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[Daisycat]

Hello everyone!

I found you today and am so pleased to find other women in the same position as me

I am early 50s now and struggling with hot flushes, (up to 28 nightly and plenty in the day too  ) and PMV.  Can't take HRT (although I would ) due to migraine and some blood clotting issues.

This morning I had a dreadful time having my smear so off to seek out threads on this subject.

Take care everyone.

You all seem so friendly.

[MicheleMaBelle]

Hidaisycat

You mentioned problems with your smear test? Was this down to dryness? If so, maybe taking topical oestrogen would work for you. Very little is absorbed into the system so even if you can't take HRT, vaginal oestrogen might help things down under!

Ask away- we're all pretty nice and you'll get lots of supporti

M x

[Daisycat]

Hello M

Lovely to meet you. (just read the my bladder thread from beginning to end!!)

Yes the smear was a problem due to atrophy (delightful word).  I have been taking vagifem for a few months and it helped  a little saw GP and discussed pain on intercourse as well as imminent smear.

She advised I take vagifem every night for 3 weeks then book smear for the week after.

Left off vagifem for 2 days before smear as advised by the leaflet you get with your smear invite.  When I arrived the nurse said it had to be 2 WEEKS!!  She rang 'the lab' in my presence who confirmed this.

So this morning I returned having been off it for the said 2 weeks and - no chance 

I am actually still bawling about it I feel like a shrivelled up old lady.  She is referring me to the colposcopy clinic as they do all the difficult ones.

Feeling very sad

Any ideas?

I have made an appointment to see my GP earliest date is 29th of June.

[Daisycat]

Thank you Sparkle 

I virtually ripped that packet open when I got my first box!!

I'm glad you've started on yours too.  It has helped initially with day to day discomfort and wee-urge, but not intercourse hence the GP suggesting nightly for 3 weeks.

It feels like that was a waste of time now

Ah well

xx

[MicheleMaBelle]

Hi daisycat you poor soul.

Go online about vagifem dosing... I'm on ovestin and prescribed daily for 2 weeks then twice a week for 10 weeks then once a week as long as I need it.
You might just need to clarify with your GP- I think lots of ladies on here use vagifem so hopefully someone will be along soon that will make more sense than me!
Also, my consultant has also prescribed SYlk vaginal lubricant. Not that I've had cause to use it very much but I thought it was very good and better than Replens.
Yes, it's a horrible word" atrophy" but hey ho, try and get it sorted quick as you can x

[Daisycat]

Thank you Michelle

Feeling better just hearing support from you all

xxx

[Hurdity]

Hi Daisycat

  from me too.

Just to add that HRT is not necessarily contra-indicated with migraine and in fact may lessen the frequency of attacks in some women if they are hormonally induced. There are very few conditions for which HRT is not advised ( ie as a blanket refusal). However as you mention blood clotting issues - under certain circumstances it is not advised:

Contraindications for HRT.

Pregnancy
Undiagnosed abnormal vaginal bleeding
Active or recent blood clot or myocardial infarction (heart attack)
Suspected or active breast or endometrial (womb) cancer
Active liver disease with abnormal liver function tests
Porphyria cutanea tarda

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

This is what it says on this website about migraine:

Migraine
Migraine is often triggered by hormonal fluctuations and therefore may occur around the time of a period. Such migraine may improve at the time of the menopause. Some women find that migraine may be triggered by the daily hormone fluctuations which can occur with oral (tablet) HRT so the transdermal (patch or gel) route is usually preferred with a history of migraine.


https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/atoz.php#GlossM

Do ask for referral to a menopause specialist if you feel you would like to go down this route in case you are able to take transdermal HRT for example, under supervision?

PMV???

