Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: jessieblue on March 16, 2017, 12:12:43 PM
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Hi Ladies, I have some YES VM that I ordered to try and help with my thrush/irritation/VA or whatever it is I have going on down there. I also tried multigyn actigel but it stung a bit when I was a little sore. During the last episode of what I assume was thrush which seemed to come on after a few days of using ovestin cream, I treated eventually with flucinazole tablet and the symptoms resolved. I haveny used the ovestin since as afraid I get thrush again. I have taken 3 flucinazole tablets in 4 months and a bit worried I am taking them too often. Havent had thrush for years before this. So I am trying the YES VM and it seems ok and to bring relief. The trouble is it is just a tube with no applicator so I am not sure if I am to just smear it around the outside bits, rather than internally. The leaflet gives instructions for the little applicators but I dont have these just a tube of gel. I need to go back and see the doctor about HRT or vagifem to try instead of the ovestin but have been putting it off as was reasonably comfy down there for a couple of weeks. Last 2 days a feel a little sore again. Not too much but a tiny scratchy feeling. When I looked there are three tiny little spot like things on the labia one side so maybe this is causing it|? Its not too red or swollen, I hope not another thrush bout coming! Should I use the YES daily or every few days at first? TIA
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Sorry I can't comment on the Yes stuff but wanted to say it is not a good idea to use the oral thrush tablets too often, as they can effect the liver.
I suspect you do have VA starting, as when I first got it I kept being fobbed off by older female doctor telling me it was thrush!
I would go and get some Vagifem started asap.
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If you're getting thrush more it may be because your vaginal pH has changed as a result of dropping oestrogen levels. As Tinkerbell says, you might want to take this as an early warning of VA and get vagifem from your GP. The point of the (stingy) multi gyn is also to get your vaginal pH to the right level which stops thrush, BV, etc taking a hold. I think it might sting anyway, but it certainly feels worse if your skin is damaged through lack of oestrogen.
Gosh that feels like a lecture - it isn't meant to, sorry! If there is one thing I didn't want to become expert in it's this.
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jessieblue, mine started in about Nov, feeling sore etc, I'd never had a problem before. These lovely ladies (ancient runner - you never lecture!) offered lots of advice and I went to the docs and was prescribed Vagifem. It's done the job internally though I have to use it every other day. I continued to have ups and downs with all being sore around the outside of the vaginal entrance and tried a number of different moisturisers and specific washes to try to alleviate the problem.
I've found I'm reactive to all I've tried and after the latest blip a few weeks ago I cut everything out apart from the Vagifem. I am now completely comfortable with no external irritation. Whilst I really didn't like the idea of not using any sort of soap or wash, I now turn the shower head onto a soft spray and use that just washing externally with my fingers.
The Yes VM comes in two formats, tube or individual applications. For internal use if you have the tube you'd probably just apply internally with your fingers. It'll all move around once you start moving anyway. I didn't buy the filled applicators in case I reacted to it. :o
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Aw thank you Elizabethrose!
Good point about washing too - no soap on anything pink! ;D
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Most gyneas / vulva dermos recommend Dermol 500 for washing the nether regions re VA it is very good .
Big container lasts along time.
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Hi ladies
I'm on vagifem but my exterior has started recently. I love my Dove shower gel but I've stopped using it on there as I think it irritated me suddenly. So far been washing with Yes vaginal wash - is that ok ? X
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Annie - if it works for you then continue as necessary ;). I am lucky in that nothing except dryness affects my nethers, when necessary I apply KY Jelly to the outer lips. VA treatment keeps it comfy otherwise. It really is Trial and Error! Bugga ....... <goes away muttering>
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Good question Annie but the answer will probably be different for all of us! It's a minefield isn't it?
I reacted really badly :o to the Yes WB and had a long conversation with a customer service assistant there. She advised that some women react to the sodium benzoate in the product and that they also use it in the vaginal wash. She therefore advised me not to try the wash. The preservative is not present in the vaginal moisturiser so I bought that.
I used it for a couple of weeks alongside the Lactacyd wash and all seemed more comfortable until the blip in Paris. I may try introducing the Yes VM again to see if it'll be ok but thought that given I'm so comfortable at the moment that I should leave it a few weeks.
I used a pure white vegetable soap for about 30 years with no problems, that irritates terribly now, Apparently there has been no change to the manufacturing ingredients, I spoke to the maker. Have you tried using nothing for a while? x
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The dermo said what we have used for years , we can for no reason become sensitive to it and its constant trial and error , but for me dermol 500 you can get it on prescription.
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'simple' products can be useful too. As we age our bodies alter :(
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Good question Annie but the answer will probably be different for all of us! It's a minefield isn't it?
