Menopause Matters Forum
General Discussion => New Members => Topic started by: Jal on November 28, 2022, 07:38:36 PM
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Hi I'm new to the forum and I'm starting to feel a bit desperate. I was diagnosed with VA 2 years ago when I was experiencing a lot of soreness. I was prescribed ovestin which has helped a bit. My main issue is that I feel there are very few clothes I can comfortably well. I have adapted my wardrobe and last winter was wearing skirts and tights (only certain ones were ok). The va did seem to be getting worse though and I was in a lot of pain at times but this didn't seem to relate to what I was wearing. This winter the comfortable tights are now irritating me and I have no idea what I can wear in colder weather. This is particularly difficult as I like walking but I've found that I've been staying at home a lot rather than braving the irritation and pain. I have tried increasing the ovestin with no improvement and I can suffer from breast pain when I change the dose. I am seeing the gynaecologist this week but I am not hopeful that he'll be able to suggest anything which will improve things.
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How often R U inserting the 'ovestin'? It can be used every night, inside and out. For as long as until symptoms become comfortable. Sometimes I need to insert an extra dose mid-afternoon and when I get the need2P I take 'nurofen' 2 capsules 3 times a day.
Starting tonight, reload - 'ovestin' every night for at leat 2-3 weeks. Then reduce but you may require it more often than every 3rd or 5/6th nights.
Let us know how you get on.
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I use Vagifem internally and Ovestin externally and sometimes also internally every night. You can also ask for full HRT to use systemically as well as the local estrogens. These are the other options you need to ask your gynaecologist at your appointment, there is no need to suffer.
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I feel mine goes worse in winter because of clothing. Summer, long dresses and no knickers works perfectly but not in winter!! Hope it soon resolves for you xx
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Thank you for the replies and suggestions. I currently use ovestin every other night. I did increase to 4 times a week but it didn't seem to help. I also reloaded by using every night for 2 weeks earlier in the year but again this didn't help. I'm quite susceptible to side effects and worry when my breasts start to hurt with any increase or sometimes decrease in use. I also feel that the area becomes swollen if I increase too much. The gynaecologist said that he wouldn't advise using ovestin more than 2 or 3 times a week but I can discuss the reason for this when I see him and ask about increasing it and other treatment options.
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I use Vagifem and Ovestin, and moisturiser every day without any problems from my surgery. Side effects of the treatments are annoying if it stops you from increasing the dose but it's perfectly acceptable to use more VA treatment if necessary.
I also agree about winter clothing making matters worse with symptoms, I just have to wear tracksuit trousers and it will give me a flare up, but just whilst I am wearing them, I mainly wear long skirts when indoors.
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Don't bother with that Gynaecologist! doesn't know what he/she is talking about >:(
VA treatment can be used as often as is necessary. Ayesha has a good idea of using several types appropriately. Many find that this keeps symptoms under control. MayB ask for 'vagifem' for internal use - via a pessary - and keep the 'ovestin' for the outer area.
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Hi I'm new to the forum and I'm starting to feel a bit desperate. I was diagnosed with VA 2 years ago when I was experiencing a lot of soreness. I was prescribed ovestin which has helped a bit. My main issue is that I feel there are very few clothes I can comfortably well. I have adapted my wardrobe and last winter was wearing skirts and tights (only certain ones were ok). The va did seem to be getting worse though and I was in a lot of pain at times but this didn't seem to relate to what I was wearing. This winter the comfortable tights are now irritating me and I have no idea what I can wear in colder weather. This is particularly difficult as I like walking but I've found that I've been staying at home a lot rather than braving the irritation and pain. I have tried increasing the ovestin with no improvement and I can suffer from breast pain when I change the dose. I am seeing the gynaecologist this week but I am not hopeful that he'll be able to suggest anything which will improve things.
One member posted about Pamela Mann crotchless tights a while back which are 50 denier & may help re keeping warm. John Lewis did do 85% cotton winter tights with a cotton gusset which I find okay. I think that they still sell them called cotton rich tights.
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Thanks again everybody. Good to feel supported and I'm feeling more positive as a result. All the suggestions about treatment are helpful. It's difficult as the gynaecologist is the only health professional I've encountered who seems to understand the issue - I won't go into detail about how little other doctors and nurses seem to know. He's quite easy to talk to so armed with the info from here I'll hopefully make some progress when I see him tomorrow.
I'm also grateful for the suggestions about clothing. I already wear cotton tights - it's the seams that are the problem. I'll have a look at what the John Lewis ones are like and I'll definitely check out the crotchless ones that were mentioned.
Thank you again. It's good to know that there are women who can pass on all this knowledge gained from experience.
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Gynaes don't always know much about menopause. Sadly. However, this is the time to build a working relationship with your practitioner, mayB get a copy of 'me and my menopausal vagina' to hand over too.
Put that treatment up there as often as required, occasionally I need 'ovestin' mid afternoon as well as my evening dose.
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Unfortunately I think gynaecologist is only option in my area. I haven't been using ovestin on outer area so that might help. Thanks for your support and advice. Will look up the leaflet.
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Let us know how you get on.
