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[Ziggy]

Hi Everyone

I have Vaginal Atrophy and the whole experience is driving me crazy 😫😫..I have been using Gina and Estriol. I have started to see an improvement in symptoms in the past 2 days. On Wednesday for about 4 hours, I had no symptoms and felt "normal" again. On Thursday I went to GP and got more Estriol and she gave me a prescription for Yes. I had just bought some the day before but not used it. I had been using coconut oil. I put some on last night and thought this is great stuff. No pain and felt everything was nicely moisturised. Woke up this morning and i am in in so much discomfort. I am stinging, and just in so much pain. I don't usually have sensitivity to products. This is on another level. I'm due to go out for lunch as I am on holiday from work. I have been avoiding going out unless to work due to this condition. I was feeling as if I was making progress and seeing light at the end of the tunnel. Now this. I just want to sit with an ice pack. This condition is taking over my life. Can Yes vm do this or am I just having a bad flare up?

[CLKD]

Morning.  Did your GP discuss why she was giving you something else if symptoms have improved?  Did U get some estriol at the same time 


Get yourself into a cool bath or shower and treat the area gently then pat dry.  Do U have any estriol left, if so put a little on after your cleansing. Or the Gina.  Take some pain relief too.

Enjoy your lunch.   

[Minusminnie]

It does sound like the Yes has not agreed with you so maybe go back to where you were happier with the coconut oil or try something else.  Has the GP just prescribed Yes so that you don't have to buy it ?

You've not said how long you have been using these products. Presumably your GP doesn't know that you are using Gina ? are you unable to approach your GP about being prescribed Vagifem/Vagifrux equivalent to Gina ?

It can be difficult to obtain vagifem or equivalents if being used alongside Estriol as some GPs won't prescribe both.

I think you are advised with Gina to use it for a while and then see your GP but maybe you are happy to keep buying it.

[Ayesha]

If you had started to see improvements stick to what worked, it might just be a reaction to Yes.
Why did you buy Gina, as Minusminnie says, does your GP know and how long have you been using the treatment?

Some of us here use both Vagifem & Estriol together, the cream used topically on the outside and its perfectly safe to do this and recommended by a recent report.

[Ziggy]

Thanks for all your kind words and advice. This place community is amazing. Just knowing that other women are going through the same things, is very comforting. I popped on some Estriol and did some more of the YES vm, then crossed my fingers. I'm pleased to say I have been fine. To the point I feel as if nothing is wrong down below. Sometimes I think I get these "flare ups" no matter what I'm using. I feel even the coconut oil stings sometimes and other times, it does relieve symptoms. The two GPs I have seen, don't seem to be keen prescribing Estriol and internal medication. That is why I use Gina. Thanks again ladies. Hope you are all having a good day x

[Dierdre]

I can't tolerate YES VM, it burns and makes me sore. I'm ok with the YES waterbase though, just go back to what you were doing if that works. Ive tried loads of different moisturises over the years and never found one that didn't irritate. I use YES waterbase 5ml applicator if I'm really dry but even that starts to irritate if I use too much so i manage without. Vagifem and Estriol externally everyday.

[CLKD]

I would be asking the GP for a referral to a dedicated Menopause Clinic.  There are waiting lists for both NHS and private clinics, if U are in a good regime when the appt arrives, you can cancel.

Did U manage to go out today?   Stick to what works for. you ;-).

[Ziggy]

I can't tolerate YES VM, it burns and makes me sore. I'm ok with the YES waterbase though, just go back to what you were doing if that works. Ive tried loads of different moisturises over the years and never found one that didn't irritate. I use YES waterbase 5ml applicator if I'm really dry but even that starts to irritate if I use too much so i
manage without. Vagifem and Estriol
externally everyday.

Thanks for replying Dierdre. The thing with the YES vm, is that I'm fine during the day. However when I get to the evening, I start getting irritation. I was fine for about 5 hours today. Felt normal, no discomfort of any kind. However in the past two hours I can feel the irritation starting. I have also just bought some Seabuckthorn  capsules to try. I am on Gina and use Estriol.but I feel really dry down there and really need "moisture"..Thanks again for telling me your experience on YES.

