is also causing us stress.

This stress has caused my Lichen Sclerosus to flareup with intensity. My vulva is itching more intently. I am also developing fissures and possibly a blister. This is by far the worst flareup I’ve had since after I received my diagnosis. These flareups can raise anxieties and isolation which can lead to depression. This is one of the main reasons we need to create a support group! I have also included 5 daily things and 5 quick things we can do to minimize stress.

5 Daily Things To Do To Minimize Stress

• Get Plenty of Sleep
• Eat a Proper Diet and Drink Plenty of Water
• Exercise
• Put Your Priorities in Place
• Laugh

5 Quick Stress Relievers Get a HugHugs are great. They release oxytocin which gives you higher levels of happiness and lower level of stress. So, grab somebody you like and give them a squeeze.

Try aromatherapyBurn a candle, incense or diffuser and relax. Let the scent take you to a happy place and melt the stress away. Aromatherapy can help you feel energized, more relaxed and more present. So burn that stress away!

Do Some ArtworkResearch shows coloring can focus your mind, especially when coloring complex patterns. Draw, paint or color. Either way, relax and let your mind wander.

Express GratitudeTake stock of all the things you have to be thankful for. Studies show grateful people have better mental health, lower stress and better quality of life. Look on the bright side and brush that stress away.

PlayPlay with a pet, kids, significant other or friends. Enjoy that quality time and be in the moment. Let loose of the stress and just have fun!

If we do a few of these a day we will manage our stress and our Lichen Sclerosus flareups should minimize. At the very least we will be happier and enjoy the people around us more.

I hope you have an amazing week. Please reach out by email or leave me a voicemail. I can’t wait to speak to you!

Resources:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJkxjzp8DFadQRiJp3yUdKg

https://www.verywellmind.com/tips-to-reduce-stress-3145195

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18190880