Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Personal Experiences => Topic started by: Midnight Shadow on June 05, 2020, 10:56:25 AM
-
I am pleased to report that I have had a better week so really pleased about that. :) I woke this morning burny and stingy, which I wasn't expecting and don't want it to take a hold again. Do you think it advisable to continue my Vagifem? The lady Doctor I spoke to over a week a go said to just use my Ovestin externally twice a week and keep taking my systemic HRT Kliovance. She said she didn't want me to have an overload of Oestrogen. I doubt that I would as the Ostrogen is such a low dose. The HRT has definitely helped, but I don't want to go back to square one. Your advice is always much appreciated. Thank you.
-
Your GP is talking rubbish.
Vagifem or ovestin are products to ease symptoms of vaginal atrophy. Applied internally. Ovestin can be used externally, some ladies find 'yes' or 'sylc' products help externally.
I don't think that 1 can 'overload' what is after all a natural hormone ::).
I would continue with the 'vagifem' as often as required. Some ladies need it nightly, occasionally two at a time ....... it is such a small amount of active ingredient after all. Does the Kliovance help, it is a totally different HRT prescribed for other symptoms? If your regime helps symptoms then continue with it.
Where were you feeling symptoms, internally or around the outer labia? Get your 'vagifem' prescription sorted and don't take 'no' for an answer. If she seems relucant, ask for a referral to a Menopause Clinic - not a Gynae Clinic as they no as little as GPs!
-
Hi again, yes symptoms are around the labia. Fortunately, she isn't my Doctor, although she supposedly specialises in gynaceological issues, wouldn't want my doctor either he's not approachable. Wish they all sang from the same hymn sheet. Will continue with vagifem, still have plenty and can still get it on prescription so no problem there and do what I think is best for my body. You all seem to be able to advise better than any doctor. Yes, the Kliovance does seem to be helping, had it once before. Will try yes again, have got some if that. Thank you for your invaluable knowledge.
-
Gynacological issues aren't menopausal related though ::). Do continue with your regime and see how you get on ;-).
Have you read the threads on vaginal atrophy and bladder issues on the Forum, full of info..
-
Hi Midnight...my NP explained about the burning and stinging of labia/vulva when on local vagifem or a reasonable facsimile and it makes perfect sense. She said that the tissues are reacting to the introduction of depleted estrogen and ergo nerves. Once the labia/vulva's tissues become more plumped up, the nerves start to settle. It takes a long, long time. I have been on daily vagifem now 8 mos. on and still get the occasional 'oops here we go again' but lasts for a short time. Good luck and KEEP UP WITH THE VAGIFEM.
-
If you run out of vagifem and they wont prescribe it again. You could use the ovestin internally as well as externally. I used to use estriol as initially vagifem irritated me. I found I didn't need to apply externally as well as some of it seeped out. MY GP was also concerned about me having two products (HRT and vagifem) but I said I needed them so he let me have both on my repeat.
-
Thanks for all the replies ladies. They all make sense to me. Can still get vagifem on prescription and like someone said I think the tissues are reacting to the Oestrogen and will eventually settle down. Have used my vagifem tonight. The threads on here about Atrophy are brilliant. Often have a read of them. It is an invaluable site which I am pleased to be a member of.
-
:thankyou: ......... :great: pity more GPs don't read on here ;-)
-
I use estriol cream daily on my old episiotomy scars, vagifem every other night AND HRT this will be for LIFE as we don't suddenly start making oestrogen again & our vaginas don't suddenly stop needing it.
We don't stop watering our palmar if we do they shrivel up & the soil cracks🤗
-
Thanks Maryjane, still going to continue with my Vagifem and will use my Ovestin more than twice a week. I feel it is getting better very slowly, but do need to continue my regime. Still stings when I spend a penny, but not everyday so that is an improvement. Hydromol burnt so I can't use that. It took at least 8 months to settle down last time and I know now I should never have stopped my treatment. Someone on here said it can take longer to settle, if you stop treatment. How right they were. All Doctors should read this site Thanks for your response.
-
Hope my external tissue settle down very soon. Used my vagifem for the past two nights and today I have been burny and stingy all day, so not happy. Just wondering now, if there is something like the fillers in the vagifem that my skin doesn't like. Might give it a miss for a few days to see if it settles down again. So annoyed as I have had several good days. Fingers crossed for a better day tomorrow. This ailment is so debilitating.
-
Went thru the exact same thing. Many of us VA ladies have gone thru various stages. After 1 month on Vagifem, I had such burning and stinging it was unbearable. My GP INSISTED on me continuing vagifem and said the nerves will settle. In the interim she prescribed Amitrypline to calm the nerves while vagifem was taking effect. I never thought it would end and was even contemplating suicide but thankfully I persevered and 2day I can say 85% better. I know right now you are thinking all sorts but keep up. Up the vagifem to daily for awhile. You will get there.
-
Use something soothing too on the outer labia etc.. B4 inserting the 'vagifem'. 'vaseline' , 'sudacrem', live yoghurt which is cooling but messy. To stop it drying out and becoming itchy.
-
Thanks girls, hadn't thought about Yoghurt may get some of that. It's a shame that there isn't one treatment suits all. I know I am not a very patient person and want things to work straight away. Told myself to man up today ::) Took 7 months last time so not long to go. Fingers crossed for a better day tomorrow. Thanks again.
-
LIVE yoghurt ........ Greek works for me. I eat it to ease gut problems so it cleanses the digestive tract, also used locally though messy is cooling.
-
Hi Midnight shadow. After I had been on vagifem for a few weeks I got awful burning so I changed to estriol cream which helped enormously. I found it very messy so after about three months tried vagifem again and this time I was fine, so perhaps because of the treatment the nerve endings had settled down.
-
I am 70 yrs of age and suffered with external soreness of labia on and off for two years, saw dermatologist two gyneocolgists and four doctors , tried everything from HRT, Vagifem, Ovestin, and many other moisturisers from Yes to Replens and various steroid ointment ... all said it was due to a lack if Estrogen called it atrophy! Finally after trying product after product to no avail I tried over the counter Diprobase Ointment for eczema and amazingly it has helped more than anything I have tried. I use a tiny bit ever morning and pain free .... yay 😀 ...certainly give it a go if you are desperate very inexpensive .. good luck !
-
It was probably in your case Hillybilly [love it] dryness rather than a lack of oestrogen per se. The idea is to use 'vagifem' or 'ovestin' inside the vagina nightly for 2 weeks ...... to plump up internally. I find KY Jelly or Vaseline eases any dryness outside of the labia.
-
Thanks, interesting as Jane Lewis has just recommended I try Diprobase ointment as a moisturiser. Not to use alone, but to use when I spend a penny. I will continue to use my Oestrogen. Lady Doctor advised only to use Ovestin, but I feel I need a moisturiser on the days when I don't use my Ovestin. Wish Doctors all sang from the same hymn sheet. Improving very slowly so pleased about that. Thanks for responding.
-
Wish Doctors all sang from the same hymn sheet.
;D ;D And I bet Doctors wished all us meno woman sang from the same hymn sheet too & that we all had the same symptoms ;) ;)
I've been experiencing more dryness/stinging down below recently. I upped my dose of vagifem from 2 to 3 per week about 6 months ago but in the last month it's got worse again. My G.P has prescribed using Ovestin on the outside (as well as the Vagifem). If that's not enough then I shall keep in mind Diprobase.
She also suggested washing my bits with E45 cream. I can't work out how that cleanses the area though :-\. Must admit I do like to "lather" up a bit to much which certainly doesn't help things.
Cazikins x :cat48: