Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Talli on March 06, 2024, 08:34:21 AM
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Hi everyone me again :-\
Ever since starting to use Vagifem every night (on advice from nurse) and adding in Ovestin every night (again on advice from nurse) my tummy has swollen a lot!
My trousers are tight and I feel horrible :(
I’m even losing weight although that could be cause I’m so damn scared that using the estrogen every night has given me ovarian cancer. Of course I read up on symptoms and I have them! Bloating, abdominal cramps, sharp pains and weight loss.
I’m so worried because I can’t do without the estrogen for the atrophy and bladder symptoms.
It went down when I did cut back on Vagifem so I’m fairly sure it’s causing it.
I’m just fed up of all the menopause stuff.
And freaking out that I have ovarian cancer which, I read, is the most lethal of all gynaecological cancers :o
Any words of help much appreciated ::)
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There is a CA125 blood test that a GP could do or I believe you can get done privately (others may know) that might reassure you.
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Hi there deep,breaths,it's highly unlikely to be ovarian cancer,vagifem gave me similar symptoms,bad stomach cramps etc,even though it's small dose oestrogen some people just get this side effect with it.
If you are REALLY worried (which I'm guessing you are) go back to the dr and ask for the specific blood test for the ovaries,this will put your mind at rest, if you tell her how stressed out you are about it,the dr should have no issues organising this for you x
Hi and thank you so much!
I have an app with meno nurse next Friday so I’ll mention it to her.
Honestly I just can’t handle all this meno stuff ??? I’m only 41!
I will ask for a blood test!
Thank you! X
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There is a CA125 blood test that a GP could do or I believe you can get done privately (others may know) that might reassure you.
Thank you, yes I’ll ask the menopause nurse about it when I go.
I’m so worried.
I’m also waiting for the results of a FIT cause as I had some (ahem) bleeding from one’s rear so I think I’m just obsessed that I have some kind of cancer at the moment.
:o
The belly notices so much as I’m not a big person and everytime I see it I think there’s something growing in there!
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I've also had an abnormal FIT test and something like 90% of positive tests are nothing to be worried about haha tell THAT to us meno ladies. Health anxiety is the pits and so many of us suffer from it. Please do let us know how you get on x
Ha ha yes!!! Oh I never believe the positive things I read only the awful life threatening ones!
My husband despairs of me 😂
I am so bad with my health anxiety, it jumps from one thing to another.
Haven’t even heard back about the FIT test and I dropped it in a week ago :/
I’m panicking that theyve lost it or something and all this waiting and stressing will be for nothing and ill have to do another one :o
I hate menopause!
Can I ask did you get a swollen tummy on Vagifem and Ovestin too? If that’s not too rude to ask? Xx
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I think its actually more than 90% that aren't actually the c word tbh. The 10% also includes polyps and things that can be easily removed before they become something. Only like 1-2% of abnormal fits are anything bad. Sooooooo many other things an abnormal fit can be, including internl or external piles, divertivulitis, ibd, polyps or absolutely nothing!
The CA125 blood test is a marker but also bear in mind it can be elevated for other reasons like fibroids, endometriosis etc. So don't panic about that one either. Your doctor should make clear to you that there are lots of reasons for elevated CA125 which is why its not considered a reliable diagnostic marker on its own, and is usually done with a transvaginal scan.
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I've also had an abnormal FIT test and something like 90% of positive tests are nothing to be worried about haha tell THAT to us meno ladies. Health anxiety is the pits and so many of us suffer from it. Please do let us know how you get on x
Ha ha yes!!! Oh I never believe the positive things I read only the awful life threatening ones!
My husband despairs of me 😂
I am so bad with my health anxiety, it jumps from one thing to another.
Haven’t even heard back about the FIT test and I dropped it in a week ago :/
I’m panicking that theyve lost it or something and all this waiting and stressing will be for nothing and ill have to do another one :o
I hate menopause!
