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[Lime]

Hi all,

I was at my gyn a few days ago.  I tried to explain just how much pain the VA can cause.  I don’t think he gets it, he often just stares blankly at me when I tell him how much it hurts. 
He is married and in his upper 60’s but I guess his wife does not have these problems.

I know we all talk about the discomfort but wondering how others would quantify their burning/stinging feeling.   On a scale of 1-10 ( with 10 being the worst)how would you rate the pain when it’s at it’s worst?  And where is the pain mostly located?  Is it vaginal?

I know we all have different symptoms.

Thank you all.

[CLKD]

10+ years ago my symptoms began with intermittent urine-type 'infections'.  The need to P was constant, I would sit on the loo with glass of cold water in 1 hand and a cuppa in the other.  Once the ABs kicked in those symptoms went.  Of course that doesn't replace oestrogen loss. 

I take Nurofen to ease the nip as the urine flow shuts off, which if severe, gives me pins and needles all over  That is deep inside somewhere.

My GP diagnosed VA after seeing a sample waiting to be sent to a Lab..  For many years I had a sore spot on penetration so lots of KY Jelly was required.

Those thin, sore tissues internally can tear ...... which is what many Medics are un-aware of.

[Ayesha]

I was waiting for a doctor to ask me what number and I would have had no hesitation in saying suicide such was the terrible burning pain I was in at the time.
Your Gynae is just another unsympathetic medic and that's just depressing. At its worst its a debilitating condition with unbearable symptoms and should be treated appropriately.

Send him a copy of the BSSM Position Statement, he might learn a thing or two and not to be so dismissive, we're not talking about thrush here that can easily be solved with a cream or tablet.

https://bssm.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/GSM-BSSM.pdf

[Lime]

CLKD and Ayesha, thank you.

I could cry reading your post Ayesha.  My pain at it’s worst is definitely above a #10.   Looking at the Doc’s face this week made me feel like he has never had another patient with this horrible problem.

[Lime]

Forgot to mention… He did a smear test and urine culture.  Both negative for infection.

[Lesred]

Oh Lime, so sorry I’ve been away and missed this post, but I’m absolutely with you, it’s miserable and at its worst constant and def above a 10! I feel a constant pressure on my bladder that’s really uncomfortable and it sometimes feels like my bladder is burning and pressure and awareness most of the time, then every time I try Ovestin it helps initially and then I end up with a worse bladder and worse discomfort which makes the outside burn ( the outside has only started since I began my hrt journey, weird!) My Dr told me years ago to try not focus on it  ! Great thanks for that!)

For me the worst thing is when I start to have days or pockets of feeling normal it’s even more horrid when it comes straight back again, I swear I feel like I am going properly mad! And when a flare up occurs it goes on forever and getting an appt with someone to listen also takes forever and when they haven’t got a clue and suggest everything you’ve already tried it’s really disheartening, so just wanted to give you some solidarity and also to prepare myself for my nurse appt next week which may be equally fruitless! It will all depend on if she has experienced gsm or not!!

Btw my tests and cultures all came back negative too!

X x

[CLKD]

Once a GP has prescribed treatment for VA, once symptoms are under control, we shouldn't need to see them again.  Regular applications i.e. nightly if necessary for Life, should keep the condition under control.  It may take longer for the vaginal walls to 'take up' the prescription if the symptoms have been present for ages. 

My pain: it was like razor blades up there  so probably an 8. [sorry didn't read the initial question].  Aggravated by urine-infection type symptoms which my GP diagnosed over the 'phone having seen a urine sample waiting 2 go 2 a Lab..  Now if those razor blades begin to niggle as well as a strange heavy feeling under my belly button, I know to up my estriol = 0.

How did your GP manage a smear test   

[Lime]

Hi Lesred,

Thanks so very much for your consoling words and for the description of how this affects you. 
I hope you were able to enjoy your time away.
You are so right about how horrid it is when you have a day that is not too bad followed by an awful day.  It makes you feel like zero progress has been made.   I’m on HRT too, a combined patch.  I do not feel like it helps the VA or bladder symptoms.  It’s interesting that the outside only bothered you after you started HRT.  I’m going to send my brain back in time to think about whether that happened to me also.

I’m waiting for a call from my gyn to see if he has anything else to suggest though I doubt it.  Like many others I have learned more on this forum than from any Doctor.

I hope you have better luck with your appointment next week.

[Lime]

Thank you CLKD,

# 8 is bad enough and “razor blades” is quite accurate.

It would be nice to get symptoms “under control”.  Not sure I’ve found the right combo of products for my ridiculously sensitive parts.

I took Ibuprofen ( much as I hate to) before my gyn appointment.