[Ziggy]

I would be asking the GP for a referral to a dedicated Menopause Clinic.  There are waiting lists for both NHS and private clinics, if U are in a good regime when the appt arrives, you can cancel.

Did U manage to go out today?   Stick to what works for. you ;-).

Hi CLKD
Thank you, I will look into a referral. I always thought I had an easy menopause compared to some people, I feel I am paying the price now 😫..Yes I did manage to go out for lunch!! I was close to cancelling due to the discomfort. However I decided I couldn't cancel. I was dreading it, however I was fine all afternoon. I didn't even have the urge to t to to the bathroom. Unfortunately I am now in a lot of discomfort this evening. However I suppose when I look back to how I was 2 months ago, there has been some improvement in my symptoms. So I will just try and be positive. Thanks again for taking the time to reply.

[CLKD]

Get some VA treatment up there now ;-).  Don't sit and suffer!

[Minusminnie]

This is from the Gina website the video under 'when does it start to work' shows where you are after 2months/8 weeks where it is beginning to work which you may take heart from.

https://www.mygina.co.uk/faqs/?utm_campaign=gina-website&utm_medium=gina-website&utm_source=%2F&utm_content=Site%2BNav%2Blink

Here is Ayesha's thread about the report that she mentioned which may be useful should you feel the need to increase the number of doses.  Or even to show to a GP to obtain Vagifem alongside the estriol should you want to.

https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,69936.0.html

Distraction can be a help when in discomfort.  Just going out to lunch, being absorbed in a TV programme or similar your head is elsewhere sometimes without you realising it.

Putnams do specialised cushions with vulva cut out that are as discreet as possible and portable.

 

[Ziggy]

This is from the Gina website the video under 'when does it start to work' shows where you are after 2months/8 weeks where it is beginning to work which you may take heart from.

https://www.mygina.co.uk/faqs/?utm_campaign=gina-website&utm_medium=gina-website&utm_source=%2F&utm_content=Site%2BNav%2Blink

Here is Ayesha's thread about the report that she mentioned which may be useful should you feel the need to increase the number of doses.  Or even to show to a GP to obtain Vagifem alongside the estriol should you want to.

https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,69936.0.html

Distraction can be a help when in discomfort.  Just going out to lunch, being absorbed in a TV programme or similar your head is elsewhere sometimes without you realising it.

Putnams do specialised cushions with vulva cut out that are as discreet as possible and portable.

Thank you Minusminnie for taking the time to reply. Very interesting. I need something like this to keep me going. Had a terrible night. Woke up in such discomfort. I just sat downstairs crying in the early hours. Trying to stay positive about things but when I get such discomfort I just feel so down. I feel mother nature is playing a very cruel joke. Hope all you all have had a good day 🥰

[Minusminnie]

I'd be inclined to leave out any moisturiser until you get some better results from use of the Gina and Estriol.  Less in the mix can help.

There are many threads on here if you search on Vaginal Atrophy. There is a long running one called the Burning Club in private lives which i will bump up for you.

Some of the following advice from the vulva pain society is applicable https://vulvalpainsociety.org/get-support/advice-for-daily-life/ but you may already be doing things like wearing cotton/breathable underwear etc.

I admire that you have been proactive.  I think you are the first person to come on here and say that you are using Gina consistently.  Does the pharmacist know that you are also using Estriol ?

Take Care

[Ayesha]

After reading so much research on GSM (VA) the treatments are so low risk that you can be in charge of the condition yourself without outside intervention.
I feel if you give too much information to GP's and pharmacists they will tell you that you are overdosing as most will go by the official guidelines, and whilst we wait for those guidelines to be changed, rightly or wrongly we have to keep mum!

It can take months for the treatment to work and patience is needed but if after such time and one is still getting symptoms then that's the time to seek further help as it might mean something else going on.
Strictly my own view on this from my own experience and some health officials.