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[Tinkerbell]

I have had horrendous issues with VA that eventually got sorted.
We had a very good lady doctor who was very good at listening and prescribing what I need, unfortunately she has now left.
I have been struggling with my named doctor to get my Vagifem prescribed, the female doctor was happy for me to use it every day but he says it should last 24 weeks and I can't have any more until January...I have 7 doses left!
My VA has been so well controlled on the Estrogel/Mirena and daily Vagifem that I have felt that I had got my life back!
What do I do now? there are no appointments at our doctors for another three weeks and none with a female one either.

I m

[CLKD]

He's talking rubbish.  Ring a Pharmacist and ask what the recommendation is and then ring your Sugery and tell him - it's used for 2 weeks every night then as necessary: usually every 3rd and 5/6th night.  For Life!

R U in England?

[Tinkerbell]

Yes I am in England, the GP who left was happy prescribing daily use for me and said most of her other ladies
needed more than twice a week as well.
Because I have not been using nightly whilst I have been sorting this out the soreness is coming back..I really can't manage on anything less than one  every day.

[Dancinggirl]

Tinkerbell - I would simply ask this doctor to refer you to the specialist urogynaecologist for advice.  GPs are loathed to do referrals as it costs money - so this may persuade him/her to rethink their pedantic approach.     
If the pain is returning because you have reduced the dosage, then I would definitely hotfoot back to this GP and ask for the referral. DG x

[Maryjane]

As an alternative ask for an estring ? Which stays in the vagina for 90 days it's the equivalent of almost 5 vagifem a week ....and then go guns blazing at him ......makes me hopping mad all this.😡

A private GP will prescribe just like that , however it's expemsive and why should you ? But if you get desperate we have to do what we have to do.

Wish I could come into some of these appointments with you  and tell them exactly what's what . 😡😡😡

[Maryjane]

Also a email letter thing with Dr Currie ?

[Zara69]

None of the GPs at my surgery would prescribe vagifem with systemic HRT (I use patches). So they agreed to email a consultant gynae...the reply took 6 weeks (which was yes it's fine) but while I was waiting I did buy ovestin and used that as I knew VA just gets worse (I bought ovestin instead of vagifem purely because it was cheaper) ...so maybe ask for them to email a consultant and buy something to tide you over...or ask to be referred but try and insist that they keep your prescription as it is while you are waiting ...because your only asking to be referred because they are not happy (if you know what I mean)

[Zara69]

Tinkerbell have you ever tried upping your estrogel? I often wonder if more systemic oestrogen would help my VA ?  My patches are 50 ...sometimes I think I should try 75 and separate prog..I just don't know 🤔🙄

[Tinkerbell]

Zara...I am on 3 pumps a day, when I tried going to 4 it made me feel jittery. I have been plodding away nicely for the last 8 months on my combo, don't know what his problem is because I have a Mirena for the progesterone component, so the endometrium should be protected by that.

[Zara69]

Makes me so cross...if that is the minimum it takes to keep you comfortable he should not alter your prescription...I am sure it's down to cost although how much are they really?? Prob pence...my sister uses vagifem, her dr will allow her 8 a month - prescribed monthly. So it works out she pays over  £1 each ...crazy! And so unfair - I get 24 each time - she's going to buy that one off yearly thing.  They tried to tell me it was ‘risk' they couldn't actually tell me what risk so I'm sure it's cos I'm 48 and they think “oh god could be 40 years of her on this”!

[Tinkerbell]

This is the doctor who told me topical estrogen could only be used two years max a couple of years ago!
It's daft because when my bits are comfortable I exercise more,I was up to 20 mins on an exercise bike most days and as I am a bit overweight with slightly elevated BP surely it's better health wise to let me have the required Vagifem!
Sorry to hear your sister is not getting what she needs either.

[CLKD]

They know nowt!  I would be e-mailing his details to Dr Currie on here ......... by now she should have a long list of GPs who don't bother to understand what is required in menopause!!

Are you able to change Surgeries even?

[Maryjane]

CLKD think  GPs need hauling over the coals TBH .....there should be a central data base type thing to report them too.


Something needs doing about this😡😡😡

[Zara69]

Why aren't we allowed to have what we need to feel well???  why can't we decide to take any perceived risk as long as we know the facts?!

[Maryjane]

Money ....Dr Louise Newson NHS GP / private menopause specialist said the menopause NICE guidelines are the most ignored of all the guidelines .....if men 🤔