Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Doodle]

Hi all, I’m hoping for a little advice, as I’m seeing no light at the end of this tunnel I find myself stuck in.

I’ll try and be as brief as possible. I’m on Evorel Sequi. Just started my third month. I’m doing ok and a lot of symptoms are improving. But the worst symptom I have seems to be getting worse, not better. VA and general soreness. I was prescribed Yes water based, which did nothing. So I went online and got Ovestin through an online consultation. I couldn’t face trying to see the GP again, and have to see them for a follow up in January. Anyways, after reading for literally hours on here, I did the two week load. All good. Seeing improvements, then dropped down to twice a week, but had problems coming back straight away, so went back to using daily. My problem is the outer labia. It’s raw. Almost all the time. It wasn’t even like this before I started any HRT treatment so I’m so confused as to why this is happening now. After reading on here, I stopped having baths. No improvement. I used Ovestin on the outside, and OMG it seemed to make things 10 times worse. Mmmmm maybe the Ovestin is doing good inside, but maybe the fillers are not agreeing with me on the outside?! (Is that even possible?). So I stopped using Ovestin on the outside and switched to Doublebase to wash with and to try and moisture the outside labia. It got worse still 😢. So then I read that glycerin can cause problems. Looked at the ingredients in Ovestin and Doublebase and it is in both. Sooooo I stopped everything on the outside for a week or so, and ended up with skin on the labia literally flaking off 😳. So decided to try Yes OB. I used this a couple of days ago and overnight I felt relief and even felt soft and nice down there. But now today, the rawness is back. I feel like I’ll never be the same down there again. I can hardly walk today as I’m in so much pain. It looks so nasty down there. Almost like chemical burns.

I know it probably seems like I’ve overdone it and tried too many things, but this has been over about 6 months. Please can anybody help me 😢.

[CLKD]

Anything is possible with VA 

Your GP/Nurse Practitioner needs a  .  Put the 'ovestin' in every night for as long as required.  Get some KY Jelly or use the 'yes' or 'sylc ' on the outer labia, several times a day.  Some find a moistoriroer really helps on the outer areas.  U will recover, it seems that the 'ovestin' is too strong for those tender lips.

I'll do a quick search for other products. 

[CLKD]

Olive and Bee is also oil-based (olive oil and beeswax are the only 2 ingredients so it's very natural)

I have bumped a couple of threads which have advice about moisturisers

Do U have any ice cubes?

[Flossieteacake]

Hello Doodle. I really am sorry you are in so much pain. VA is very painful and it is good you are using Ovestin daily again. I use it twice a day when I need to as well. I would try and mix the Ovestin with a little of the Yes and then apply it to the outer area. I know for me when I am in pain, using anything hurts but not using anything is no help either.

It is good you have stopped having baths too as sitting in hot water will not help. Do you have any emollient? This can help to provide a protective barrier over the area.

You could be right that you are reacting to the Ovestin but it is difficult to know when you are so sore. You can ask for Estradiol cream instead which is a milder dose.

[Doodle]

Anything is possible with VA 

Your GP/Nurse Practitioner needs a  .  Put the 'ovestin' in every night for as long as required.  Get some KY Jelly or use the 'yes' or 'sylc ' on the outer labia, several times a day.  Some find a moistoriroer really helps on the outer areas.  U will recover, it seems that the 'ovestin' is too strong for those tender lips.

I'll do a quick search for other products.

Thankyou CLKD 😁. I was initially impressed, as this lady I saw was described as a menopause expert. Hardly! After reading on here for several months, I now realise she knows nothing. Especially after I presented with severe vaginal pain and discomfort and was only prescribed a water based moisturiser. Surely she should’ve known I needed some local estrogen.

I had to stop the Ovestin inside a few days ago as I started bleeding. So hopefully that’s almost done, and I can start again.

[Doodle]

Olive and Bee is also oil-based (olive oil and beeswax are the only 2 ingredients so it's very natural)

I have bumped a couple of threads which have advice about moisturisers

Do U have any ice cubes?

I do have ice cubes 👍🏻. Thankyou for bumping the threads too. I’ve spent many hours reading ‘The Burning Club’ one. I’ve heard of the olive and bee brand. Maybe that’s one to try next. I bought coconut oil yesterday, but have yet to try that.

[Doodle]

Hello Doodle. I really am sorry you are in so much pain. VA is very painful and it is good you are using Ovestin daily again. I use it twice a day when I need to as well. I would try and mix the Ovestin with a little of the Yes and then apply it to the outer area. I know for me when I am in pain, using anything hurts but not using anything is no help either.

It is good you have stopped having baths too as sitting in hot water will not help. Do you have any emollient? This can help to provide a protective barrier over the area.

