Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: losttheplot on September 04, 2013, 07:14:44 PM
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I am quite uncomfortable, and my hubby says i'm looking pale- due to pain i think.
I have longstanding VA. Not able to use topical creams or Replens or Vagifem so rely on E45 externally.
I started feeling more sore last week, then had right sided discomfort/pain (like my cervix was being poked with a wire brush) and very low right sided backache. Did wee sample just in case, that has gone off to lab but dip stick says no infection. It did show a trace of blood but i've had haematuria before so not too much of a worry. Dr today says pain is deferred pain from my VA. Told to try a 'new' moisturiser, chemist didnt have it in stock & will order it, i've forgotten what it was called on the prescription which i've left with them. I've never had such debilitating discomfort before. Is this 'normal'?
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Why can't you use Vagifem or another oestrogen preparation.
The E45 could bring its own problems as it contains lanolin which causes sensitivity in some people.
Although I would like to say something different there really is nothing else that helps apart from HRT and the vaginal preparations.
What you are describing sounds like severe VA.
If you look for a member called SuziQ you can read her VA journey. I think the topic is called Funny Fanny. She has a very unique way of putting things but we all learned so much from her.
Honeyb
X
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thanks Honeyb, I've had problems for going on 10 years.
I tried Vagifem 25 and it burnt and irritated, I tried Gynest cream and it did the same although I could tolerate it externally, Replens gave me a nasty burning but if I sat in the bath after putting it in the burning wore off but I had such a nasty discharge with it that after a couple of months I gave up. I then tried Vagifem 10, hurrah I thought...it didn't burn or irritate but after the second or third time I felt terrible with being on edge, not sleeping, nervous surges and body itch...very disappointing.
When the chemist gets my prescription in i'll let you know what the new stuff is called. Thank you again.
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Have you tried just HRT...pills or patches.
It might be worth persevering with the Vagifem. After the fourteen day initial dose there is little or no uptake into the body. You may feel off for a short while but then you drop back to twice a week and should be fine. Even when full HRT can't be tolerated this is usually fine.
Hope your knew prescription helps.
Let us know what it is.
Honeyb
X
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i forgot to mention the very odd vibration i'm getting on my pubis, it started about a week ago, it's is not there all the time, when it is it is very :o
So, the 'new' treatment turned out not to be so new. Its Hylofemme. I used it tonight and it stung! :( but i got myself in the bath and its settled down now. This is what happened with Gynest cream, Replens and the stronger Vagifem. I'm sitting here trying not to think about it
Today has been slightly better, not much cervix pain, a bit of backache and a ache in my pelvis like i'm about to have a period- except i'm not because my last proper one was 7 years ago.
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LIVE yoghurt ......... not natural but LIVE (Greek is best)
Eaten and applied. Keep one tub in the bathroom the other in the fridge ;)
It will help aid bacteria in the gut. Applied - laying on a warm towel as it can be a bit messy ::) .......... lots into the vagina as high up as you can tolerate. It is cooling and soothing. There is nothing in the yoghurt to cause any stinging.
You may sting with HRT because the inner lips are stuck together and the preparation will cause all kinds of sensations. Sitting in the bath will allow any preparation to seep out, therefore not doing much good at all ;)
I remember those razor blades high up really well ...... I have a thread here too :(
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thanks CLKD, I've just found your thread and i'm off to read it...sounds so familiar...
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As honeybun says - you have to persevere with vaginal treatments when you have severe VA and it will get better eventually!
Have you tried Orthogynest pessaries - they are waxy and probably the gentlest form of vaginal oestrogen - the estriol gently oozes out? They hardly have anything in them.
Unless you have an allergy to any of the ingredients, if you are very sore then there is bound to be some stinging I would have thought, initially - so perhaps start again with the Gynest cream externally - which you can use with the pessaries.
I have used both of these as well as Vagifem but prefer the Ortho/Gynest
Hurdity x
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I'm going to preserve with the Hylofemme.
Once I'm more settled I will go back to gp and have a chat.
But I do get really twitchy about seeing the gp, I can never see the same one and feel when I start telling them I've tried this and that happened, and I tried that and ..... like the burning, stinging, yucky discharge or the nervous surges they don't know what to do with me next.
Today the wee business isn't so bad. I'm really sore and still have a pelvic ache. I'm using Canesten on the external sore areas, will go back to my e45 when things are calmer. I take your point CLKD about the bath washing the Hylofemme out ... :sigh: ...will investigate Live yoghurt 8) yes Hurdity....bound to be some sting :o ...allergy?? not sure, I am a 'reactive' type ::) apparently.
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I used Halofemme again tonight. Awful stingy burning, settling down slightly now. Feel like crying.
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Sorry to hear that losttheplot
Maybe you have an allergy to parabens - the preservative used in Hyalofemme.
