Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Postmenopause => Topic started by: Snowcat on August 07, 2025, 08:41:03 PM
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Sorry guys - it’s me again! I know I keep on about this - maybe it’s my ‘need to know’ which I realise is often realistic but this happened to me and I wondered if any of you might have a clue why?
Ok, so yesterday I had a really good day - no pain for the first time in nearly 3 months. I was thrilled! Even cleaned the lounge and kitchen in my excitement At feeling normal again! I used a little Ovestin first thing mixed with a tiny amount of YES VM and then used a little more of the YES VM whenever I went to the loo. I thought I’d cracked it! Put estriol cream on as usual at bedtime, slight stinging as usual but that soon wore off - slept well - woke up a couple of times for the loo - still no pain - bliss! Finally I thought it’s all starting to work!
So, woke up today, still ok, had a shower, put on a tiny amount of estriol cream and some YES VM - felt a little uncomfortable but still able to tidy the home office (you must all think my home was dreadful by now lol! Just that my husband’s idea of cleaning isn’t the same as mine and my mother’s coming to visit! 😂) Anyway, took a short drive to local pharmacy then came back. This evening I felt a little sore so I put some YES VM on after a pre, and then the soreness really escalated 😫 and it’s been really painful since (that’s 5 hours now) and just in the place where I put the moisturiser.
So, why would it help yesterday and hinder today? Or is it too much estriol cream? (I use it every night and a tiny amount every morning after a shower - only on the outside bits as I use vagifem internally). I’m so confused - wish I’d not put the YES on this evening now - maybe the estriol is enough after all.
Thank you all.
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Oh dear, Snowcat, it's so difficult for you, isn't it. I was hoping you'd have another good day today. I do wonder if something specific causes your flare up. I can't use Yes as it burns me. Could it be a build up of it? Were you wearing a skirt, could it be all your activity? I find mine is often worse after a busy day & I know that in the past applying a moisturiser that has helped in the past will suddenly cause pain when I apply it. But like you I don't know if it's just what my body is doing or what I've applied. It's so hard to know because we don't know the cause.
I wish there was a simple answer but it seems impossible to pinpoint the cause most of the time.
Let's hope tomorrow will be better again xxxx
(I'm replying to your pm in the morning btw).
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Hello again! I was having another good day until about 5pm so suppose I shouldn’t moan but it’s soooo disappointing (as you know only too well!) I’ve only Been able to wear skirts or dresses since this started. I can’t even look at my jeans without shuddering lol!
I think it’s more likely the short drive than the housework to be honest - that’s when I first noticed a niggle. I use a donut cushion which is better than nothing but only just! No idea why but even though I position myself carefully over the hole it still seems to feel sore! Can’t work it out but I’ll keep trying to find a way as I have to drive to my medical appointments!
It could be too much moisturiser - before I thought it wasn’t enough! 🙈 you can’t win sometimes but I’m definitely going to try to stick to the estriol cream only for a bit as the moisturisers just don’t seem to agree with me and I’ve tried long enough I think. It can’t be right to be in so much pain you need oramorph 5 hours after using it surely? Yet I know it’s not an allergy as I do patch tests and I don’t have a particularly sensitive skin. If you discount the Rosacea! and YES is supposed to be one of the least likely to cause a problem being on prescription too, but as you say, we don’t really know what we’re dealing with most of the time!
Hope you have one of your better days tomorrow too.
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Snowcat, I've just seen this thread. I'm really sorry to hear you're struggling soooooo much. Forgive me if you've previously answered this question but have you seen a menopause specialist yet?
It's really awful that we have to suffer like this..... this is 2025 not 1925.
Hope you find some relief soon....you too MrsMitch x
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Hi. I’m under gynaecology but not a menopause specialist as such. We don’t have them on the island where I live unfortunately…
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Gynaes worry me. Hopefully yours is good but mine was useless (I think I mentioned that a few 1000 times 😆).
Would they not refer you to one on the main land? That said, mines never even looked at my bits (not that I want her to) but she's treating me based on solely the information I've told her. I don't know if that's a good thing or not.
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Hi MrsMitch - no idea if she’s any good yet- she was nice when I saw her and seemed very thorough. She did examine me and listen to me and offered to do an individual risk assessment if I wanted her to as I originally wanted to go back on the oral HRT so instread if saying ‘no’ she said she could ring my haematologist and discuss is with him - cos of my blood clot history. In the end I chose the patches but she was willing to accommodate my wishes and did reassure me that I would get better - jury’s still out on that bit!
I will PM you when I’ve had some sleep 😴 but why is one of the treatments for Vulvodynia 6 weeks of topical lidocaine if it doesn’t work? The more I learn about these conditions the more confused I get!
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I will PM you when I’ve had some sleep 😴 but why is one of the treatments for Vulvodynia 6 weeks of topical lidocaine if it doesn’t work? The more I learn about these conditions the more confused I get!
Honestly don't rush to reply, get some rest.
I don't know why they say that about lidocaine because when it did work for my pain my specialist got extra stroppy & discharged me because apparently it proved her diagnosis of vulvodynia wrong! I just don't know, Snowcat, I really don't.