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[kathryn22]

Hello Ladies
Any suggestions for effective pain relief for Atrophy.
Usually pop paracetamol 2 every four hours. Can’t take anti inflammatory meds have Zapain but this bungs me up which aggravates my prolapse.
Usually have to lie down and wait for things to pass, but taking longer and longer Don’t think it’s the vaginal meds I’m using, been on them for a good few months now.
Thing is it’s not pain It’s discomfort But whatever you call it it’s driving me nuts. Gp said she’d give me tranquillisers/ anti depressants.Not exactly the direction I want to go in. Get the impression the GP is clutching at straws. All suggestions gratefully received…

[Ayesha]

I am not sure that pain killers can help much with vaginal atrophy, have you tried co-codamol? If I have bad muscle pain I take 1 paracetamol and 1 co-codamol which helps.

After a few months of VA treatment you should be feeling a lot better, what is your regime to get it under control?

[CLKD]

Your GP needs to refer you to a dedicated menopause clinic, there are waiting lists in both NHS and Private.  Or see if there is a Nurse Practitioner with more peri-menopause knowledge.

Have you been prescribed appropriate vaginal atrophy treatment to use nightly? 

[kathryn22]

Hi Ayesha & CLKD
Am using Estriol cream every other night or every night when things are unbearable  and in between YES moisturiser. Been on meds for a good few months now. Good days and bad ones, as we all know, sadly still more bad than good. I’m post menopause..ish, although even after 15 yrs still have some symptoms. I was on estraderm patches for the first 10yrs, but GP took me off as she said I had been on them long enough. Was a bit like jumping off a cliff as I went into a full blown menopause almost overnight,!!
Ayesha, will try mixing up the meds might help
CLKD, seeing a gynaecologist on Monday via a private health plan, hopefully he might be able to get me access to a menopause specialist, although seeing him for prolapse not Atrophy but he might be interested, otherwise it’s back to the GP again
Thanks ladies

[CLKD]

U may B lucky in that the Gynae has a menopause knowledge.  Let us know how you get on.

[kathryn22]

Will do

[Cara999]

Hoe long have you been using Vaginal estrogen, took me over a year to stop having bad days 😪 some women are lucky and it works quicker, for me it didn't. There's nothing worse than being constantly aware of you vagina and feeling discomfort down there xxx

[Joaniepat]

A hypertonic pelvic floor can cause vulval discomfort and pain. You could get an assessment from a women's pelvic health physiotherapist (private or NHS). This might help to find out exactly what is going on and can be treated without drugs if it emanates from the PF.
JP x

[kathryn22]

Thank you JoaniePat & Cara 999
Will look into that assessment
Cara, Have been using Estriol for a few months ??maybe 4 months and yes, it’s odd how you don’t notice something till it won’t stop bothering you, then it’s just a brainworm that won’t go away

[Minusminnie]

Any distraction can help the brainworm.

You may find that you are offered low dose amitripyline for any pain.  I found that it didn't work and the gynae who offered it to me wasn't greatly reassuring that it would but said worth a try.  You can get constipated on amitriptyline which you generally want to avoid with any prolapse.

[Cara999]

I agree with the distraction although its quite difficult to distract yourself when tje discomfort is constant. I remember trying meditation and walking 🚶‍♀️.  It will get better xxx

[Diamonds and pearls 53]

Kathryn, just to check, are you on the generic Estriol cream or are you on Ovestin? If it's the former, then Ovestin could give you more relief as it is is a stronger concentration of the same cream.

[MrsMitch]

Hi Kathryn, I have atrophy that I ended up diagnosing myself after reading on this forum. I had it for 12 agonising years prior to that without 1 GP or gynae correctly diagnosing it.
For me it takes oestrogen pessaries initially every night for at least 3 weeks and then 5 nights a week. But my GP says she cannot prescribe it that frequently and has put me on the waiting list for a menopause specialist.  I've been waiting over 12 months and still no apt but things have escalated recently and had to have tests at hospital in through the gynae so once I have results I hope to have a proper consultation and get the atrophy sorted.
One thing that really helps when it's very bad is to shower in cold water, air dry and then use local anesthetic cream both internally and externally. It stings like crazy for about 30 seconds but once it works it does seem to calm everything down, sometimes easing it for a day or two. The prospect of the stinging makes me reluctant to use it tbh but I grit my teeth and get on with it because its worth it.
I have to get my extra pessaries at Boots (Gina) as I cannot get enough for my dose on prescription yet, but I've even resorted to using 2 a night for 4 days when I get a bad flare up. I use one high up in my vagina and one just inside because if I don't then just one tablet in the middle never helps all the areas that need it.
For me the cream doesn't work as well all though I do also use it externally 3 times a week. Dr Currie says both shouldn't be necessary but for me it is.
Hope that helps. You can buy local anaesthetic cream online - my GP prescribes it simply because the gynae I once saw wanted to see if it enabled me to have sex without pain while she was at a loss as to what I was suffering from,  which it did, so she asked my GP to leave it on repeat. Honestly when it kicks in the relief is so good!

[kathryn22]

Hi Diamonds & Pearls
On the generic estriol (probably the cheapest option) going to ask for Ovestin if things don’t improve soon.
You have to use such a massive amount everytime and it always falls out in a lump the next morning at first pee so although I’m sure some is absorbed seems a messy waste of time
Thanks for the advice

[fiftyplus]

Hi MrsMitch

I too have diagnosed myself with vaginal atrophy but maybe I don't have that? - it's just painful when I have sex and does appear a bit dry.  What is the name of the anaesthetic cream that you use? How often do you use it? so it may help me with my issue of painful sex?