Here is the information of substances it contains:
Ingredients:
Principal component:
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HYDEAL-D® (hyaluronic acid derivative)
Other components:
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Propylene glycol
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Carbomer
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Methyl p-hydroxybenzoate
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Propyl p-hydroxybenzoate
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Sodium hydroxide
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Purified water
Contra indications:
allergic reaction on parabene
http://www.medintim-shop.de/out/media/Pb-Hyalofemme-en.pdf
I understand a proportion of people are allergic to these compounds.
Orthogynest pessaries contain benzoic acid (not sure if this is a parabens or not) but still might be worth a try.
Hurdity x
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Thank you Hurdity, I really appreciate your help. However I had the same acid burning sensation with the pre-loaded Replens and that is a paraben free vaginal moisturiser :-\ really baffling me.
I m carrying on with the Hyalofemme for the moment & sitting in a bath -but the first 10 minutes are horrible. Funnily enough after that its not so bad but I am getting a yellowy discharge (I remember getting that with the other vaginal products that have caused a sting).
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No experience of this myself yet (though I may ask the doc to try it) but what about the estring for oestrogen supply? and maybe sylk, YES, or even pure coconut oil to soothe the outside in the meantime? I hated Replens and it wasn't comfortable. Have had some success with coconut oil as a barrier cream if I attempt to go swimming and it's very soothing.
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No one has mentioned Sea Buckthorn capsules. I have no idea personally if they are as effective as they claim but have read alot recently that they are effective after a few weeks for VA. They are high dose 900mg per capsule. Obvously not available on nhs so probably quite costly. The ones I have read about are called Sibu Cellular Support SEa Buckthorn Oil £25.48.
Mods please delete this info if its not allowed!
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Me again, I was feeling slightly better for a week or so. I found a moisturiser I could use too. But middle of last week right sided pain which I think is the top of my vagina but maybe not (so hard to tell sometimes where the pain is) and really sore backache has come back.
I've made a doctors appointment for the 17th, I wanted to see the 'right' doctor so that's why i'm having to wait.
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How about bicarb of soda? Made into a paste and applied? Or put into the warm bath and swirled around, then sit in it for a while.
Grandma swore by it, also zinc and caster oil ::)
Also, laying naked for a while can help ease symptoms. Sometimes we have too many layers on and letting the air get to our personal places can help. Did you try the LIVE yoghurt? Laying on a thick warmed towel after application can be seen as 'me' time ;)
I wonder what you are allergic too? Could it be that you are very tight 'up there' so that any interference causes irritation which gets painful? I felt like it was barbed wire up there until I used pessaries and the name of course escapes me >:( ::)
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I've tried allsorts ;D
The discomfort comes & goes, and I feel it more when i'm sitting or if I lean forward. I am a little worried about this pain, I've gone from the wire brush feeling to something that feels more like stitch :( But before I panic myself too much I must remind myself I've had this pain before (a couple of times) and all was well (health anxiety kicking in a little). ho hum.
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Was just thinking about what your doc said about referred pain, which is what I've been told due to chronic back pain. I have now been diagnosed with Vulodynia. If you Google it then you may find out if any of the symptoms apply to you. I have same problem with allergy to the fillers they put into the creams and vagifem. It felt like I'd taken 20 espressos! now got cream from compounding lab here in Oz which is helping the VA but the referred pain is still there. As I was saying to another lady, have you tried seeing a Homeopath? Just a thought.
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Hi Rose, thank you for posting. I'm pleased to have met someone else with referred pain- not that i'm pleased you've got it...its awful :(
Today mine was so bad that I almost phoned the dr, but suddenly it lifted so I decided I will wait...I might see if I can get a closer appointment.
Funny thing is, i''ve had referred pain before in my Coccyx, it was my lower back that caused it not the coccyx but it took the dr a year (when I couldn't sit down) to realise.
Our bodies are odd.
I'm trying hard not to worry and keep my imagination in check.....I just never thought VA could cause this type of pain. I not able to see a homeopath, money is tight but thank you :)
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Did you see a programme on TV about pain? It spoke about how we react to pain and how referred pain is the brain's hyper sensitivity to pain. I asked my GP if my brain is more 'alert' to pain as I've had chronic pain for 10 years and he said that it was. I have had the nerves that are impinged, burned , so realistically I shouldn't have anymore pain but my brain has now retained the memory of the pain and so it just keeps ending pain signals. He gave me an example of an amputee who still feels the missing limb even to the point of feeling itch in the missing limb. Referred pain was something I wasn't expecting. I am sorry that Homeopaths are more expensive. In the rest of Europe, homeopathic medicine is cheaper than mainstream. Here in Oz we pay for all our medication and so going to alternative sources costs about the same.