Can I ask did you get a swollen tummy on Vagifem and Ovestin too? If that’s not too rude to ask? Xx
When my fit was positive, I had a call 2 days after handing it in! My husband, who had two negative ones, didn't hear a word and only found his negative results online (weeks later for one and months later for the other)! No news is good news, but you could phone your surgery to check and put your mind at rest.
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I think its actually more than 90% that aren't actually the c word tbh. The 10% also includes polyps and things that can be easily removed before they become something. Only like 1-2% of abnormal fits are anything bad. Sooooooo many other things an abnormal fit can be, including internl or external piles, divertivulitis, ibd, polyps or absolutely nothing!
The CA125 blood test is a marker but also bear in mind it can be elevated for other reasons like fibroids, endometriosis etc. So don't panic about that one either. Your doctor should make clear to you that there are lots of reasons for elevated CA125 which is why its not considered a reliable diagnostic marker on its own, and is usually done with a transvaginal scan.
Right! Thank you Penguin.
Honestly I’m a useless human being at the moment.
Panicking about everything!
I just wish this stupid swollen tummy would go away, it’s freaking me out!
The estrogen helps the atrophy and other bladder issues I have so much that I don’t want to stop taking it, I’d be in agony but if it’s causing something sinister than I guess I’ll have to? :(
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I think its actually more than 90% that aren't actually the c word tbh. The 10% also includes polyps and things that can be easily removed before they become something. Only like 1-2% of abnormal fits are anything bad. Sooooooo many other things an abnormal fit can be, including internl or external piles, divertivulitis, ibd, polyps or absolutely nothing!
The CA125 blood test is a marker but also bear in mind it can be elevated for other reasons like fibroids, endometriosis etc. So don't panic about that one either. Your doctor should make clear to you that there are lots of reasons for elevated CA125 which is why its not considered a reliable diagnostic marker on its own, and is usually done with a transvaginal scan.
Right! Thank you Penguin.
Honestly I’m a useless human being at the moment.
Panicking about everything!
I just wish this stupid swollen tummy would go away, it’s freaking me out!
The estrogen helps the atrophy and other bladder issues I have so much that I don’t want to stop taking it, I’d be in agony but if it’s causing something sinister than I guess I’ll have to? :(
If it was causing something sinister the swelling wouldn't come and go when you reduce or stop the medication, it'd be there persistently!
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I think its actually more than 90% that aren't actually the c word tbh. The 10% also includes polyps and things that can be easily removed before they become something. Only like 1-2% of abnormal fits are anything bad. Sooooooo many other things an abnormal fit can be, including internl or external piles, divertivulitis, ibd, polyps or absolutely nothing!
The CA125 blood test is a marker but also bear in mind it can be elevated for other reasons like fibroids, endometriosis etc. So don't panic about that one either. Your doctor should make clear to you that there are lots of reasons for elevated CA125 which is why its not considered a reliable diagnostic marker on its own, and is usually done with a transvaginal scan.
Right! Thank you Penguin.
Honestly I’m a useless human being at the moment.
Panicking about everything!
I just wish this stupid swollen tummy would go away, it’s freaking me out!
The estrogen helps the atrophy and other bladder issues I have so much that I don’t want to stop taking it, I’d be in agony but if it’s causing something sinister than I guess I’ll have to? :(
If it was causing something sinister the swelling wouldn't come and go when you reduce or stop the medication, it'd be there persistently!
That’s actually a really good point ::) Excuse me while I go and hide behind the sofa out of embarrassment for not thinking of that myself ha ha
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I had increased my vagifem and introduced ovestin and started with stabbing breast pain and had a small bleed. My GP was sure it was the increased dose and i had to stop the vagifem. I was like you. Worried I had cancer, worried about the atrophy symptoms returning. I had no symptoms once I stopped. I'm having a scan in 2 weeks and I've started introducing vagifem again. I was told to break for 4 weeks but I can feel dryness again so trying the odd one. I can sympathise, it's frightening but also frustrating when you thought you'd found something that helped
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I've also had an abnormal FIT test and something like 90% of positive tests are nothing to be worried about haha tell THAT to us meno ladies. Health anxiety is the pits and so many of us suffer from it. Please do let us know how you get on x
Ha ha yes!!! Oh I never believe the positive things I read only the awful life threatening ones!
