Print

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

[cebe]

Hi Ladies. Don't know where to turn to for help. On Blissel Gel since Feb. Now twice a week. Took three months for it to work but everything seemed to be OK until about 6-8 weeks ago. I started burning so much I felt like crying. Could not see doc only telephone consultation. She was very abrupt and said she could'nt do anything for me and if it continues to contact surgery and she would refer me to a specialist. In view of the NHS waiting times and I was in so much pain and even though I could'nt afford it I booked to see a consultant in a menopause clinic who told me to continue with the blissel gel and use it on the outside once a day and use lidocaine gel once a day. Still in awful pain so don't know whether to go back to Menopause consultant or see a gynaecologist. Any ideas.

[CLKD]

Hi.  Have U tried appropriate vaginal atrophy treatment, i.e. 'vagifem' delivered by pessary or 'estriol' ........ some ladies use both, the first internally and a smear of 'estriol' on the outer labia/vulva region.  I have found that KY jelly helps on the outer 'lips' with 'estriol' internally.

Who prescribed lidocaine?  Don't bother with a GP or Gynae as many have little knowledge about peri/menopause problems especially VA.

[CLKD]

Continuing here with your other query:  Has anyone used virgin coconut oil to help with vaginal soreness ?. what is virgin coconut oil?  I believe that some have tried it but don't know how much success has been had.

My suggestion above is the 'usual' route, a bit Trial and Error - VA treatment initially should be used every night for 2-3 weeks to plump up the vaginal walls internally as well as keeping the outer area supple and less itchy.

What is Blissel Gel, is it to replace oestrogen? 

[cebe]

Thanks for replying. The Blissel gel is oestrogen based. I tried vagifem and ovestin but kept getting thrush. Just don't know what to do now. Been doing lots of reading and think it may be vulvodynia as well as va so don't know if I need to go back to manopause consultant or gynae. The lidocaine was prescribed by the menopause doctor.

[CLKD]

OK that's me up to date: tnx.

What is causing the thrush?  Which thrives on sugars and lives in the back passage.  Have U tried eating a good LIVE yoghurt which can help cleanse the digestive system from top to bottom, literally.  Helping to encourage good bacteria etc..  I've used it for thrush in the past, eaten and applied: keeping pots separate of course ;-). 

My 1st thrush attack was when I stopped the Pill so probably hormonally connected.  Gynae Registrar with whom I worked gave. me a pessary, no idea what, and told me 'not to scratch'!  Well I couldn't reach the itchy anyway 

The next time was after emergency surgery when I had been starved for 3 days, on a drip for fluids and pain relief.  Any other time when I go for elected surgery I begin swallowing Greek live yoghurt several times day about 3 days prior to admission.  I've not had thrush since.

Does the current treatment ease symptoms at all? 

[CLKD]

Thanks for replying CKLD. Have had thrush all though my 40s and 50s that's why I tried the Blissel Gel. Changed diet but guess one of those that was prone to it. Any way the treatment of the Blissel gel and Lidocaine is not working and I've spent a fortune on creams/lotions like yes/sylk so was wondering if it was vulvodynia as well as va and didn't know if I should see a gyne or go back to the menopause consultant. Just want the pain to stop

Moved from another of your threads - go to a dedicated menopause specialist because many GPs and Gynaes don't seem to know much about what treatments women require.

[bombsh3ll]

A menopause specialist is definitely the best person to see, however it doesn't sound as if the person you saw is very competent.

Lidocaine is for catheterising old men!

Has anyone actually examined you in person to properly diagnose the problem?

If the blissel gel you are using is burning - stop using it.

There are multiple other options including estriol cream, pessaries, prasterone (vaginal dhea) and of course systemic estrogen which if dosed adequately can often negate the need to apply topical treatment to the genital area if sensitive.

Do see someone who knows what they are doing. This can be treated easily and you don't need to suffer.

[CLKD]

Why would inserting certain VA treatments 'cause' thrush  .  Is it due to the vagina being very dry B4 treatment is started?

