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[Lynne888]

Some of you may remember when I moved to Wales 5 years ago the first thing my new GP did was take me off Vagifem. I was so upset about it.   I did have a back up of about 3 boxes and I have managed to buy some online although it's expensive, about £75 a box.  Anyway, I have been back to see her over the years with VA problems and she has given me ovestin twice. She will not prescribe it for more than a month and then won't give it again for at least 6 months.. yes she's crap I know. I just don't bother going to see her anymore.  She also ignored my rectal bleeding and it turned out I had colon cancer.. she is useless. Before everyone starts saying change doctor or report her, let me just say that there is no other doctor to move to. However, I am going to pay and see a private doctor in future because I just refuse to see her anymore.  She rang me up in lockdown and shouted at me like I was 6 years old because I hadn't collected and blood pressure medication for 6 months.. I had.. she was wrong, but hey ho... I've had enough and I don't want to see her again. The thing is, I've had a bad flare of VA and I just can't calm it down. It's been going on for about a month. I've got the full works of constant urination, heavy, pulling feeling in the vagina , sharp pains, aches in ovaries, stomach ache, that feeling like everything is sticking together. I've had a few awful weeks.  I managed to get some Vagifem but I had a few problems with it. It didn't calm my problem down but also, it seemed to give me side effects which it never did before such as a worse stomach ache. This is all probably because my gyno problems have been left so long. I've also got Ovestin so I have tried that too but I'm still in pain and discomfort. I'm wondering if the HRT patches would help and if so which are best? Has anyone had any side effects with them because believe me if there are side effects to be had I will get them! There's no point in me asking my GP for them but if I go and see a private GP I want to be armed with all the info beforehand.  Incidentally, does anyone in Wales get prescribed Vagifem? I have a friend who is a nurse and a prescriber and last year she said she would prescribe some for me if I went to A&E.  I did this but she told me Vagifem was not on the list for prescriptions so she got me 2 boxes of ovestin instead. What a blooming rigmarole!!!!

[CherrySG]

I do think systemic hrt could help you, whether it's patches or oestrogel and separate progesterone.

I had horrible VA and neither Ovestin nor Vagifem fuly solve it. Oestrogel sorted it out in a few months but Evorel 50 patches worked much much faster.

Some of us ladies need both systemic and local hrt to get VA under control. It's a horrible condition to have, it's like it won't leave you alone.

I'm sorry your gp is like that, she sounds downright negligent. Can you complain to the practice manager and quote the NICE guidelines on menopause?

Or if not, maybe the private doctor is the answer. Or is there a menopause clinic you can contact?

[Lynne888]

Thanks Cherry. I don't think there is a menopause clinic close to me but I will have a look tomorrow.   I think private would be the way to go although a new doctor is now at my practice, how long for I don't know as he arrived during lockdown. It might be worth me contacting him. Appointments are only on the phone at the moment as you know.  With the patches, what type of plaster is it? I have an allergy to plaster, I'm OK with the white stuff but not with the brown coloured plaster.. it's all to do with the glue, it gives me hives. I think I definitely need something else to keep on top of it all but of course, I haven't been using vagifem full time for 5 years so it's probably all come to a head.  I'm so miserable at the moment. I can't go more an about an hour without a pee and most often it's much less so I'm desperate to get it to settle.  I won't complain about the GP while I still have to go there.  I know this is what people always suggest but I wouldn't feel comfortable if I DID have to go and see her afterwards. Also, GP's pay the practice manager's wages so most times they just side with the GP.  Oddly enough, when I last spoke to my GP about ovestin, she did half heartedly ask me if I'd take HRT which surprised me  with her having such a downer on Vagifem and Ovestin - she then went on to say there was a shortage of it at the moment so she couldn't prescribe it anyway!

[CherrySG]

You don't have to use patches necessarily, lots of us use oestrogel and a separate tablet for the progesterone.

For example, by the time I developed VA I was so oestrogen-depleted I need 3 or 4 pumps of the gel on arms and legs, then take the progesterone in the evening. There's no shortage of these medications.

Next time you book a consultation perhaps ask the administrator which gp is more knowledgeable for menopause? Maybe the new gp is a bit better-versed in these matters?

There's no shortage of Evorel patches. I like that they seem stronger but having things stuck to my skin annoys me too. They are a very thin clear film. They seem to make me have a different personality, a more aggressive one, which I don't like! But the effects on the undercarriage are undeniable   

That said, some patches are unavailable e.g. Femseven, which lots of women on here seem to like. Hopefully it will come back by Winter.

Good luck! GPS aren't really trained in menopause so sometimes we have to educate them.

[Lynne888]

I’d never heard of oestrogel but then my GP would never tell me about anything. I’d definitely prefer it if it’s just a rub on thing with no plaster. I’m not great with tablets. A lot affect my stomach and it’s got far worse  now I’m older. I can’t tolerate very much at all. Has anyone on here had side effects with the oestrogel? Honestly, if there are side effects to be had I'll get them. I can cope with them if they are not too bad but it does make me afraid to try anything these days.  Thank you so much for your informed reply. You’ve been really helpful!

[Nairn]

Hi Lynne

Perhaps try Yes lubrication as well - morning and night inside - it’s helped me plus daily sea buckthorn capsules - I use as well as vagifem. 

https://www.yesyesyes.org/vaginal-atrophy/

https://www.victoriahealth.com/product/Omega-7-Sea-Buckthorn-Oil/6898

Sure you have thought about it but if you are going to travel & pay to see a private specialist then perhaps also speak to your health board in confidence- helpful info below - given that this is going to continue.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/wales/health/nhs-healthcare/nhs-services-in-wales-w/using-an-nhs-gp-in-wales-w/#h-how-to-change-your-gp

https://111.wales.nhs.uk/localservices/gpfaq

[Lynne888]

Thanks Nairn. I have tried YES before and it was very stingy so it put me of continuing but I have thought about trying it again, in fact I think I've still come some. The private doctor is not that far away, maybe 25 minutes but you are right, it may well be worth speaking to the health board.. thanks for the links!

[Nairn]

I would ring the Yes people - very helpful once you get over the embarrassment - there are lots of different and I was using the wrong one! 

[Lynne888]

I didn’t know there were different ones! Thanks again!