You could be right that you are reacting to the Ovestin but it is difficult to know when you are so sore. You can ask for Estradiol cream instead which is a milder dose.

Hi Flossieteacake, thankyou so much for replying. Is Doublebase an emoilment? I had been using that successfully (or so I thought) for a week or so, before the rawness came back. I’ll ask about the Estradiol cream when I go back in January. I don’t want to sound grim, but I know I need estrogen in the outer area too, because it looks, well…….different. The ‘hood’ looks weird. Different to how it’s always looked. It’s disappearing. It’s not good at all. Plus all this is having an affect on my sex life with the hubby. Things would be much simpler if it was my knee or my arm that was sore 😄. Without meaning to sound ridiculous……it’s not fair! ☹️

[CLKD]

It isn't fair but there are other ways of playing with hubby 

The bleeding could be due to the area being dry ...... what have you in the house that you could use?  Try ice cubes wrapped in a flannel, laid on the sore area gently. 

U need something that you can pat onto the area without needing to rub hence KY Jelly or similar may help internally and externally.  It's what I use when required.  Cooling and easy to apply.  Some however find it aggravates  .  I have used 'savlon' on the outer labia.  DH tells me not to put too much on or it 'will heal up'   

The idea is to get the area as moist as possible which lessens the ithchy dry feelings.  A little olive oil on the tip of a finger, or try the coconut oil, many have success with it in small amounts.  Little and often.  Go without knickers if possible wearing a skirt ........ less chance of rubbing.  When bad it can be nice to sit on a rubber ring so allow the sore areas a chance to breath.  With the weekend approaching you need to get some relief!

[Flossieteacake]

Hello Doodle. I really am sorry you are in so much pain. VA is very painful and it is good you are using Ovestin daily again. I use it twice a day when I need to as well. I would try and mix the Ovestin with a little of the Yes and then apply it to the outer area. I know for me when I am in pain, using anything hurts but not using anything is no help either.

It is good you have stopped having baths too as sitting in hot water will not help. Do you have any emollient? This can help to provide a protective barrier over the area.

You could be right that you are reacting to the Ovestin but it is difficult to know when you are so sore. You can ask for Estradiol cream instead which is a milder dose.

Hi Flossieteacake, thankyou so much for replying. Is Doublebase an emoilment? I had been using that successfully (or so I thought) for a week or so, before the rawness came back. I’ll ask about the Estradiol cream when I go back in January. I don’t want to sound grim, but I know I need estrogen in the outer area too, because it looks, well…….different. The ‘hood’ looks weird. Different to how it’s always looked. It’s disappearing. It’s not good at all. Plus all this is having an affect on my sex life with the hubby. Things would be much simpler if it was my knee or my arm that was sore 😄. Without meaning to sound ridiculous……it’s not fair! ☹️

I had not heard of doublebase and looked it up. It says it is an emolient.

You can speak freely on here so please do not hold back. I know what you mean as my vulva looked the same. It does show you need oestrogen.

Yes, it will have an effect on your sex life. Please do not try anything when feeling so sore. Your husband will understand.🤗

[Ayesha]

Poor you, a nasty and chronic case of VA. Throw everything at it every day, you don't mention Vagifem pessaries but they work well alongside the Ovestin and tons of moisturiser.  The problem with VA, it takes such a long time to feel normal again and you will think to yourself that this is never going to get better, but it does with loads of patience.

Once you get into a regime knowing what treatment works best for you then you are half way there to feeling relief from this disgusting condition.

 

[Minusminnie]

Agree that you may need to ask to try vagifem alongside a estriol cream of some sort when you go back in January.
Are you wearing cotton pants & only washing them in water or very little powder & rinsing well.
I would also cut out coffee tea tomatoes anything spicy etc to avoid tannins etc coming out in urine & irritating the vulva. Really anything to eliminate potential irritants.
I would also give it a bit of time before you try different products on the vulva else you can’t tell which is helping.

[Doodle]

It isn't fair but there are other ways of playing with hubby 

The bleeding could be due to the area being dry ...... what have you in the house that you could use?  Try ice cubes wrapped in a flannel, laid on the sore area gently. 

U need something that you can pat onto the area without needing to rub hence KY Jelly or similar may help internally and externally.  It's what I use when required.  Cooling and easy to apply.  Some however find it aggravates  .  I have used 'savlon' on the outer labia.  DH tells me not to put too much on or it 'will heal up'   

The idea is to get the area as moist as possible which lessens the ithchy dry feelings.  A little olive oil on the tip of a finger, or try the coconut oil, many have success with it in small amounts.  Little and often.  Go without knickers if possible wearing a skirt ........ less chance of rubbing.  When bad it can be nice to sit on a rubber ring so allow the sore areas a chance to breath.  With the weekend approaching you need to get some relief!

