Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Other Health Discussion => Topic started by: mazzy on August 18, 2014, 07:10:22 PM
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Hi ladies
A few weeks ago, I had what I thought was a water infection and was getting a burning sensation. My GP did a water test and decided to do my bloods to check my sugars. These came back all clear but I was still very sore. When I collected my routine prescription from the chemist, I discussed my symptoms with the pharmacist, who said it could be Thrush and as I was not seeing my GP for another week decided to buy some thrush treatment to rule it out. This did not clear it either.
I saw the GP today and after an internal examination he said that it could be caused by dryness, as I am now 3 years into the Menopause. To be honest I was a little surprised by this as I still have an active sex life and have no problems there.
He said that a low dose HRT cream should sort it out and I may only need it short term. The cream he gave me was Gynest Cream. I have never wanted to have HRT but I suppose if it is only short term it will be ok. My only worry is after reading the information leaflet with the cream, there seems more down sides that up.
Has anyone else used this cream? and had few or no problems with it
Mazzy
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Have a look-see in the menus left of screen. The dosage uptake is low and once it works and you feel relief ……….. you'll wonder why you worried ;)
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Thanks CLKD :thankyou:
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So you decided .......... what ??? ....... let us know how you get on!
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Mazzy
I'm afraid I must welcome you to 'The Burning Club'. REgular sex is not going to prevent Vaginal Atrophy. We will all get VA but not everyone gets severe symptoms - many women are given constant antibiotics by GPs when there is no actual infection - this is really bad. Local oestrogen is far safer and will hopefully help the underlying problem.
I did a thread some time ago titled The Burning Club and it is amazing how many women suffer with this. After about 6 months of using local oestrogen my burning is a lot better. Still get some burning but it's much better. Don't worry about the scares in the leaflet as it's the same info as you get with full systemic HRT - very little oestrogen is absorbed through the body so the risks are truly tiny. I'm afraid using local oestrogen for a short time rarely clears it up for the long term - most of us will be using local oestrogen for the rest of our lives or the dreadful burning and discomfort will return.
While I was on HRT I still had this discomfort on and off and none of the doctors I saw in London gave me local oestrogen - they claimed the full HRt should be helping this vaginal atrophy symptom. When I came off full HRT last autumn the burning got really bad - I had antibiotics and eventually a cystoscopy to investigate the bladder but nothing cleared it.
I moved to the Suffolk coast and got a different GP surgery, they seem better informed and said I should have had local oestrogen as well as HRT. I am actually using the Estring (a latex ring that you insert into the vagina and releases oestrogen slowly over 3 months and then you change it), I am finding this great as all the fillers that the other preparations have - Vagifem, Gynest and Ovestin - irritated and made me very uncomfortable. I hope I will be allowed to use this in the long term.
I do hope the cream you have been given helps - don't be scared about any risks.
Your may find some vaginal gel like Hyalofemme or Multi Gyn Actigel(get these on the internet) helps to maintain a healthy balance and sooths around the vaginal area as well. DG x
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After reading up on the help pages, decided to give Gynest a go. Inserted it about 10pm lastnight and everything seemed ok. I was a bit worried about using something new, as I tend to have sensitive skin and react to a lot of things.
All seemed normal this morning but as the day went on, I started to feel just as if I was having a period and losing blood. when I went to the toilet I found that I was having a greenish brown discharge. Is this normal and will it settle down?
I must admit that I have not been so sore today but I don't like the feeling of losing something as its 4 years now since I have had a period. The GP has told me to insert it every night for 2 weeks, then twice a week.
Might look at the other gels Dancinggirl. I don't think that I would get on with a latex ring, I had a contraception cap and found that uncomfortable to use. Will carry on with this cream for a while and see how I go.
Mazzy
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Carry on with the treatment. The coloured discharge could be a 1-off or you need to speak with the GP.
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Hi Mazzy - I've used Gynest cream and got the delightful greenish/brownish whatever discharge. It did settle down and the burning thrush like sensation went quite quickly.
Gynest has a very low concentration of hormones (0.01%) so side effects should be minimal, don't think I got any apart from the discharge.
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I use Gynest cream I had odd symptoms for the first 2/3 weeks including severe stomach ache. I use it every other day. It is fabulous I rave about it, I am so much more comfortable. Ignore odd symptoms for the first 2/3 weeks is my advice. I started using it about 3/4 months ago its fabulous stuff.
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Mazzy are you sure this isn't an infection of some kind? Did they give you any broad spectrum antibiotics? It just sounds like it came out of the blue and greenish discharge sounds a lot like it could be :-\
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Hi Annika
I dont think that it was caused by an infection as my Sister had a similar discharge when she started using Vagifem. The soreness seems to be settling down now a little bit although I do have a bit of stinging sensation when I insert the Gynest, hope this this will settle too.
mazzy
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Mazzy stinking DOES settle its caused due to your lack of osetrogen down below. Gynest then becomes lovely and soothing. I think it lasted 10-14 days with me a while but its fascinate I am so comfortable :)
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Thanks Ellie. Will be nice just to be comfortable again :)
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Stinging even …………… :-X
Quality of Life is important!
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well in London meno clinics now (Kings anyhow) they do suggest vagifem, so at least it's got better! I don't know about your cream, but I had period aches and some discharge when I first started using vagifem.
VA is just part of being an old sheep and it seems, unavoidable unless you're lucky.
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The last couple of days I have experienced a feeling of bloating and tummy ache. Is this a side effect of the Gynest? or just me
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Yes I had a bit of stomach for first two/three weeks soon went. It was nothing to worry about. :)