Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: mollie2 on November 11, 2015, 09:46:35 PM
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Hi ladies,, Im really hoping someone can help,, For the past year I have had what I thought was thrush symptoms only the feeling of not the discharge, The uncomfortable feeling and the itch.. I was seen then by my gynecologist who said everything was ok, All swabs totally clear and also follow up swabs also bloods and repeat bloods are also fine.. So over a period of about 6 months I was back and fore to the gp for canestan pessaries and cream and also had oral medication for thrush which eased it but not totally, Anyhow on self investigation I could see a fleshy bulge sitting on the inside of my vagina just at the opening, I was horrified and thought I had a prolapse so straight to the docs who said I had an urethral prolapse, I felt panic so I get referred to gynecologist again who outruled a prolapse and basically said all my symptoms were menopausal ( my bloods show im not menopausal , Im 47 and have had flushes for 10yrs ) At this point and 3 months still I can see, feel this bulge / lump and still have the feeling of thrush constantly, I also had the most unbearable painful burning in my vagina which eased greatly when I was given vagifem pessaries, I feel as though my vagina / insides are falling out, I am very very uncomfortable, sore , itchy, wet like thrush but more of a clear mucus ( sorry if tmi ) the lump thing is there all the time, Im not using toiletries there and im bathing in salt, I have been back to the gp on a further 3 occassions and no one has examined me, I have asked to be referred to a different gynecologist but its at least another 3 months before i get seen, I wrote to the manager of the gynae department yesterday explaining everything and asking if i could see someone else,, Im not in a postion to go private as yet.. I have googled non stop and done research and all I can come up with is I either have vestibularistis or a prolapse... Im at a lose and need some relief, Its making my life a misery and it consumes every aspect of daily things..
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Hi you could be me but I am two years in....I have the bulge it is probably a mild prolapse, it sounds like the nerves are all irritated and it's very hard to calm them down and if it's not thrush the worse thing to do is put thrush cream on as it can cause a reaction.
I think you probably need to see a vulva dermatologist more than gynae try upping your vagifem to 5xs a week this is what I am going to ask to do you can also ask for estriol cream to put on the vulava area works for some but burns me. 1% hydrocortisone ointment is safe to use for a long time, the watery discharge is also suggestive of VA vaginal atrophy.
It's the absolute pits having burning irritated down belows it's all consuming. I use YES oil and actigel mixed together which is quite good, stops p making it even sorer, sex is out of the question for me. 😌
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Thank you so much for replying,, How on earth do you cope?? Its ruling my life,, I did use pesseries for 2 wks everynight and then cut down to twice a week as stated on box, I did get a great relief but not sure whether to keep using everyday short term, I know they only absorb into the vagina so arent going to do harm,, What has your gp said about you?
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Do you think the salt might be making it worse? I don't have a prolapse, but I did get a lot of irritation and soreness. I found any form of soap extremely painful but since switching to vagisil wash, I don't get any discomfort at all. Might be worth trying if you haven't already. Most chemists seem to stock it.
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Gp told me to avoid all washes and not to use creams wirh vagifem as there was no need 😫
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Is it possible to see another GP to see if you can get a more helpful response and maybe something else to offer short-term relief while you wait for the specialist? Might be worth thinking about - some GPs can be very set in their ways especially when it comes to menopausal issues, e.g. my first GP told me there was no treatment for vaginal itching/burning and I couldn't be starting the change in my 30s anyway - end of discussion. Since I've moved, I have been prescribed Ovestin by my new GP which has helped amazingly. So don't feel obliged to take the first answer you get from your GP, some are more helpful than others!
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Ask for a referral. Or see your Practice Nurse who may be more knowledgeable. Pharmacists have private rooms now so you could go along for a chat there. GPs have little idea as to meno matters ::) - a lady is never too early and all symptoms are treatable!
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I have seen four gps and been to the hospital twice,, Ingored , no joy!
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Hello Mollie - I've just carefully re-read your post and am I right in thinking that the original 2 week vagifem loading made things better but that you are sore again on a twice-weekly dose? If so I think it's just not high enough. Vagifem is now ultra low dose - it used to be two 25mcg pessaries a week and is now two 10mcg pessaries.
This doesn't work for me and I have an Estring which gives you roughly 49mcg a week as a continuous flow. Other women on here double up their Vagifem dosage. Others find local oestrogen isn't enough.
If you think this sounds plausible, you'd probably need to talk to your GP, maybe do a Vagifem reloading for instant relief and then go on to the Estring/higher dose of VF.
Estring isn't very well known - no idea why more women don't use it - it's a calamari size silicon ring which you insert and forget about for three months. I use a little Ovestin sometimes on the outside to keep that all shipshape.
Best of luck!
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Tbh I need a full diagnosis off what is wrong and then get the correct treatment, Inhave more or less diagnosed myself with lots of research, Im being palmed off ignored all the time,, Im so fed up as its ruining everyday life.
