Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Annie0710 on May 03, 2015, 06:33:57 PM
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Are anal fissures a meno symptom?
It never occurred to me before but kind of stands to reason if I'm tearing vaginally each time I have intercourse, despite the vagifem and lubricant
It doesn't matter what my bowel situation is, regular/irregular, hard/soft, I'm tearing
I had these years ago after having my first baby and had to have the sphincter muscle cut
This has been happening a few months now non stop and I didn't even think to question whether it was menopause related. I took ex lax a few days ago but I'm still splitting :-(
Annie
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Annie that doesn't sound good.
It does seem to stand to reason though.
Things in that general area do seem to get dryer and more prone to damage.
Perhaps if you could rub Vitamin E oil or cream there that may promote healing, don't know....
Hopefully somebody who knows what they are talking about will be along soon
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Thanks Limpy
I definitely don't strain either, because of my sphincterotomy and prolapses
I'm just constantly torn down there :-(. I know it's probably a mm or less but it hurts like a paper cut
I'll get some anusol and if that doesn't help, I'll mention it to gp
Annie
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Anusol or a good hand cream, Savlon - regularly. Trouble is, when my areas get less painful, I forget ::)
If you can stretch the area before applying so that as far up the affected skin is softened, that will help healing from inside out.
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Thanks CLKD
I've got savlon so will have a go
Annie
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Hi sorry you are so uncomfortable, i have used presto gel it gives relief and helps repair fissure.
Maybe worth a go.
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Hi sorry you are so uncomfortable, i have used presto gel it gives relief and helps repair fissure.
Maybe worth a go.
Thankyou, is that prescription or OTC ?
Annie
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I bought online, you could google it.
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I think that you would get more relief from a pain relieving gel. It may only be available on prescription though. Info about fissures here http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Anal-fissure/Pages/Introduction.aspx I've found no link on the internet to menopause and they do seem to affect younger people - under 30 - more often. Have you had it checked out by your GP just to rule out anything else?
Taz x :hug:
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No, I haven't told doc, mainly because I've never been regular, it's not a daily occurrence, more maybe 2/3 weekly
I only really thought about it tonight as I think it was Wednesday or Thursday I took double dose ex lax after splitting then because I only went a little bit, despite the tummy ache urge, what I passed was measly considering the feeling to go, and I split, so it's taken that many days to kick in and work, yet I still split ?
I only pass tiny about of blood consistent with the splitting, so not worried about that, it's just the discomfort (pain) during passing then the discomfort whilst healing then it all starts again
I couldn't find anything menopause related either
I get why I suffered in my 20s, my sphincter suffered during my first birth but once I'd had it cut I didn't have problems again
I'll phone them next week
Thank you :-)
Annie
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Hi Annie,
Fybogel makes bowel movements easier at such times and Germoloid suppositories soothe and heal the area I find.
I think it is to do with thinner tissues (the same as VA) as we age. :(
Really hope you can feel better.
Jenna x
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Hi Annie,
Fybogel makes bowel movements easier at such times and Germoloid suppositories soothe and heal the area I find.
I think it is to do with thinner tissues (the same as VA) as we age. :(
Really hope you can feel better.
Jenna x
Hi Jenna
That was my thought, about the thinning, but couldn't find anything on the net about it
Prior to this phase of constipation, I'd suffered the opposite, and it stung when passing motions and it started about the same time as VA
Annie
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I suffer every few months, I find that suppositories with hydrocortisone in them do the trick, also use hemoclin but the suppositories are almost instant .Such a pain - literally ,
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Thanks Winterose
I'll phone the surgery when I've finished work Wednesday
Annie
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The trick is to continue with treatment to keep the skin as supple as possible.
Get the Nurse/GP to check there isn't a hair follicle involved as that can take some sorting! because of the bacteria in that area ………..
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I used to get a sore bum before I got my hrt, due to the bad ibs, which has come back a bit, but not as bad as before.