Other ways that might lessen the impact of hot flushes are to keep within healthy BMI ie making sure you are not overweight, reducing alcohol caffeine and spicy foods. Additionally if you cannot cope and specialists have given the ultimate no-no to HRT - there are some medications ( intended for other purposes) which can  be prescribed for hot flushes and may work in some women. They are listed here:

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

Hope this helps and let us know how you get on

Hurdity x

[CLKD]

I have my pre-smear info to hand: NHS advice in the leaflet states: ......... "Please don't use any vaginal medications, lubricant or creams in the 2 days before you have your test because they can affect the sample your nurse or doctor takes" ........ of course that should read "affect the sample that your nurse or doctor will take"  . [sex should be avoided too ;-) ]

Ring your Surgery in the morning and quote me from this site!  There is no point in having treatment for VA is there  by 2 weeks I would have healed up!

I keep forgetting to make my appt. 

[Daisycat]

I took the leaflet with me with that line highlighted in yellow CLKD and gave it to the nurse this morning.  Didn't help much but she said she'd discuss it with the other nurses at least. If there had been a telephone number on the leaflet I would have phoned them myself to be honest.

I think I have practically healed up too

I hope you remember to make your appointment.

For vaginal atrophy read Post menopausal vagina Hurdity!!  I read it somewhere and rather liked it

Seriously I am also taking clonidine for hot flushes (and migraine preventer).  I might just discuss the possibility of HRT under guidance and support because the clonidine helped initially but I soon got used to them.  Helped loads with the migraines though. 

I exercise at least 5 days a week am still a size 10 and drink no caffeine.  I even do yoga

I have tried so hard you know....

nipped outside to cool off a flush

Back now.

I think what made it worse was abstinence when 3 years ago my youngest got leukaemia and I went off intercourse to be honest.

Anyway she's fine now and I'm left with this to sort out....and I haven't even mentioned the panic attacks have I?

Sorry I'll shut up now, but you lot have no idea how much you have helped me today...bawling again!

xx

[CLKD]

I wonder if the Nurse actually rang the Lab., whether she was trying to cover up for not knowing  .

Ring and ask for an appt. next week and in the mean time, use the VA treatment  .  If a Nurse is qualified to take a smear she should know the advice and quite honestly, I wouldn't let her near a peanut leave alone my vagina 

[Daisycat]

She actually rang them with me there honestly! Mind you I didn't hear their reply did I?

I don't want her anywhere near my bits either

Thank you for making me laugh CLKD

 

[Jenna]

Hi Daisycat,

I use Estriol Cream for VA, and I stopped using it a week before my smear. I did, however, use Yes water-based vaginal moisturiser daily until 48 hours before the appointment. When the nurse took the smear she actually said she could see some Estriol cream up there  and thought the smear could be unsuccessful. It was luckily all OK though! Personally I wouldn't think Vagifem would remain for that long, but what do I know?!

When you do get times when you cannot use Vagifem (apart from the two days before a smear test), I would try Yes water-based (a clear gel) as I really think it could help you. It is available on prescription or from Holland and Barrett or online.

Good luck!

[Daisycat]

Hi Jenna

Thank you for sharing your experience 

I think it's possible bits of the tablets might be there of course, but maybe the Yes moisturiser would clear any residue away and keep things from drying out too much.

Thank you again

xxx

[Jenna]

Yes, Daisycat, the Yes water-based moisturiser works wonders. Have a look at their website - there is lots of very interesting information on there:

https://www.yesyesyes.org/vaginal-atrophy/

I totally understand about the speculum incident, having been there myself some years ago and all is well now, so please don't worry. You will be fine, but I think I had a month (if not longer) of daily oestrogen before I could allow the speculum to open! The things we talk about! xx

[Daisycat]

Yes, Daisycat, the Yes water-based moisturiser works wonders. Have a look at their website - there is lots of very interesting information on there:

https://www.yesyesyes.org/vaginal-atrophy/

I totally understand about the speculum incident, having been there myself some years ago and all is well now, so please don't worry. You will be fine, but I think I had a month (if not longer) of daily oestrogen before I could allow the speculum to open! The things we talk about! xx

I know, but this is a place I, (and I am a very private person), already feel comfortable discussing with you all!!

Thank you I have had a look at the website and will buy some TOMORROW

xx