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Hi - I have had similar problems - thrush/BV, wet discharge, itching inside, bad itching between labia where it is very dry. My consultant, who did my prolapse, prescribed vagifem. At one point, I could not sit comfortably, much the same as after my op!
However, I have never managed to use it only twice a week. It just about takes the edge off. I have a spot on the RHS which gets sore and feels swollen if it is starting to get bad again. I think it my be the Bartholins gland.
I have been using multigyn actigel between doses to balance the microflora with some improvement.
I tried low dose hrt as well and have just got that changed to 2mg. This has made a huge difference to me. I even have moisture between the labia, which has not happened for about 6 years.
The trouble is, it was the nurse at my new practice that prescribed this and I am not sure that she wanted to. She said it may be a further prolapse as a result of my previous operation. I am pretty sure I also have a mild urethral prolapse which the surgeon did not mention, but I am also sure that they do not like to operate on small prolapses as the results are not good enough.
I can see your need for a proper assessment - I have done the same as you, as my old surgery were very much of the mind that you should try out and see what suits you. But I am not sure where to find one.
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A Gynaecologist should be able to diagnose a prolapse. Or as suggested below ?
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Mollie2, I have changed GP practice twice now - I have yet to see my new GP (appointment is booked) but my last GP fobbed me off and had no interest, and all 3 are the same at that practice. My last GP looked at all my symptoms on screen put there by the practice nurse and just said 'oh yes, atrophy' at that and did nothing at all, ashamed to say now I have put a hex on her and hope she remembers saying that in 30 years time herself, see if she can dismiss it so easily when it is her.
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CKLD - it was a urogynaecologist, so I would hope he would have known what to do! I am sure the insurance would have paid up if he had wanted to do more. But you are right - I would rather not have another op like that unless I was sure the results would be good. It was very hurty ;D
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Hi again......a simple DIY test for a prolapse is squat put middle finger in vagina cough and see what happens 😳 I can honestly say that I would almost bet that if you went onto vagifem at least 4-5 times a week your symptoms will go.
You dont want to have surgery unless you really really need it, a small prolapse can be dealt with but if you do go down the surgery route whatever you do don't have mesh.
Mu bulge feeling has almost gone it's the rest I have so I am off today to,see GP to up my vagifem to double see how it goes, next stop the ring although may discuss that one today and then full HRT in patch form of not.
I have had a Vulvoscopy/colposcopy/intra vaginal scan and a womb biopsy a month ago all within ten days of seeing GP, ( NHS) it's a one stop clinic. Must say I wasn't expecting any of it, but the gynae said no biopsy no HRT so got the all clear for full HRT. As my bits are just a disaster , everything else is fine. Ummmmm think I am tempted by the ring had forgotten about it.
I can see me having to see Dr Annie Evans as ten mins is just not enough or Nick Panay.
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Also - my GP sent me off to see pelvic floor physiio again for mild prolapses - should stop things getting worse and a good adjunct to local oestrogen.
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Well im being referred again, so fed up and uncomfortable,, i can really feel this bulge badly,, Really not coping at all. Its not a bartholin cyst,, Sick of googling..
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Have you seen a straight forward urologist. I was diagnosed with something called a caruncle which is a fleshy bulge at the entrance to your urethra that causes pain on urination and itching etc. This is caused by lack of oestrogen and I have been using vagifem now for 4 months and the caruncle has reduced to almost nothing and the symptoms greatly improved. If I try to stop the vagifem the caruncle grows and the symptoms come back. The vagifem gives me a bit of a burning sensation the morning after I use it but its bearable given the results.
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No i havent seen one, My gp said it was a urethra prolapse but other people I ve spoken towho have a prolapse dont have the symptoms i have, Its like i have thrush, The bulge itches and i leak mucky liquid ( sorry ) I feel as though i have a ball sitting there,, Im going to increase to vagifem every night i think to see if it makes any difference,, i pray it does cos ive suffered since my teens with lady problems but nothing ever as bad as this.
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Hi Mollie - you have what's known as a urethrocele. It is extremely rare for this to occur on it's own and usually goes hand-in-hand (so to speak!) with a cystocele which is a prolapse of the bladder. The bladder pushes into the front wall of the vagina. You should have been given exercises to do every day and then seen regularly to assess whether your exercises are strengthening the front wall enough. The operation for this is an anterior repair and is really not that bad. I had it done at the same time as my vaginal hysterectomy and it did improve things for me. No more sensation of sitting on a tennis ball or of your insides dropping out. This is a professional site but may give you some idea of what's happening. It does mention that there can be pus. http://www.msdmanuals.com/en-gb/professional/gynecology-and-obstetrics/pelvic-relaxation-syndromes/cystoceles-urethroceles-enteroceles-and-rectoceles You shouldn't just be left to get on with it!
HRT can help but I found only full HRT did make a difference in my case. Vagifem was just not strong enough.
Taz x
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According to my gynae i dont have a prolapse,, i have just read the link you sent and he examined me as the link stated but said there is no sign of anything but to me it is fairlt obviousl and making my life a misery, im only happy when im asleep.