Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Lynne888 on August 19, 2012, 10:59:49 PM
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Well, time flies and it's already been over 3 months since I started using vagifem. You may recall my GP said I couldn't use it longer than three months and I have the dreaded appointment to discuss it with her on Tuesday. Things have continued to improve for me over the three months, the only thing I've noticed this past few weeks is a clear discharge sometimes when I go to the loo. I'm assuming this is normal but not sure. My frequent urination has been the best it has been in 2 years but that has got a little bit worse this past few days but nothing like how it used to be. Basically vagifem has changed my life so I have to argue the point on Tuesday to make sure I can stay on it. I will be mentioning this forum and the fact that some have been using vagifem for years ! I will update on Tuesday!
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Hi Lynne
Just to say, good luck on Tuesday! This quote from the menu on the left might help persuade your gp:-
Low dose vaginal estrogen preparations can be used long term without causing any known systemic effect, and without needing any progestogenic protection of the lining of the womb.
Let us know how you get on.
Bette x
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Thanks Bette, I'm going to print it off and show her!
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Right hun
March in with the paper and say
OH IM so happy oyu gave it to me my fanny OK use Vagina is wonderful
Sex fabtastic Weeing wonderful and I didnt know I could be on it for ever till I got the info
If she starts then just say you have no right to refuse me on medical grounds is it Monetry
You have to fight because 2 weeks from now with no Vagifem you will be right back to 3mnths ago and it will be worse
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I'll panic if she doesn't leave me on it! I shall do just as you suggest!
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I've printed off the information.. I just wondered if their was a source to quote for this.. would I just say it's from the Menopause Matters website? I'e a feeling she will ask if I have had the info from Vagifem or something (or am I just worrying unnecessarily? ???
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Tell her it's from this website - it's got a good reputation and there's even a section for medical professionals which she can access if she wants to get more info.
Bette x
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Well the good news is that my GP has listened to what I've had to say and she read the stuff I printed off and has agreed to keep me on Vagifem (10's though not 25's which I had before) for a few months. She would still like me to try the e-string as she says it is licensed for 2 years whereas the vagifem isn't. She was delighted that I have done so well with it and we had a long chat about it so I'm happy! I told her it has changed my life, which is has. From what she said I think I am happy to try the e-string too. It's put in by the GP and left there so no worries about remembering the vagifem, but I'll see how it goes. So for now I'm a very happy bunny! I mentioned the clear discharge and she said it's all fine, it just means that the vagifem has put everything back to how it should be. Result!
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Hi Lynne 888
If it starts to go back wards use 5 x10 and go back to see her
Know matter how nice she wasnt willing to accept 25m 2x7 is working fab for you give you more WHY NOT?
She saw evidence that its OK to use it permanent as long as your monitored or if you have a problem
She also sees you and you feel fab BUT then she lowers your dosage why?
She seems determined to get you on string again I ask why theres seesm no reason for lowering it and it maybe failing I think I know WHY COS OF MONEY ITS CHEAPER THAN VAGIFEM
Also why drop your dosage she should have kept you on 25m it only been 3 months and you feel fab
So you will accept the invasive perm string in your body if your in pain you will just do it
She can then get you on the string save surgery money
IM sorry to be a downer but how can a GP fly in the face of proven medical knowledge have you sitting in front of her
Telling her you feel smashing Vagifem 25m is working great to me thats rotten
Its almost a blackmail I will give you less than 1/2 the dosage a week and next time STRING
Sorry I know your happy IM glad you got more but everything you were worried about to me about your GP was right
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Well, she didn't say I HAD to go on the estring next time, she said we will see how it goes. I wanted the 10's initially and was put on 25's and it was felt on here then that it was a cost thing because the 25's are less money that the 10's. I will be back like a shot if things go down hill I can assure you! We will see. Hope it all goes OK.
