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[Daisydot]

Hi ladies I'm going to see GP tomorow armed with my letter from Dr Currie with her recommendations on it.
I have been on Premarin for 3 weeks roughly and I started the vaginal estriol cream 6 days ago.already I'm starting to notice a huge difference in my pain factor downstairs no burning no feeling of paper cuts everywhere I'm using every trick in the book to try and heal myself there.
My question is which is best the vagifem pessarie or the estriol cream in your experience,God is it messy I look like a cornetto has been rammed up there lol.so I'm wondering would the pessarie be better especially as I'm going on holiday and don't relish the idea of anything oozing out of the bikini 
I am going to try and get GP to take me off Premarin and put me on transdermal gel along with the vaginal treatment,this is what dr Currie suggested so fingers crossed I'm really nervous about approaching it but I have to.any tips please ladies if youve used the pessary.thank you xx

[Tinkerbell]

I started with Ovestin cream, it  worked well but changed to Vagifem, which I have been using for nearly three years, have to say I prefer the vagifem.

[Daisydot]

Thank you tinkerbell I'm hoping he'll be on the ball tomorow,GP, and not get the hump with me it'll just depend on my approach I think.im also getting a bit worried about changing over the types of HRT now as I go away on Friday for 8 days and I'm scared I get some bad symtoms rearing their heads again so I maybe wait till I come back then do the change over if GP agrees to the recommended treatments.many thanks for your helpful reply xx

[Daisydot]

Well just been to GP again and Im feeling pretty deflated again.we go so full of hope don't we.
I asked to be changed from Premarin to transdermal gel as I was told the risks were much less at my age of 60 and it would be safer option for me,fist of all he pretended he couldn't understand me so I whipped out Dr Curries email with recommendations on it,he said who is this person so I pointed out all her credentials at the bottom of letter and said she is a consultant that I had approached for advice.He then looked at letter and then said he does not have this gel on his computer system and therefore cannot prescribe so I said ok then will you just change me to the recommended patch then to which he reluctantly said why,I said because of reduced risks as advised so he said ok.he then said no more estriol vahginal cream after this 2nd tube as I wouldn't need it anymore and was risking too much estrogen.
I spoke to chemist in boots and he said the gel pump is on the system and doesn't understand why GP wouldn't prescribe so go back to consultant and tell her to phone gp and get him to prescribe but I can't do that I feel as if I'm putting dr Currie in an awkward position as I'm not her patient I just asked her advice by email and she was so kind to try and help with recommendations for me.this GP is the head of practice so he's the best of a bad bunch they are all very unapproachable.I took my husband in with me this morning and he didn't even acknowledge him or ask either of us any menopause questions,I don't think I'd have gotten anywhere if hubby hadn't been with me.
I feel kind of defaulted just now maybe I'm over reacting but I still don't feel I'm getting anywhere with GP and its forcing me down an expensive route I can't really afford and shouldn't have to but just want to be well.dr Currie recommended evoril patches or the transdermal gel along with estriol cream vaginal.ive got the patches but would have preferred the gel but no joy.opinions welcome please.xx

[Annie0710]

I have on my possession both vagifem and ovestin.  I love the easiness of vagifem and use ovestin externally if I get sore but I've been inserting the pessaries midway and that's helping up and out !

[Daisydot]

Hi Annie that sounds good.im just in the process of changing my GP to another local practice it can't do any harm and I'm feeling very down at trying to get help but feeling downtrodden every time I go.
I going on holiday tomorow so by the time I get back I'll be registered at new practice and hopefully back in full fighting mode after some sun lol.
I'm not going to change to the patches anyway till I get back.x

[Hurdity]

Hi Daisydot

Sorry I missed your post - as I've been busy most of the week and hardly been on here ( and will continue to be busy!). You will now be on holiday and hopefully not looking on here at all - and enjoying yourself rather than thinking about menopause!

However, I totally understand your frustration - you are absolutely not overeacting at all. You have taken all the right steps to get the treatment you need and deserve. Can you just remind me you are in UK? The doc should not fob you off - you have the right to have the treatment you want and if the doc is not aware of the safety issues beyond 60 then he needs a kick up  the A*$£.

The pharmacist made a good suggestion but e-mail advice is not the same as private treatment and of course the e-mail service does not provide for more detailed consultations with Dr Currie -  I mean you have a copy of her advice and that should be sufficient! It is a good idea to change GP and do ask which one is more sympathetic and knowledgeable about menopause and HRT.

