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[Turkish delight]

I'm on a vagifem high!!!

Update

Just got in from seeing my own GP(not easy)to see if he would add vagifem to my repeats list.

Previously I had already seen a senior partner in the surgery to do this, the one who said...Na...sdon't do that, come back and see your own doc and was very against giving any more than the 10mcg 2x weekly to tide me over...fool!

Anyway skip to the end, I was feeling apprehensive bcz of the previous docs incompetence, so wasn't gonna say much in case it somehow ruined my chances of getting what I need.

So my doc asked how I'm getting on with the vagifem, I felt myself light up and I said...It's a game changer, you need to offer it to all women in perimenopause. He then sat up in his seat and said oh ok, I'm learning something here, he said we do give vagifem but tend not to offer if someone is on systemic hrt, but I will take that away and look into it. So not only did he give me them, he said is that dose enough, shall I double it, and what else do you want to add anything more? So I said the YES VM is helping is it ok to have that on repeat and he said don't see why not....whoop whoop! I do pay for my prescriptions so don't feel bad getting it this way on repeat. The apmnt was going so well that I thought I'd bring up that the prev doc didn't see fit to give me them, he rolled his eyes and said I'll talk to him and tell him I'm happy for you to have them. I said I was worried in case he had said no to me too, to which he said...I never say no to you. So nice, I love love my doc, he is the best.

Update on how It's been working.

The vagifem has started to work it's magic on the urgency and frequency that I needed to pee. It took 5 weeks of 2 weeks loading and one every other day. I feel liberated and not like a leaky old bag anymore, not that I leaked, I hadn't got to that point but was heading that way, luckily I had you all to direct me to get the help I needed.

TD(on her vagifem cloud...wink!)

[suzysunday]

So glad things are working for you! My gp is also great about prescribing local hrt as I need. Got plenty on repeat for a year. Hurray.

[JaneinPen]

  fantastic news T.D where are you. I am moving!!!!!

[vintagefiend]

Hi there-
this is all so interesting!
I'm pootling towards menopause: only 2 periods in the space of a year.
Having horrible mood symptoms and totally knackered but unable to tolerate HRT- makes me feel shabby/blurry if that makes any sense.

Anyway this thread is very interesting to me as think I'm experiencing symptoms of VA: I'm passing urine several times a night- it's driving me crazy! Occasionally feel quite sore vaginally which is new to me.

As an aside a really odd feeling has woken me up a couple of times recently- I feel strange, sick and legs feel weak- sounds bizarre but think someone else mentioned something like this upthread. Also, palpitations sometimes wake me.

All that is a bit of a preamble into vagifem and whether it could help- with the vaginal symptoms? is it at all systemic? maybe even a little systemically might help other symptoms?
Can I take vagifem without being on hrt? If I could tolerate hrt I'd be happy as Larry but I have been through everything!! It's not just the prog that I can't tolerate.
I've done several private finger prick oestradiol tests and they always return a menopausal result- always out of the range.
I'm 47 but feel v old! I'm trying to combat with exercise but golly it's hard work!!
Thanks for any help

[Katejo]

Hi there-
this is all so interesting!
I'm pootling towards menopause: only 2 periods in the space of a year.
Having horrible mood symptoms and totally knackered but unable to tolerate HRT- makes me feel shabby/blurry if that makes any sense.

Anyway this thread is very interesting to me as think I'm experiencing symptoms of VA: I'm passing urine several times a night- it's driving me crazy! Occasionally feel quite sore vaginally which is new to me.

As an aside a really odd feeling has woken me up a couple of times recently- I feel strange, sick and legs feel weak- sounds bizarre but think someone else mentioned something like this upthread. Also, palpitations sometimes wake me.