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Sounds good Lynne. :congrats: You might feel that you have more flexibility with the 10's and it's better to start on a low dose and move up if necessary. The estring sounds interesting to me but then I'm not on anything yet. My gp has said that if I need something (ok on HRT at the moment) she'll want me to try Ovestin first but would let me have Vagifem if that didn't work. I don't blame her for wanting to try the cheaper option first, the NHS have got to watch funds whether we like it or not. I'm not sure that the estring is cheaper anyway; the menu on the left says £10.97--£31.42 per ring which is for 3 months. ???
Bette x
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Im glad she said you didnt have too cos its your body not hers
I hope the 10s are as good for you fingers crossed it will be tickety boo and you will continue to feel great
Odd the 10m are cheaper than 25s cos if you have to use 5 a week it works out the same hehehehe
No Im sure with you knowing your own body you will be able to work it out
2 maybe fine or oyu may need an extra 1 dont be scared to do so if you need it AV is awful truley dreadfull
KNowone should have to put up with the constant pain its not right or humane
Dont fancy ring myself every 3mnths internals YUK Not heard the ring mentioned here in Ozz probably is though
Mirena coil is used but not often only know 1 lady who has it
IM just happy that oyur feeling better big hugs as I know you were worried stiff xxxxxxxxxxx
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Let the National Health save money on ...... who are constantly on the sick
People who go to GP for the simplest things cos its FREE
Let them worry about us women who are going thorough menopause which is normal but we are ill with it
Our lives are changed how we feel headaches aches dizzys depression bad aches leading to loads of other illnesses
We have paid taxes worked hard we dont deserve to be shoved aside cos of cost cutting
We are invisable enough us meno and post meno women with out GPs and others treating us shabbily mediacly
Price wise rings probably cheaper but internals taking it out putting another one in every 3months with Atrophy OUCH!
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The 25's were discontinued in the USA because they found there was no extra benefit.. I'm sure someone somewhere found this out but it does make you wonder how they get to this conclusion! It looks like the UK are following suit. In fairness to my GP (and I'm not defending her), I was the one who brought the estring up because she had mentioned it on a previous visit. I'm assuming that because Vagifem is still not licenced for longer than 3 months, she probably feels happier to dispense estring.. just a guess!! Regardless of anything, I would be in a right mess now if my GP hadn't prescribed Vagifem to start with. My previous GP refused point blank to give me anything containing HRT.
I've been weeing a bit more this past week - nothing like it was before - so I have wondered if my constant urination might come back.. dreadful thought. I told her I wasn't keen on the estring because I've always had trouble inserting stuff :rofl: I could never use tampons and really struggled with the cap! I got it stuck once :sweatdrop: I thought I had to insert the ring myself but she explained that it can be done by a GP and will be totally unnoticeable by the user. I'm not opposed to it at all at the moment but as long as vagifem 10's work OK I'd rather stick with that. I thought I had to use 2 a week the same.. is it definitely more? I haven't got the prescription as it is dispensed from the chemist at the surgery and they didn't have it in stock so I'm not sure what GP has prescribed. Anyway, I still have 6 weeks of the 25's left so I'm going to use them up first!!
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I have a feeling I could do with another one a week at the moment but I will customise it and see how I get on.. thanks!
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Who said cant be used for longer than 3 months?
Where does it say that is that in UK?
My cousins been on Vagifem longer than me 5 years? She lives in Cheshire
Her GP is a male close to retirement and said she shouldnt have to put up with needless pain
She like me has an exam every 12/18mnths or if theres anything wrong
Where is it said its Licensed for 3 mnths use only?
Please let us ladies know where it says that wed all be really interested to read it
As for weeing etc Vagifem does sometimes fail not for long just what I call iffy days here and there its never like it was
Im having an iffy couple of days feel like I want to wee a bit more and feel slight pressure yet waters Clear as a bell
An idea if you have 6 weeks left you could say use 1 25mg and 1 10mg a week see how it feels ease it back slowly
Better than going for 50m a week to 20m a week lit overnight you could even ring surgery ask if thats OK? xxx
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Hi Suzi.. that's a brilliant idea, I WILL use a 25 and then a 10 to allow my body to get used to taking less. I'm pleased you have said that some iffy days. I feel better about that as I know it will probably all get better again!
