Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Ljp on June 25, 2017, 08:54:24 AM
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Hi,
Post menopausal 3 years,HRT 18 months Mirena coil, estring and oestrogel, was 2.5 pumps,now 1.5.… prior to that, just estriol cream for bladder for 6 months, but post meno bleed, led to hysteroscopy and current HRT regime.
All was good for first year, one 'thrush'? Attack on holiday last September, and again in a March this year when on holiday in lakes (used two lots of canesten) wasn't using estring for approx 6 months wanted to see a f oestrogel 2.5 pumps and vesicare tablets would be enough to help bladder, which they were before bad attack in March.
Still don't really know if it was thrush or VA flare up, saw GP had swab taken, clear, (but had of course used two lots of canesten so probably should be clear then anyway)… now back using estring, but not really been feeling right in that area since March, off and on soreness, burning, which leads to irritation… tried vagisan internally and externally, now on advice from lovely ladies n here, trying actigel, internally and externally, yesterday hardly any discomfort, today feeling minor soreness and a bit itchy.
I'm so fed up with this, not knowing what to do what to try, WHY have I got it?? … feels like a penance, I suffered recurrent thrush from teens to mid twenties when I was taking the BC pill, occasional thrush since then too.
My sex drive has never been great, and I feel crap about it as my husband has a high sex drive, so many times I've found myself 'pleasing' him.… since meno has hit, things have become even worse, odd times I feel ok about it, but mostly I could live without it to be honest.
Now this VA thing, bladder issues making me have to visit the loo lots, not as bad since taking vesicare. But WHY soreness, WHY irritation (prickly feeling)..... I'm using estring, I'm using oestrogel, I'm using bloody vaginal moisturisers, now using actigel too!
How many years will all this torment me for, is there ever a solution?… just to feel normal in my lady parts would be so good!
I have a husband asking for sex, when I have a fanny on fire 🔥 and I'm just feeling so crap and despondent. He is understanding, so he says, but years ago we saw relationship counsellor to try and help my lack of libido and negative feelings regarding sex, and came to agreement two intimate sessions a week, took pressure off him asking/wanting 3/4/5 a week! But in all honest, 2 a month would be ample for me, with no strings attached cuddles at other times. Impossible!
Sorry for rant, just feeling stuck in a nightmare I can't find a solution too, or relief from.
Seeing GP Thursday to ask for estriole cream for external use, mentioned it on my last visit and she said she didn't know if it was safe to use t as well as estring and would find out. I called surgery to say I was coming in to discuss it and could the ensure my GP was aware befor my visit.
I don't want to have to use all this hormone treatment, I do worry about potential risks, but I feel stuck in an impossible situation due to bladder and VA at least I presume it's VA and not the she rearing it's got head due to HRT, as said previously, I suffered it recurrently when I was on the pill years ago.
Thank you for reading, feeling worthless as a woman 😟😟
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:bighug:
Sorry I have no words of wisdom for this but couldn't just read without responding.
You are most certainly not worthless.
Mrs Brown
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Ljp please give him my article to read , it's for the men to understand.
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What article Maryjane? Where do I find it?
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https://www.facebook.com/menopausedoesmatter/posts/1077233109042802
Page 12.
I did an interview piece for this forum , and it is in the menopause magazine matters magazine.
You will realise you aren't alone , I have been asked to write another article for another menopause site.
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Can be found other ways but not sure how if you don't have FB, think you can find it via this site also.
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You are on the same as me MaryJane, when do you start your monalisa treatment? And where are you going for it?
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You shouldn't have to suffer! Read the various threads here on VA and make notes. Take to your GP! or send Dr Currie a personal message which will cost £25.00 for advice.
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I am looking for info on using estring AND having estriole cream for use externally as and when required, but not having much luck. I would like to be able to show my GP that it is something other women use on the advice of their doctors or gynaecologists
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If you put 'estring' into the search button several threads will pop up ;) you can then make notes.
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I use the esteing and estriol cream , as per gynae however GP has always thus far been happy to prescribe all , she has been on a HRT course and said you can basically use as much local oestrogen as is necessary, plus I use the systemic.
Also a lot of medications are open to movement re the mimms book , just HRT has got this constant lead weight.
Antidepressants aren't innocent with there potential side effects no drugs are.
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Rarely is a medication a 'cure'. They ease symptoms and in many cases, save lives. I take ADs and whilst they help enormously, they aren't without making me feel 'hung over' sometimes ::)
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Thanks Maryjane, my GP has been very good too, I think she just wanted to read up to make sure it was safe to use two different oestrogens
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I have to use 3 pumps of Estrogel, Vagifem every day and Ovestin cream about 4 times a week to keep my VA under control, anything less and I start to suffer.
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Thank you Tinkerbell, what progesterone of you use? Can I ask how old you are and how long you e been on HRT?
I am trying to reduce my oestrogel currently using 1.5 pumps, was on 2.5, I wonder if that will affect my VA though?
I just worry about using too much oestrogen if not necessary
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VA is treated totally differently to other HRT medications. It's a different area so treated 'lcoally'. Do read the various threads about vaginal atrophy on here!
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Thanks CLKD but from what I have read it definitely seems a lot of VA sufferers need both local and systemic oestrogen
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Yep - it is fairly common to need both as your oestrogen level drops.
Taz x
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Ljp.....54, two years post meno.
Started Estrogel 10 months ago, but have been using topical estrogen for about 4 years now. I have a Mirena for the progesterone element.
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I did try to drop to two pumps of Estrogel but the VA starts to flare up, really can't manage with less than three.
What are your worries over using more Estrogel, if you don't mind me asking?
VA makes me so miserable, effects every area of my life, so am happy to throw every thing at it!
Got a mini flare up at the moment...I think the heat of last week made the Estrogel dry before I absorbed it properly...well my theory anyway!
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As tinkerbell , live for now no one knows what's round the corner , I no of ladies who have been on local oestrogen for years.
Believe me when VA takes hold it's the devils own work.
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Thank you tinkerbell and maryjane,
Regarding my hesitation to use more oestrogel, I'm worried about too much oestrogen and breast cancer scares, and effects on uterus lining, don't want to end up having more bleeds.
Plus doesn't more oestrogen cause jitteriness?
I'm still learning, and the VA soreness/burning/irritation is all new since March this year, prior to that it was predominantly bladder related, frequency and urgency.
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It's local so the up-take risk is very low otherwise I wouldn't be allowed to use Ovestin, however, Quality of Life is far more important than worrying about a repeat of breast disease - that bus might be along later ::)