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[Ms_london76]

Hi friends

I have been on Imvexxy 4mg 2x a week for almost 4 months (next week) I was using estragyn cream a couple of times a week. But I developed a red irritation and stopped for a week and was put on a steroid. Back to using the cream only once a week on the area the dr told me too. (Not all over)

The area is only on my right side, the wounds look like they are healing with new loose skin forming (Gyneo said it was normal)

However lately, some bothersome symptoms are persisting. Sometimes when I pee there is a post pee burn which lingers. And my bladder is still not up to snuff (wake up at least twice to pee) when I sit in a car I am very uncomfortable.

I am learning I am hyper sensitive to things for instance yes wb stings the crap out of me, versus yes ob which can sting depending on what I do but mostly can function.

I am understanding that there is new skin and that skin can be uber delicate just like it was in the beginning before being on anything.

So at what point do I discuss changes to my medications or continue to stick it out. The Gyneo was adamant about it can take up to 6 months.

Visually the area looks a lot better. And often have great days but lately it seems I went backwards a little bit.

I am losing my patience at this point. As I feel I should be so much further ahead at this point.

Any thoughts, I just want to be pain free but with having such delicate area down there. When I mess around with medication and self dosing things get worse for me (like using the cream more often than prescribed ended up on a steroid)

[CLKD]

2 a week of any VA treatment probably isn't enough , many require nightly applications for many years. How about upping the Imvexxy?

A steroid should probably not have been the first choice of treatment on an already damaged area of skin, increasing appropriate VA treatment may well have improved symptoms.

[Ms_london76]

I was having redness and itchiness which started when I was using the cream more frequently and all around the vagina. I was supposed to use it one area.  The redness appeared on the opposite side of where the wounds is. But I thought I could use it everywhere.

I made the same mistake with vagifem and used it too much which ended up causing crazy burning. When prior to that I just had dryness issues. Too much too soon.

Since stopping the steroid (only one week) the redness is completely gone.

At this point downstairs is just hyper sensitive possibly cuz of the wound that does look like it’s healing. But terrified too do too much too soon and suffer more

[Ayesha]

It’s very unfortunate for you that you are super sensitive to the treatments for Vaginal Atrophy and that situation will make it an uphill struggle to get your symptoms under control. It probably will take longer for you to feel any better, I know that my symptoms were straight forward but it still took a year before I felt I was completely symptom free.
For someone like you it will be lots of trial and error and taking things slowly until you eventually find some relief.

I am sure I have read posts here of ladies using steroid cream to help with severe soreness and in the short term this is fine to do but someone will correct me if I'm wrong. 

[CLKD]

It's Trial and Error - have U tried something as simple as KY Jelly several times a day to keep the area moist?  I find that helps when the labia are dry, even with the use of 'estriol' every 3/4th night. 

Or mayB stop everything to see how well the steroid has worked?  If the skin around the vulva, vagina etc. is thin anything that touches it may well sting so little and often may ease that. I have successfully applied LIVE yoghurt which is soothing, internally and externally.

When I had steroid treatment following radiation on a breast I was told 'not to use anything bigger than a pea ' and was restricted to no longer than alternate days for a week. 

4 me VA was like razor blades  up there ! 

[Dierdre]

It’s very unfortunate for you that you are super sensitive to the treatments for Vaginal Atrophy and that situation will make it an uphill struggle to get your symptoms under control. It probably will take longer for you to feel any better, I know that my symptoms were straight forward but it still took a year before I felt I was completely symptom free.
For someone like you it will be lots of trial and error and taking things slowly until you eventually find some relief.

I am sure I have read posts here of ladies using steroid cream to help with severe soreness and in the short term this is fine to do but someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

You're not wrong Ayesha, steroid cream is fine to use, I've been prescribed it for years for VA flare ups and Lichens Sclerosus by a consultant at the hospital's vulva clinic. Thankfully Lichen Sclerosis hasn't appeared now for a few years so mainly for VA flare ups. Safe dosage of Dermovate is twice a day for up to 4 weeks, then a maintenance dose of twice a week with a weaker cream, Daktacort Hydrocortisone cream. I never actually had to use for that long as Dermovate is quite strong and I'm usually sorted within a week now as I don't ever let it get to the state I was in years ago. Estriol cream was also prescribed at the same time by the consultant to use externally every night with the steroid cream for Lichens Sclerosus and VA and Vagifem was upped to 5 per week. The combination of all these has been life changing for me as I suffered for a year on just 2 a week vagifem from the GP and was in a right mess.
Sometimes you have to throw everything at it to work but then for others less is more. We're all so different and what suits one won't another.

[CLKD]

   Dierdre.

[Ms_london76]

Hi everyone

Thank you for all your replies.

The steroid was prescribed for one week thin layer 3 x a day. I stopped using it last Tuesday and the area is no longer red or itchy. I also wondered if it was the coconut oil I was using externally which seeped internally creating a burn as well. Stopped using that and now use cerave healing ointment.

