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[Tinkerbell]

The menopause specialist  didn't like it when I questioned him, he wanted me to have a hysterscopy because of, as he put it, my overuse of Vagifem, he said it shouldn't be used long term, I had only been using it for 8 months!

[dahliagirl]

8 months is no time at all 

[CLKD]

'over use' - that brings me back to that bus.  You know, the one that will knock you over long B4 HRT gets a grip !

[sjpercy3]

Ergh, what a joke. Tc, do you mind me asking where you go for your appointments?

[Tc]

O.k. they've called me back and said that is the way they prescribe it in their clinic.

She will not budge

I wonder if it's because its gynae oncology. Imaybe that's why  she doesn't like HRT.

But they are giving ladies once a week vagifem with no loading dose. They might as well be giving a placebo.its not going to work its pointless.

I'm going to complain and I've said I'm not going to start the vagifem if i haven't got enough to do the loading dose awhats the point nd i said you'd better not stop my estriol cream.
It makes no sense. The visit before her boss was happy to give me estriol twice a week.  She said the appointment yesterday supercedes what was said in December.

I'm so frustrated I could cry.

This is the clinic which prescribed me 100mg per day of ulipristall (which,is taken max dose 5mg or 30mg as morning after pill) instead of utrogestan. I've got that in writing as well.

I need to get a second opinion. If it's because they are oncology they wont prescribe the vagifem in the correct way then I need to be at a different clinic.

[Tc]

So I cant start the vagifem. I will have to continue with the estriol. I just pray she doesn'tt stop that in her letter to gp.

I've booked an appointment with my gp  and I'm going to ask to be referred elsewhere. I don't see the point in going back to that clinic (it's at my local hospital).

And im going to formally complain.

I've emailed the makers of vagifem. I asked if it would be effective if I skipped the loading dose and just used it once a week.

If it's TRUE that they only prescribe it like that in the clinic I feel so upset that there are ladies out there who have VA and are wondering why their symptoms are not getting better on 1 vagifem per week. It takes 2  weeks of daily doses to re-estregonize the vagina. They are being mislead that their VA is being treated and they might get worse and suffer in silence

Omg. I dont think I've  been this angry in a long time!!  Maybe it's a good sign.

[CLKD]

This is beyond fighting.  We will use a lot of energy between us  .

I think that Dr Currie should know your problems.  Hopefully the Company will come back with positive news also what does the leaflet in the box suggest?

  ...........

[Hurdity]

Sorry to hear about this Tc - how frustrating for you. From my knowledge of how it works I would suggest you don;t need to do a re-laod with Vagifem. After all both products work by increasing the maturation of the vaginal tissues, and lowering the ph of the vagina (in a nutshell) which in your case is being achieved through estriol ( which is acting to do this mainly through different oestrogen receptors than estradiol). Therefore if you feel that your VA at the moment is controlled, then in your position I would switch straight to maintenance dose of twice a week.

It quite clearly says on the emc website ( electronic Medicines Compendium) which  "contains up to date, easily accessible information about medicines licensed for use in the UK" that the maintenance dose is twice a week so although you have written to the manufacturer - this should not be necessary as your gynae clearly is not following these.

Here they are:
https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/5719/smpc

"Initial dose: One vaginal tablet daily for two weeks.

Maintenance dose: One vaginal tablet twice a week."

The dose is already much lower than the discontinued higher dose one (of 25 mcg) so 10 mcg twice a week is an absolute minimum.

Just to remind us though - I am sorry I can't remember what sort of cancer you suffered from? I think your gynae is being very cautious on your behalf? I haven;t read all the thread....

Hurdity x

[CLKD]

So what's to do when medics refuse to treat the person and improve symptoms?  Who to complain to? 

[Joaniepat]

I do so wish I had thought to advise you to ask for an Estring. This delivers 7.5 mcg estradiol over 24 hours and stays in place for 2-3 months. Thus, it is the equivalent of about five Vagifem per week, saving a lot of b*gg*ring about with ignorant medics who want to mess with your prescriptions.

I am as dumbfounded as the rest of the members over your one Vagifem a week. Good luck with your complaint and hope you can get a second opinion, no reason why not.
AAARRRGGGHHH 

JP x

[Tc]

Thank you joaniepat.
Hurdity. I had a tumour on ovary which turned out to be a non cancerous dermoid.  They did a pelvic wash during the OP. So 2 weeks after the op  when I went back they knew the biopsy result was benign and the wash showed no cancerous cells. I was lucky I didn't have cancer but they knew this months ago. I dont know why they've got me taking up an oncology appointment now anyway.
My mum who was with me  said she gets the feeling because of what they are dealing with everyday they maybe dont have much sympathy for what they see as trivial in comparison.
I think that really came across yesterday.
It's not the right place to treat me. Free up an oncology space and send me somewhere more appropriate and I've said this to them. It's not logical.

I haven't felt the cream has helped all that much on the inside. I feel it's got worse inside  but I might have been even worse without it. I've not been able to get down to less than every other night.

Even if I skip the loading dose of vagifem she has only prescribed 12 doses for 12 weeks and will not prescribe any more. So I dont see how I can switch over to once a week product.its not worth it.

She didn't want me to use estriol on the outside either so I'm only hoping she hasn't stopped that. I told the secretary I'm not going to start the vagifem as I dont believe it was an effective dose and so they'd better not stop my estriol.

It really doesnt make sense that the same clinic were happy for me to be on estriol twice weekly  but not vagifem.
Thank you for the link.

[Katymac]

I am starting to wonder if:

A) there is something wrong with Vagifem that the doctors know but aren't allowed to tell us

or

B) 'old' women' are useless so let's not spend any money on them



Bare in mind I am very new to this and not generally a conspiracy theorist

[suzysunday]

I would guess b!

[CLKD]

No one can explain to me what 'old' actually signifies, like when does one become old  .  Insurance Companies; GPs; friends .......... it's a number and one can feel old first thing in the morning but those feelings go off after a while.  If I was asked at breakfast how old I think I am I would say 90 then as the day goes on .......... 

[Tc]

Katymac. So true.
This particular doc is 30 if shes a day. I do think her attitude might be different if I was younger. She kept mentioning my age and I definitely got feeling she thinks I should let nature take its course