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[CLKD]

Insert afterwards 

[Turkish delight]

Right lol!

Someone mentioned having Vagifem in the morning though bcz you have Utro at night before bed, that's when I have Utro.

Is this a non-issue or does it matter?

TD

[JoJo42]

Hi everyone! I haven't been on here for a while as everything has been pretty stable with my hrt and running smoothly, but have logged on today and am so pleased to have seen this thread!

I went back to the GP to ask about increasing my vagifem dose (currently on 10mcg twice a week and have been on it for three years with systemic femseven sequi 50 patches) as I have been feeling a bit sore and dry again and had a small sore "split, in the skin, as if the Vagifem dose isn't quite effective as it was.

Basically, a few weeks ago I repeated the loading dose over two weeks which sorted out all my issues of soreness/skin split and dryness and also irritable bladder, but when I then went back to the twice weekly maintenance dose it didn't seem to be working as well.

Anyway, I went to the Gp today who started off with "why are you on patches AND Vagifem anyway? You shouldn't be on both!!" My heart sank. I thought, oh great! Here we go again, she's going to try to take me off one of the treatments. And then she started giving me a very long, scary lecture on the risks of hrt again(I get this from every gp I see literally every time I visit the surgery about something meno/hrt related. I keep saying it's not as if I WANT to be on bloody HRT! I have to be or the night sweats/flushes/joint pains/atrophy makes life unbearable). I recently did a "trial without" hrt patches, but had to go back on them again after a few weeks.

Anyway, the gp then proceeded to tell me she wasn't up to date with meno issues and needed to read up about it. She supplied me with more Vagifem and told me to basically do what I thought was best with it. And also examined me, said she couldn't see any other issues/visible skin problems other than a bit of redness, but prescribed me a steroid cream to use. And also gave me a swab to use on myself to take a low vaginal swab on monday.  I just got home and my head is spinning with it all!!  I started doubting myself, and wondering if it was ok to be on vagifem and patches at the same time...and if other people do increase the dose from 10mcg btwice a week, although I felt sure that I had read that on here before. Glad to have found this thread. I'm worried about this prescription for steroid cream. Nothing ever seems to be straightforward with gp appointments for meno stuff does it? I'm starting to actually dread making gp appointments now bcause I feel like it is such a battle to be heard and understood and to find someone who is up to date with it all xx

[CLKD]

Why hasn't the GP got herself up to date    the message simply is NOT getting out there 

You do what suits you to get relief.  'vagifem' is issued in a lower dose now than previously, i.e. down to 10 rather than 25 which is why some need nightly use!  Your GP needs a   

If you don't have issues down there don't use a steroid cream!  I was given one when I had 4 weeks radiotherapy treatment on the breast and told to use a pea-sized over the area that looked sun-burnt.  I would speak with a Pharmacist next week about this particular cream for advice.

Do you keep a diary?  To chart how you are?  Something to hand to the GP next time ;-)  - as well as a copy of the book 'me and my menopausal vagina' !

[JoJo42]

Thank you, CLKD! I'm going to leave the steroid cream alone and just increase the amount of days I use the Vagifem and see how it goes. She said to go back in 8 weeks to let them know how things are. Not keen on that idea at the moment. Sick of any meno appointment turning into a long, boring battle! I don't keep a diary but will do now - thanks for the idea. I couldn't understand why she prescribed steroid cream because she examined me and said she couldn't see any other issues other than a bit red (not sore now though...and it didn't hurt me when she examined me) and in particular - no lichen sclerosis. She said all she remembered about vagifm was that the higher dose had been discontinued and the advice was that it should be only used for a year! Blimey! If I couldn't use the vagifem my "bits" would probably burst into flames! I don't think some people, including some g.ps, actually understand how bad meno can be for some of us -  very seriously affecting quality of life when not comtrolled. I started peri when I was in my late thirties and went on to hrt age 41 (50 this year!)after coming on here for advice and support. I would not have got through without this forum to come to when faced with all this meno-madness. Happy to say though that in between these issues that crop up every now and then I have been fairly stable and comfortable. I hope there will be a day when I can eventually stop the patches although happy to continue with vagifem. Thanks for your reply xx

[Katejo]

Hi everyone! I haven't been on here for a while as everything has been pretty stable with my hrt and running smoothly, but have logged on today and am so pleased to have seen this thread!

I went back to the GP to ask about increasing my vagifem dose (currently on 10mcg twice a week and have been on it for three years with systemic femseven sequi 50 patches) as I have been feeling a bit sore and dry again and had a small sore "split, in the skin, as if the Vagifem dose isn't quite effective as it was.

Basically, a few weeks ago I repeated the loading dose over two weeks which sorted out all my issues of soreness/skin split and dryness and also irritable bladder, but when I then went back to the twice weekly maintenance dose it didn't seem to be working as well.

Anyway, I went to the Gp today who started off with "why are you on patches AND Vagifem anyway? You shouldn't be on both!!" My heart sank. I thought, oh great! Here we go again, she's going to try to take me off one of the treatments. And then she started giving me a very long, scary lecture on the risks of hrt again(I get this from every gp I see literally every time I visit the surgery about something meno/hrt related. I keep saying it's not as if I WANT to be on bloody HRT! I have to be or the night sweats/flushes/joint pains/atrophy makes life unbearable). I recently did a "trial without" hrt patches, but had to go back on them again after a few weeks.