The GP said it is licensed for 3 months. I told her people on here had been taking it for a number of years so she got a book out and checked and said that it IS licensed (approved) for 3 months. She said I could take it longer but that it was my decision to do that. I even asked her if the book was up to date and she said new updates are sent automatically. I've done a search on google and there are several things about UK licensing laws (most of which I can't understand!) but I DID find this below. There are several similar things online, I have no idea how up to date it is and my guess is that the three month thing may not be as up to date as it should be :-\
Concerns have been expressed that the continuous use of low-dose vaginal oestrogens could result in sufficient systemic absorption to stimulate endometrial hyperplasia. The majority of preparations are only licensed for 3-6 months of continuous use in the UK and, whilst observational studies suggest the safety of longer-term use, there is a lack of randomised prospective studies confirming this
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Lynne888 , I switched from 25mg to 10mg. I did this straight off and towards the end of the second week of lower dose I thought I was going to regret the change. things did settle down and have been on 10mg dose twice a week for a year now. I moved house and switched drs. the new practise isn't entirely happy with continuous use . They sent me for an ultra sound scan of womb lining last November and as the thickness of womb was ok thay allowed repeat prescrition. Have to have another scan this November.
Vagifem has certainly changed my life , occasionally get frequency of urination and nearly always get up once in the night. But can go for long walks and do aerobics etc now without any discomfort. Very occasionally I get a blip and use an extra one. This has happened once in the last year.
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Morning ladies.
Just picked up this thread. Lynne888, I saw a menopause consultant in Leeds, and she said that I could use Vagifem for the rest of my life, I am only 54!
MINNIE XXX
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Minnie - that's very interesting, thank you for that! I shall tell the GP this when I next go! Borchester Lass, thank you for the info on the 10's. Hopefully things will settle down for me. It's not great at the moment. I'm going to the loo every hour which is still good as I was going every 5 mins at it's worst!
I have collected my prescription. GP has prescribed a 3 month supply so that will be 6 months in total. Unless I have a need to go back to see her with the urinary frequency, I won't see her until November. I will see what she has to say then if I want more!!
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That's good Mrs Purple. Thanks! I know in my posts it probably comes over that my GP is against giving me vagifem, this is because I only put the main points of the conversation on here. Without reciting word for word what is said, it is difficult to get the whole story across. She is very supportive and I am so pleased she offered the vagifem in the first place as I was in such a mess, unable to leave the house, dog walk or travel. I cannot express what an absolute nightmare it was. Vagifem has changed my life completely. She is delighted about that but thinks other stuff would be equally as good if not better. As I'm settled with the vagifem I want to stay on it and she didn't try and sway me not to stay on it, she just chatted about the options and why she preferred to move me to estring. Anyway, for the next 3 months I'm OK at least! I suppose the next visit will be more telling!! I might go off her completely!!!
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I was sure you could dtay on Vagifem
Wonder how old that writing is?
Anyway Im glad my idea has given you food for thought
It cant hurt can it ease down gently let your body get used to less
I read again and maybe its just that shes used to giving people certain stuff and when someone comes in with a new demand shes warey i suppose thats a good thing
Ifyou like Vagifem like me dont like the idea of having sumat shoved up inside every 3months
Then keep asking for Vagifem but also get check ups I do
Last one 4 internals one after the other last one feeling my ovaries FROM THE INSIDE EWWW didnt hurt just uncomfy
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My GP still thinks that you need a month off every 6 months. Eddie. x
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That sounds like the old Pill thing does anyone remember that
6months on 1 month off
I know of 3 kids born cos of that rule hehehehehe
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Lynne888, I am really interested to know how you are progressing and whether you are managing on Vagifem 10 x twice weekly or have switched to Estring??
I have a similar problem!
Scriv