As for the too much oestrogen if you are using it vaginally as well as systemic HRT - absolute rubbish. My GP tried that one on me and I simply don't go and see her any more as she obviously didn't understand about dosage and absorption. Fine if they are not specialist but when you have more knowledge than they do, they should have the humility to recognise that they are not gods and perhaps to refer you to someone who does know - or at least take account of a specialist gynae like Dr Currie.

I also have Vagifem, systemic HRT (patch oestrogen) and estriol cream all to use! The cream I magine is messy to use with the applicator and having to wash this out - but I use Vagifem internally and estriol cream on outer areas as as when.

You are right not to change regime until after your holiday - enjoy yourself - is it somewhere sunny!

Above all please do not desapir - you will get there - and I presume once you have registered with a new practice you will be able to write to the practice manager or higher to explain why you have made your decision as this doc is not doing women any favours.

Hope this helps and do take care

Hurdity x

[Daisydot]

Hi Hurdity thank you so much for taking the time to answer my post and send me a mail advising you'd did this as you rightly said I was away on holiday so would have missed it as the Internet was terrible very hit or miss and very expensive.As usual your advice is first class and spot on and really appreciated.Now that I'm home I can focus on getting myself sorted out,I've already changed gps(yes in uk ) and they have got to be an improvement on the last lot so next time I'm due my meds I'll soon find out as nothing's on repeat I'll have to go for consult anyway.
I didn't change from premarin to the evoril 25 patches when I was away as I wanted to give them a fair chance so now I'm home I'll start them tomorrow,I'm a bit nervous about that but I've got to try.the estrogen cream has made a massive difference to my undercarriage now I can't beleive in two weeks it's healed me all and I've no discomfort at all down there now unbelievable after suffering all that pain and bleeding from the cuts.I also have no more sweats day or night,I've been on Premarin around 4 weeks now.Ive gone from literally every few minutes sweats and soaking beds every night to nothing although I have noticed I've had backache and dredful dreams the last few weeks.no uti or anything I've checked.just right across my back aches but I have had back problems previously due to degenerative disc disease.
I had the holiday from hell I won't bore you with all the details but had an accident,hotels fault,and ended up at local hospital having xrays which thankfully showed no breakages but doctor said to me in broken English,I have concerns about your bones you are 60 but have bones of an 80 years old,and should wear a collar on your neck,that freaked me out a bit I didn't like that so I need to do a bit of research now I am home to see how I can improve on that if at all.anyway off for a snooze now was a long flight today and I was desperate to get home,I actually looked healthier when I left the uk lol.many thanks again enjoy your weekend xx

[CLKD]

Daisy: U R not over-reacting.  Your GP may not like 'outside' advice, many don't.  Is there a Practice Nurse?  They are often more approachable. Failing that, change your Surgery.

Do get your GP to refer you for a bone scan, if a Doctor has raised concerns it is worth while: it should be performed on your pelvis as it's the denest (sp) part of the body .  In the mean time, lots of brisk walking as it impacts the bones - bones need 'work' in order to keep healthy; skipping, walking, Zumba ....... 10 mins. every day can improve bone density. 

I would be sending another e-mail to Dr Currie asking why there are still GPs reluctant to recommend proper menopause treatments!  Worth the £25.00 perhaps?

[Daisydot]

Hi CLKD thank you for your welcome comments again good advice.I have changed practice I did it before I went on holiday,the practice nurse was lovely at the old practice but not so confident and had to OK the estrogen cream originally with GP before she could prescribe so her Input was quite restricted by them for some reason.
I did actually go to Zumba gold a year ago then I had another injury and had to give it up but now was planning to restart now my physio has finished,I couldn't on their advice till I was well enough.as usual it's just about getting up the confidence to go.
I have to say I got that £25 worth of email advice ten times over from dr Currie she was a gem and despaired just as much as I did over GP but unless she can physically go to each and every surgery to educate them there's not a lot anyone can do they are so stuck in their ways and so reluctant to help and I've encountered that in quite a few practices here as each time ive moved house I've moved gps.
I will find a way round all this and feel as though ive made a dent in things over the last few weeks and I am moving forward,sometimes I just can't believe that I never made the link between stopping the HRT 5/6 years ago and all the health problems that have subsequently crept in If could kick my own ass I would lol.thank again for advice it's very kind of you xx