So many things going through my head regarding all this… it started in 2015, no before then, with frequency and urgency, took me a while to seek help, dr advised vesicare, but I read side effects, dryeyes etc, and decided not to take… bladder so bothersome had to go see her again and after reading about local oestrogen on here, I suggested it to her, and asked if i could try low dose estriole cream… used it successfully, bladder better (although still had some days that were terrible) from May 2015 -Oct when I had a post meno bleed, only light, but not having had anything since the previous August 2014, I called Dr, she said probably nothing but referred me for hysteroscopy and gynae appointment.
Had that in Dec 2015, gynae had problems inserting the camera as she said my cervix was closed, and she said 'you're too young for this' didn't think to ask what she meant… anyway after opening cervix, hysteroscopy showed thin lining 4mm… I was surprised when she suggested Mirena, hadn't expected any HRT advise, she said it would protect uterus from any effects of oestrogen therapy, she also fitted the estring, she said she could prescribe a patch or I could think about it and see my GP.
When I got home a bit numb from all that had happened, and totally confused, I came on here seeking advise, and was strongly advised to start systemic estrogen asap otherwise the Mirena could cause atrophy of uterus lining, which scared me!… I called my GP and asked for estrogel, which I've been on ever since.
I started on one pump, which was ok, but again, reading on here and still feeling weird by all the gadgetry inside me, I increased to two pumps hoping I could do without estring… I removed estring in August last year as I wanted to see how things went… on holiday in sept, I had an attack of what felt like thrush, presumed it was, as suffered recurrent thrush in my pill days before my children were born.… treated it with canesten in Spain, and it did settle down, think I put estring back in for a few weeks, but really can't remember.… oh prior to that, bladder was still causing problems so I did go on vesicare, 1 5mg tablet per day, and I still take it, although I've managed to reduce to one every other day, and bladder is so much better.…
Hope you are still with me (thank you ) …
removed estring and all was ok until I went on holiday this March, MAJOR flare up of something! … soreness, burning, inflammation, itching, bladder was bad too, again thought it was thrush, holiday, eating out, wine etc… bought canesten, improved a bit, bought second canesten, improved more… but still left feeling sore, burning, I can only liken it to that burn during childbirth when skin is stretched
Saw GP on my return she took swab for thrush and all was clear…
And that's my story… back on estring since April, just inserted new one two weeks ago.… and still aware of my vagina all the time, sore, ****ly, burning, slight irritation at times try not to scratch or rub as that can crack the skin.
I've had a new doctor since last year, my lovely lady retired… I Asked my new GP for estriole cream at my last appointment in May, she said she would have to find out if it could be used with everything else… I called three weeks ago as not heard anything, she said she was waiting for reply and that general thoughts were no, as too much oestrogen, and offered no other advice other than trying a patch instead of estrogel … I called surgery this Minday and apparently there is a reply on system from hospital gynae… I called this morning as still not heard from GP, got call back to say she'll call me tomorrow.
VA has never been mentioned to me by doctor or gynae, it's something I have come to my own conclusion about, I presume it is? I look at my bits, but really don't know how they looked before, so don't know what I'm looking for to show me it's VA.… all I know is I'm feeling very down about it … and don't know what else to do or try … thank you for reading, and for any thoughts or advise, sorry for taking your time x