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[Lynne888]

I can't believe that 7 years since joining, I find myself asking again about VA.  Could anyone tell me if they have experienced small amounts of blood when their VA was bad?  I noticed a few weeks ago that I had tiny streaks of bloody (mainly pink) when wiping after going to the loo. I'd had a lot of itching and dryness and haven't been taking anything for it for absolutely ages. I could tell the sensations were exactly what I had when I first had VA years ago. It's a long story which I won't go into, but I was using vagifem for years, moved to Wales and was taken off it (Yes at the time everyone said it was wrong but I've never been able to get it since).  I was given Ovestin for a month a while ago and that was it. I've not used anything for probably 2 years. VA is now back with a vengeance. In the meantime, I've had bowel cancer - it wasn't picked up by my GP and I waited 10 months for a diagnosis. I mention this only because seeing blood on the paper last week sent me into a panic and I rushed to see my GP. She played it down much the same as she did with the blood in my poo. She gave me Ovestin again, I've been using it for a week. For a couple of days I had tiny bits of blood when I wiped, but for the past 5 days I've only had normal, healthy looking discharge.. today, I got the tiniest bit of pink bloody again. Honestly, if I hadn't been looking for it so eagerly, I wouldn't have seen it, but even so, I'm worried the blood is not normal for VA.  I'm still itching and feeling like I have thrush but I know it's the VA. I've been on and off the loo with frequent urination, all the same symptoms as before.  I'm scared though because of the blood and I am hoping that someone is able to reassure me that the blood can be normal?  Sorry for the long post. Hope you can help.  PS. I should add that I have recently had an MRI scan and CT scan as well as blood test for cancer markers... I have them every year because of the bowel cancer. Nothing was picked up and I was given the all clear. I only have to go back once more in March next year and they will sign me of. I am hoping that, if anything sinister was lurking, it would have been found. GP said that whilst lumps can be found on the scans, cancerous cells cannot. 

[jaycee]

 I don't think it will be anything to worry about, i had a similiar thing 18 months ago, it was as yours,only a smear, but was sent for a scan to be on the safe side,
I was told it was probably just with dryness, and a small tear, but all was fine
If i were you if it's the same Dr you had before i would try to see a different one
Really she should have referred you for a scan to be on the safe side,especially after the delay the last time, she doesn't sound much good
Why have you not been able to get more vagifem or Ovestin again?
Should have said it will be a vaginal scan, and its nothing to be scared of

[Lynne888]

Thank you for your reply. I have had the vaginal scan before.. a previous GP sent me immediately she knew I had seen blood (peri meno).  The GP I see now is the same GP I saw with bowel cancer and the only one at the practice. She doesn't fill me with confidence. I never go if I can avoid it.  When we moved here, I went to see her and asked for Vagifem but she would only give me Ovestin - I thought it must be something to do with cost because prescriptions are free in Wales, but I DID ask her on another occasion if that was why and she said that wasn't the reason, she just preferred Ovestin because it only needed to be taken for a month to sort things out... I know...it's all madness. I took to buying Vagifem online so that I could still use it for a while.  Desperate times lead to desperate measures.  I feel I'm in worse discomfort than before now because the VA has been allowed to come back as bad as it ever was although I don't recall ever having blood with VA before. So much has happened and so much time elapsed it's difficult to remember everything!

[jaycee]

Do you mean there is only 1 Dr there? and is that the only surgery where you are
I am afraid i wouldn't risk seeing a Dr who had been so negligent ,which in my eyes it was,  dismissing such a potentially serious illness
It is ridiculous to only give you a months supply of Ovestin, she should do a bit more training if that's what she thinks, could you take some literiture with you regarding VA, ?
Tell her you have had to buy vagifem or ovestin before as you were so sore,
Can't believe what i have read on here about some Drs
Have you looked at the nice guidelines?, i quoted them to my Dr when i wanted to go back on HRT and he didn't argue

[Lynne888]

I've had brilliant doctors in the past. I have no faith in this one. She is the only one there. They have nurses and a paramedic and occasional doctors that cover but I don't want to see random people either. If I told her I'd bought vagifem she would go mental. I suffer with terrible anxiety since the colon cancer issues and I really prefer not to go at all. Honestly my gp is one of the reasons we are considering moving house! I've only been hanging on to be signed off from the hospital.