Anal fissueres sound painful, ouch, hope you get better soon.
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I'm getting the feeling to go again ......
Problem is I haven't healed from last night !
Annie
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Lots of cream to ease the skin! Then a warm bath after. More cream.
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Advice needed - during bout of serious thrush I had a sore, uncomfortable feeling around anus and it looked very red an inflamed. Ttoday a small amount of blood was on tissue after wiping. Am telling myself it must be a tear as according to nhs website you do still have a desire to open bowels with anal fissure. But, as anybody who has read my posts will know, I have mega health anxiety and obviously am thinking bowel cancer. Can't get to doc still tomorrow!
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Could it be piles ?
My experience of fissures is a tiny smearing of blood on the tissue (I'm talking a smearing much like wiping a blood test pin prick)
Hope you get your answers
I had the most frightening episode of constipation last week, no lead up, bowels were normal last Wednesday then I got sudden urge Friday before bed so went, couldn't pass it and it was bulging between vagina and anus, OH shouted asking if I'd fell down the loo so had to explain, I gave up in the end I was too sore (I never strain)
Went and took laxatives and went to bed with the horrible feeling I still needed to go
Got up Saturday, OH was on an all day/very late night golf do by mini bus and remaining son at home was a friends all weekend so home alone I got the sudden urge again, and still couldn't go, it was obvious by now that it was way too large to pass
Had to google, most were saying go A&E, terrible thoughts were running through my head, the pain I was in and the embarrassment
I came across a great post explaining how to do the manual evacuation that the docs would do, and luckily I had the tools for the job without leaving home, so every time I got the urge I did helped it, I felt totally battered and bruised and can't explain the pain but got there in the end, I don't understand why it's happened, I'm eating fruit and veg and drink plenty but I've not opened my bowels again since Sunday
Annie xx
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Have you tried Fibogel. I find it great for regulating things and its gentle rather than purging.
Maybe a visit to your GP might be an idea.
Hope you manage to go soon as its very uncomfortable.
Honeyb
x
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It's my day off work today Honeybun so will go buy some, im not good at taking liquid medical things but really don't want a repeat episode so will definitely take some
Thank you xx
Annie xx
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It's really not that unpleasant.
Let us know how you are :hug:
Honeyb
x
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You poor girl , I feel for you - literally.
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One of my kids used to get a small fissure when he was a baby - nothing worked until someone suggested Vaseline on/just inside the bum. It worked a treat - I think it was a kind of poo lubricant and everything just kind of flew out rather than any friction being involved.
TMI? I'll get me coat...
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No not TMI, if nobody ever gave the right information is not have survived last Saturday
Sparkle, that's what happened to me only I had the bath afterwards, I was alone and really panicking, I can only liken the pain to labour but I swear it hurt more ! I was convinced, even after my DIY manual (and I really do mean manual = gloves/Vaseline/dog poo bags) that I must've suffered internal damage , Sunday I went normally but I assume it was the result of the laxatives but haven't been since, no urge, nothing
OH got home 1am and after I explained he felt sad I was alone but said if it ever happened again he would know how to deal with it
Annie xx
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If you are having problems with hard stools, you need a stool softener. The cheapest lactulose (very farty) Laxido and movicol are more expensive, but effective and gentle. They hold on to water, so you need to drink plenty (no need to go overboard though!)
My daughter was given lactulose and glycerine suppositories for a fissure as a child. Glycerine suppositories are the best thing for removing hard stuff from the bowels. They break it down and provide a bit of lubrication making them pass easily. I think they make your bum sting though, but they have their place. Savlon does help ;)
If you are passing dry, hard stools, fibogel is not the best thing. If your transit time is slow, the contents of your intestine dry out in the colon, where fluid is reabsorbed and slow your intestines down. Things like fibogel dry out and add to the blockage. Same for things like bran. The sort of fibre in fruit and veg and porridge is better.