[cebe]

I've read loads of women can get thrush on va treatment and it's one of the side effects. Guess I'm susceptible to it. There's only one menopause private clinic in South Wales and the doctor has a good reputation so I think I will make another appointment and go armed with lists of questions. I'll have to wait because lots of ladies are going private as the poor NHS is in such a state so I'll just have to manage. It's blooming awful that a 65 year old woman is scrabling around trying to find help xx Thank you for your replies.

[CLKD]

there must be a reason for the 'side effect' 

Get onto a waiting list for a menopause clinic with your list of queries ready ;-).  The NHS across Wales and England is in dire straights.   

[Jal]

Hi Cebe. I found the gynaecologist I saw was OK but not really very knowledgeable about VA. I have since seen a doctor in Cardiff who runs a private menopause clinic and she seems to have very good knowledge of the range of treatments, their effects and side effects and of how women can be affected by VA. She is also very approachable. So I would say your best bet is to find a private doctor who specialises in the menopause.

[orrla]

When you look for dr, make sure it is Consultant. Read about their interests! Do they have HRT and post-meno mentioned in their cv?
Consultants tend to be academically involved, teach and publish own research, read a lot!

Depending on where you are, choice might be poor. Best would be Endocrinologist but, at least where I am, all seem to specialise in diabetics, so no good for me.

I went for a Consultant Gynocologyst at private hospital, with interest in pelvic issues and meno or post-meno.  So far, it looks, he was a good choice!

In recent years, many call themselves menopause specialists, but most are either gp or just basic general dr who treat or dispense hrt according to NHS guidelines.. which, as we know by now from own experiences, leave 70% of women suffering from debilitating VA symptoms..

Go for a one who knows!!!

[MrsMitch]

Hello cebe. I just wanted to make a few comments in case the info helps you.
I was undiagnosed for 12 years with horrendous VA and saw many doctors and a gynae for about 6 years. I was diagnosed with lots of conditions I didn't have including vulvadynia. No treatment I was given worked. So I just wanted to let you know that it seems a lot of women get that diagnosis when they actually have VA. I finally came to the conclusion my gynae knew nothing, even about the conditions she claimed I had!
But my GP finally agreed to refer me to a Menopause specialist after I self diagnosed VA and the wait was 18 months which I believe is common.
Unfortunately after all that wait I think she was just a doctor with an interest in Menopause because tbh I seemed to know
 more than her about certain things simply after doing a lot of reading on the forum - I'm sure I don't but it felt like it! I have a 2nd apt with her next month. 
So whilst you may have vulvedynia, it sounds like you need the right treatment that suits you, and if you have VA then frequency of dose is vital. I use estradiol daily and ovestin (or whatever the replacement cream is now called) twice a day. My symptoms are around 60% better. The other ladies advice about finding a consultant is excellent.  I do hope you get the right diagnosis and get your pain under control.
I too use lidocaine and whilst it's excruciating when first applied, it's a lovely if shortlived relief.  Incidentally,  my GP first prescribed that to give me some relief from pain. My gynae told me she couldn't recommend I continue to use it as vulvadynia, being nerve pain, would not be eased by it. I pleaded with her to let me try it and she reluctantly did saying very rudely 'It will not work, you're wasting your time.' Well it did instantly. I even applied it internally so I could finally have sex with my husband for the first time in years!
So next visit to her, after telling her this, she discharged me saying she could do no more to help me!
So does it work for you? If it does, you know you don't have vulvadynia at least.

[MrsMitch]

Re coconut oil cebe, I use that as a moisturiser daily,  often multiple times a day. It does nothing for pain itself but the fact it helps the dryness does then ease discomfort caused by that.

[cebe]

Thanks for your replies ladies. I'm finding this problem so over whelming. Due to go back to the menopause clinic next week. Think I will see about vagifem internally and ovestin externally. So hope it will work because it's really affecting my mental health now because when you're in constant pain it really drags you down.