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[sorbet]

Hi you lovely girls I hope you can advise me. I "think " I have VA. Sex has burned so much and has then caused the cycle of cystitis that I can't do it anymore. Have had antibiotics on average every month for over 2 years, then 9 times out of 10 when I ring up Gp for urine results there is no infection just blood and leaukocytes but no nitrates. I did initially start with strep infection in urine 4 years ago(this is normally found in the throat ) as hub had wet his finger as I was so sore and he must have had strep throat at the time. The GP delighted in telling me !!!! Since then I have been back and forth to docs thinking I have UTI's with the dreadful burning but now realise I don't have any discharge at all so most likely VA afterall. I have been trying Vagifem for 4 days and am so sore and swollen down there it actually blistered or split. I had also been smothering Yes lubricant, Aloe Vera and Emla cream and Actigel so could be a reaction from all the different ingrediants .I am stupid I know but am scared of full blown cystitis again. Yesterday I even took another Diflucan tablet in case it's thrush and have woken up with a sore rash on my face. Am so fed up girls. Shall I leave off all creams and persevere with the Vagifem. I am just burning in the vagina constantly now. My GP's are rubbish, can't get an app with lady doc for 2 weeks. even rang the GUM clinic but can't face going there as they said they can only treat sexual infections, I know I don't have any as was fully swabbed a couple of years ago. Am perimenopausal, had 8 periods last year and feel relief when they happen even though they flood and stop and start the mood and soreness goes for about 2 days. Emotions are all over the place, feel angry , numb , very anxious and have a constant headache. Having repeat blood tests  as have poor kidney function for some reason. GP said could be due to the past UTI's spreading to kidney or theuse of so many strong antibiotics. Kidney on left is always aching and it's hard to pass water, I feel this is due to the swollen vagina or urethra.It does come out fast and furious if I drink coffee but that makes me jittery. I would sit in the cubicle at work and hear other women come in and gush out a wee and feel jealous. Oh girls what do you think should be my next move. I am 50 by the way . Trying not to get depressed but can feel a black cloud descending, feels like me sex life is over , no jeans and no exercise as its all too sore. xxxxxx

[Suzi Q]

You sound a abo Atrophy to me your symptoms sound exactly like mine
BUT STOP all rubbishy creams and potions clean fanny in shower NO SOAP
Use only the Vagifem they have probably F up your skin and messed your poor bits and bobs about
Vagifem takes a fair while thats why its every night for 2 weeks (I did 3) then 2 times a week for good
It can take up to 6months to feel really good but it will start working straight away
Just stop everything else I was diagnosed for 18mnths with Thrush yet they never found it I took Monistat you name it
The Caneston burnt my insides so much the skin started to peel off so I didnt use that
It takes a while to get wet again and Im sure your hubby did what he thought was right but if he had to wet his finger!
You must have been so dry inside bloody hells bells
I will wriet a longer reply later but stop evrything except the vagifem cool cloths on the fanny if your burning plenty of fluids we need them anyway never mind Thrush
I am jel every time I see girls and think they are so lucky yet they too will suffer this I comfort myself that even MADOONA will be menopausal mind looking at her on TV at 54 bloody hell shes either on monkey gland or is just plain bloody lucky xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[sorbet]

Thank you for the advice Suzi Q, I will stop using all creams, potions and lubricants on my sore old parts can't believe I was so desperate I smothered emla cream on . Will persevere with vagifem and pray it works soon, this is completely debilitating. I bet Madonna is HRT'd up to the eye balls  . Hope you are coping with it. xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[sorbet]

Hi Mrs Purple,

thank you for replying I know I shouldn't have tried all that other stuff I was stupid but was dreading the cystitis starting again and more antibiotics then more thrush.
 Just a never ending cycle that is completely unnecessary and has messed up my kidneys in the process all beacuse of the debilitating VA!!!
I will just plod on with the vagifem and drink as much water as I can. I am  glad it has worked for you and I know now it won't be an overnight solution. Did you worry at any point that the Vagifem might have been agrevating the pain or did you just carry on? Once again thank you. xxxxxxxxxx

[Suzi Q]