I like emoji, gave me a chuckle 😄. And the savlon comment, also gave me a chuckle 😄. Thankyou, I needed a chuckle 😁.

You see, that’s where I was thinking I was maybe going wrong. I mean, how can I heal the rawness if it’s constantly wet. I even tried talc, which I know is not good now. I’ll try the ice cube thing after I shower later today. I’m willing to try ANYTHING now. I have tried a cool flannel before, which was soothing, but it’s not ideal as I don’t seem to have much time to spare to do things like that. Unfortunately it won’t be a restful weekend either, as I’m working. I think the job isn’t helping things either, as it’s quite a physically demanding job. So lots of sweating involved and not much time or opportunity to ‘air the bits’ 😄.

Oh and the bleeding is definitely my menstrual bleed. The sore area down there has appeared to ‘weep’ at times, but it’s been clear weeping and not actually bled. Yet.

[Doodle]

Hello Doodle. I really am sorry you are in so much pain. VA is very painful and it is good you are using Ovestin daily again. I use it twice a day when I need to as well. I would try and mix the Ovestin with a little of the Yes and then apply it to the outer area. I know for me when I am in pain, using anything hurts but not using anything is no help either.

It is good you have stopped having baths too as sitting in hot water will not help. Do you have any emollient? This can help to provide a protective barrier over the area.

You could be right that you are reacting to the Ovestin but it is difficult to know when you are so sore. You can ask for Estradiol cream instead which is a milder dose.

Hi Flossieteacake, thankyou so much for replying. Is Doublebase an emoilment? I had been using that successfully (or so I thought) for a week or so, before the rawness came back. I’ll ask about the Estradiol cream when I go back in January. I don’t want to sound grim, but I know I need estrogen in the outer area too, because it looks, well…….different. The ‘hood’ looks weird. Different to how it’s always looked. It’s disappearing. It’s not good at all. Plus all this is having an affect on my sex life with the hubby. Things would be much simpler if it was my knee or my arm that was sore 😄. Without meaning to sound ridiculous……it’s not fair! ☹️

I had not heard of doublebase and looked it up. It says it is an emolient.

You can speak freely on here so please do not hold back. I know what you mean as my vulva looked the same. It does show you need oestrogen.

Yes, it will have an effect on your sex life. Please do not try anything when feeling so sore. Your husband will understand.🤗

Thankyou 😊, the hubby is very understanding but I can’t help feeling a bit guilty about how things are at the moment. It’s such a rollercoaster. There was a couple of times this year when I thought ‘yay, I’m cured!’, and it was full steam ahead with the sex life 😄, but then it’s back to square one all over again.

[Doodle]

Poor you, a nasty and chronic case of VA. Throw everything at it every day, you don't mention Vagifem pessaries but they work well alongside the Ovestin and tons of moisturiser.  The problem with VA, it takes such a long time to feel normal again and you will think to yourself that this is never going to get better, but it does with loads of patience.

Once you get into a regime knowing what treatment works best for you then you are half way there to feeling relief from this disgusting condition.

Hi Ayesha, I think at the moment the Ovestin seems to be working well on the inside, so I might ask for more when I see the Doc again in January. It’s costing me a fortune buying it online. I am tempted to ask for Vagifem to try after reading all the positives about it on this forum though. I’m too afraid to use Ovestin on the outside though after reacting to it badly. But…..I’ve also read that it can cause pain until the tissues ‘plump up’, but I just couldn’t tolerate the pain. I also couldn’t distinguish between the pain of ‘improvement’ and the pain of it just not agreeing with me. So I gave up. I bet this makes no sense at all 🤯😂.

[Doodle]

Agree that you may need to ask to try vagifem alongside a estriol cream of some sort when you go back in January.
Are you wearing cotton pants & only washing them in water or very little powder & rinsing well.
I would also cut out coffee tea tomatoes anything spicy etc to avoid tannins etc coming out in urine & irritating the vulva. Really anything to eliminate potential irritants.
I would also give it a bit of time before you try different products on the vulva else you can’t tell which is helping.

Hi Minusminnie, I’ve recently switched back to non-bio laundry liquid after using highly scented products for a while. I’ve even just bought some reusable sanitary pads to cut out contact with the chlorine and plastics in disposable sanitary products. I’m not a spicy food fan, so that’s not a problem, but I do have a few cups of tea a day, so I’ll try and cut out the caffeine. I’ll stick with the Yes OB for a little while, before trying anything else. Thankyou for your advice. It’s much appreciated 😊. I’ll ask about the milder estrogen cream as well when I go back in January.