Stimulant laxatives just push the dry stuff along and hurt (senna, ducosate) :-\ I nearly fainted on the loo in the middle of the night with ducosate (the one that gives 'gentle overnight relief!')
Kiwi fruits are full of fibre and I have heard that they have an 'enzyme' in them which stimulates the bowels. If you have one for breakfast every day, you will get regular soft stools. 2 will shift anything. (Give me a sore throat though, due to oral allergy ::) )
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Thanks Dahliagirl. My GP gave me Colpermin peppermint capsules and Motillium to swallow within 1 hour of eating main meals. After 3 days I felt a different person, the treatment saved my Life. My bowel had stopped doing the proper spasm so wasn't passing anything …… and I felt so bloated :beaurk:.
Fibogel double :sick02: …….. ;D I by-passed the middle woman and shook the packets into our compost ::). Senna doesn't work my bowel either. However, drinking Acimel x 3/4 daily made a HUGE difference to my bowel content and I really noticed when we were away from home/fridge and I didn't drink any. I took that for years until about 18 months ago when I went 'off' it completely :-X
I found that Granola (Lizie's) worked wonders, a small bowl each morning for breakfast and my bowels have been OK …… fortunately I've never suffered a fissure but have seen patients with them :o
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I don't think I've been worrying , as I passed a stool the next day with no problems, my BM have been all over the place in recent months, loose one time, hard the next, I've been taking pro20 biotics for @3 years now with no problems, even have written on here how I don't get IBS anymore and now I've tempted fate !
I might have a very quiet word with a pharmacist for advice, I'm actually embarrassed to go see gp about anything now as I think they're fed up with me moaning about menopsuse when they say there's nothing they can do for me, they referred me to a Gynae and I'm not joking I think he had his speech ready for when I walked in there saying there's nothing but they can do, I'm 48, menopausal , already on hrt and basically I'm just aging before my time
i can't eat kiwi (exotic fruit allergy) otherwise I would've definitely tried that as I loved them
Annie xx
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Pharmacists have private rooms these days. Let us know how you get on!
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OMG - I used to despair at my MIL going on about her bowel movements, and here we are... it catches up with all of us.
I sympathise with those of you that are bunged up - I have the opposite problem, as a result of four months on citalopram. Was going to go to GPs about continual loose stools [every day at same time, regular as clockwork! never used to have any regularity!] so am thinking of going tomorrow to put my mind at rest about the blood this morning. It was only a tiny speck and was bright red, and I have had piles in the past [still have them I suppose, they just haven't come out!!]. But, like Annie I think my GP is fed up with me as I have been to see her once last week [was told it was anxiety] and once this week [she actually examined me and confirmed thrush].
My logical head says it is piles or anal fissure bleed, but my health anxiety is running away with me..
So, should I go, or should I stay?? [Can't remember who sang that...] I have to make emergency appt at 8am, or probably wait until middle of next week. And what if my doctor isn't there and it is a man?!
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OK Girls - anyone with bleeding piles (can't remember the actual thread, sorry so doing a hi-jack): get a bottle of food colouring, preferably red: drop 1 tiny amount, from a height, into a pint of cold water and see how it spreads. That's what happens when a small amount of blood from the vagina/piles hits the water in the toilet bowl ;).
Nature can be painful at times >:( - if I find the 'right' thread I'll move this to it however :-\
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Thanks - that made me laugh! I have read the thread on bleeding piles and found wonderful advice from Greenfields [I think] which suggests waiting a week as probably my blood was due to cut or piles caused by thrush irritation or the diarrhea caused by the thrush treatment.
It's great being a woman!
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I use herbal drops to regulate the IBS runs.
They work a treat.
Honeybun
X
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Can you tell me more about those drops Honeybun?
My CBT must be working as I am able to deal with the worry - a bit of 'OMG, I'm probably dying' but more 'of bugger, another little irritating health thing - I'll work through it'.