Thanks Mrs P
It was Bloody horend when I read back at the pain I was in 24/7 365 never bloody ending pain
It all started Sorbet with an itch Feb 2008 on a Sunday Id been gardening and I thought Id been bitten
I itched for a week then I was Ok about April(I keep a diary have since 1989) felt weird down there like Cystitis
Coped drinking barley water then went to GP had tests nothing in water
Went off till end of May came back again for 3 weeks burning aching pain feeling open downstairs then it went again June
September it came back and didnt go till I started Vagifem Feb 14th 2010
Pain was almost unvearable the throbbing burning suction feeling in and around my fanny what it needed was hormones
Yet I was and had been using Ovestin since 1995 plus the mini pill Then the Ovestin started falling out the next day
 It  fell out in a clump exactly like it had gone in I went back and forward from Sept 2008 till Feb 2010
I used Cannestin all sorts of disgusting washes for my fanny even PINETARSAL burnt me alive I couldnt sit
I wanted to pee every day all day 12/14 times though never kept me awake at night I think it was cos I was exausted
My fanny was red raw my clirroas was blood red and my uretha to the opening looked like 3rd degree burns
I felt like I was sitting on a golf ball only respite was lying down I didnt want to go to the lavatory I knew id burn
Taz my nag and CLKD and TAZZY woff helped me so much with out them and the site god alone only knows
 I joined men matter Aug 2009 a GP told me too bout the only good thing he did for me
It took the above ladies till Sat 13th Feb 2010 to go back to GP I did got on the tabel he took one look he didnt even
Give me an internal mind I think head and flying off his shoulder would have come to mind he said SUGAR well actually be said Bastard called Bobbles in and said my god he gave me Vagifem with in a week or so that suction ache went
 I took it for 3 weeks everyday slowly but surely my Bartholin glands went down as I didnt and dont have a prolapse
The burning stopped only was there when I weed that lasted anbother 3 months or so took till August to feel normal
Well as normal as you can with Atrophy BUT THE great thing was the cystits feeling went with in a few weeks as the kneck of the bladder got the hormones I know how it works but read about your bladder needing the hormones to make it well again TAZ explain please xxx As for sex is hit and miss sometimes its YUK sometimes YESSSSSSSSSSSS
Put it this way Sep and Oct 2010 we went to Paris Ital Venice and Wallasey England and we made love everywhere!
PLEASE get rid of all the shite 1 tip can you wash your hair in the sink? I did so no hair soap got on my fanny?
Thats not a perm thing I did it for the first 3 months but even now I lean my head forward and wash then the same rinse I try not to get any shampoo on my fanny I use Goats milk or Olive oil soap only under the arms gently
No soap on the bottom either OK but maybe too much here but I pull my bottom cheeks  let the shower rinse me
We are getting a bidet here in the house next month I still dont wash my bits in soap
I use Olive Oli soap from Farmers Markets it works and makes the skin very soft
It will help the Vagifem for me the real scarey part was the outer Vaginal Atrophy my genitalia shrank
Inner labias almost non existant theyve shrivelled in to the skin my clittoral hood just about covers my man in a boat
I had HUGE inner labias they hung down and a HUGE outie (hood) Id get embarrased at times now look like a 8 year old
Feeling of being open was my outer mons had sank on the inner part each side as no hormones thats why I felt open
Do they look better NO have they grown back NO do they hurt NO do they burn ? hardly ever Can I sit YES
Can I have sex YES am I wet again OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH yes dont give up OK chin up we are women and we
      ROCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK

[borchesterlass]

yes persevere with the Vagifem. When I started Vagifem I couldn't do any exercise or long dog walks because of the sore ness and irritation. It took a while to kick in probably because my last period was at 45 and I was 53 when the VA kicked in. Now coping on 10 mg twice a week. Do sometmes get an iffy day and then just pop an extra one in. No sex though. Was so painful that I hace a real mental block about going down that route and stirring things up again.

[Suzi Q]

I love the Botox for the Fanny hehehehehe
Its not a cure Atrophy cant be cured once you have it its there 4 ever
But it can be managed some ladies can contol it
Sadly not that many most are like me 100% for a few days then 95% for a few days
Sex can be a terrible stumbling block but its always been vitaly important to BOTH of us not just Bobbles
He too has been affected with my Atrophy mentaly and Physicaly
Every day Id give him a description of my fanny and soreness hes the type of chap thats uncomfortable with lady bits
So for him hes always terrified that hes hurting me which of course has affected him sexually
He hardly ever climaxes anymore hes too scared to go on for long
Im always scared after entry which to be fair was always a tight fit its true what they say hes 6/5 size 13 feet!!!!!
Me im 5/2 had a 6lb baby and had an epsiotomy I was and still am small but even smaller downstairs than I used to be
Most times though after the initial inward ouch Im fine I dont really want sex anymore nevr thought id ever say that
BUT I need sex be one person to me the small bit of pain which isnt always is 100000% worth it
I try to make sure he knows it hurts getting in but once in always 100% ok or so he thinks id say 50/50
For loads of ladies though once Vagifem works they are fine sexually I think that bit is hit and miss
For me Vagifem was a god send I take 25mg Sun /Thur that seems enough on the very odd occasion  I use 1 more xxx

[sorbet]

 Still very uncomfortable and swollen but am doing all you lovely girls have advised and hoping it goes soon. All the antibiotics for the non existant urine infections have caused kidney damage so that is a bugger. So will prob need investigations there and frankly have had enough and can't be bothered. I certainly couldn't face any internals its just too painful !!!!
I can't believe all this has happened, I have thought over the years maybe it was urethra syndrome as it's hard to say where the swelling and pain are but sex is agony so it must be the vagina and it affects the urinary systems as well.I understand how you feel Borchesterlass I am not sure what to put on the bits where the skin has split and the sore patches inside the front part. I did think about hydrocortisone but as Susan said it thins the skin. Am just using plain water , don't feel clean but can't risk any more reactions from trying different products. Will just be a relief when it starts to go. Was agony to wee this morning, I know it will take time. Suzi Q you have been to hell thank you for sharing and I am sorry you are all suffering from this.Thank you so much . What a pity we have to meet due to this bugger of a condition. I am jealous of all the women who sail through meno. I never thought this would happen to me but I have read that years ago hundreds of women were put in asylums when they were menopausal !!!!!I feel such a kinship with you and you have comforted me, Thank you . Please stay in touch . xxx

