Hi,
Post menopausal 3 years,HRT 18 months Mirena coil, estring and oestrogel, was 2.5 pumps,now 1.5.… prior to that, just estriol cream for bladder for 6 months, but post meno bleed, led to hysteroscopy and current HRT regime.
All was good for first year, one 'thrush'? Attack on holiday last September, and again in a March this year when on holiday in lakes (used two lots of canesten) wasn't using estring for approx 6 months wanted to see a f oestrogel 2.5 pumps and vesicare tablets would be enough to help bladder, which they were before bad attack in March.
Still don't really know if it was thrush or VA flare up, saw GP had swab taken, clear, (but had of course used two lots of canesten so probably should be clear then anyway)… now back using estring, but not really been feeling right in that area since March, off and on soreness, burning, which leads to irritation… tried vagisan internally and externally, now on advice from lovely ladies n here, trying actigel, internally and externally, yesterday hardly any discomfort, today feeling minor soreness and a bit itchy.
I'm so fed up with this, not knowing what to do what to try, WHY have I got it?? … feels like a penance, I suffered recurrent thrush from teens to mid twenties when I was taking the BC pill, occasional thrush since then too.
My sex drive has never been great, and I feel crap about it as my husband has a high sex drive, so many times I've found myself 'pleasing' him.… since meno has hit, things have become even worse, odd times I feel ok about it, but mostly I could live without it to be honest.
Now this VA thing, bladder issues making me have to visit the loo lots, not as bad since taking vesicare. But WHY soreness, WHY irritation (prickly feeling)..... I'm using estring, I'm using oestrogel, I'm using bloody vaginal moisturisers, now using actigel too!
How many years will all this torment me for, is there ever a solution?… just to feel normal in my lady parts would be so good!
I have a husband asking for sex, when I have a fanny on fire 🔥 and I'm just feeling so crap and despondent. He is understanding, so he says, but years ago we saw relationship counsellor to try and help my lack of libido and negative feelings regarding sex, and came to agreement two intimate sessions a week, took pressure off him asking/wanting 3/4/5 a week! But in all honest, 2 a month would be ample for me, with no strings attached cuddles at other times. Impossible!
Sorry for rant, just feeling stuck in a nightmare I can't find a solution too, or relief from.
Seeing GP Thursday to ask for estriole cream for external use, mentioned it on my last visit and she said she didn't know if it was safe to use t as well as estring and would find out. I called surgery to say I was coming in to discuss it and could the ensure my GP was aware befor my visit.
I don't want to have to use all this hormone treatment, I do worry about potential risks, but I feel stuck in an impossible situation due to bladder and VA at least I presume it's VA and not the she rearing it's got head due to HRT, as said previously, I suffered it recurrently when I was on the pill years ago.
Thank you for reading, feeling worthless as a woman 😟😟