My husband despairs of me 😂
I am so bad with my health anxiety, it jumps from one thing to another.
Haven’t even heard back about the FIT test and I dropped it in a week ago :/
I’m panicking that theyve lost it or something and all this waiting and stressing will be for nothing and ill have to do another one :o
I hate menopause!
Can I ask did you get a swollen tummy on Vagifem and Ovestin too? If that’s not too rude to ask? Xx
When my fit was positive, I had a call 2 days after handing it in! My husband, who had two negative ones, didn't hear a word and only found his negative results online (weeks later for one and months later for the other)! No news is good news, but you could phone your surgery to check and put your mind at rest.
Wow! That was quick! Maybe it’s ok then and they’re just not logging it?
I’m looking on my record online and there’s no mention even of me handing it in :( Lady at reception said that they don’t log it when someone hands in a test but they always do when I’ve sent of a urine sample to be cultured.
I’m so obsessive ha ha
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Jules - Thank you so much for your message.
I’ve tried stopping the Vagifem but all my bladder symptoms return when I do and it’s horrendous. I can’t pee even. I have a narrowed urethra and I’m sure the estrogen helps with that.
I’ve tried even doing one day on and one day off and it goes haywire,
I’m so scared and fed up.
I’m over this menopause thing haha
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Oh Talli
This is me you are talking about, I also started using Ovestin ( not Vagifem) 3/4 weeks ago and gradually started getting pains all over abdomen and bloating to the point I now have heartburn sore tummy, nausea, the works and I know the stress of symptoms just makes it even worse, I started to realise it began after a week of using Ovestin, but, oh gosh it had worked so well with the discomfort and bladder! I had exactly the same thing when I tried it back in August but just thought I had got myself too anxious about, and you’ll laugh, a poo test as I found blood too. Turned out was just a naughty pile because when they redid it to check a few weeks later there was nothing, completely clear.
I would also echo Penguin that even when I had a score of 15, which actually isn’t very high, the dr rang me straight away to get me to repeat it, my husbands was clear first time and heard nothing at all. However if they don’t appear do check as they did lose my results :-\ and I had to do yet another sample, however they were very fast sorting that one as they knew I was in a right state by then, once I had a clear result and had come off the ovestin all the tummy issues disappeared. Now I’m in the a similar state minus poo issue and having to worry about my va symptoms coming back, honestly it’s a wonder we’re not all carted off to the funny farm, I wish there was a pill with no side effects at all to treat health anxiety… sorry I was in cloud cuckoo land for a minute there ;)
Anyway just want to send hugs and solidarity and hope it helps to know you not alone.
Les
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There seems to be more and more ladies on here getting very similar symptoms, me included, when using local oestrogen.
I saw a GP last year about it and had the CA125 blood test, coeliac tests and a FIT as well.
All tests came back negative - I knew in the back of my mind that all would be ok but it didn't stop me freaking out while waiting for results. So sending big hugs.
Anyway, I persevered with the vagifem and ovestin hoping things would settle down. No luck, and about 6 weeks ago I stopped using both. Bloating, aching, discharge reduced dramatically. So much so that for a few days, I forgot all about it. My va symptoms are now returning but I have a GP appointment at the end of the month and am going to ask for Intrarosa to try.
As Lesred says - you are NOT alone and we WILL get through this with each others support.
XX
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Oh boy Lesred thank you for your message!
I feel so scared of everything!
My husband and my Mum both say there’s not one part of your body that hasn’t been checked but of course the tests were done years ago so I just think that something has grown since then ;D
But honestly this swollen tummy is really noticeable and the aches and stabbing pains are getting to me.
I’m not a big bodied person and it notices so much :(
I’m worried now that the estrogen is causing come kind of the big c and that’s what the bloating and pain is about. And I read that the symptoms of ovarian c are really vague.
