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[Shazzer]

Hello ladies.

Can anyone please help me with their thoughts on 2 issues please.

1) Whether HRT would cause me any problems if I’ve had endometriosis

and

2) I am having stomach issues with localised Ovestin and Vagifem?

I do realise this is just info and not advice, but just want to hear from your experiences.

My history is:
Had grade 3 endometriosis which was treated back in 2001 and thank God allowed me to have 2 children.

Have Hiatus hernia and take 30mg of Lansoprazole am & pm.

Had provoked DVT in 2017 - all ok now and no problems.
Father also had DVT after major surgery to treat cancer.

I take 2mg of Candesartan - blood pressure meds as I’ve had treatment to my right kidney which caused a slight increase in BP.

Have had peri menopause symptoms since I was 45 and now 50.

My periods are near enough non existent - a very light bleed and more like spotting every 3-4 months.

I have been suffering with nearly all the symptoms of peri menopause and the last 3 months have been absolute hell.

For nearly 2 years I have been trying different creams/steroids to treat my really sore and inflamed vulva as no one at my doctor’s practice recognised VA until I started getting bladder symptoms and saw a much better lady doctor who actually listened to me.
She has referred me to Gynae as she was very unsure about me starting any form of HRT because of the above history. (No menopause specialist available)
So, saw Gynaecologist and he has written to our Haematology dept to confirm all ok for systemic HRT (DVT history) and gave me some Ovestin for VA.
I started Ovestin back in early December. Did the loading inside with a little on the outside too and I started to get a little tummy ache. A proper ache like pain in the tummy not lower and no association with acid pain.
I have never suffered with any tummy issues, ever, and kept at it, but 4 weeks into treatment no change with my incredibly sore labia. Tummy issues wore off a little.
Went back to my GP as she had all the info from the gynaecologist and unbeknown to me and my GP I should’ve left things a lot longer to see if what I was doing was working. Anyway, she then told me to use Vagifem inside and the Ovestin outside which I have been doing for the last 10 days, BUT, my tummy issues have got worse since starting the Vagifem with the Ovestin.
The GP told me to do the loading dose of one every night etc and I have been doing this, but should she have told me to do another re-load so soon after the Ovestin load?
Has this or can this upset my tummy?
I’ve just started to feel a little better downstairs and my bladder is feeling so much better too.
I know the level of Estriol and Estradiol is low, but could I be sensitive to it all?
I really don’t want to gradually stop it all as I think if I persevere, the VA soreness will go away, but my tummy is saying otherwise.
I have another GP appointment in Feb to discuss how I’ve been feeling, but I have no faith she will know what to do especially when she thought the Ovestin should’ve worked after 4 weeks.
What are everyone’s thoughts on this please and does anyone have any info on starting systemic HRT with a history of endometriosis - as we are never cured. The gynaecologist wasn’t at all concerned 

Thank you for your patience reading my post and any guidance would really, really be appreciated as I’ve had enough of the stomach pains but want to carry on with the pessaries and cream.

[Flossieteacake]

Hello Sharon. I do not know the answer to some of your queries but I will tell you what I know about VA. I wonder if you are reacting to the Ovestin as your stomach pain started after you began using it. I personally cannot take Vagifem as it gives me stomach cramps. When starting any localised oestrogen the skin can hurt but I am not sure about the stomach pain. 

With localised oestrogen, we are told to use it two weeks and then drop it to twice a week. This is not enough to help the skin recover and time and time again women who are told this end up very sore. I personally would use localised oestrogen daily especially when it is so painful.

When applying Ovestin on the outer area, I have found it more helpful to mix it with a little vaginal moisturiser. I like Yes and Sylk. They are both gentle products. VA can take a while to improve so do not be disheartened if you are still sore.

I have found there are some things that help with VA. First, I gave up baths and switched to showers. I was washing with water alone which is very drying so now I apply emollient, wash it off in the shower and then reapply some more to act as a barrier. There are lots of threads on here about VA including this thread:
https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,22886.1095.html

You may also find it helpful to put endo into the search here and have a browse of the threads.

[CLKD]

Hi! some require VA treatment every night.  Any tummy troubles should resolve after 1 few nights, however some do have side effects.