All that is a bit of a preamble into vagifem and whether it could help- with the vaginal symptoms? is it at all systemic? maybe even a little systemically might help other symptoms?
Can I take vagifem without being on hrt? If I could tolerate hrt I'd be happy as Larry but I have been through everything!! It's not just the prog that I can't tolerate.
I've done several private finger prick oestradiol tests and they always return a menopausal result- always out of the range.
I'm 47 but feel v old! I'm trying to combat with exercise but golly it's hard work!!
Thanks for any help

Yes you definitely can take Vagifem without systemic HRT. I started Vagifem in that way. It sounds as though you would benefit. Sleeping through the night without extra loo trips is so much better. I sometimes still need 1 trip but it is much improved. I also sat through a theatre performance recently without having to queue for loos during the interval or before the journey home.

[Joaniepat]

Vagifem is targeted, local treatment, so there should be no systemic absorption. There are four treatments to choose from. Apart from the Vagifem pessaries there are two creams, Ovestin and Estriol. These are inserted into the vagina using the applicator provided, and can also be applied externally if the vulva is sore. Estriol is the weaker of the two but you have to use more. Then there is the Estring, which is a vaginal delivery system that stays in place for up to 12 weeks. VA will only get worse if left untreated, and treatment is for life.

Sorry to hear you can't tolerate systemic HRT, but at least you can use localised treatment for this particular problem.

I should also add that if you decide to use one of the local treatments, don't pay any attention to the patient information leaflet as it will be the same as the one provided for systemic. It ought to have its own leaflet but doesn't.

JP x

[vintagefiend]

Thanks very much Katejo and Joaniepat
I'll def give it a whirl-
have gp appt next week so will now go armed with info

[Turkish delight]

Thanks girls, your the best!

TD

[CLKD]

   Go Girl GO!

[Sammiejane]

Hi have any of you ladies experienced hair kiss after starting Vagifem ? As I started systemic hrt patch for 7 weeks had bad side effects so stopped then a week later started Vagifem and then 6 weeks later lost half my hair volume so not sure if this was Vagifem or started systemic estrogen or stopping estrogen but I swapped the Vagifem for Ovestin just Incase but I am still shedding hair and it's mainly a wider parting slight receding across forehead and temples and side of head above ears but have lost the most back of head behind the ears and nap of neck ? You thoughts are much appreciated and any help and advise would be great . I'm now on Estrogel 2 pumps and using ovestin  twice weekly as hysterectomy and ovary removal no need for progesterone. Please help with possible answers for my hair loss I think it is estrogen as I'm still loosing it and after my operation in 2014 I didn't take HRT for 4 1/2 years as had no Symtoms and no hair loss above normal still thick long growing hair now mega thin

[Wrensong]

Great news TD. Well done! 
Great post Joaniepat - all the relevant info in a succinct post.  Love it!

[CLKD]

Sammie - it is unlikely to be localised vaginal treatment but can occur during The Change.

[Sammiejane]

Tinker bell

Can I ask for your VA symtoms you use vagifem and I estrogel 3 pumps have you experienced hair loss on these or hair thinning.
Because I had hysterectomy and ovary removed and I took vagifem for dampness I was getting which they thought VA but 6 weeks after taking I shed loads of hair but I tried a patch prior to then and then stopped cause it didn't suit so not sure whether was patch stopping it or the vagifem I swapped vagifem for ovestin and although hairloss has slowed it is still coming out and is half as thick I'm now on estrogel and have been for 6 months but am shedding hair ? I's this the case for you

Also your VA Symtoms do you get the feeling like u urinate but don't completely empty as I do and feels like there is a bit of wee trapped in the Pipe before the opening ?

[CLKD]

Maybe lean forwards at the end of each pee Summie? to encourage the bladder to empty fully.  Squatting can help too!

[Sammiejane]

CLKD

I have tried that with urination but no help nothing comes out.
My bowel habits have changed to and are slower less frequent since being on estrogen mega back and abdominal pain.
I have gone through the change as was forced into surgical menopause 5 yrs ago now so I am 4 years post meno and hot flushes virtually had gone and the only other symptom was dampness now since messing on HRT estrogen only I have hair loss weight gain bloating mood swings from sucidal thoughts chronic depression fatigue zero energy, I'm either going to try another HRT patch or go back on the pill ! Do u think my hair loss could be caused by hormone imbalance as in progesterone and testosterone needs to be taken to balance things or is estrogen what's causing my hair loss