I’ve had a blood test for it before but that was years ago before I was on local estrogen. I can’t seem to manage at all without using it every night.
It’s so hard!
A bit of good news though! I literally just checked my medical record and my FIT came back negative with no detectable human blood so I’m massively relieved about that!!!! :spin:
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I think its actually more than 90% that aren't actually the c word tbh. The 10% also includes polyps and things that can be easily removed before they become something. Only like 1-2% of abnormal fits are anything bad. Sooooooo many other things an abnormal fit can be, including internl or external piles, divertivulitis, ibd, polyps or absolutely nothing!
The CA125 blood test is a marker but also bear in mind it can be elevated for other reasons like fibroids, endometriosis etc. So don't panic about that one either. Your doctor should make clear to you that there are lots of reasons for elevated CA125 which is why its not considered a reliable diagnostic marker on its own, and is usually done with a transvaginal scan.
Right! Thank you Penguin.
Honestly I’m a useless human being at the moment.
Panicking about everything!
I just wish this stupid swollen tummy would go away, it’s freaking me out!
The estrogen helps the atrophy and other bladder issues I have so much that I don’t want to stop taking it, I’d be in agony but if it’s causing something sinister than I guess I’ll have to? :(
If it was causing something sinister the swelling wouldn't come and go when you reduce or stop the medication, it'd be there persistently!
That’s actually a really good point ::) Excuse me while I go and hide behind the sofa out of embarrassment for not thinking of that myself ha ha
Don't hide behind any sofas please, I only know all this because I have extreme health anxiety and went through both bowel and ovarian testing a couple of years ago myself. I panicked about those tests too and wished I'd had someone then who could put me straight! So many of us on here suffer with this type of anxiety and have been where you are! X
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There seems to be more and more ladies on here getting very similar symptoms, me included, when using local oestrogen.
I saw a GP last year about it and had the CA125 blood test, coeliac tests and a FIT as well.
All tests came back negative - I knew in the back of my mind that all would be ok but it didn't stop me freaking out while waiting for results. So sending big hugs.
Anyway, I persevered with the vagifem and ovestin hoping things would settle down. No luck, and about 6 weeks ago I stopped using both. Bloating, aching, discharge reduced dramatically. So much so that for a few days, I forgot all about it. My va symptoms are now returning but I have a GP appointment at the end of the month and am going to ask for Intrarosa to try.
As Lesred says - you are NOT alone and we WILL get through this with each others support.
XX
Thank you. To all of you. It’s comforting to know it’s not just me and the likelihood of it being something serious seems minimal listening to all of you :)
I just hate the worry. As I’m getting older I have horrendous health anxiety and as soon as something is off I immediately imagine the worst. I Google it that allways comes back with depressing results.
My anxiety is super high anyway.
At least my FIT came back negative so that’s one thing to tick off ::)
If I drop back on the Vagifem and Ovestin my VA symptoms are dreadful. Really dreadful. Even after stopping for just a couple of days.
I really don’t know what to do.
If the symptoms aren’t dangerous I’d carry on with it all because the VA symptoms are horrific. They’re only kept just about under control using the two types everyday.
It’s just the worry that using the oestrogen that much will cause something sinister to grow.
I’m a mess ha ha
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Thank you Penguin 💞
I’m sorry but I don’t know how to quote a reply and write one underneath like you have.
I feel like a mess. My health anxiety goes from one thing to another and I feel ill all the time. I have CFS and Fibro and have had really bad bladder problems for over 10 years and it all just feels like it’s getting on top of me.
And now this stupid bloating which I feel is getting worse although my husband doesn't seem to see a problem lol ::)
I’m sorry to clog up this forum with my whinging when so many of you are going through serious things :(
I just wish I could see things objectively. Thank you for listening to my insane ramblings haha
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Thank you Jaypo.
I’m such a silly head.
I will ask at my appointment next week about it.
I really hope she agrees cause she’s quite feisty the meno nurse at our surgery.
If she says no then it’s no if you know what I mean???
Really hope it isn’t anything serious!
