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[KatieScarlet]

Good evening ladies! I'm feeling very sore & stressed tonight & hope you can help.
I've had dryness for some time which has stopped all action in the bedroom department but otherwise no other symptoms. From time to time I've tried moisturisers but they've all made me feel more uncomfortable so I've gave up with them.
However I was speaking to a nurse at the GP practice about my blood results a few weeks ago & mentioned it to her & she made an appointment come to see a female GP there who also happens to specialise in sexual health. I went to see her last week & she confirmed VA & prescribed estriol cream. I used it for the first time on Saturday evening  just on the vulva area & it seemed ok at first but as the evening wore on it started to burn more & more till in the end I washed it off. I've been sore ever since and have only used Vaseline which does ease it and it seemed to be getting much better yesterday but this morning I think I scratched myself with my fingernail & tonight it's really burning & sore. I've spoken to the GP practice & they're passing the message onto the GP on Thursday when she'll prescribe something else but I'm feeling really stressed about it all at the moment.
I hope you can say something to calm me down please!

[Tinkerbell]

When I first started Ovestin it did sting, but once the VA started to improve that went, I would ask for Vagifem and give that a go.
Did you not use some of the estriol cream internally?

[KatieScarlet]

Thanks for your quick reply Tinkerbell. The GP told me to just use it externally to start to see if it did cause a reaction. She said if it just caused some discomfort that was ok but if it really burned to let her know & she'd give an alternative.

[Daisydot]

Hi KatieScarlet you could ask to change to vagifem pessaries they're so much better as Tinkerbells suggested and along with that use a lubricant like yes or silk or
Similar for the outer vag areas you'd see a huge difference in a few days,you do a two week nightly load with the vagifem pessaries then it drops down to 2 or 3 tines a week so you could do that and use the lubricants in the mornings it makes a world of difference very quickly.good luck x

[CLKD]

The cream can sting.  The lack of oestrogen causes the skin to become thin and more sensitive.

If you don't get on with it, try Ovestin. 

[KatieScarlet]

Thank you! I'm sorry to be such a wuss - I've been reading round the posts on the forum and I can see I'm not on my own by any means, but when you're at home scared it feels like you are. I felt really panicky last night so my post didn't come across very well I'm afraid.

The Dr was worried I'd be too sore to get the cream inside straight away so I wonder if I could manage  the  Vagifem? The trouble is you can't get to speak to never mind see the same Dr for weeks at out practice- the next appointment she had is 14/6 so I'll wait & see what she prescribes tomorrow after reading the message I left ( that's what she told me to do).

Can you please tell me - when everything is very dry around the vulva does almost everything you put on sting to a degree because that's what I've been finding with the lubricants & moisturisers I've tried apart from Vaseline to the point I'm frightened to put anything on! I did a patch test on Yes VM on my inside elbow on Monday & I got a red patch so that's a no no. I've sent for coconut oil, Sylk sample & Replens so I'll patch test them when they arrive - I need more elbows 😂😂 The estriol burn was in a different league though!

[Daisydot]

They did all burn me initially apart from the coconut oil I used that to heal the deep cuts and sores I had ,have you been down looking with a mirror yet? I did and was shocked I had two large bleeding sores and my whole area was red raw,if you get on with the coconut oil use that for a few days it's very healing and soothing,make sure it's cold pressed organic that's the best one and it's antibacterial and anti fungal so just smear it all on.i also kept a jar in the fridge it solidifies if you do that and I moulded pessaries to pop inside when I went to bed that also helped greatly then I went onto the estriol cream internally for two weeks also smearing outside areas but found it very messy so switched to vagifem,it's a for life treatment as soon as you stop it returns with a vengeance.
Don't worry about how you sound we've all been in your shoes you just keep posting and asking any questions and if someone can help they will they're a lovely bunch on here.good luck xx

[Wilks]

Hi there, just wanted to add to the above suggestions- avoid biological detergent, at least for washing your undies! It can cause further irritation.

[KatieScarlet]

Thanks Daisydot & Wilks.

I did take a look & everything looked red & sore but couldn't see any cuts - yours sounds really painful Daisydot!Things are a bit easier today - it was hurting so much yesterday it gave me a really bad headache i couldn't get rid of. I work full time sitting at a computer so i tried a cushion today & that's helped a lot.

I only use non-bio everything already but thanks for thinking of me Wilks.

[Katsmit]

Hello KatieScarlet

Me too on the moisturisers not agreeing with me and I've tried so many of them I could open a shop 

... as another has mentioned coconut oil has been an absolute godsend to me ... can use it anywhere on my body with no stingy effect. 