I reacted really badly :o to the Yes WB and had a long conversation with a customer service assistant there. She advised that some women react to the sodium benzoate in the product and that they also use it in the vaginal wash. She therefore advised me not to try the wash. The preservative is not present in the vaginal moisturiser so I bought that.
I used it for a couple of weeks alongside the Lactacyd wash and all seemed more comfortable until the blip in Paris. I may try introducing the Yes VM again to see if it'll be ok but thought that given I'm so comfortable at the moment that I should leave it a few weeks.
I used a pure white vegetable soap for about 30 years with no problems, that irritates terribly now, Apparently there has been no change to the manufacturing ingredients, I spoke to the maker. Have you tried using nothing for a while? x
I'm still sore using Yes VW and YES VM plus my vagifem. I'm wondering whether I need oestrogen cream outside along with my vagifem inside. Sylk stopped working too x
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You might well need that Annie - I used to do that when I had my Estring which is a 50mcg a week dose (so roughly 5x vagifem). Or, have you reloaded recently? xx
Bloody fannies. Or not. You know what I mean...
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I'm telling you I had no idea what problems menopause creates, I'm sick of moaning about my doodah to other half lol
I'm going to have to ask doc to try me on some ovestin x
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Me too. GRRRRRRR.
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Ohhh I love you all!! ;D You made me chuckle with some of your comments....."my doodah"...I will never call it anything else from now on!! ::) Thank you. I think the YES vm makes me feel quite nice. It stings a tiny bit at first but thats ok. Maybe I should persevere with the Actigel too then. I mean if it might rebalance things. Im just paranoid about infections....either uti or thrush. I panic a bit if something causes discomfort! Not using any ovestin at the mo but wondered if rubbing some in on the outside might help a bit ans still get absorbed into the area without causing the irritation on my inner labia. Anyone tried that? Damn sinsitive stupid lady bits!! Whe I think what I used to do with it.....!! :P
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If we didn't laugh we'd cry x
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Haha Annie, your doodah made me laugh too! ;D
Maryjane I may give the Dermol 500 a try. I've got the biggest collection of barely used products here, in fact gave some of the vaginal lubricants to my daughter, can't bear waste! The Lactacyd really was very comfortable to use, probably used it for longer than two weeks. It didn't sting but I felt too dry after the shower, almost over washed(?). Who knows?! Either way I can reintroduce the Lactacyd and Yes VM one at a time and see if just one or both were the most recent culprits.
Oh to have a normal fanny again!
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Elizabethrose I looked at Lactacyd when I saw it in Boots intending to buy as you were saying good things about it, and it had either Sodium Laurel or Laureth Sulphate in it so I put it back.
I can never remember which is which so now tend to avoid both anywhere near the nether regions as one is a known irritant.
(Note to self - find out which one is which!)
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I'm seeing the well woman nurse today at 3pm to hopefully get some ovestin to try alongside vagifem
My little one yr old granddaughter has a bout of nappy rash and each nappy change she scratches like mad down there, I said to her yesterday "you and me both darling, nanny feels like that each night I get in bed!" X
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Now that's the problem isn't it ancient runner?! The list of ingredients in these products is massive and how on earth are you to identify which ingredient or ingredients will upset you?
After the vegetable soap I'd used for years, I tried a number of things. Some made me leap immediately, the Vagisil brought tears to my eyes!! The Lactacyd felt comfortable and soothing, I even bought another bottle which remains unopened. My gynae friend who gave it to me has used it for years. Think I'll have to give the new bottle to her to use!
I have a similar problem at the other end. My face is reactive too. especially my eyes since the start of peri. I remember contacting Clinique and being put through the mill regarding ingredients. They actually said 'Well, which ingredient are you reacting too?' The list of ingredients was exceptionally long, mostly unpronounceable, and I responded by saying 'how on earth could anyone ever work that out?' Actually they were hopeless, they will always refund you if you react to a product but beyond that they really avoid helping. I spoke at length to a head office team in the States.
jessieblue, despite the docs testing for an infection that may have been causing discomfort (it came back all clear), when I had a later blip I bought a Canestan testing kit: despite expecting otherwise that too was all clear. I truly haven't been as comfortable in ages since stopping everything aside from the Vagifem.
Annie how did you get on at the docs? x
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Hi Elizabethrose
I got on ok thanks. Someone had put on my notes that I'm sensitive to oestrogen cream so at first she refused ovestin (plus had never heard of it so had to look it up) but after convincing her that someone had literally made that up and I've never been given oestrogen cream before she prescribed it plus was excited that she'd learnt something new. I'm allergic to so much so someone must've assumed I'd be allergic to oestrogen cream
Now, my packaging refers to internal use but I need it for external, how much and how often I don't know ? Do you know ? X
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Specialist I saw ( Mr Panay ) said a thumb nail amount 4 days a week properly massaged in , or every day a little less.
