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[kathryn22]

Me again
OMG just can’t get this flare up to settle Posted before that I'd had a good ish week and then BAM all hell broke loose
Tried upping the moisturising and stopped the estriol as it was burning like hell all of a sudden but no change
Spoke to the gp nurse as I am now suffering from anxiety and acute depression but she couldn’t help and said wait for my meds review in 10 days time
Tried again today to see someone face to face but again knocked back and told to wait I’m in real pain now and this is just stoking the anxiety
It could be the prolapse putting pressure on other things but the go that deals with that stuff can’t see me for a month
So desperate and nowhere to turn
Advice Advice Advice if you have any
I’m turning into a keyboard warrior ☹️

[Ayesha]

Its obvious the cream you are using is making your situation worse. As I mentioned in your other thread, are you able to buy Vagifem (Gina) yourself to at least get started again on your VA treatment as its not a good thing to stop treatment.
Your surgery is letting you down badly by making you wait but if you have never tried Vagifem before either ask the surgery for it or buy it if you can.

[CLKD]

Your nurse is negligent if you explained how your mental health issues are increasing, she should at least have got a GP to telephone you!!!!  lack of co-ordination again.

I would ring to speak to the Practice Manager to C if she can by-pass to get you an appt..  Any amount of days is too long when in trouble.  Otherwise go along and sit in the waiting room until you can be seen? 

It mayB that your vaginal skin is so thin that it burns on contact with anything put up there.  Do U have any KY Jelly which if applied to the outer labia and slightly into the vagina may well be cooling enough or: try laying in a cool bath ?  No bubbles/soap etc..  No one should have to wait for an appt when in discomfort, no wonder people end up in A&E 

[Dierdre]

Go back to what you were doing before when you were having a goodish week. Try the estriol again on it's own so you know what is working or not. If you are sore anything you use will burn until the flare up settles. Anxiety will make the flare up worse so trying to relax will help (I know that's easier said than done but it will help). Is it Ovestin you are using? I always use Bepanthan baby ointment on top of Ovestin externally to stop the stinging when I'm sore. Reintroduce the moisturiser only when things have settled to make sure that's suiting you, not all do.
Use the estriol morning and night for a while until you're comfy again.

[MrsMitch]

Kathryn, I really feel for you because i have horrendous VA.  I'm on the waiting list to see a specialist because my GP cannot prescribe the oestrogen pessaries x5 per week which is what I need. So I buy Gina in between prescriptions as a top up. If I have a flare up to actually use two pessaries at a time, one as high up inside as I can get it and one 2/3 of the way down so everything gets some, it really does work. I then tell the GP I've had a flare up and they will prescribe extra.
It's so annoying the women are still being ignored and not help with this debilitating condition.  It is life changing and restricting. 
I think it sounds as though you should only use the pessaries and ovestin cream and nothing else. I hope it works if you persevere because if left untreated you will not have as good an end result when you do get treatment.

[CLKD]

Why can't your GP prescribe as required MrsMitch?  There is nothing to suggest that ladies can't take this nightly for as long as is necessary.  Dr Newson is trying to get the wording in the leaflets in the box altered too.

'can't or won't' springs to mind!  Buy him/her a copy of 'me and my menopausal vagina'! ;-). Better still, refer him/her to our website to read the appropriate threads ? 

[Taz2]

Why can't your GP prescribe as required MrsMitch?  There is nothing to suggest that ladies can't take this nightly for as long as is necessary.  Dr Newson is trying to get the wording in the leaflets in the box altered too.

'can't or won't' springs to mind!  Buy him/her a copy of 'me and my menopausal vagina'! ;-). Better still, refer him/her to our website to read the appropriate threads ? 

Some GPs follow NICE guidelines and others don't. https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/incontinence-urinary-in-women/prescribing-information/intravaginal-oestrogen/#preparations-dosage

These guidelines also state that treatment should stop once a year to review whether still needed! 

[CLKD]

I think that NICE should be dismantled [like the NHS and Post Office] and rebuilt from the ground up.

[Ayesha]

NICE guidelines totally out of date with regards to using topical treatment for VA as you can now buy it over the counter or online.
My prescription for daily use of Vagifem has never been questioned at medication reviews as it is for life and not a treatment that you can just suddenly stop.

NICE needs updating to stop all the nonsense that some women have to go through to obtain vital VA treatment and not left to suffer in agony with the most horrible symptoms that I have ever experienced when it's allowed to get to the chronic stage!

[Ayesha]

Kathryn, I really feel for you because i have horrendous VA.  I'm on the waiting list to see a specialist because my GP cannot prescribe the oestrogen pessaries x5 per week which is what I need. So I buy Gina in between prescriptions as a top up. If I have a flare up to actually use two pessaries at a time, one as high up inside as I can get it and one 2/3 of the way down so everything gets some, it really does work. I then tell the GP I've had a flare up and they will prescribe extra.
It's so annoying the women are still being ignored and not help with this debilitating condition.  It is life changing and restricting. 
I think it sounds as though you should only use the pessaries and ovestin cream and nothing else. I hope it works if you persevere because if left untreated you will not have as good an end result when you do get treatment.

I have to say if its straight forward vaginal atrophy why the need to see a specialist. I didn't and was prescribed daily use of Vagifem by my GP without any questions asked, she just said I needed oestrogen and that was that. Two years on and no more symptoms.

[MrsMitch]

It's so annoying isn't it? Some of you are getting it prescribed for daily use yet for me, I gave to wait to see the specialist.  I've already waited over a year and my GP says she cannot prescribe it for more than x2 per week.
Is anyone able to post a link with anything from Dr Currie or any other info that I could try to get my GP to read in the hope I can get it daily too? I'd really appreciate it, thank you.

[CLKD]

Send an e-mail to Emma for advice .............

R U in Scotland, NI or Wales Mrs Mitch which may make a difference or it may be that the GP is ignorant. 

[Ayesha]

MrsMitch, I know some women have more complex issues with conditions like thrush, eczema and others thrown into the VA mix that a specialist can pick up on, but if you think you are suffering with VA alone and you feel better with taking the extra pessaries, you could put over the argument to your GP saying why are women being prescribed daily treatment and I am not when I know I need the extra pessaries to get my VA under control.
Just as an extra thought although more expense for you, would a pea sized amount each day of Ovestin on the outside also help you, it can be obtained online.

I am in London but soon to move, but I have to say I have never come across anything like some women have to go through to get the medication needed without having to put up a fight to get it. I am armed and ready for any issues regarding my VA treatment thanks to this forum and the information I have gained over the last two years, plus the fact my GP has been amazing with her no nonsense attitude, you need oestrogen full stop!

[MrsMitch]

Thank you Ayesha. I do have Ovestin too which I also use. I saw a gynae for years and had various treatments for all thoughts of things I didn't have. In the end I self diagnosed here on the forum and asked for the pessaries from the GP. Using them frequently practically gets rid of most of the pain, not the dryness but I use coconut oil to stay comfy. So yes, you're right, it may have been something else, I think the fact other treatments didn't work and the pessaries did speaks volumes.
I hope when you move you'll get the help you need. I am going to phone my GP and ask why so many women are even prescribed it for daily use, just not me. It does seem its the luck if the draw as to weather you'll get what you need or not.

[CLKD]

Mrs Mitch - U could ask Dr Currie directly for a fee, if she is accepting private PMs.  Emma may well know.