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[CLKD]

Jane_w - do read the 'bladder issues' and 'vaginal atrophy' threads on the Forum. Make notes ;-)

When I feel that nipping sensation as the spincter shuts of the flow of urine I take 'nurofen' 2 capsules 3 times a day for 2 days.  Stops the nipping!

[Jane_w]

Thank you, yes I have been reading through all of it! More than a bit overwhelmed by it all tbh.. and somewhat shocked and terrified that I'm never going to feel any better!

[Haydo]

You will feel better.  This time last year I could hardly walk any distance or sit down without pain, I couldn’t even drive my car - the doctor said it was the worst case of VA she’d seen, not helped by the delay in being seen because of lockdown.   Long story!

I should clarify, my GP prescribed the vagifem for me but wanted me to see a consultant as I was still struggling so much, despite trying loads of different ointments and creams externally.  I think, with me, it just took so long to sort out as it was so bad to begin with.  A year on it is much more manageable.  I am waiting to see a vulval dermatologist to see if there can be some more improvement made.  I also take a probiotic which is proven to reach the vagina (Optibac for women) which does help as well.

[Jane_w]

Thank you... its good to know that... I've used probiotics before which helped when my digestive system went haywire in perimeno so I have been taking the optibac probiotic for women for a month now as I think they will probably be good and Id recommend their other probiotics so hope this might help a bit... I hate to sound so sorry for myself as I can see how long it is likely to take to get this sorted with something that works for me and I'm in awe of everyone here..
I just feel like this has hit me like a train and I'm a bit shocked tbh. Nice young  Dr managed to suss it out before me though (in denial!) and all from phone consultations where I thought it was 'just' another uti, so I'm quite impressed by her. Thank you again.

[Haydo]

Sounds like your GP is on the ball so, hopefully, you will find the right treatment for you sooner rather than later.    Mine kept prescribing me treatment for thrush and antibiotics for UTIs initially which, I now realise, was just making things worse.   I have learned a lot from this site.  Let us know how you get on. 

[Jane_w]

I will indeed update as and when! I think I was just so desperate for the estriol to work (and it sort of did apart from the fact that something in it burnt like hell!) and facing the fact that this is a chronic  condition that will need lifelong management has suddenly made me feel daft (for not realising & acting sooner) and incredibly, crushingly old and useless. But i'm reading all these stories of how everyone is doing what they can to get the treatment that works for them and it is a real education. What a great resource this is.

[Fran.H]

Hi Jane W. I am also 54 and have recently been prescribed Estriol cream and like you to begin with it was great but now it’s not! Feeling very irritated down below and it’s really getting me down. I saw a great GP who was very sympathetic but she has been off work sick and I don’t want to see a different doctor and also feel like there must be much more important patients who need to be seen instead of me as this isn’t exactly a life threatening condition. Can I ask if you have made any headway since your last post here? Or have tried any other treatments? Not sure whether to persevere with this cream or to ditch it altogether ?!

[Jane_w]

Hi Fran. I'm waiting to hear from my GP as she wanted to double check me for an infection before we decide a next course of action so still waiting for results ...but, rather oddly, since ditching the estriol nearly a month ago I have gradually improved and now feel a lot better. This is strange. I had been using the Yes VM water based but also stopped using that a couple of weeks ago as I wanted to see if it was definitely helping or hindering... it seems it might have been the latter. I really don't know what is going on (maybe it was 'just' an infection but that is very odd for me & might well be related to underlying dryness). In the meantime I've been taking the optibac probiotic for women and just bought another supply of that as I figure it can't do any harm and might be helping. I've also been using Nessa Vagina Victory Oil which is lovely and seemed to help to put out the estriol fire, externally at least! I don't know what to say about whether you should ditch the cream but it aggravated me way more than it helped me. Hopefully I will speak to Dr next week to see where I go next, but for now I feel sort of (cautiously) ok.. Good luck.

[Yecart 777]

Hi
I am not sure if I have Vaginal Atrophy , but I have a doctors appointment this week.
Does it feel like something in the vagina opening as well as soreness ? I cant feel anything at all.....

Many thanks

[CLKD]

Bounced for new members

[Gynaikeíos]

Hello my friends. I am looking for some reassurance please about VA/GSM (will there be a 4 letter name for it ever?      ).

👋 to ladies who  are  new. If you have not had it long,  keep with your medication and find the right combination of pessary and or cream because it takes a while to get the condition manageable. It does become manageable. I am almost a year into treatment and thought I would never get it right, but it is now manageable   

The reassurance is about still having uncomfortable feelings just before starting my period (Life is interesting. I am 57 and still in peri-menopause . MM has a thread for older women who are in peri). It is not my usual period pain.

I feel that the VA is affecting my cervix on the first day of menstrual flow. For me, the tight feeling up high returns, so my questions are, is this true that my cervix is still not quite flexible enough?
Should I put some extra Estriol high up? Or should it only be moisturiser when my period start between my twice a week application of Estriol?

Thank you for taking time to read, and to reply.
With best wishes
X

[Tiddles]

Iovet the past 5 years I've tried everything including GP prescribed ointments, pessaries etc Truth is the over the counter creams designed for the sexually active market ie to accompany condom use are as effective as anything aimed at peri and post menopausal women  and if you pay for prescriptions, they're also cheaper. Don't be embarrassed . Just browse the condom section of Superdrug and go for it. In-knicker comfort restored.