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[Kris]

Hi all, I'm currently using patches to controller my symptoms of burning down below. I'm thinking of stopping and using a natural serenity cream. Do you think I should seen myself off or go for it?? I've tried it before but since done more research and am thinking t now may work better. Idiot know if anyone has had experience with pathes, but I seem to get more frequent migraines attacks which are worse than normal. I turned 50 this year and it seems like everything is going to pot! Any suggestions would be very welcome.

[CLKD]

Patches won't have much impact on vaginal atrophy if this is what you have.  Only HRT i.e. Vagifem or Ovestin1mg will work.  As oestrogen levels drop off so the body dries, inside and out; using localised HRT plumps up the tissues down there and keeps the area moist and less likely to itch.

Headaches can be caused by dehydration.  Or hormones 

[Dancinggirl]

Hi Kris
Look up the thread ‘ The Burning Club' on this sight - it will hopefully be of help.  Sorry to hear you are a member of the Burning club. This burning is quite common when meno hits and you need local oestrogen e.g. Vagifem. What you have is urogenital atrophy and this needs additional local oestrogen.  Some women need local and the systemic HRT together to really tackle this problem, so I wouldn't be in a hurry to stop the the patch. 
Serenity is only a very tiny amount of hormones and won't help at all with anything - don't waste your money.

The Patches you are using will be helping but it may take some months to really take effect - if you add in some local oestrogen as well then this will speed things along. The patches will help the bladder so it is worth continuing with them. What is important is to restore and maintain a good flora balance in the vaginal area to prevent infections and irritation. Sylk and other vaginal moisturisers can help maintain the flora balance.
In the mean time get yourself somethings like Sylk, a vaginal moisturiser, to use daily after showering.  Don't use anything scented for washing - vegetable soap is best with specialist wash for vaginal area.  Never wash your hair in the shower as shampoo can get to the ‘lady bits' and make it burn.  Drink lots of water and avoid caffein, alcohol and acidic drinks like fruit juice.

An increase in migraines is common with the menopause - HRT can sometimes help but you may need to try a different HRt type.

Hope this helps. 
DG x

[Kris]

How can I find the thread 're burning club's?

[Dancinggirl]

Hi Kris - this is hopefully the link: http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,22886.0.html

I started this thread a couple of years ago so it covers all sorts of issues retailing to this horrid burning.  The later posts I think offer some of the best suggestions but I've have already outlined things in my earlier response to you.

This burning is far more common than GPs realise and it is often put down to infection or interstitial cystitis ( which is a diagnosis often given when they don't know what is wrong).  Basically the lack of oestrogen makes the whole area more fragile - the skin thins, the flora balance becomes more alkaline and therefore more prone to infections.  Everything in the area drops so more pressure on the bladder and urethra.  One thing I didn't mention before; make sure you empty your bladder really well each time - any retention of urine can encourage infection and make sure you pee and wash with water after sex.

BTW - are you on the continuous patches or the sequential patches?
Serenity won't do anything for the burning I'm afraid - do try some Sylk - you can get it online - you only use a small amount each time so a little goes a long way.  DG x
 

[Kris]

Thanks, I was on continuous patches. I'm now trying serenity 20-1. I tried it before it seemed good, but believing I had to have a break my symptoms came back!

[Dancinggirl]

Kris - where are you in your meno journey?  Are you post meno?  Have you been 12 months without a period.
The continuous patches will be giving you progesterone all the time and this may possibly be why you got the migraines.  At 50 you may well be still peri meno and these conti patches won't be right for you.  You would probably do better on a sequential HRT with a kinder progesterone e.g. Femoston 1/10 or Oestrogen as gel or patch together with Utrogestan or Provera for 10-12 days each month for progesterone. 
Do look under TREATMENTS at the top of this page to get the info on all HRT treatments - including local oestrogen. Serenity is such a small amount of hormones it wouldn't be allowed to be sold without prescription if it was strong enough to be effective like HRT. Serenity is certainly not going to help your burning and VA - you need local oestrogen.
Do pop to the doctor and get some VAgifem.  DG x

[Kris]

Hi
Thanks, I've tried vagifem and I was getting thrush all the time!

[Dancinggirl]

Hi Kris - Vagifem shouldn't give you thrush - it can sometimes irritate slightly when first used but it will eventually help to prevent infections like thrush as it restores the natural balance in the vaginal area.  When I started Vagifem I had to do the recommended daily load for 2 weeks and then twice a week for several weeks before I got an improvement, I got a bit of burning an irritation over the initial few weeks and it does feel a bit like thrush - these things take time to get better - so unless you used it properly fro at least 3 months you won't have gained the benefit.
As I have mentioned, you do need to use something like Sylk or Multi Gyn Actigel to help prevent any vaginal infections as well.  Managing the urogenital atrophy is an ongoing process requiring a range of measures and there will still be some blips along the way. 
I would definitely give Vagifem another try and use some Sylk every morning to keep things comfortable. There are other local vaginal oestrogen treatments e.g. Ovestin but I found this really made me burn - probably due to the fillers.   DG x

[CLKD]

Thrush/candida thrives on sugars. 

When I stopped taking The Pill I had my first attack!  Oh the itching!!!! but a pessary sorted symptoms. 

[Dancinggirl]

Hi donnaharrison - I'm afraid Cranberry juice is full of sugar and makes the urine very acidic so the urethra burns really badly if you drink this or any fruit juices.  I know cranberry is supposed to reduce the chance of infection but when the burning is bad you need to the urine to be more alkaline.
Utrogenital atrophy is really unpleasant and cause a lot of distress because of the burning, itching and general discomfort. Local oestrogen and vaginal moisturisers have to be used religiously to help reduce and control the symptoms. Dg x

[CLKD]

Cranberry juice is that: juice.  It has very little in the way 'healing' properties, any more than other fruits have.  It does encourage people to drink 'plenty' but we get liquids from foods as well as drinks.  The body sorts it via the kidneys.

[breeze]

Agreed, cranberry juice does not heal, BUT it does help prevent bacteria embedding in the bladder wall. 

It's a preventative, so worth taking in juice or tablet form, when you get the very first symptoms. 



http://www.webmd.com/women/news/20100823/cranberry-juice-fights-urinary-tract-infection-quickly

[sofasurfer]

What a nightmare. As soon as my period stopped, whole host of things started to crop up.

What I found useful was this.
http://www.planetorganic.com/viridian-cranberry-mannose-ph-powder-50g/26065/?nosto=productpage-nosto-1

Cranberry juice is awfully sweet to drink daily. I've tried different product of the same kind and this worked best for me. It's a little on the pricey side but I'd rather take these organic stuff than antibiotics. It cleared burning and painful urination. I didn't have to go on the antibiotics which people had to go back on time and time again.
Basically, I mixed a tsp of this powder into plain bio yoghurt with a bit of honey and that was that.

You could also try this 3-day treatment too.
http://www.planetorganic.com/na-ut-dmannose-120ml-120ml/19392/

[CLKD]

Granma swore by bicarb of soda for everything