[Lynne888]

Did you see blood for several days or just once Jaycee?

[Joaniepat]

Smears of blood could certainly be from your VA as the vaginal lining becomes thinnner and more fragile, leading to minute paper cut-like tears. It is outrageous that you cannot get treatment and have such a crappy GP who won't presribe anything. Things are only going to get worse!

I don't know what to suggest about getting NHS treatment for it in Wales, but there must be other ladies on here who live there. You could also try asking on the Vaginal Atrophy Facebook group run by Jane Lewis. It's a mine of information.

Good luck, I hope you can find a solution.

JP x

[Lynne888]

Thanks JP. I'll have a look at that facebook page. It Might help!

[CLKD]

Your GP is negligent.  For a month only  when we know it's for Life!

I've said it B4 and I'll say it again: this GP needs reporting to Dr Currie and the British Menopause Society.  Pronto.

So sad that you have had to suffer, totally un-necessarily.  1 GP cannot possibly run a Practice .......... 

 

[Lynne888]

CLKD.. I know, believe me, I'm so fed up.. but whilst I know the doctor situation is appalling, it would really help to know if others had a bit of blood and if it was normal. I guess because the doctor ignored the blood in my poo I just don't trust her at all now. She said she would expect to see far more blood if it was anything more sinister. I have only been using Ovestin a week but things aren't calming a great deal.. on saying that I think it's all back to being as bad as it can get so will take some calming. I also saw online that vagifem is 80% stronger than Ovestin. If this is true then it could take weeks to get relief with it.  As I have some vagifem left I'm tempted to change. From what I can remember, I was given a month of Ovestin a few years ago.. I asked for vagifem and told the doctor I had used it for a few years and had provera every 3 months to have a bleed. Doctor said with Ovestin it's only used for a month so I wouldn't need the provera. That's what I recall her saying anyway. If she doesn't give me anything after this Ovestin finishes I will be in deep 💩

[jaycee]

Sorry Lynne,only just seen your question, re how many days i saw blood, from what i recall only the once, but it WAS just a smear
I agree with CLKD your Dr is negligent, she is not fit to be a Dr in my opinion
It is disgraceful that she would go mental at you asking for vagifem, she needs reporting
Are there no other Drs anywhere near you, if not then you may have to travel a bit to see another, but this just isn't right
I know you said you do't want to see random people ,but it must be worth it to try to see one of the Drs who come to the surgey at other times,or even ask to see a nurse

[Lynne888]

Jaycee, it worries me if you only saw blood once, as I have been seeing it for a few weeks off and on.. just a show, not staining my pants or anything , just when I wipe and not every time. I took a pic of it to show my GP and she wasn't concerned but as I said, that wouldn't fill me with confidence anyway. I still have dull stomach ache which isn't going away but I'm not sure how quickly the Ovestin takes to work.  I was hoping not to get into a long discussion about GP's!  The post ends up being about the GP and not about the concerns of the poster! I could go on and on about the GP. I'm sure you can imagine the terrible time I've had.  As for being only 1 GP at the practice, well, there were 3 when I moved here but two have left and there is always different doctors covering now and I hate that too. 

[jaycee]

Well Lynne ,i think maybe the reason you are seeing blood often is probably because you are in a worse state than i was, i didn't even realise i was suffering with VA until then,
Had no pain or anything, that is the only reason i can think of
I hope you can get something done about it, as obviously you are suffering

[Lynne888]

Thank you Jaycee... I didn't realise how bad things were getting because I assumed I had just got a bad case of thrush. My guess is I've left it for quite some time without even realising it was VA again.  I'm going to ring the GP next week if the bleeding hasn't stopped.  If she refuses to send me anywhere I'm going to tell her that because of the issues concerning the bowel cancer not being  referred quickly, I really must insist I see someone. I'll see what she says.

[sheila99]

I have no experience of va (yet!) so I'm afraid this is about the GP. You were very lucky her previous negligence didn't have catastrophic consequences, you might  not be so lucky next time. In your position i would move practice. If that isn't possible then see a locum, they can't be worse than her. Ask the locum for vagifem and tell them you're worried because of the cancer. You need to see someone you can trust.