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[Snowcat]

Hi everyone.  Can anyone help me please? I’m losing the will to live now! Until 2 years ago I was on systemic HRT but I developed pulmonary embolisms so was told to stop all HRT apart from the vagifem that I was also taking.  Nobody told me I could have the HRT patches - so a few weeks ago I developed dryness and extreme pain in the vulva.

I saw a gynaecologist a month ago and after being misdiagnosed and wrongly treated with dermovate she diagnosed low estrogen as being the problem made worse by the steroid cream.  I’m now on Estraderm 50 patches, vagifem and ovestin cream together with hydromol as a barrier as the skin is so thin, but the pain isn’t even beginning to ease yet.

Can anyone give me some hope please - I’ve been practically bedridden for the last 6 weeks - I’ve tried the 3 YES products but everything is still so sore … I can’t sit so I have to either stand or lie down.  Just would like some idea of when I can expect to be pain free again - it’s scary because it came on so suddenly - I stupidly thought the vagifem would be enough when it had never been enough in the past (early menopause at 32 now in my 60s) my vagina is fine - it’s the labia that’s so very sore … I’d be grateful for any advice you kind forum members can offer!

[Ayesha]

It can take a month or more to feel relief, use the vagifem and estriol every day until you feel you can reduce the dose yourself when symptoms improve.

I am not on systemic oestrogen but it took a year to be symptom free and even then flare ups happen, I use 2 Vagifem daily until it calms down.

[Snowcat]

Thank you for taking the time to reply.  Just got to be more patient I guess which isn’t my best quality!

[CLKD]

If necessary apply the estriol 3 times a day on the outer labia area, to keep it moister which lessens the tenderness.  It's a bit Trial and Error until we find a regime that works.

HRT may/not ease vaginal atrophy.  Regular applications will certainly help, how often were U using the YES products, there is also 'sylc' ......... sometimes the fillers rather than the active ingredient can cause more problems than they solve.

Does a cooling bath help at all?  With gentle drying after?

[Snowcat]

Hello.  Thank you for your reply.  I’ve only used the YES products a couple of times each.  I’ve sent off for a supply of Sylk.  We only have a shower.  Gynae told me to use hydromol ointment as a barrier and to help repair the skin but I’m concerned that the Ovestin cream might not be absorbed properly as I’ve not idea how long the hydromol stays on the skin down there.  I hadn’t thought of using the estrogen cream more often - it’s such a small tube they might wonder why I ask for more so often!

[CLKD]

Needs must!  I would persist with the appropriate VA treatment then once the condition feels easier, if necessary add the hydromol on the outer area?

[Snowcat]

Thanks again.  I’ll definitely try that.  I’ve now got a UTI on top of everything else! I think because I didn’t drink enough as peeing is so painful afterwards - I only lightly dab but that’s enough to fire up the nerve endings! But I’ll
Have to grin and bear it now I have this infection to deal with!

[CLKD]

It is unlikely to be an infection, it's more likely because the oestrogen levels have dropped = atrophy.  The whole body may become dry: inside and out.  Skin, vagina, scalp, between the toes, deep in the ears, eyes ...... and muscles may become lax = aches and pains.

Take pain relief ASAP and get the VA treatment up there now and again this evening.  VA mimics urine infection-type symptoms really really well  and why is it always at weekends !!

The pain relief will ease that nip as the urine flow shuts off .......... it's 1 of my main symptoms 

[Snowcat]

Oh I know! I’m always ill at the weekend or a bank holiday! Unfortunately it is a UTI as I had it tested - I’m very prone to them as I have painful bladder syndrome but so far, Hiprex has kept them at bay, although I agree that maybe it got hold because the skin down there isn’t very healthy.  I’m certainly going to try a bit extra estrogen cream more often and I’m using vagifem daily too.  Plus the patches.

When I first went onto HRT it was the systemic HRT that really helped but I still had a few localised issues so vagifem was added in and that was me sorted for years.  I just wish I’d gone straight onto the patches as soon as I stopped the tablets - I was stupid to think of trying without! 

[CLKD]

What was the test, a dipstick in the Surgery? In reality urine should be sent to a Lab to be certain of which bug is present.

How R U feeling?  I believe that some use bicarbonate of soda in water to ease symptoms 

[Snowcat]

Yeah, coliform species, so now on nitrofurantoin.

The pain of that pales into insignificance compared with the vulval pain.  I’ve got a nasty boil in that area too that’s incredibly painful - I’ve tried fucidin cream but it’s not helping and no-one at my surgery seems keen to have a look!

Thank you for all your replies. 🤗

[CLKD]

Then U should have been referred !!!!!  Who haven't U seen at the Practice, is there a Nurse Practitioner who does Cervical Smears?

How long R U on the AB for?

[Snowcat]

Hi.  I saw the practice nurse who didn’t want to examine me as I was already ‘under gynae’ even though gynae had written to the doctor asking them to do so.. I’ll try again when they open tomorrow.  I’m on the antibiotics for a week.

[Elissa]

Hi Snowcat, your problems sound very similar to how I was last year. I had a terrible time on and off for over a year as the GP thought I was too young for perimenopause at 40/41.  She diagnosed me with dermatitis and I could not even tell you how many tubes of steroid cream I put down there 

It took me around 5 weeks of ovestin (first fortnight everyday then twice weekly thereafter) to feel better. I was so relieved.

Also wanted to mention I have had very sore pimples under the skin on the vulva area. They come up and disappear after a few days. I would hit the roof if I accidentally touched the sore spot at any time. I only ever had one at a time and a GP didn't know what they were but suggested blocked pore or similar. I know it's due to low estrogen.  Come to think of it I haven't had one in several months.  Been on ovestin for a year roughly and Hrt (gel) for last 6 months.

I really hope your symptoms improve soon as it was all very distressing and I sympathise completely.  All the best 

Edit: not sure what fucidin cream is but I apply ovestin to the pimple/boil which might help or  maybe it just clears up on its own after a few days?  I'd be interested to hear if the same happens for you.

[Snowcat]

Thank you so much for replying Elissa! You do sound very much like me! I too have those spots/boils (GP said they were small cysts) I had some fluckoxacillin for them but that didn’t help at all.  They’re so painful aren’t they? In fact I prefer the all over sting & burning than when they play up- I had 3 now it’s just 1 little boil at the back on the left that’s excruciating!
I never thought it could be related to low estrogen but it makes sense. It’s been there for weeks though - fucidin is an antibiotic cream but I’ll have to see if it needs a different cream as fucidin isn’t really for use ‘down there’

I’m sorry you had such a rough year - the steroid creams make it all so much worse!
But you’ve given me some hope to keep trying - I’ve only been on the Ovestin for 3 weeks and the first patches for 6 weeks but I just long to be pain free for a while and to be able to sit down again!