Actually read a Jeffrey Archer book today - couldn't put it down, and I'm usually a total literary snob...
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Oh I love a bit of Jeffrey Archer ::)
The drops are from Vogel and called Tormentil. 20 drops in a little water sometimes makes the difference between getting out in the morning....and not.
They are anti spasmodic and stop the IBS runs wonderfully.
I was prescribed them by Jan de Vries. He practises not far from me....he used to be on This Morning every week and he is very good.
Much better and more natural than Immodium.
You can get them online. They do last for a while.
Honeybun
X
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Actually read a Jeffrey Archer book today - couldn't put it down, and I'm usually a total literary snob...
Don't like the JA person one little bit, and haven't read one of his books for ages.
However, as I remember it, he does write a gripping book.
I just don't like admitting it.........
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Oh go on Limpy, you know you want to. ;D
I started the Clifton Chronicles intending to read just one. I'm four in now and although I hate to admit it....I really enjoyed them.
Honeybun
X
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OK Girls - anyone with bleeding piles (can't remember the actual thread, sorry so doing a hi-jack): get a bottle of food colouring, preferably red: drop 1 tiny amount, from a height, into a pint of cold water and see how it spreads. That's what happens when a small amount of blood from the vagina/piles hits the water in the toilet bowl ;).
Nature can be painful at times >:( - if I find the 'right' thread I'll move this to it however :-\
It's all the same topic, don't worry x
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It was book 2 of the Clifton Chronicles Honeybun! I am trying to resist getting the next straight away!
We should start a book club thread.
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OK ladies - Just downloaded Only Time Will tell onto my Kindle.
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:thankyou: did anyone try the cochineal into a jug of water ?
As for reading, I re-bumped the book thread this week ……
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:lol:
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I have to admit to binge reading today - gave in and downloaded book 3 last night...
I actually think Jeffrey fits well into this thread... I think he would be pleased to have penetrated this far into our membership. If you see what I mean.
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:o ::)
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I actually think Jeffrey fits well into this thread... I think he would be pleased to have penetrated this far into our membership.
I think you may be right ;D
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Any improvement?
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I think I must have an anxious bowel/bladder. I used to have a wonderfully strong bladder, never get it or bowels a thought. But for last 3/4 weeks, since bout of thrush, I feel I need to wee all the time - like a constant pressure in my bladder. I also often feel I need to open bowels, but that is regular as clockwork once a day. TMI, I know. Am going to docs tomorrow and fully expect to be told it is anxiety, and am prepared to accept that if I don't think about it, it goes away [I think].
But was not anxious this morning until I thought about bladder, then it started... Isn't the power of the mind wonderful? I know my health anxiety is a problem [am imagining either bowel or ovarian cancer or bladder cancer] and know that if I am 'cleared' of this problem I will find something else to obsess about.
OMG - have turned into my mother in law. Fully expect raise of eyebrows from GP and to be told I have wind and an anxious bladder.
Any other health obsessives like to share/commiserate/give me stern words/make me laugh??
BUT - I think my piles have retreated!! They were so last month...
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When peri first hit me 3 years ago I had massive health anxiety, I couldn't believe hormones could give me so many health problems, and we're convinced I had something awful, I don't follow up half of what I suffer anymore as everything is always put down to nenopause at our surgery, and worse still, they say there's nothing they can do, it's only optician/dental appts that are throwing up concerns
Although symptoms may not ease the health anxiety probably will for you, I never think nowadays I have a life threatening condition but do often wonder if there's something they haven't checked ie thyroid or autoimmune
Annie xx
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Thanks Annie, I think I just feel so pathetic bothering the doctor. But this bladder issue started suddenly and out of the blue. Thought it was thrush but despite discharge swab came back normal. My health anxiety goes into overdrive without an answer - although I just go from one worry to another. Used to be teeth, but that has given way to bladder/bowel. Just wondering what next!?