I use it day to day as moisturiser but also use it for intimate moments too ... its great stuff.  I had got so sad and fed up that our life was being effected that way along with everything else ... but honestly it's been great since ... especially if you like bounties I suppose   

I tried a fancy pants homeopathic one that had other things in it (not additives just herby extras ... lavender I think, and some other bits) but found the 100% natural stuff from Holland & Barret the best

xx

[Dancinggirl]

OK ladies, here are my top tips:

Vagifem local oestrogen pessaries - 2 weeks every day and then at least twice a week forever afterwards.

Local moistusiers, SYLK is my favourite but many love the YES products. Use moisturisers at a different time of day to the Vagifem - so Vagimfe at night a moisturisers in the morning.  Coconut oil is great or external areas as well.

Never use anything scented near or on your intimate area - take showers, not baths.

Loose closing around your ‘lady bits' - getting too hot makes things worse.

If sore or itchy due to bacteria or thrush (very common with menopause), then use Multi Gyn Actigel ( burns a bit with initial application but is then soothing).  Multi Gyn will restore the flora balance which helps keep everything comfortable  - it also treats and prevents BV or thrush taking hold.

Clean really well after opening your bowels.

Avoid caffein, fruit juices and alcohol but drink lots of water.

It take a few weeks or even months before things get more comfortable and this regime needs to be maintained for the rest of your life.

When and if you get back to trying sex, then extra lubrication is essential - I love Durex ‘Perfect Glide'.

I had a premature meno and even with systemic HRT I still developed urogenital atrophy in my early 40s.  Now 62, I am finally keeping things under control, most of the time, and hubby and I are still

Dg x

[KatieScarlet]

Hi KatEd and Dancing Girl - thank you both for your helpful replies.

Since my last post the pain got worse & i couldn't sleep on Thursday night - so I phoned the Dr and she asked me to go in. When she examined me she said I was very swollen & sore which I hadn't been the week before & she thought it would be thrush. She gave me a fluconozole tablet which has helped tremendously and she told me to use only Vaseline around the vulva till I go back in a couple of weeks. The only trouble is it's brought on my IBS & that's making me feel yuck!

This whole episode has really depressed me because it's come out of the blue - I only had a slightly uncomfortable feeling of dryness before the estriol. I don't think I'm in a good place to start with because we had to have our 14 yo dog pts only days before following a sudden stroke - she'd been fit for her age & it was a real shock.

Sorry for pouring everything out! I'm hoping everything calms down over the next few days.

[Dancinggirl]

Hi Katiescarlet
My condolences about your dog - I can totally relate to how you feel - our dog is such an important part of our life and we lost a darling border terrier 6 years ago very suddenly at the age of only 7, we found him dead on the lawn and we were devastated. 

If you suffer with IBS then this may well have triggered the thrush infection as bacteria from the gut can so easily get to the vaginal area and I'm afraid once we are menopausal the flora balance in the  vagina is not good because everything is so dry.
Do get some Multi Gyn Actigel and some SYLK as this really help things to become healthier. Vaseline is OK but might help the bacteria to spread more easily. GPs don't usually understand about atrophy and the negative effects - one GP told me to use Sudecrem( used for nappy rash) and it burned like hell!!!

I was never able to use the Oestrogen creams as they made me burn, Vagifem is much better.
I use the unscented toilet wipes to clean myself after opening my bowels as this really helps prevent infection - if you can wash really well with water that is also good. Use a small amount of Multi Gyn Actigel on the end of your finger and push some up your vagina and around the outside after opening your bowels,  as this will help fight any bacteria. It's about preventing thrush and bacteria taking hold in and around our whole delicate area.
I'm sure you follow a good diet that helps the IBS but I find very small
meals often that are very low in sugar, eating slowly and drinking lots of water sorts out most of my digestive problems. Do you practuse Mindfulness or other relaxation techniques? If not, do try this as it can be really helpful.
If you have received the sample of SYLK then do use that as it is deemed (there were trials done by a top gynae) one of the best moisturisers for our delicate area and will make things healthier and more comfortable. You only need to use a small amount of SYLK at a time and I've used it for years with a little Multi Gyn Actigel now and again to really keep the flora balance right. Then ask your GP for Vagifem to use every night for 2 weeks( then twice weekly after that) using a bit of SYLK alongside and you will find that in 2-4 weeks everything will be far better and you will be less likely to get thrush again.
We share all sorts of things on this forum and we are here to support each other. DG x

[KatieScarlet]

Thank you for your reply Dancing Girl - and your condolences.

The Dr specialises in sexual health so I'm hoping she can sort me out long term.

I've never tried Mindfulness or any relaxation techniques - can you recommend anything helpful to read please because I agree I think it would help?

[Daisydot]

Hi katieScarlet so sorry for your loss wasn't so long ago I lost my 16 year old darling I have such happy memories of her playing with my grandchildren.very sad time for you but it does get easier to a stage where you can think of her and smile not cry.xx