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[Cassie273]

I also seem to be getting recurrent thrush infections as well - does anyone have any words of wisdom on how to manage this as well?

Presumably I shouldn't use canesten pessaries at the same time as a Vagifem pessary.  So do you stop using Vagifem for just one night?

Is there a chance that the Vagifem could be causing the yeast infection?  I am going absolutely potty with all the stuff happening "down below" at the moment.  I have never had anywhere near this extent of problems before - half the time I am just trying to work out what I need to treat next!

[CLKD]

It is 'thrush'?   Canestan really upset my bits, caused instant pain, soreness, redness and itchy.  My Practice Nurse had a look-see 3 days later and it wasn't thrush.  As oestrogen levels drop off the skin may become thin which will cause itching, including the vaginal region.

4 me thrush is intense itching high up, too high to reach.  I have found that LIVE yoghurt is soothing, eaten and applied ;-)

[Tinkerbell]

If it is thrush you could you could use one of the oral treatments instead.
I would also like to add that in the early days of my VA problems the doctor kept fobbing me off saying it was thrush.

[Zara69]

Hello Cassie
I have been on hrt patches since last May for many meno symptoms including burning, sore bladder/ vagina with drippy wet discharge... the systemic hrt didn't really help much with VA so after a battle I got vagifem in August (Dr didn't think I should need both). Initially I didn't think vagifem was helping.... burning pain, constant weeing...felt like a bee sting on outside bits, hot poker inside..also itchy (thought like you...is it thrush?)used loads of pessaries still no better.  I have tried most things, coconut oil, silk, Yes, multi-gyn actigel...but only getting temporary relief if anything ...went back to the GP who said all looked ok no sign of thrushy discharge but I asked her to take a swab anyway....came back as thrush.  So she put me on a 3 month course of oral flucanazole (so no irritation to vagina) so I took those and just persevered with the vagifem (also tried Ovestin cream but no less irritating). It is now May so 9 months of vagifem (stopped thrush treatment) and I'm just getting somewhere.  I now only have minor urethral irritation in the morning... before I couldn't sit or walk without discomfort.  I use 3 vagifem a week sometimes more, Yes as a moisturiser and actigel if I feel an itch (and after sex) I think my vagina was in such a thin oestrogen deprived state that it has taken all this time to improve... the flora was so “off” that it couldn't keep thrush at bay.  Keep going ...use all the things everyone suggests you will get better but I do know how you feel.  I'm 48 xxx 

[Cassie273]

To be honest, I'm not sure it IS thrush!  I genuinely don't know what's what any more!!  I had a high vaginal swab at the clinic in February which found nothing except some thrush which I did treat at that point with tablet, cream and pessary.  I have used thrush pessaries intermittently since then - get some symptomatic relief only for the thin, watery discharge to return and then periodically thicker, itchier discharge which I was assuming was a recurrence of thrush.  But I have been a bit "off and on" with the Vagifem as I haven't been sure what is causing what.  I'm so totally confused.

Zara69 - your experience is really helpful and I can see that I will need to persevere with the Vagifem for a lot longer if I'm going to see any change. 

I'm exhausted by all this.  Why can't it just be a bit easier??

[CLKD]

Maybe because you keep swapping what you are using?  Do read the threads on here about atrophy and the 'burning club'.  This is a life-required treatment.  Some ladies do need Vagifem every night, sometimes 2 doses at once. 

Maybe try LIVE yoghurt.   A large spoonful every evening and mid-morning to cleanse the digestive tract.  It won't do any harm and may improve your gut flora.  Thrush lives in the back passage which can be passed from back to front if one isn't careful: who designed us  - not a good idea to put all those important parts together  .  I have found LIVE yoghurt applied down there soothing .......... 

I would use the vagifem every night for 2 weeks.  I use KY Jelly on the outer lips to keep everything moist which stops it drying out.  Yoghurt when the itching is intense.  If necessary pushed up with a tampon.  Once you get relief, do keep to the regime!

[Cassie273]

Thank you CLKD - sage advice and I wish I had posted sooner about this instead of being embarrassed and shy.  I have taken a thrush tablet this afternoon and will carry on with the Vagifem daily for 2 weeks at least.

Have a great weekend everyone and thanks so much for all the sympathy and support.

[Maryjane]

Cassie I have messaged you. 😊

[CLKD]

No need to be embarrassed on here 

Nothing is taboo, or too much information etc..

[Zara69]

Hi Maryjane if you see this can you join me to your Facebook group please? X

[Maryjane]

Zara69 messaged you.

[Cassie273]

A HUGE thank you to everyone who replied to me on this thread.  I have taken on board a lot of the advice and made the following changes:
- gone back to using Vagifem every day
- started using emu oil on my lady bits
- got a probiotic for women's genito-urinary issues
- started eating a bio yoghurt each day
- started using E45 shower cream
- I also took a thrush capsule as well

And I finally broke down yesterday and had a full and frank conversation with my husband about it all, who was hugely sympathetic and supportive.  I find this stuff hugely difficult to talk about.  I come from a background where we girls didn't really talk about our lady bits and other than a bit of trimming the garden hedge,  there wasn't anything else we did to maintain them.  Way before the days of vajazzling or Brazilian waxing!  So talking about this stuff is really hard.  It took me a long time to work up the courage to post about this and I really want to thank you all for being so supportive.

At the moment, things seem to be feeling a bit better and the discharge has lessened a bit over the past 2 days.  I am feeling a lot less desperate now.

Hope you all have a great week.

Cassie273

 

[CLKD]

That is such good news!  I grew up in the 1960s when periods were talked about in hushed tones.

Is the yoghurt LIVE culture?  that's the important part ........ not all yoghurts are.

Let us know how you get on! 

[Cassie273]

Hi everyone

A further update as you were all so lovely to provide support and wisdom.  Things are a LOT better now!  I have done Vagifem every day for 3 weeks and am just about to go onto every other day.  I've also had my third Mona Lisa Touch treatment and will be having a fourth to focus on the entry to the vagina and the outer bits.  I also got some probiotics for female "issues" and am eating a live greek yoghurt every day.  Still having some discharge but it is far far better than it was, infections seem to have gone and everything is comfortable for now.


I really am grateful for all the advice and support on here - I was so desperate when I posted and much less so now!


C273 x

[Joaniepat]

Hi Cassie 273, thanks so much for the update, and I am very pleased that things are getting better for you. After you have had the fourth MLT, please do let us know if you get further improvement. It is the vaginal entrance and labia in that area that are my particular problem, and I'm considering the MLT myself, so I'll be very interested to know if it helps. Did you get much discomfort just after the treatments?
Thanks again,
JPx