But I will ‘try’ not to worry….yeah right ;D
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Vagifem is the equivalent of one pump of oestrogel A YEAR, this is why it's safe for women (like my mum) who've had oestrogen dominant breast cancer. You'd honestly get more oestrogen a year from your diet.
I'm not denying you are suffering, but I really really really wouldn't worry about oestrogen in vaginal pessaries and cancer. More likely it's the topsy turvey world of early peri, which I also went through with crazy swings of oestrogen (my own) and polyps (easily solved once diagnosed).
Have you had a scan? If your GP won't do one those baby scan places will do an endometrial scan for about £60, I use them all the time, they are very kind and helpful.
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Hi RebTJ, and thanks :)
I do take more than the twice weekly regime which is the amount they say is equal to one patch or does of systemic a year.
I take Vagifem every night and also Ovestin on the outside every night which is why I’m freaking out a little bit.
I expect it is all due to peri stuff but it does ebb and flow depending on whether I take the estrogen or not so I’m pretty sure it’s connected to that.
But who knows! Haha!
Where are the baby scan places you can scans done?
Can you just make an app?
I’m in Dorset if that helps?
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Ultrasound Direct is one place & looks like there is one in Poole.
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Hey
I hear you, it's hard not to worry as this whole meno thing can be a bit alarming and scary, but even every day is very tiny doses compared to the levels your own ovaries will be intermittently pumping out. In my mid to late forties my E levels were always well over a thousand, but I was also defo getting patches where it was obvious it had really dropped, I think this see saw can really kick in then. I can also feel that HRT I take now is 'irritating' my womb at different points in my cycle, I get a sticky out tummy just before I bleed.
Company I used was ultrasound direct - they do have branches in Dorset, but there are other companies. They are just private companies who mainly do scans for pregnant women or women trying to get pregnant but if you have a look they'll have 'endometrial scan' on their price list. My local one was lovely, really nice, and very careful with chaperones, protecting your dignity etc. With an endo scan, it's best to go just after your period. They'll do you a print out and a digital image (I then send these to my gynae). That said, when I had suspected polyp (heavy heavy periods) NHS sent me for a scan and I got that within a couple of weeks, I had a brilliant sonographer, she was a bit of a feminist and passionate about women's meno care!
Hope that helps
x
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Thank you to both of you!
Yes I think probably I’m just a freaky mess at the moment hahah!!
I will look into those companies!
Thanks!
I think I need to take everyone’s advice (including my husbands ha ha) and just relax!
I’ll mention it to the meno nurse next Friday and see what she says.
Thank you to everyone! Xxxx
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I was recently looking for an US provider. The reviews for ultrasound direct in my area weren't positive enough to risk wasting money so I contacted my local private hospital who needed a doctor referral. In the end my GP referred me via the nhs. I will have had a 5 weeks wait in the end which isn't as bad as I expected
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So little update,
I’ve completely cut out all local estrogen and belly still swollen :(
Have a HRT review Friday and GP surgery have said to mention it then rather then giving me a separate appointment.
I’m really panicking :-\
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Oh Talli
Really don’t panic, just remember menopause shoves so many awful, random symptoms at us constantly that it’s very hard to see the wood for the trees. You have had a clear FIT test which is excellent! Stress will definitely be playing a part, and if it’s any consolation I am having the return of horrid va symptoms but am nervous to use ovestin again, which I think is probably ridiculous as it surely can’t be causing digestive issues. I too have a gp appt this week and we can only hope that we both get some reassurance and decent advice.
Have you found any food that may be causing the bloated feeling? And is it still painful? How is your VA?
When my brain is chattering far too much my bowels and stomach go to pot quite quickly and hormones, well don’t get me started! It’s really really good you have an HRT appointment very soon and in the words of CLKD ( I need to do this myself!) write down everything you want to discuss.
Deep breaths … we’ll be worrying about something else in a few weeks ;)
Les x x
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Lesred - U took the words out of my hands ;-)
Take that list. Also, write down everything that passes your lips for 3-4 days. See what might be causing the belatedness which is awful.