[Suzi Q]

Just hang on in there
If you have paper like cuts on your vaginal skin and its splitting the skin yes?
I found the one thing that helped  and still does is Nilstat  you can buy it over the counter I got it from Superdrug
Its a Thrush cream Bobbles is in fact slathering it over his LOU LOU cos of THRUSH he got from me
Its soothing I find with in 48hrs just putting it on the cuts and the front part it heals up
If the skin there gets too dry its Due to lack of hormones then irritation and dryness causes the skin to pull and crack
So it splits like a paper cut and gets sore and burns cos of the urine and warm area and dryness
Another tip when you can wear No knickers let the air get at you always wear panty liners non smelling ones
I changed my knickers up to 3/4 times a day while I was healing and every time I peed id change my panty liner
No antis unless abso ness Ive only had 2 courses in over 2 yrs both for chest infections  it was abso ness I took them
If you dont have a Urine infection then any fluids will do Tea water even coffee but lots of water
Not too much that your peeing for Britain though dont go too mad as you can get irritation thorugh that
I did that and realised I was causing myself more problems as I was drinking way too much for no reason
Just drink say 4/5 glasses of water a day what I go to the sink I to this day have a glass there
I fill it half way and drink it I may be washing dishes or filling the kettle but i will fill a small glass half up and swig it
I know all this sounds horrible and OH god I cant be doing with this but honest its only for a few moths
Once the Vagifem works and your bits and bobs settle down you can manage it for yourself find what works for you
I stopped wearing my jeans in the day and wore loose trackies in the house and only worse my jeans out
I live in Brisbane Ozz now (Im from the Wirral) and the jeans made it worse I also bought a couple of op shop jeans
Got them size too big so if people came over at night I could wear them with long nice top my fanny wasnt squished
If sex hurts and your dry and skins splitting you sound like me and loads of ladies on here with Atrophy
My GP told me not to have baths either (water gets inside) and if I swim wear knickers underneath cossie4 protection
Please hang in there dont be scared it sounds horrible and your thinking OH GOD but it eases off just take one day at a time it will ease off maybe not this month but everyday that the Vagifem goes up it starts to get hormones up there Every day it will start to ease as I said mine was like yours I took Vagifem 25mg for 3wks every day I asked my GP
Its not an overnight cure try to keep stress down have cuddles do things go to piccies together meals and be happyx

[carmel]

I'm not on HRT and I take Starflower Oil which seems to control the hot flushes.  Occasionally I get vaginal itch.   I use Replens for this.  What I am wondering is could this be connected to eating too much sugary food.  I have found that if I eat a lot of sweets or biscuits that the itching starts shortly after.  It might have nothing to do with it but I am just curious.

[Isithotinhere]

The more I read on here the more I think I may have got off lightly! OK I can't have sex ( ) but at least I'm not experiencing horrendous pain and soreness like some of you poor things. Also, (though I'm not in the habit of getting my mirror out and examining myself) I am positive my lady bits on the outside are back to normal....so why aren't they inside?? Grrrr!

What I'd like to know is: Has anyone been able to resume their sex life, painlessly, after being on Vagifem?

Also on the topic of Madonna and the menopause, I read somewhere she had allegedly remarked "Get the cream!" but when questioned further wouldn't elaborate. Thanks a bunch Madge!

The specialist I saw who prescribed Vagi said she herself was on full HRT. She said she couldn't possibly function without it and seemed to have no worries about it, but from what I've read on here it doesn't appear to be the cure-all it's cracked up to be.

[Suzi Q]

OK simple question
How do you know sex is going to be painful if your not doing it?
How do you know they arent back to normal inside?
My sex life is sometimes pain free totaly  and then sometimes a bit sore on entry but OK after a few in outs
Its never the same I agree you tense up and then its OK
Bet Maddooonaaa is on anything and eberything one thing even she cant change is BIOLOGY

[sorbet]

A sore fanny on fire day today girls. Am lying here with a cool flannel on me old parts.That Kings of Leon song "Sex on Fire "  should be our theme

I have noticed a link with sugar. I abstained for a while to rule out diabetes and there was an improvement. When I went back to it the burning was worse than ever.
Thanks so much for all advice . Am thinking of you all xxxxxx

[saladgirl]

I dont think my 'bits' are dry but they feel sore and I keep getting spasm like pains going from the outside in - I am petrified!  Help  I am 51 and my periods are getting shorter - now down to 2 or 3 day :'(s and less regular - darent contemplate sex - am frightened to death

[sorbet]

Aw salad girl don't be scared , it sounds like VA. I didn't think mine were dry it was just so sore and throbbing , my periods are the same as your too ....but it creeps up so slowly and takes time to get really bad. Please don't worry and read what the other girls have advised. xxxxx