Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Wrensong]

Blimey - a moisturiser that causes thrust?!     Where can I get some?

[nicolcarrie70]

Thank you for all the advice!

Yesterday morning I saw my urologist, he said 100% not hormone related.  He suggested botox down below and failing that a colostomy bag.

Saw my gynaecologist in the afternoon and he said 100% sure it was hormone related!  He sent me an email last night which said as follows:-
'I think the options left are a 1) ventrosuspension + removal of both overies and tubes. Or 2) a laparoscopic hysterectomy + removal of both ovaries and tubes.

Taking your advice I then contacted my GP and asked to be referred to a menopause clinic and she said she hadn't heard of one!!!

Can anyone suggest anything else to try re bladder before I go ahead with surgery??

[Annie0710]

I think I'm getting a bit confused - have you asked for ovestin ?

I'd try everything under the sun cream/pessary-wise before I opt for surgery

[Maryjane]

I may be dim here ....but what are the reasons for any of these surgeries 🤔 urologist saying a 100% not hormones at your age ? Think he needs to learn about URO- genital atrophy.....URO being the urethra / bladder tract/ area .

[Jenna]

Could you find a menopause clinic here:

https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/clinicfinder.php

I agree with the others that surgery wouldn't solve the problem. I would try Estriol Cream or Ovestin either in conjunction with Vagifem (with the creams being used on the outer areas) or even used internally and externally instead of Vagifem. Or you could try a vaginal moisturiser on the outer areas, or internally as well on the days you don't use Vagifem. I use YES water-based and find it really helps. Then of course there are all the other options already mentioned.

Maybe worth a try first?

[nicolcarrie70]

Annie, I did ask my gynaecologist if I could try a different HRT regime.  I asked about local estrogen cream and the estring, I also asked if changing my Femoston 2/10 to a patch or gel equivalent but he said it wouldn't.

Maryjane, I totally get you......I'm feeling 'dim' too about all this!  It's only that I'm at such a desperate stage that I am willing to try anything - if they suggested cutting off a limb a would probabaly agree in the hope that I would get some relief.

The reason for the surgeries is purely to stop the constant feeling of needing wee and the burning urethra.

[ancient runner]

I'd suggest the fillers in the vagifem might be irritating you and the Estring would be a good substitute (does it get worse when you do a reload, then improve a bit again?)
All the rest of it sounds utterly nuts. Why would you need a colostomy bag if they're not touching your bowel? Why is removing the source of ANY oestrogen going to help your urethra???
I have a feeling that you are entitled to a second opinion, so why not ask for one (and when your GP shudders, give him/her the name of the nearest meno clinic from the list and sweetly ask to try that instead).

Good luck. It's a pain in the xxx

[Maryjane]

PLEASE do not go ahead with any of these LUDICROUS suggestions, as you have given us the facts , unless something major toubhave forgotten to tell us .....I have come across some odd suggestions by some of these so called experts but these are by far the most / odd bizarre I have ever heard.

Just confirming your in the UK?

[Eviepf]

Poor you - no wonder so many of us are at our wits end with the medical profession - it doesn't sound like you're getting good advice from any of them. It's the lack of joined-up thinking and not taking a 'holistic' view of symptoms that makes me the most cross. GPs often don't know what they're talking about and specialists don't think outside the box.  Even given that, the suggestions you've had for surgery seem extreme and utterly mad.....

It all sounds pretty hormone-related to me - why on earth would a hysterectomy help?! And as for the colostomy bag, words fail me!

I'd definitely ask to be referred to a menopause clinic (or urogynae?).

[Cassie]

A colostomy bag for vaginal atrophy??? No, now I have heard it all....

[dahliagirl]

One of my favourite 'cures' for bladder problems is to drink plenty of plain water during the day. (Don't overdo it and force yourself - just keep a glass by you and drink it as and when - I find it vanishes pretty quickly.)

It is something I picked up from the nurse in the Enuresis clinic my daughter attended when young.  It seems to stretch the bladder and calms and makes it less 'reactive' and helps you go through the night too (which is why we were there  )

Best to choose a day when you are not out much.

I use Femoston, vagifem, Yes etc but also multigyn actigel (available in that big Chemist next to the condoms and the meno moisturisers) which is supposed to balance your pH.  It is a bit sting-y but seems to help with this and other irritation that looks a bit like thrush.

I find that it comes and goes in spite of all of the above, but overall and together they help.

[CLKD]

Predictive text then - I changed it twice  ...... Wrensong ........ 

Did your GP refer you to this particular Urologist ? and did you tell the gynaecologist ?  As for undergoing surgical procedures, you WILL need HRT if your womb is removed so you won't be any further forwards.  Many medics still believe that a lady can be 'too young' for peri-menopause, quite frankly those GPs should be retired 

You may be able to send a short e-mail to Dr Curry on here for a fee and do read the Link from Jenna. 

[Wrensong]

Sorry CLKD, that was flippant I know, in what is a very concerning thread.  No offence meant.

[CLKD]

Oh no Wrensong, it's the kind of comment I would make but written down it looks static .......

As for the advice Nicol ........ you should make sure that your GP knows exactly what has been suggested - are you in the U.K.  ........  who suggested that the reason for the surgery is to get rid of your symptoms, I'm a bit lost here.

Treatment for vaginal atrophy is as per several of the threads on here.  If you have visited qualified practitioners in the UK and received those suggestions then something is very wrong somewhere ......... however, some sugeons seem to have the attitude that once the womb is ripped out that's the end of that particular patient and they can move onto the next, there doesn't seem to be any consideration of post op advice or follow-up treatments.

Have you read the links yet?  Maybe make a list of the symptom that you would like eased more than any of the others, i.e. do you have any other particularly related menopause symptoms other than dryness?  I'll bounce 'My Bladder etc.' thread.

[linfit]

I think it can be useful for general moistness unless it causes 'thrust' etc.,

Oo-er!

 

    nicolcarrie70

I agree re the hysterectomy - defo a no-no just for VA - what is your gynae thinking of? You need to find a different one! Good luck! I would definitely use some ofthe products mentioned - especially estriol cream for outer areas as well as Vagifem. the generic estriol is weaker (0.01%) than Ovestin so could be used more liberally as a moisturiser as well as some plumping up.

Hurdity x

HI
I use Vagifem 5 times a week at the moment, was improving but lately have stinging on the outside.

 Might sound stupid but is it the dryness that causes stinging on the outside? Does anyone know?

After months of using Vagifem I am more moister inside...I am struggling as to whether the Vagifem could be causing the stinging outside after its use for many months or is the stinging something else?? I have tried a couple of days of Ovestin on the outside and still stinging...should I continue with that or try Estriol?