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[CLKD]

Your Nurse didn't read your notes then Snowcat?  'under' a different dept shouldn't interfere with localised treatment at the Surgery   

[CLKD]

A Bartholin's cyst is a fluid-filled swelling near the vaginal opening caused by a blockage of the Bartholin's gland duct.

These glands, located on either side of the vaginal opening, produce lubricating fluid.

If a duct becomes blocked, fluid can accumulate, forming a cyst.

While some cysts are small and cause no symptoms, others can become large, painful, or infected, potentially leading to an abscess.


Dreadful that the Nurse wouldn't examine, she should of course have called a GP in to have a look or a more qualified nurse.  This lack of treatment makes me 

[Snowcat]

Thank you for that info - the cyst isn’t really near the vaginal opening but I’m going to try the surgery again tomorrow.

I’m a bit of a technophobe I’m afraid so if you move my posts so that they’re altogether that would be brilliant- thank you.  I’m still trying to navigate this site.

[CLKD]

Copied from the other thread ;-)

Hi everyone.  I’m new to this so hope I’m in the right place! Has anyone else on here had vulval atrophy with severe pain? I’m literally at my wits end - have been diagnosed with thin skin due to low estrogen made worse by being wrongly prescribed a steroid cream.

Just feeling so low right now and in a lot of pain - no-one I see seems to understand how painful it is - they just look at me blankly - my son even called the paramedics out one night! I’ve been on so many heavy duty painkillers but nothing really helps.  Now on ovestin cream and patches Estraderm 50 for 3 weeks (I’ve been using vagifem for years so vagina is ok - it’s just the outer bits that sting and burn so badly.  Appreciate any support- thank you!


Susiemec wrote: Is your thin skin also dry? If so it may help to use a moisturiser on it, just make sure it's not got any perfumes/additives. I use emu oil but I know some people have ethical concerns over this and use other oils such as coconut oil/olive oil, it just needs to be pure oil.

Lots of women use cetreban or similar moisturisers, I also use Dermol but I know lots don't get on with this.

If you do try anything new I'd do a test on a very small area first, just to make sure you don't aggravate things.

Hopefully, over time, your Ovestin will give you relief but adding some other moisture might be worth a try.

Suzie
 

Thank you Susiemc I think the skin must be dry - I was told to use hydromol but it’s very thick and pulls on the skin so I’ve also tried yes products - I tried coconut oil but read that it could cause thrush which is another problem I’m battling with on and off!  I’ve got some cetraben on order.

Quote from: Snowcat on Today at 02:22:17 PM
Thank you Susiemc I think the skin must be dry - I was told to use hydromol but it’s very thick and pulls on the skin so I’ve also tried yes products - I tried coconut oil but read that it could cause thrush which is another problem I’m battling with on and off!  I’ve got some cetraben on order.

I've never heard that coconut oil causes thrush but, of course, you don't want to do anything that throws your body off balance. We are all so different, I think it's a question of trying different things until you find what suits you. Just try one thing at a time so you know what's caused any reaction - fingers crossed that cetraben works for you.

[CLKD]

Emu oil - is this a byproduct of the meat industry?  I worry about lipped muscles being used in animal care as these are harvested from the Oceans ......  .  If emu oil works for you, as with coconut and olive oils, then stick with it.

I find that KY Jelly keeps my personal places comfortable when estriol isn't available......... though some find that the former gives problems  .

[CLKD]

Morning: how R U this morning?

[CLKD]

Any news?

[Snowcat]

Hi.  Please excuse me if I’ve not replied or if this has gone to the wrong place - I’m not usually completely useless with tech but for some reason I’m finding this forum hard to understand - brain fog due to my fibromyalgia maybe …

Anyway, I’ve been on vagifem for years so vaginal dryness isn’t a problem but the outside bits (both labias) definitely are! I’ve been using ovestin cream daily for just over 3 weeks and Estraderm patches for 2 months (but the increase to Estraderm 50 was only a month ago on advice of gynaecology) however I’ve not had any sign of improvement yet, except for 2 good days last week which I really thought was the beginning of the end of this nightmare, but now it feels like it’s back to square one! Unfortunately I have to use panty liners (tena lights for sensitive skin) as I do have occasionally light bladder leaks, so can’t go without underwear.  Today, even my knickers (bought large ones to lessen pressure) are making it feel worse.  I’m using YES moisturisers (tried honey & bee & hydromol too) but nothing seems to help - maybe I’m not using them often enough but I’m worried that the Ovestin cream might not get through if I use an oil based one. 

Am I just being impatient? I read on one medical site that most women with vulval atrophy see an improvement within 3 weeks of starting treatment! Well I’ve not had any sign of improvement after 3 weeks.  I’ve never known pain like it and with fibro and painful bladder syndrome I’m no stranger to pain.  I just need some hope - I wish medics would be more honest - if it takes 3 months before I’ll start to feel better then fine, at least I know, but so many just say ‘oh a couple of weeks’ so when that doesn’t happen you panic and think there must be something else wrong! (Having health anxiety doesn’t help either!)

Please can anyone give me their honest opinion- the experience of fellow sufferers on here is far more valuable than anything any doctors have told me! Thank you all so much!

[Borchesterlass]

I was prescribed vagifem twice a week about 7 years ago . Back end of 2024 things started to develop with discharge and severe itching . GP misdiagnosed lichen . I sought a second opinion with a private  gynae she out ne on vagifem continuously for  a month and then drop down to five days per week for ever . She also suggested using  nay daya victory oil as a moisturiser. It’s been a complete game changer so maybe your vagifem doses are not enough .

[Snowcat]

Thank you for replying - I’ve been on vagifem 3 x week for years and I’ve now updated it to daily.  I’m also using estrogen cream topically and HRT Estraderm 50 patches.  I know it’ll all take time but I’d love to know how long and whether it’s a gradual process with good days and bad or whether it’s a quick recovery once it starts.  I’m fed up with hearing medical people say ‘a couple of weeks’ when surely that’s not possible! It just makes me panic when I’m not seeing any real improvement yet ..

[Ayesha]

We are all different with this condition and it took me three months to feel the benefits of daily Vagifem with Estriol cream mixed with Yes moisturiser, not the oil based one.
You have to stick to a consistent routine of using the treatment, use daily until you feel its working then reduce if you want to, over all it took a year for me to be symptom free, there is no quick fix here and patience being a key factor to eventually feeling better. There are flare ups which means I will use Vagifem twice daily and Estriol smeared on three times a day until my symptoms ease, they usually do after less than a week.

[Borchesterlass]

I think we must  remember that we won’t cure VA just manage it,

[Ayesha]

Once we get it under control then it's all about managing it for life.
Flare ups come out of the blue, its learning what's needed to calm them down, that will be extra treatment.
A condition that is always a learning curve.
 

[CLKD]

Panty liners won't help the body needs to breath   ........   mayB try protection knickers so that there is less pressure on the labia? 

Why do U leak?  Very rarely when I cough or sneeze  but if I needed a liner then I would speak to our Nurse Practitioner.  MayB seeing a physio who is au fait with women's needs might be worth while too?

[Snowcat]

Hi CLKD - thanks for replying.  I use an incontinence panty liner as I have occasional bladder leaks due to interstitial cystitis - it’s not often but I never know when (usually if my bowel is too full I think) I’ve just ordered some re-usable pure 100% cotton ones they say are breathable and ok for sensitive skin so I’ll see how that goes! I agree that they’re not ideal - the gynaecologist said that all sanitary/incontinence products are a source of major irritation for many :-(