Print

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

[Jenty]

Newbie here but an oldie in age  I have had vaginal atrophy for years, too long ago to remember when it actually started  I have had quite a few issues along the way.  I  developed a prolapse (cystocele, which was brought about by being dry and straining emptying my bowels , I also have IBS)  I had to see a consultant who wanted to operate on the cystocele  but as I had read so many horror stories of netting attaching to other organs I went with having a ring fitted. Had the ring fitted, a few weeks later I was in agony and ended up in a&e. Because I was so dry the actual ring had become embedded inside me so I had to have it removed. It was either an operation or remove it manually, I went for the latter. ( It was more painful than actually giving birth!)  at least I avoided an operation.  No I didn't keep the ring!
I was given a letter to take to my doctor.

A few weeks later I went to see my  doctor as I was having some slight spotting and was so sore that I couldn't even sit down and he prescribed estrogen with an applicator which at first did help the dryness. After several years of using the estrogen I started bleeding so went back to my doctor who referred me to the consultant at the hospital. I had an internal scan which showed the wall of my womb had got too thick, they took a sample of the lining and it came back clear. I was told to stop using the estrogen as this had fed the wall lining which had made it so thick. As there is a cancer in my close  family I was told by the consultant not to use the estrogen as I was at high risk of getting cancer. So I had the D&C. and came home the same day.
Then it as back to the doctor's to try something else, I was prescribed Replens. I've been using Replens now for years and it has helped a lot. I've tried other internal moisturisers but they didn't help.
Over the last couple of months I have got a bit lazy with using the replens and not used it as regularly as I should. Bad error on my part! as last week I noticed dead skin and bits of dried blood on my panty liner and I've been very sore, so I'm back using the replens  every day at the moment and it's starting to feel a bit more comfortable. There's still a slight discharge and a bit of fresh blood on the loo roll when I wipe but there's been no fresh blood on my panty liner. . I'm hoping it will settle down down over the next couple of days. Obviously if the bleeding gets any worse I will contact my doctor, that's if I can get through to them and get an appointment !! 
I still have the cystocele, I've learned to live with it as it doesn't really cause any major issues.

Tip: My doctor told me to use aqueous cream as a moisturiser for the outer vaginal area, its very soothing.

[Flossieteacake]

Hello Jenty and welcome to the forum. I am so upset to read all you have been through and all because your Doctors were unable to diagnose you with VA.

Have you ever tried Yes vaginal moisturiser? Although it is wonderful Replens is helpful, it can cause irritation as the ingredients are not as natural as other moisturisers such as Yes and Sylk.

Is it not possible for you to use localised oestrogen at all? I have read of forum members with cancer in their family who are able to use localised oestrogen and hopefully they will be able to advise you on this as without any at all your poor skin is going to be so sore.

Rather then aqueous cream you may wish to try another emollient such as Hydromol as aqueous cream can irritate the skin.

I apologise if it sounds like I am going against everything your Doctors have told you.

[Jenty]

Hi Flossie, yes tried them all, Replens seems to be the only one that's stays where it should, the others are ok for lubrication if and when needed, thankfully I'm past all that    I was offered hrt but refused it there's too many side effects, I already have osteo arthritis and M.E. to cope with along side the atrophy !    
There are two types of aqueous cream , I use the free of SLS aqueous cream so there's no irritation. The one containing the SLS is the cause of irritation.

It is so frustrating as doctors do not have the knowledge to deal with menopause issues, us women know our bodies and know when we have an issue that's needs to be dealt with. Male consultants/doctors do not have the empathy  or understanding that a female would have and that stops a lot of women seeking help when going through the menopause.

[CLKD]

U R lucky not to be irritated by 'replens'.   . I'm surprised that GPs continue to prescribe it. 

   having said that, it's what ever suits as Trial and Error can be tiring as well as long-winded! 

The VA treatment is unlikely to have had any influence on the lining of the womb, as the body doesn't spread it around the body though some report headaches when they begin with 'vagifem'.  Was a biopsy taken to find out causation?  It's usually a build up of lining due to a lack of progesterone ........... especially if periods become erratic.

May I ask, why do you require a panty liner which may make soreness, dryness, irritation a lot worse as the vulval area doesn't 'breath'.  It is possible that the VA is causing blood spotting ......... I suggest that you get a referral to an NHS dedicated Menopause Clinic for further advice - not a Gynae as they often don't know a lot about peri-menopause.

SLS is in many products.  I find that toothpastes which include them cause my mouth to react to: chocolate, bananas, butter ........ immediate burning up into my nose  . 

[Ayesha]

On the panty liner issue, I have worn them for years and its become a habit but at the end of a busy day its clear I need to use one, its an age thing that most women are aware of and just get on with it.

But since suffering from VA I found it important to use the right one as some can be very drying. I made the mistake of buying the wrong liner once which resulted in me becoming so dry that I developed a bad flare up.  I was actually going to start a thread on it once titled 'The Wrong Panty Liner' as in Wallace & Gromit, The Wrong Trousers. I'll shut up now 

[CLKD]

 .  1 shouldn't dribble enough to wear a liner ;-).  I noticed when clearing out drawers after his Mum and mine that there were packets of panty liners  .

Where's Jenty disappeared to  . 

[Jenty]

I'm back, I did vanish, I had a senior moment! I was closing my account on a couple of old forums and closed this one in error! 

@ CLKD, I have seen a lot of reports that some have had issues with Replens, people seem to write complaints about a product but very few compliments. It's like every other meds it works for some and not others. It has been taken off the NHS prescription list as it can be bought over the counter, but as I have VA I can get it on prescription.  The panty liners I wear after using replens I don't wear them all day as they are to uncomfortable. Likewise the aqueous cream works for me to.

@ Ayesha, your post made me laugh, I know what you mean about trying pads, I've thrown loads away as they are so uncomfortable, they seem to move and get stuck on your bits and it hurts like hell!

Update, Yesterday morning when I got up and went to the loo there was the most disgusting discharge I've not had before, so I rang the surgery to ask to speak to a female doctor, (I couldn't get an appointment with the menopause specialist for 2 weeks) the doctor rang back yesterday afternoon. She said it sounds like a flare up of the VA and suggested I go on Ovestin as this will help with the healing, I'm to use it once every day for two weeks and she will ring me in two weeks to see if there's an improvement, and then go from there. So I'm hoping over the next couple of weeks things will settle down. Then I will have to rethink about carrying on with the ovestin ( the doctor said the ovestin will help with the healing quicker than carrying on with the Replens.) or staying with the Replens.    

[CLKD]

Stick with what works? 

ovestin can be used internally as well as gently smeared around the outer labia areas.  It may sting initially, the vagina will get used to it.  If it stings don't push the applicator too far up at first.

When I get the need2P feelings I take nurofen to ease the nip.

We have a 'doing silly things' thread, you'll fit right in  .  Do read 'there's a strange woman in my. house' too ........

[Jenty]

@ CLKD, I should have worded that better, sticking with the Replens and aqueous cream, well it did work until I got lazy and stopped using the Replens regularly.
Thanks for the tip on using the ovestin.

[Flossieteacake]

@ CLKD, I should have worded that better, sticking with the Replens and aqueous cream, well it did work until I got lazy and stopped using the Replens regularly.
Thanks for the tip on using the ovestin.

I am glad you came back. I was concerned the replies to your post may have upset you.

The Ovestin will be so helpful for you. I personally use Ovestin daily.

[Jenty]

Thank you Flossie.

[CLKD]

Let us know how you get on. Browse round. Join in ;-)