Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Ljp]

 Hi, I have been using Mirena, oestrogel and estring since December 2015.

My worst menopause symptom initially was frequent urination and urgency.
After using estriol cream for six months, I had a post meno bleed, which led to gynaecologist appointment at hospital, hysteroscopy (all fine, uterus lining thin)... and gynae recommended Mirena coil to protect uterus from any oestrogen effects I might need to use, she also inserted my first estring, and suggested I try a patch or gel.....this was all back in Dec 2015… things went along quite well for most if last year, (using Mirena, oestrogel 1, then upped to 2 pumps).. apart from my worries re HRT, but I think I'm pretty much ok on that now too.

Anyway long story short, I decided to try without estring last August  to see if systemic oestrogel was enough, I went on holiday in September and had what I thought was thrush while away, treated with canesten and seemed ok again.
Then went on holiday to Lake District in march and had another bad episode, so sore, burning, itching, tried two lots of canesten, helped a bit, went to dr, had swab, came back clear, she said it was more likely a VA flare up, so now back using estring, initially things improved, but now I am having episodes of soreness again, but horrible burning soreness, which then makes me feel itchy too.

I didn't have this last year when using estring, it just was fine all those months.
Could it be that going without the estring for nearly 6 months has depleted the oestrogen and it needs time to replenish?
I don't know whether to leave it in, or take it out, I am trying vagisan moisture cream alongside the estring and around the outside to see if it helps.
Just don't know what's causing it and why, or what to do or not do....any advice please???

I asked to my dr at last appointment if I could have estriol cream to apply externally, she said she would have to read up to see if was ok to use estriole externalky alongside estring (estradiol) internally.… wondering if I should book to see her to see if she has found out??

Desperate for relief

[ancient runner]

Quite a few of us do use both so yes I'd hotfoot it back there and try to get yourself the external cream. Put it another way - ask to try it to see if it works. If it does then you balance any potential risk against quality of life.
One other thing though - can't remember if we suggested this to you but it's a tip lots of us got from Dancinggirl - multigyn acti gel is sold for BV and sorts the pH in your vagina. I think the estring sitting there can sometimes skew things a bit. I usually slap this on after a shower or if things are feeling a bit iffy. It stings but then it helps.
Also if you're having trouble sitting, I've found if you get a really solid travel neck cushion - not a memory foam one, a stuffed/padded one - TK Maxx do one or two, you can sit on it and it takes the pressure off your vulva. I've taken to putting mine in a cushion cover so it doesn't look quite so odd.

[Ljp]

Thank you ancient runner, I've booked to see Dr next Thursday. Been using vagisan moistcream off and on for a while, mostly externally, that smarts a but when first applied but I think it helps a bit, although today I've slapped some coconut oil on and that seems just as effective, if not better!… it's just a horrible soreness, like a burning soreness, this is new this year.
Used to suffer with thrush constantly years ago when I was on the pill, before having my children, and occasionally since, I found tea tree oil cleaned it up best, and acidophilus capsules inserted 😱
Thought menopause would be a break from all that.....ha bloody ha!!!

Maybe I'll try the multigyn BV to see if it helps with ph. This current estring has only been in since April, first one since last August, am wondering/hoping things might improve over time using estring again.

Strange question, how do you sit on the neck cushion? 😄 I'm thinking sit on the horse shoe with open but at front?😄

[Dancinggirl]

Multi Gyn Actigel is a must if you have the Estring - really helps to stop irritating infections taking hold. If you are itchy then the flora will be out of balance. DG x

[Ljp]

More sore than itchy, but soreness makes it feel irritated too if that makes sense
Should the multi gyn be used internally as well as externally?

[dahliagirl]

I had this before I started vagifem, and then a milder version after I started vagifem.

The actigel helps sort it out.  I keep some in for occasional use now.

[Suzi Q]

More sore than itchy, but soreness makes it feel irritated too if that makes sense
Should the multi gyn be used internally as well as externally?

Sounds to me like full blown start up of Atrophy
All tje symptoms you mentioned were exactamundo how mine started.
Burn8ng itching heat sureness.  I didn't use hrt i tried everything known to man
I was told i had thrush 5 times was on monistat for 3 months.
My bartholin glands swelled up at the entetence felt like i was sitting on golf balls.
Id pee for Britain till i hurt inside and out the throb like a suction type oh the pain ache
I thank god it started 9 years ago and not now idt id cope now at 64.
I l8ve with it daily idg the bad symptoms anymore thank god
Went on vagifem 25 feb 2010 took 3 months or so to settle only did a reload after 3 years
Then vagifem went down to 10m never been more than a month free of symptoms since
I use one everynight and id say 90% on average.
Maybe have a wee chat xxxx

[Ljp]

Thank you for the replies, I've bought some actigel today, should I use it internally as well as externally?

I find all this 'atrophy' very depressing, it's only 2 years since my last period, I'm 52, I worry how it's going to be in 10 and then hopefully 20 or 30 years time

[dahliagirl]

I stick some on the end of my finger and swish it up and around as far as it goes comfortably, inside and out    This is mainly to make it go further and not to have to wash it. But it might be worth using the applicator to start with.

[Ljp]

Thank you 😊 What a stupid applicator though!  You can't tell how much you're using, I might try using the applicator from my vagisan cream.

It does feel more comfortable already, but certainly stings for a while at first

[dahliagirl]

It is funny stuff but it seems to do the job.

I had the VA symptoms for the last 4 years I was on the pill and once smeared a load of Hemp handcream on - the relief was immense so I started looking out for more appropriate things.  The 'infections' came along later and are not what I expected at all.

[Ljp]

How old were you when va started? Mine started with frequent and urgent urination late 40's, the soreness in new this year I'm 52 now

[dahliagirl]

Around 45 and on the pill - I used to have to leg it to the loo on my week off - 53 now.  The outside problems and the bladder problems were the worst - I was not aware of 'vaginal dryness' which is what you usually hear about.  The 'infections' thing started after 5 months with no periods after stopping the pill - then my periods came back and it all got worse.

[Ljp]

Sounds very similar to me. I take vesicare to help the urgency and frequency, was on one 5mg tablet a day, but just changed to alternate days, 5mg and 10mg, definitely helped bladder.

What us your HRT/VA regime?

I'm on Mirena coil, oestrogel (was 2.5 pumps, now 1.5 pumps daily) and estring, back on it since April, after a 6 month break

[Dancinggirl]

Try using Multi Gyn morning and evening until You are more comfortable. Big dollop on the end of a finger and pushes up inside is best. It will sting a bit at first but then soothes greatly.
Do drink bicarbonate in water morning and evening as well to relieve urethral burning.
Just another thought: I recently had digestive problems and tried drinking soya or oat milk instead of cows milk and I'm finding I get less burning and fewer vaginal problems !!!! DG x