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I used to have a lot of thrush and cystitis before I used Vagifem. I ended up at out of hours doc once with symptoms of cystitis but my sample was clear. She was a lovely lady doctor and she explained that just as the vagina gets dry and sore so does the urethra and it is not that your bladder is full but the discomfort from the dryness in the urethra makes you feel as though you want to pass water. She gave me some estriol cream to use externally as well as the Vagifem and now whenever I get that feeling I rub some in and around the area and by the morning it has eased. Don't know if that could help.
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Thanks Babyjane - but I take oestrogen already so I assumed VA symptoms wouldn't hit. I don't really have dryness issues, but it is one of the things I awake going to mention to doctor.
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Just remember that if it matters to you then it matters. Hope your doctor listens to you. I am seeing mine on Thursday and keep thinking I ought to cancel because it seems so trivial. Then I remember that it matters so I shall go. Good luck with yours.
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Yes always get your concerns verified. I've been on oestrogen 16 years yet I developed VA last autumn and went Easter time as I was sick of continuous bladder infections, since starting vagifem I've been clear since
Annie xx
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Rebel - it could be vaginal atrophy so ask for treatment.
'taking' oestrogen is different to applying it where it matters ;) - repeated 'urine infections' is often the start of VA but GPs don't seem to associate it with symptoms ::) - fortunately mine did + treatment = relief ;)
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Any improvements?
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Any improvements?
Who for CLKD ?x
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>wave< anyone listening ;D
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>wave< anyone listening ;D
Lol
Well my BM are still um....... Infrequent and the wrong size !
Annie xx
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Are anal fissures a meno symptom?
It never occurred to me before but kind of stands to reason if I'm tearing vaginally each time I have intercourse, despite the vagifem and lubricant
It doesn't matter what my bowel situation is, regular/irregular, hard/soft, I'm tearing
I had these years ago after having my first baby and had to have the sphincter muscle cut
This has been happening a few months now non stop and I didn't even think to question whether it was menopause related. I took ex lax a few days ago but I'm still splitting :-(
Annie
Annie make an appt with GP he/she will be able to see FROM THE OUTSIDE
Whats happening u can say u dont want an internal front wise if u dont want one
My hubbie and I have relations with Vagifem 90% Im fine but 10% its sore for a few
In outs then if its a we bit too long I dry up@my bottom hurts? I had epesi in birth
TO ALL THE LADIES whos husband may too be suffering from lOU not as hard4
So sex is also hard for him he can do it but not well IM HAPPY AND PROUD
MY BOBBLES went to see a GP VIAGRAS a BLAST heeheh IM proud of hubbie
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CLKD - it appears mine was all anxiety/AB related. I didn't even go back to doctors to get test results as I suddenly felt well again. I phoned eventually and results were all clear.
So am trying to enjoy my health anxiety 'holiday'! Not thinking it won't ever come back, just not thinking about it. Haven't gone to CBT as don't even want to talk about it as that just makes it worse I think.
Long may this break last! And thanks for your support.
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That's good! What did you do Rebelyell, that was 'different' to the previous 3 months or so?
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Absolutely nothing! Really can't think of anything. Weird.
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Well done Rebybell
SuzieQ - I'm not as bad as I was, and any discomfort anally isn't causing me any problems so I would say there's improvement
I'm having to use lube for sex, OH says I use too much but the amount he suggests would leave me sore but he is saying he's slipping about lol, we need to find the right amount for both of us !
I've got in a middle what days to use vagifem and think I've missed more times that actually used them so now I'm doing it on the days I change the patch so I don't forget
Annie xx
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I have to write stuff down otherwise I forget after a couple of hours, so on the calendar in the bathroom are BMs as well as when I insert the VA treatment ::). Fortunately we never have visitors ;)
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I actually think I missed a couple of weeks !
No wonder the problems started up again
Annie xx