Anyway, the gp then proceeded to tell me she wasn't up to date with meno issues and needed to read up about it. She supplied me with more Vagifem and told me to basically do what I thought was best with it. And also examined me, said she couldn't see any other issues/visible skin problems other than a bit of redness, but prescribed me a steroid cream to use. And also gave me a swab to use on myself to take a low vaginal swab on monday.  I just got home and my head is spinning with it all!!  I started doubting myself, and wondering if it was ok to be on vagifem and patches at the same time...and if other people do increase the dose from 10mcg btwice a week, although I felt sure that I had read that on here before. Glad to have found this thread. I'm worried about this prescription for steroid cream. Nothing ever seems to be straightforward with gp appointments for meno stuff does it? I'm starting to actually dread making gp appointments now bcause I feel like it is such a battle to be heard and understood and to find someone who is up to date with it all xx

I had a first meno clinic appt. this week and a follow up urogynaecology one last week. Both consultants and a mature nurse at the uro appt. assured me that it was fine to take HRT and Vagifem together. At the meno clinic he gave me a booklet about HRT published by Menopauseandme. On the last page there is a list of incorrect myths about meno. One of them is that it isn't safe to take HRT and vaginal oestrogen.

[JoJo42]

Thank you, Katejo, every time I come away from a Gp meno-related appointment I leave in a state of total and utter confusion! I end up doubting myself and wondering if I have made up the things I think I know about meno. Honestly - I despair sometimes. It's no wonder we think we're going mad sometimes is it. I just dug out a copy of an old letter that was sent from the meno clinic back to my gp surgery about vagifem being ok with hrt. I'll take it with me next time. This is the third gp I've seen who has said they are not fully up to date with the latest meno info. I think I'll book to see my dog's vet next time. xx

[Jeepers]

Hi Jojo

Its not good is it?  We have enough confusion already in the meno brain fog, and it seems like some GPs are colluding to make us feel even worse!
Your comment about going to the Vets made me laugh so much I snorted some tea up my nose!   

Jeepers xx

[JoJo42]

Aww, Jeepers, that is so true - it really does feel like that sometimes. My husband says he notices the change in me if I ever have to go to the Gp for anything meno related. I get very tense because I just know that it's going to be hard work! I've often thought about going to the vet. They are always very on-the-ball and so lovely with my dog! And she always gets a biscuit as well Hehe!! Sorry about the tea-snort        xxx

[FOF]

Afternoon Ladies
I'm also on the Vaginal atrophy face book as I'm sucking up information from were ever I can .
The information now on vaginal estrogen is that 2 a week isn't enough (surprise surprise) and can be safely taken every other day .
There was even a power point presentation posted the showed this at one of the conference's.
Like you say jojo don't dought yourself if you need it you need it none of us want to be on it .
I Just cant understand why GPs are so slow catching up x

[Tc]

I wonder whether the information isnt available to them or whether it's a case of them keeping themselves abreast of things and some just arent bothered about doing that. I'm not being down on all GPs but like every profession some are just not that interested in their job.

[Hurdity]

The reason is the official information for the topical vaginal oestrogen is still  two weeks loading followed by twice weekly. The NICE Guidelines do say this can be increased in consultation with a specialist but it is not written anywhere what dose this could be. As I think I said on this thread or elsewhere - the Estring already gives approx the same dose as the discontinued 25 mcg higher dose (ie 50 mcg per week) - so why docs can't just do the maths and translate this into Vagifem rather than keep their blinkers on!!!

Incidentally it is not universal that 10 mcg twice a week is not enough. It depends on the individual and also whether you are taking systemic HRT and how much. To be strictly correct - I think I mentioned on this thread (or maybe another one) that the research on which the reduction in standard dose was based showed that something like 2/3 of women showed significant improvement on the 10 mcg dose - so this is what led the decision. It was never all women but for some this is enough. Interestingly also there was greater improvement (in vaginal maturation and whatever else they measured) with the higher dose although it was sufficient for 2/3 at the lower dose. eg I am happy to use twice a week but I'm on systemic HRT and this is fine.

Those who need to increase should be under the care of knowledgeable doctors so that they can be prescribed more!!! FOF - yes they are slow to catch up and as Tc says maybe not interested enough

Hurdity x

[CLKD]

Of those that don't have a knowledgeable GP should be listened to 

[Turkish delight]

COR WOW!

I have taken 2 days of Vagifem 10mcg and wow..wait...what...a difference in plumpness and volume down there, and it's not only me who has noticed...wink!

Took my 3rd pill this morning, haven't noticed much difference with urgency to pee yet, maybe a little, but obv it's early doors.

How long did it take for you before you noticed a difference to your bladder habits?

Lets campaign to change the name from Vagifem to Magifem, it's certainly worked some magic on me lemme tell you

TD

[CLKD]

  ........ I haven't heard anyone say 'cor' for over 30 years, my Dad used it a lot ...... as well as 'squitt' 

Little steps ............