How is your diet overall? Processed foods may have been OK until recent years, I've had to cut out most or I suffer slow transit. With associated heart burn and some bloating. Also keep up with hydration so that the kidneys don't struggle.
We have a thread somewhere about what we have diagnosed today so HA is common in peri-menopause ::). Which doesn't help in the early hours :-\.
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How long ago did you stop? I had increased my dose of vagifem to alternate nights and introduced nightly ovestin externally and 4 months after I had breast pain and very small bleed. I know people say it's harmless etc but there's no way of knowing how individual bodies react or how much they absorb things. I'm not suggesting you have anything sinister but I also don't think we can just accept that it's completely safe to use any estrogen. I can't take ibuprofen whereas others use it freely. I've introduced vagifem again twice weekly. I had made progress using both. I was prone to urinary symptoms but also vulval atrophy, something even less talked about and tge ovestin has certainly helped with that so if I have to stop I will be very upset. US scan on Monday so I'll know more then. I have no symptoms currently, no more bleeds, no pain, nothing. I agree that some days along with every other life problem, I could easily be carted off to the funny farm
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Thank you everyone.
I have recently gone cold Turkey on 2000mg a day of gabapentin for bladder pain which probably isn’t helping matters.
I went to the urgent care yesterday as I was a complete mess but they said they couldn’t do anything as it was an ongoing issue.
I’ve only been off the Vagifem and ovestin for about 9 days so perhaps it’s too early to tell?
I’m taking my husband to the hrt app for some moral support too.
It’s dosnt always feel bloated if you know what I mean but it looks bloated. Nurse at urgent care said she could see it was bloated.
I’ve also read that a CA125 blood test dosnt really mean anything and that you can still have c even if your numbers are normal which is sending me into more panic.
Why have it done then?
I am just falling apart.
I’m so sorry :(
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It is only a marketer, not a diagnostic. You need to have it done alongside a trans vaginal scan for it to have any real meaning. Read back on earlier comments on this post, I explained the other things that can cause a high ca125. Bloating could also mean digestion too, are you having regular bowel movements? Does it go down after you've had one and then bloat again once you've eaten. That would be more sluggish bowel.
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No it never goes down, it’s the same all the time.
I do have digestion issues, have done for years, but never had a swollen tummy like this.
Thank you for your message, I will ask if I can have a transvaginal scan along with the blood test.
I’m so sorry I’m such a wreck at the moment. I just don’t feel right.
I feel sick and yucky 🫣🤪
I’m on laxatives for constipation but since being on them it’s still been swollen. I just wish it would go away and I could relax.
Anyway! Others have a much worse time of it than me :)
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Laxitives should be used for 5 nights then stop. Otherwise the digestive tract begins to depend on them.
I suggest that U read through the responses here. Make notes ;-). It's difficult with HA to be logical.
VA treatment may take a couple of weeks to feel benefit, why do U think it's a problem? My belatedness is due to having eaten processed foods for years, now that I have cut most out, my bowels are a lot better and any bloatedness has gone.
MayB read the 'ovacom' website .........
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I think the time it takes us to get medical support and answers contributes to our anxiety. Prompt responses would help. More people are paying out of desperation
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I think the time it takes us to get medical support and answers contributes to our anxiety. Prompt responses would help. More people are paying out of desperation
Totally agree. The waiting makes the anxiety worse which often makes the symptoms worse!
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I think the time it takes us to get medical support and answers contributes to our anxiety. Prompt responses would help. More people are paying out of desperation
Definitely!
I’ve been asking about this stupid swollen thing for months and no one would even examine me and now I think it’s built up into something massive in my mind.
CLKD the laxatives were prescribed by GP to use everyday. Maybe she shouldn’t have done that? :-\
I’m hoping i can get a blood test (although I know it dosnt necessarily detect early grade c) and a US scan.
Gone back on a lower dose of gabapentin too for the bladder pain. I’ll see if that helps the HA.
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I think the time it takes us to get medical support and answers contributes to our anxiety. Prompt responses would help. More people are paying out of desperation
Definitely!