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Thanks. I've looked up me and my menopausal vagina now. Looks like an interesting book.
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It is ;-).
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Well the appointment didn't go as I expected. The gynaecologist said that the ovestin seemed to be effective and the area looks OK. He suggested that the nerves may have been sensitised because of the issues before starting treatment. He's prescribed a tablet which might help and also has asked for a scan to see if there is an internal problem. I'll try the tablets and hope they work. I'm also wondering if I should try a moisturiser. Currently using hydromol which doesn't help much. Does anybody have any suggestions please?
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He's a Gynae :-\ ............ Which tablet? As well as or instead of ............
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Amitriptyline for nerve pain. It's as well as the ovestin. I do wonder if there's another issue going on. I get pain across my pelvis and in my back sometimes which started around the same time.
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You could try a moisturiser, I use balance active gel which I find helps on night's I'm not using Vagifem.
Let us know how u get on with the Amitryptiline, hope you soon get some relief xxx
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Amitriptyline for nerve pain. It's as well as the ovestin. I do wonder if there's another issue going on. I get pain across my pelvis and in my back sometimes which started around the same time.
You may find pelvic pain in Health Unlocked website may help you if it may be more than VA.
I already wear cotton tights - it's the seams that are the problem.
You may find wearing a thin panty liner helps with the seams. Tena do a light sensitive one with zero fragrance.
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Hello Jal and welcome to the forum.
I am fortunate that I haven't had this problem very often though I do experience symptoms when my HRT dose is very low.
When things were at their worst I used Yes VM moisturiser which you can order online. My friend isn't on HRT and uses their products?
For clothes I was wondering if good old fashioned stockings and suspenders would be worth a try? I don't think they make bloomers any more but French Knickers might be available. At one point I remember thinking about boy's/men's boxer shorts because they don't have seams in awkward places. Maybe trawl the internet and see what you can find out?
Take care and let us know how you get on.
K.
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Amitriptyline for nerve pain. It's as well as the ovestin. I do wonder if there's another issue going on. I get pain across my pelvis and in my back sometimes which started around the same time.
I would question why you have not been offered vagifem pessary to try it is a stronger and different oestrogen to ovestin and it sounds like (going back to your first post )that ovestin has not entirely been working for you for a while.
ie why amitriptyline & ovestin but not try vagifem ??
Have you been checked for any prolapse ?
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Thank you everybody for the recommendations and advice. I've joined health unlocked and looked at some of posts. Waiting to see if any replies to my query. I've tried a thin pad between two pairs of knickers - I seem to be ok with knickers as long as they don't have an open seam. The pad seemed to put too much pressure on the area. There was a small prolapse but that is much improved. Presume the gynaecologist didn't offer vagifem as he thought the area was "well oestrogenised".
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Or mayB he believed that you are using the as he thinks, the optimum dose of oestrogen?
Many use 'vagifem' internally as well as 'ovestin' on the outer labia; some also use moisturisers i.e. 'sylc' or 'yes' products. He's a gynaecologist ........
Why Amitriptyline?
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Amitriptyline for nerve pain.
All I can add for now is that I was given amitriptyline for vulva pain it did very little at various levels no wish to put you off as everyone is different. One gynae was honest enough to say that they don’t know so chuck amitriptyline at it ! It also can constipate you which is something you need to avoid with pelvic pain. Figs in your diet can help with that.
A pelvic physiotherapist may be able to give you an internal examination and another opinion to this gynaecologist if your scan comes up with nothing.
I asked about prolapse as it might explain your back pain ??
I would still ask to try vagifem though ahead of anything else. It may be oestrogenised but you are still in some pain.
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Thanks minusminnie. That's useful to know about the amitriptyline. I haven't even had the prescription filled yet as I'm reluctant to take it - I seem to get side effects with a lot of medication. I'm going to try moisturising and using the ovestin externally as well as internally to see if that helps first.
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Good idea. Let us know how you get on. The body doesn't get where it is suddenly, so it may take 3 months for the vagina to feel softer, less itchy and less painful. Don't stop!
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Hello again Jal.
A friend has a prolapse and she had a ring fitted as an outpatient. She was told never to be constipated presumably because any straining would dislodge the ring however the pain medication had constipation as a side effect so she was taking Fybrogel to keep things moving.
I haven't spoken to her for a while but I assume her prolapse is quite bad because she was told that she needs a hysterectomy but there would be a very long wait.
It may be that your doctor thinks that the area looks okay but if you are in pain and discomfort then clearly things are not right!
A consultant wrote in a letter to the hospital that I had been doing well on my HRT dose which is the opposite of what I told him and if I had been doing well I wouldn't have been taking to him in the first place!
I hope you get this sorted and I wish you well.
K.
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Thanks again. Will let you all know how I get on.
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Hi regarding comfortable pants that are like boxers or bloomers, someone on another forum recommended Step One women's bamboo boxers. I got one pair (they are expensive) and I really like them. I can even wear jeans for a few hours without making the irritation worse if I have them on underneath.
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The bamboo pants sound as if they're worth a try. Would be good to be able to wear jeans in this cold weather. Thanks