MayB put ovestin on the outer labia and insert a little into the vagina for 5 nights, not too high up: to see if the tummy issues settle.  However, gut problems can appear with peri-menopause.  It mayB that you require a different med to the Omeprazolol?  I swallow 1 capsule at breakfast due to an irritating cough reflex relating to the reflux   

How does the gut react to the VA treatment other than pain?

[Shazzer]

Hi Ladies.

Thank you for your time reading my post and replying.

Flossieteacake - I am definitely 99% certain the Ovestin has started the tummy aches. No trouble before I started using it and it’s the only thing that’s new to any routine.  It seemed the tummy pain started 3 days into loading up and then when I went into maintenance, it subsided a little. I then started the Vagifem with it and it all got bad again.
I have some “Yes VM” so will try mixing the Ovestin with that to help with the outside - good thinking. I do shower with just water and yes I’m very dry. I think I have some Dermol 500 emollient somewhere so will try that whilst showering.
Will have a good look round at the VA and Endo threads on here.
Thanks a lot. 

CLKD - Hi. I will try that with the Ovestin. Should I continue with the loading of Vagifem and then try the little Ovestin inside as well as outside after? I do think you’re right about not putting the cream so far up inside as I was doing that.
I was on Omeprazole but then changed to Lansoprazole - suited me better. I take mine first thing in the morning an hour before breakfast and then I take another before bed.

I have had the strawberry splits today and I don’t normally have any toilet troubles either. All of this started as soon as I started the Ovestin and I don’t want to stop as I can feel it’s starting to work a little.

[CLKD]

?? Keep with 1 product otherwise you won't know which might be working ? ?  If it's the 'ovestin' that is causing cramps then wait a couple of nights B4 trying 'vagifem'.  It may simply B that U are using too much too soon.

Let us know. 

[Flossieteacake]

Sharon, just to let you know there is an estradoil cream that can be used instead of Ovestin. It is slightly milder then Ovestin so do not worry if Ovestin does not suit you as there are other options.

There is also a waxy pessary called Invagimis too.

[Shazzer]

Thanks so much Flossieteacake and CLKD.
Loving the info You are stars ⭐️ ⭐️

[Flossieteacake]

Thanks so much Flossieteacake and CLKD.
Loving the info You are stars ⭐️ ⭐️

You are so welcome. 

[CLKD]

I would suggest reporting reactions on the Yellow Card system.

[Shazzer]

CLKD - Will definitely do that.
Thank you. 

[Dierdre]

Is your tummy ache actually in your stomach or lower down like period pains? I had period like cramps for a few weeks when I started vagifem, it is one of the side effects and will settle once your body gets used to the estrogen being reintroduced. I also had tender breasts and felt sick in the morning. Once the vaginal walls have hydrated and plumped up very little estrogen goes systemic and most side effects will disappear.

[Shazzer]

Hi Dierdre.

Thank you for your reply.
No, the pain is definitely in my stomach.
I did have some cramping lower down, but that wore off and my breasts have been feeling fuller, the only troubling side effect for me is how it’s making my stomach feel.
It only started happening when I started Ovestin, then wore off and then came back big when I started Vagifem.
I am going to see my GP soon and talk to her about it. I am persevering with just the Vagifem at the moment as I can definitely feel things are improving especially my bladder and my undercarriage is feeling a little better too. I just don’t want to stop the progress I’ve made.
I’m really praying I can still have the relief without the tummy pains.
Fingers are crossed 🤞

[CLKD]

Do U have a prolapse?

[Shazzer]

Hi CLKD.
I have a slight bowel prolapse. The GP examined me when I was having bladder issues and found it then.
I still have endometrial deposits around my abdomen and belly button area from the endometriosis as they were found after a hernia op. This was 15 years after my laser ablation to sort my out my whole pelvic area back when it was diagnosed after a laparoscopy.
I was thinking last night, after posting on here and thoughts being triggered, whether the hormones are aggravating them?
I know it’s just trying to decipher whether my stomach pains are to do with the cream and pessaries or have I got something else going on?
All I know is I had no issues at all till I started the treatment. Coincidence or cream and pessaries?

[CLKD]

I wondered if the hormones might B aggravating the endometriosis and prolapse.