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[CLKD]

I get two tubes with each prescription.  U may need to use every night even after getting a regime as oestrogen levels continue to drop.  I can judge my requrieemtns because my lower belly feels 'odd' when I need to up to more often.

U seem to have good support from your GP.  Peri-menopause are the years B4 we have our last bleed = menopause.  After 12 months we can believe that we are 'there'  .  However, Mother Nature can throw in the odd bleed in later years which needs to B checked. 

My periods waxed and waned until I realised that they had disappeared.  I had a few hot flushes after my bath, as well as itchy insteps at the end of the day which didn't last 4 many months.

It's The Change - does what it says on the tin 

Elissa - let us know how you get on!

I believe that a few Members have rosacea - if U put it into the search box you can read appropriate threads. 

[Elissa]

Hi ladies, thanks for previous responses.
Just hoping to check this symptom please? I have slight redness and soreness along the crease where my abdomen meets the top of my thighs (groin/bikini line?).  Sometimes it hurts without any redness.

Does anyone else get this? Is this low estrogen? What do you treat it with? Thank you.

[Elissa]

Hi everyone, wanted to post an update on my situation in case it helps anyone out there reading this thread.

Since I last posted I have had a mirena inserted, have come off the daily 10mg of Provera (used for heavy periods) and have started HRT! 

My dryness issue was not causing me any issues by the time the mirena was put it (the ovestin was working) so I assume that dryness due to low estrogen has been my problem.  It's not atrophy as such as there's no shrinkage or physical change but all the itching, burning down there plus all the skin sensitivity on bikini line, inner thighs etc have all been down to dryness/low estrogen.  The ovestin really fixed up everything at the 3 month stage so hang in there if you've used it for less time and are suffering from similar symptoms.

Unfortunately my night sweats, rage, low mood, itchy scalp and poor sleep didn't resolve after stopping Provera, in fact things got worse.  My dryness symptoms reappeared for around a week also post mirena (although very minimal compared to previously).

My most recent blood tests were normal (again) but the GP at the family planning/GUM clinic suggested that I give HRT a try.  She said blood tests are useful if they show someone's gone through menopause but not that helpful whilst still in the process.  She then asked me to do a questionaire and my score was 36.  She said anything over 20 indicates perimenopause 

So pretty sure I'm in perimenopause, age 42.  Although this has been working on me for years now, from my late 30s.

I've been using one pump of Estrogel for roughly a fortnight now and although I have suffered a really rough few days during that time with low mood and rage, my night sweats disappeared almost instantly and my sleep has improved.  I haven't felt any dryness issues also.  Hopefully better sleep helps with my mood/rage issues as time progresses as they are now my biggest issue.

Thanks for reading and for all your advice to date.  I'm sure I'll be back with more questions 

[Ayesha]

Thanks so much for this great update on your journey and for one so young too!
I've been reading through the whole of this thread and it makes such interesting reading and its great to read that you are getting amazing help from the medics, hopefully things will be so much better for you going forward, they are certainly sounding good so far! 

[Elissa]

Thanks so much for this great update on your journey and for one so young too!
I've been reading through the whole of this thread and it makes such interesting reading and its great to read that you are getting amazing help from the medics, hopefully things will be so much better for you going forward, they are certainly sounding good so far!

Thanks for responding Ayesha!  I have to thank you once again for pointing me in the right direction (towards a GUM clinic) a few months ago, as I don't feel I would have progressed as much as I have without that information.  That was truly great advice and thank you for taking the time to suggest it to me.

As per my story, the female GP reluctantly gave me Ovestin after over a year of skin irritation/itching/burning (which she was adamant was dermatitis despite it not responding to the steroid cream!)  The male GP was more supportive and convinced my issue was dryness but he would not have prescribed me HRT.  The GUM clinic, on the other hand, seem to be far more knowledgeable in these areas.  My local clinic has both a vulva and menopause clinic 

I really feel this has been quite a journey so far!!  Suffering for over a year has taken its toll for sure, but from what I gather from reading online it's quite common to be misdiagnosed and treated for the wrong condition.  It's a pity it is often not the first GP that helps with a correct diagnosis.  Instead we end up going around the houses before 2 and 2 is put together.  Despite that, I am thankful I feel I'm on the right track now.

Incidentally my mum had a hysterectomy at age 39 (now in her 70s) for heavy bleeding that had caused her to become anemic also.  Unfortunately back then there were no IUDs so I recall her having the hysterectomy then onto HRT.  So a slightly earlier transition to menopause was not a total surprise to me but the burning was 

Thanks Ayesha, thanks ladies 

[Ayesha]

I was recently given a reminder of how awful VA (GSM) is and that horrible burning and pain that comes with it. Symptom free for three years and suddenly a very bad flare up. This time I knew what was happening and applied extra treatment but thinking back four years ago with none of the medics knowing what was wrong with me, I was given three lots of antibiotics on the assumption it was a bladder infection.

One thing I can't get my head around, how on earth did GSM treatment become available to buy over the counter when no one around me including all the medics had ever heard of this condition, including me at the ripe old age of 70 when diagnosed.