I am going to The Mona Lisa Touch done.
Re Vaginal atrophy/bladder / sensitive skin etc . 😊
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Thanks Maryjane
I read up about treatment after you posted somewhere else. That looks very promising, do you mind me asking how much it costs ? Would that be the end of applying pessaries and creams down there or would you still need some help ? Reviews did look blimming encouraging x
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Annie....its comforting to know your medical staff were so well briefed! LOL ;)
Maryjane, I had a free consult with the local specialist about Mona Lisa Touch. I am considering it but I guess I want to be sure I have atrophy and not infections and reactions to the creams. It sounds very promising and he said painless with pretty much no discomfort after.
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I was shocked but she's lovely and quite new so she was excited she'd learnt something new. I think she finds me interesting because of everything hrt-wise I've tried and tested and welcomes my feedback for her other patients. I can only assume all the other patients are just putting up with symptoms as testosterone it seems had never been prescribed at the practice to women before me. I live in quite a large town and my surgery is in the 'ahem' rough part of it so maybe they really are sailing through it or just not realising the options available x
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Jessiblue itnis used for skin / bladder irritation also.
It's not completely painless no , but manageable.
Ask the amount he has done etc etc I asked about 15 questions.
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I can imagine how much you've researched ( and rightly so in these circumstances) and every page I clicked on supported what you've mentioned. You deserve this, I'm relatively new to VA but I can only imagine how debilitating it gets after a certain length of time x
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VA like I have it is hard , I am tired , and fed up from it .....I don't really post how it effects me as I try and help others but it really has four years in day in day out.
So if this works I shall be on the ten o'clock news , in the flipping daily fail if necessary to let ladies no there is HOPE....as for me I am coming to the end of the road with treatments.
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I'm crossing everything for you MJ x
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Sorry for my tardy response ladies, been away.
Annie I was going to say that Maryjane was the best person to advise re the dosage and application but she got there before me! Hopefully you're already experiencing some improvement. x
Maryjane, you are such a kindly soul. Despite desperately trying to manage your ghastly symptoms, you find time to support others here. Thank you from all of us!! :foryou: Hopefully you'll find success and enormous relief with the Mona Lisa Touch . x
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I too am crossing everything for Maryjane. Not legs though as it all hurts :(
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Oh blimey ancient runner, not that they'll remove your pain but it sounds like you need some of these too :foryou: Hope it eases for you x
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Aw when I wrote about crossing everything I nearly said apart from my legs
ElizabethRose is right though, Maryjane is offering advice when suffering herself so badly
I collected my ovestin Friday and started immediately on the outside going by Maryjanes advice and I thought it was just positive thinking but seriously this is feeling better already ! I haven't felt the need to scratch like mad and only had a few times where it's felt sore. I'm so grateful to you all for helping me. Xxxxx
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Thanks , I'm fine really just a one off moan 👻
I have booked The Mona Lisa Touch😳 Have my poor vagina zapped and lazered 🙈they really didn't warn us did they, I have a lot of ladies I chat to like me who are waiting on batted breath re TMLT.
My GP has ladies who vaginas have stuck together through atrophy ☹️ so scary.
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Oh best of luck Maryjane! I hope you get significant improvement and thank you so much for sharing on here. You are very kind to offer help to us whilst struggling yourself so much. We appreciate it immenseley. Please let us know how the procedure goes and how you improve. I am sending love and positivity for you. When is the appointment? I feel a little excited that this may be worth trying and maybe getting something like this before I get any worse is a good idea? Things have become so uncomfortable very quickly which scares me. 6 months ago I had a normal vagina! So I am feeling vulnerable as I know it will only deteriorate with time and if I cannot tolerate topical oestrogen may have to go the HRT systemic route but I have never tolerated medicines well and the pill made me feel nauseous and tired. I look forward to following your treatment. :)
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jessieblue - try not to worry about your intolerance to other medications. Biodentical hormonal replacement is that: giving a lady as close to her biological hormonal make up as possible. The important issue is to keep the vaginal area as moist as possible, all day, every day. It felt like razor blades up there for me :'( but my GP was on the ball and prescribed treatment. >phew<. I never hesitated on this one though I'm a wuzz about trying new medications in case of nausea side effects >sigh<
Maryjane - Good Luck! :tulips2:
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After going through the complexity of the case...i highly recommend you to consult your physician or specialist in this case to avoid future complications
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Bane - menopause and finding something that suits each one of us really can be Trial and Error and many of us have no support at all from the medics we have to deal with :-\ ......