She told me to stop everything except for Imvexxy. The last few days I have been using yes Ob but would also sting the area. If I moved around it would seep around.

I used Imvexxy last night and used yes Ob at 4pm yesterday. Today I didn’t use anything but have a good day today 🤷‍♀️.


I can see the wound when I look internally, meaning I see the loose skin (healing I guess) like the skin is growing over it. So that is a positive.

I did try yogurt once didn’t agree with me. I do have ky gel but if it is water based may have an issue.

I have a phone consult with the Gyneo tomorrow to go over my medication of maybe upping Imvexxy 4mg to 3x a week versus using 10mg. I need to go slow apparently as I am reactive 

Will ask about changing from estrone to something milder. But apparently estrone is not as potent as estradiol. And only contains one estrogen versus others. But will ask

The post pee sting is just so annoying and I would love for that to go away.

[Ms_london76]

So just an update:

Gyneo was not willing to increase my Imvexxy at all. Nor wanted me on the cream.

But last night I used the estragyn cream anyways but this time mixed in my hand both pea size amount of estragyn cream and yes ob together. Than I applied and had no burning over night. I learned that I cannot “rub” things in versus lightly applying.


I have learned to really space out when I apply yes ob and either Imvexxy or the cream (few hours between). 

I could take it with her knowing but the scripts are only for 2 times a week, meaning I will run out of scripts for Imvexxy.

I don’t feel twice a week is enough of Imvexxy and I am not sure why she is not willing to increase it for me

I have sensitive skin. She recommended replens but it’s water based and I already reacted to yes WB.


Yes OB is more soothing

[Ayesha]

I've come to the conclusion that we have to find our own way of discovering what regime works best for us as individuals, because that's what it requires and I don't believe a doctor or meno specialised knows any different, GSM is a completely individualised condition.

I have had great conversations with my GP and Practice nurse and they concur with everything I say because what I am doing is working for me, full stop.
Treatments are safe, if you can buy them to go along with what you can get on prescription then great, do it.

[Ms_london76]

I agree. The next day after using Imvexxy or the cream I feel great. It’s those in between days.

My fsh is stating I am post menopause which is slightly early at 48. When I said to the Gyneo she was like well those numbers don’t mean anything. So one dr says my period is mostly done so all the blood panels and another dr said panels are useless.

I learn everything from Dr Kelly Casperson and Dr Mary Claire Haver from social media.


So it’s frustrating to not have the consensus on things. I will be fighting for systemic estrogen today to add to my tool box cuz I think I need it.

[Ms_london76]

I was the drs office on Friday, to talk about systemic estrogen (started divigel on sat) got some blood work. And had to get an ultrasound of my shoulder. (Pulled a muscle 2 months ago has not gotten better)

Anyways, during the appointment on Friday, I almost passed out. Got really dizzy, lightheaded, sweaty, and could feel that I would hit the floor. They had to stop so I could lie down. My blood pressure was normal. The thing is I was fine when I left the drs office and went to a store walked around. The ultrasound place was right next door to my dr where they took me right away.

I have had these episodes in the past few years. Not sure what causes it. I have had all my blood work done (now checking for iron or b12).

I worked out in the morning, i did have some snacks before the appointment. The room was small with two technicians, i was fairly calm that morning.

I am not sure if it was low blood sugar, low blood pressure, low estrogen? Been tested several times for diabetes.

And of course after all that sitting my drive home was painful. Apparently the body goes into flight or fight mode and goes into reserve mode when it comes to oxygen and blood flow. So the vagina was not happy plus all the sitting.

I feel now but not sure what happened

[SundayGirl]

Although you have reactions to things, I still think you would benefit from more than 2 per week. I know you're having a hard time to get more than that prescribed though 

I hope the systemic HRT helps 

[Ms_london76]

I used estragyn cream the night before mixed in with yes OB. Than in the morning I did another round of yes OB.
Maybe that was too much and I should just leave it the next day. 

I made the same mistake with Imvexxy, where the next day I applied yes OB and had some issues during the day. So last Tuesday I did not use yes OB the next day and I felt fine. Something about the sensitive tissues from estrogen the next day etc.

I wonder if it was from that?

Or stress of almost passing out reducing blood flow to the area (cuz I was sitting so much on hard chairs)

I have the cream so I may try to up that to 2 times a week. While Imvexxy is at 2 times a week.

[Kaz78]

Hi
I am suffering from very similar issues after trying all of the different types of topical oestrogens and now thinking I will mix my oestrogen cream with my YES VM - are you on low dose systemic HRT - I am going to try the lowest dose HRT patch to try and help my bladder which has caused me constant discomfort ( frequency / pain/ pressure ) and anxiety for a solid year now - it’s just awful - I may try Mirabegron to see if it helps calm my very sensitive bladder …. we should PM somehow - we are the same age and stage by the sounds of it  !