Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Peripurple on August 03, 2018, 06:58:44 AM
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Hi all,
I am looking for some advice, I am 42 years old and suffered with VA for 2 years, although only started treatment in November last year once VA was diagnosed. I recently changed from Femoston 2/10 to femseven sequi, and after much trial and error my VA has been fairly well managed by using Vagifem every other day, Sylk moisturiser and Actigel when required. Unfortunately the Vagifem has not helped mu urinary problems and was changed to estriol cream 0.01% so this would also treat outside as well as internally.
After just one use of the cream I am having a terrible flare up of my VA, and don't know if this is a coincidence but as I go on holiday in 2 weeks am not willing to continue, and will switch back to Vagifem. I just wondered if anyone else experienced this using the cream, also should start a 2 week reload with the Vagifem to try and get the flare up under control. Any advice is appreciated, I had a flare up whilst I was on holiday last year and it definitely takes the edge off the enjoyment, I also become pretty obsessed with trying to sort it out, and drive my husband mad :'(
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Do a two week reload of the Vagifem and up the maintenance dose, I need to use it every day.
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I will, thanks tinkerbell
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Hi Emma, I have the same response to the creams! I am not sure if its VA or thrush though so usually give up and use thrush tablet as well. I tried oestridiol and ovestin with the same result. 2 weeks ago, I gave the ovestin another try, very tiny amount put around the outside along with some canesten in case of thrush and I put it gently around the urethra, as I have mainly bladder issues and UTIs. I immediately felt a burning up into the urethra and over the next few days developed what looked like a uti with lots white cells but no bacteria on culture. I still think it was related to the ovestin. Previously I have had bright red scarlett coloured labia and vagina from using not even the full dose. Again not sure if inflammation or thrush but usually I treat for thrush. Now I started with Oestrogel systemically instead and after a week of only a small dose and applying around the top of my thighgs I have a really bad flare up of thrush/VA?inflammation....idk what the hell it is but it really hurts. I sympathise with you because it is not something you can ignore. Its life changeing to have all these issues and since developing this stuff I can barely go out due to worry and depression about it. Men dont really understand. I wonder how they would feel if it was their privates that were on fire all the time. I hope the vagifem works for you, I am too scared to try mine! Have a great holiday too. xx
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Jessie....my named GP, I now avoid him and see a more sympathetic GP, wouldn't let me have have anymore Vagifem for three months as he said I had exceeded my quota! I told him that perhaps he could imagine he had sunburnt his testicles and maybe he could begin to imagine what VA felt like.
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I couldn't use the local oestrogen creams - they made me burn horribly - I think it's the filler so the cream.
Emmapurple - in your place I would just use Vagifen more often. Sadly once the bladder stops working so well, I don't think anything will bring it back to what it was before meno but Vagifem can stop things getting worse.
Avoid all irritants like caffiene, fruit juices and alcohol. DG x
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Some are sensitive to the fillers or packaging of these products. There should be a yellow card system to fill in but I've never been offered one ::).
Don't use a thrush capsule unless you have thrush! It can cause more problems [it made me burn which meant an hour in a cool bath!] and you won't know what is working. It can be diagnosed by knowledge, i.e. I know if I have it as I itch very high up :o, constantly; and a swab can confirm. Thrush thrives on sugars and lives in the back passage so toilet hygiene is essential otherwise it gets passed into the vaginal area .......... Who Designed Ladies Thus :beat:.
Some ladies require VA treatment nightly as it is a lower dose than years ago.
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:lol: :madeyes: :rofl: and offer him this one Tinkerbell: :bbq:
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Thank you so much for the replies everyone, it just helps to know you are not the only one experiencing this. I am going to speak to my gp about using the Vagifem daily, I don't think I can bring myself to try the cream again.
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Do you have any in-date Vagifem to hand, if so, use it now and another dose at bed time, after about 6-7 hours.
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Re the 'thrush' comments, I have just read an article the said women on HRT are more prone to thrush. Perhaps you have this as well as VA?
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Wonder why as thrush thrives on sugars ....... when it gets cooler, can you tell us more?
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It's on the BBC news website under health.
Chronic virginal thrush 'like torture'. Or something like that.
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I think it's this one ??
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-45030024
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Think so.
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Quoting from Uni of Manchester : not mention of who financed this -
Most cases occur in women aged 25 to 34, but a growing female population using hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) - to alleviate menopause symptoms and improve sexual experience - is thought to be behind the rise in the numbers affected.