I’ve been asking about this stupid swollen thing for months and no one would even examine me and now I think it’s built up into something massive in my mind.
CLKD the laxatives were prescribed by GP to use everyday. Maybe she shouldn’t have done that? :-\
I’m hoping i can get a blood test (although I know it dosnt necessarily detect early grade c) and a US scan.
Gone back on a lower dose of gabapentin too for the bladder pain. I’ll see if that helps the HA.
If you have had this for months, then you 100% need to insist on an examination, not just a hrt review. Someone needs to feel your tummy and do a pelvic examination.
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I think the time it takes us to get medical support and answers contributes to our anxiety. Prompt responses would help. More people are paying out of desperation
Definitely!
I’ve been asking about this stupid swollen thing for months and no one would even examine me and now I think it’s built up into something massive in my mind.
CLKD the laxatives were prescribed by GP to use everyday. Maybe she shouldn’t have done that? :-\
I’m hoping i can get a blood test (although I know it dosnt necessarily detect early grade c) and a US scan.
Gone back on a lower dose of gabapentin too for the bladder pain. I’ll see if that helps the HA.
If you have had this for months, then you 100% need to insist on an examination, not just a hrt review. Someone needs to feel your tummy and do a pelvic examination.
I agree. That’s why I’m so freaked out about it. I’ve tried twice to talk to them about it but they keep fobbing me off.
Had it for about 5 months :-\
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Can you afford to pay privately for a scan? I think around 150?
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No I really can’t unfortunately.
I wish I could I really do.
:(
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So I think you need to call the surgery, ask them to put in writing that you've had this for 5 months and insist on seeing a GP. I mean really insist.
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I did call them and I did and e consult on Monday and they just replied “tell the nurse about it at your HRT review on Friday” to both things
They’re hopeless sometimes :-\
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If they don't do a pelvic exam at the review and are unwilling to do the ca125 test and refer you for a scan, then I'd get in contact with the practice manager and ask them to resolve it. Not even examining you is negligence imo.
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Talli I’m with Penguin on this, as much as the nurses are very helpful, you really need a GP to listen and check you I also agree that the waiting we are now subjected to adds to more anxiety making the situation way worse.
Gosh I remember when I could go online, see all the drs and available appointments and pick one without having to explain myself constantly on a form hoping I see the doctor I would most prefer. It’s horrible and you have my sympathy.
The only thing I would say, and I don’t know how it works with your surgery, but if the nurse can’t answer your query she then sends a text message through there and then for you to book an appt with a gp? Does yours work like that? If so it might at least finally get you an appointment with a gp, if a little longwinded.
Les x x
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It is Face2Face this Friday ? Then make a list to take with you and ask for advice directly if necessary push for a consultants appt..
When I go to the surgery I can get an appt within 2 weeks unless my problem is urgent. U may find that the Nurse is better than speaking to a receptionist because they are bound to protocol ::)
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I know at our private hospital you can pay for consultation in installments. It's ridiculous isn't it that you can't get help
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There seems to be more and more ladies on here getting very similar symptoms, me included, when using local oestrogen.
I saw a GP last year about it and had the CA125 blood test, coeliac tests and a FIT as well.
All tests came back negative - I knew in the back of my mind that all would be ok but it didn't stop me freaking out while waiting for results. So sending big hugs.
Anyway, I persevered with the vagifem and ovestin hoping things would settle down. No luck, and about 6 weeks ago I stopped using both. Bloating, aching, discharge reduced dramatically. So much so that for a few days, I forgot all about it. My va symptoms are now returning but I have a GP appointment at the end of the month and am going to ask for Intrarosa to try.
As Lesred says - you are NOT alone and we WILL get through this with each others support.
XX
I just read your post and am so relieved to find others getting bloating, pain and discharge from ovestin. All my same symptoms have worsened since starting using it for VA symptoms 4 days ago. But now, on top of that, my health anxiety is off the chart.
I’m going to see GP and ask for an examination though.