Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: moraira on June 23, 2021, 01:53:14 PM
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Hello, I am 73 and suffering with vaginal atrophy. Recent request to my G.P for Vagifem ended with me being prescribed Yes V.M to try first as he is reluctant to give me Vagifem as there could be a risk of dementia to older women using vaginal oestrogen. Are there any “mature” ladies of my age group who are being prescribed it? Thanks in advance
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Hello moraira, welcome to the Forum.
Risk of dementia from vaginal oestrogen? Never have I heard such b*ll*cks. Ask for the source of this information, or better still, see another doctor. I am 71, use Vagifem nightly, plus estriol cream on the vulva, and still have all my faculties.
JP x
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I am 70 and my GP was perfectly happy to prescribe Vagifem for as long and often as needed. Joaniepat said it right on the money. B.S.! There is a concern with older ladies taking SYSTEMIC HRT not local. Hope this addresses your concerns
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Hello Moraira, I'm so sorry you met with this response from your doctor & agree with Joaniepat that he seems to be misinformed. Vaginal oestrogens are very low dose and after the initial few weeks when the condition of the vaginal tissues has been improved & forms something of a barrier, very little gets into the system. It's said that a whole year's use of Vagifem at the recommended dosage equates to no more than one oral oestradiol tablet. It's a drop in the ocean, but can have very beneficial effects where we need it to work its magic.
As JP says I would go to another GP, but perhaps first ask a receptionist or practice nurse which doctor is most likely to be well informed & sympathetic about menopause issues.
There is much information about atrophy on this site & Newson Health's website is another great resource.
:welcomemm: And good luck.
Wx
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I have just been prescribed Vagifem x5 a week. I'm 69 next week! I had already had Estring in for years. I have also just been prescribed systemic low dose HRT. Quality of life and all that. Sounds like it's your doc who has dementia or selective memory! Go to it!
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Hi postmeno3
Can I ask which hrt you were prescribed, patches or gel?
Did you have to fight to get this on the NHS?
I'm currently being refused restarting hrt at age 63 even though I've only asked for the lowest dose of patches ☹️
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Hi. Patches. A menopause clinic will sort you out. Just insist on a referral. Mostly, it's the only way forward. Good luck!
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Suza P.S. Quote the NICE guidelines at them and, if still meeting resistance, approach Dr. Currie MBE (!) on here. At £30 a pop, it's the best and most influential thing I ever did. Info on the top pink bar here, under "Contact".
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Thanks postmeno
I've quoted the nice guidelines to them till the cows come home, with no effect☹️
Thanks for your help
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Hello moraira, welcome to the Forum.
Risk of dementia from vaginal oestrogen? Never have I heard such b*ll*cks. Ask for the source of this information, or better still, see another doctor. I am 71, use Vagifem nightly, plus estriol cream on the vulva, and still have all my faculties.
JP x
Hi JP
Thanks for your welcome to the forum and your comments.
It was good to hear you are of a similar age to me and still have all your faculties after using Vagifem!! I will be contacting the surgery tomorrow and hopefully will be able to see another Doctor who will be better informed about prescribing Vagifem. Thanks again you have made me feel a whole lot better reading your comments.
M.
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I am 70 and my GP was perfectly happy to prescribe Vagifem for as long and often as needed. Joaniepat said it right on the money. B.S.! There is a concern with older ladies taking SYSTEMIC HRT not local. Hope this addresses your concerns
Hi
Hi Whatsupwiththis,
Thanks for your reply, good to hear your GP has prescribed you Vagifem and hopefully I too will get it for as long and often as needed. I did stress I wasn’t asking for systemic HRT but it made no difference to him. Thanks again, your reply has certainly helped address my concerns.
M.
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Hello Moraira, I'm so sorry you met with this response from your doctor & agree with Joaniepat that he seems to be misinformed. Vaginal oestrogens are very low dose and after the initial few weeks when the condition of the vaginal tissues has been improved & forms something of a barrier, very little gets into the system. It's said that a whole year's use of Vagifem at the recommended dosage equates to no more than one oral oestradiol tablet. It's a drop in the ocean, but can have very beneficial effects where we need it to work its magic
As JP says I would go to another GP, but perhaps first ask a receptionist or practice nurse which doctor is most likely to be well informed & sympathetic about menopause issues.
There is much information about atrophy on this site & Newson Health's website is another great resource.
:welcomemm: And good luck.
Wx
Hi Wrensong,
Thanks for your welcome and reply, he does seem to be very misinformed or confused about prescribing Vagifem. Perhaps he should be reading this forum and Newson Health website to become aware of why women need and ask for HRT. I will be speaking to my GP surgery tomorrow and asking who is most sympathetic when dealing with menopause issues.
Thanks again,
M
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I have just been prescribed Vagifem x5 a week. I'm 69 next week! I had already had Estring in for years. I have also just been prescribed systemic low dose HRT. Quality of life and all that. Sounds like it's your doc who has dementia or selective memory! Go to it!
Hi Postmeno3,
I will certainly “go to it” after yours and all the other replies I have received!
What a lovely bunch of supportive and well informed ladies we have on this
forum. You have all made me feel so much better and determined to stand my ground and not be fobbed off by a not so well informed Doctor.
Thanks again Postmeno3 and Happy Birthday for next week !
M.
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Thank you. Keep us posted!
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I go to the top of our stairs >:(
Your GP is mis-informed. Your GP is probably watching costs?!?! but surely YesVM is cheaper over the counter than on prescription?
Quality of Life Girls, QofL! Ring the Surgery and tell them that you would like to have a prescription for 'vagifem' or 'ovestin' left 4 U to pick up ;). Let us know how you get on!
:welcomemm: there is actually no legal terminology for elderly ;)
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I go to the top of our stairs >:(
Your GP is mis-informed. Your GP is probably watching costs?!?! but surely YesVM is cheaper over the counter than on prescription?
Quality of Life Girls, QofL! Ring the Surgery and tell them that you would like to have a prescription for 'vagifem' or 'ovestin' left 4 U to pick up ;). Let us know how you get on!
:welcomemm: there is actually no legal terminology for elderly ;)
Hi CLKD,
Spoke to surgery today, one of the (nice) female Drs will give me call tomorrow, so fingers crossed she is more informed and a prescription will be given for Vagifem.
Thanks for your welcome to the forum and your advice which is a great support to newbies like myself.
M.
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Well done on persevering! :medal:
Sometimes we simply need someone to give us a :kick: in that we know what we know but need it verified. MayB have a note of what you need to discuss in the 'phone call?
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Finally got my Vagifem prescription from a very well informed Doctor! Thanks to everybody for their support.
M.
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🥳🥳🥳
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Yaaay moraira. Well done. I hope you soon feel very much better for it. :) Please don't hesitate to post again, there is always someone here to empathise, offer help & support. Would be great to know how you are in time if you feel like letting us know.
Wx
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Well done ! :great:
What instructions were advised for use? ?? Let us know how you get on ??
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Result! 👏👏👏
JP x
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Good job!
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Great news that you got it!
I’m 52 but I know what a massive difference Vagifem has made to my life. The atrophy was awful and I had pain in my lower abdomen/bladder that felt like barbed wire. It’s all stable now and I went to the colposcopy clinic yesterday and they even commented that everything look healthy and the treatment is working well. Without it I had awful problems.
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I couldn't have survived with VA treatment. 4 me it was like razor blades :o up there and even now, I get a warning if I'm low on oestrogen as my bladder begins to feel strange along with the bit below the belly button. Don't know what happens in that region of the bowel ..........
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I am 78 and using vagifem, your Dr needs to wise up,glad you have got it now though