Men can and do get thrush! as both partners should be treated at the same time.
Nothing at all in the article to back this. Dates. Papers. etc. ::). - off to do a search ;-)
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Onwards: good old GOOGLE ;D
Dr Riina Rautemaa-Richardson, lead researcher and clinician -
"Senior Lecturer in Infectious Diseases and Medical Education and Consultant in Medical Mycology at the University Hospital of South Manchester
Director of the Masters in Medical Mycology Programme
Topic co-lead for Undergraduate Infectious Diseases Learning
Biography
I am a Consultant Medical Mycologist at the University Hospital of South Manchester and a Senior Lecturer in Infectious Diseases and Medical Education in the Institute of Inflammation and Repair, University of Manchester. I am a member of the UHSM Infectious Diseases team and associated with the National Aspergillosis Centre, and I have expertise in medical microbiology, medical mycology, infectious diseases, antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention as well as mucosal immunology and oral and vaginal health and disease. I have a special interest in chronic mucosal candidosis and expertise in the management of a spectrum of other mycoses including fungal sinusitis and skin infections in compromised patients.
My research group undertakes basic research (genomics, pathogenesis and mechanisms of antimicrobial drug resistance and carcinogenicity of microbial acetaldehyde production), applied laboratory work (models of pathogenesis, molecular diagnostics, antifungal resistance testing, pharmacology of new antimicrobials), and clinical studies (antimicrobial resistance, tissue responses to chronic mucosal infection and acetaldehyde exposure). My main emphasis is on the pathogenesis of chronic mucosal infections as well as the carcinogenicity and mutagenicity of chronic Candida infections. To date I has published a total of over 100 peer-reviewed articles and books or book chapters in the field of medical microbiology, mucosal immunology, infectious diseases and oral medicine. I am also the Programme Director for the University of Manchester MSc in Medical Mycology and an enthusiastic educationalist.
Qualifications
DDS, PhD, FRCPath, PGCertMedEd
Memberships of committees and professional bodies
Royal College of Pathologists, European Society for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, International Society for Human and Animal Mycology, American Society for Microbiology, Association of Clinical Oral Microbiology, British Society for Medical Mycology
Good job that the Press didn't target this then: "the carcinogenicity and mutagenicity of chronic Candida infections" ::).
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Reading the article it states that it is un-known whether LIVE yoghurt helps. Well it does. 4 me. ;) It cleanses the gut from top to bottom and helps replace bad bacteria as well as encouraging good flora. Eaten and applied .......... ;)
Sorry I can't go to any articles but have my own experience going back 20 years now as well as having talked to others that have used yoghurt. Honey is a good healer too but I don't prescribe that on my nethers ;D
I've never been asked to take part in any trials relating to womens' health nor discussed this with my GP but wonder why HRT should encourage thrush. Hopefully Dr Rautermaa-Richardson will follow up her thoughts on this.
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Perhaps, and this is just a guess, it is because HRT replaces hormones which would otherwise be absent, and it is these hormones that increase suceptability to thrush. That could be why the prime age is up to mid thirties as that is when these hormones would naturally be at their peak.
As I say just a guess. I am sure someone will put me right, if so.
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I wonder then, how many ladies have thrush at those ages without being on HRT :-\. Certainly my 1st attack of thrush was 10ish days after stopping The Pill, I remember the itching high up but not how quickly it began ::), nor do I remember the name of the pessaries but I do remember being told not to scratch "However much you want to". Now I have to work out how old I was which may take some time ........ ;D
Could it be the fillers/packaging that aggravates the condition rather than the product?
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I certainly had thrush a few times in my twenties and thirties but not since then. Have not been on the pill, except for the mini pill for one month. My GP insisted I give it a try but I forgot to take it twice. I dicided at that rate I'd end up with baby no. 3 so opted for sterilisation.
Happy days. ::)
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I think it must have been the fillers, although still very irritated it is not as itchy and I am taking the Vagifem daily, hopefully will improve soon.
unfortunately it makes me so stressed I think this just exacerbates the flare up more It's like one feeds into the other. Does anyone else they find they ruminate on the symptoms, I just constantly think about it :(
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Could be the hot weather is not helping. Sometimes a combination of things create a perfect storm. It will go eventually though so try and distract yourself in the meantime.
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I ruminate. When well my brain is quiet but any anxiety and it takes off :-\ :'( picks up a thread and runs with it. >:(
Keep on with the treatment!!
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Thank you CLKD.