I have spent hundreds of pounds since being diagnosed in January this year much of which was a waste of money. Apart from the oestrogen creams my doctors did not recommend anything else apart from saying buy something from the chemist,
I only found out apart yes moisturiser being availabe on prescripton when i found their website so wonder what other items are available from your doctor.
I am currently on vagifem every three days since being referred to a specialist after the creams did not work.
Hi linda
i use estriol vaginal Ovules and ovestin cream for the outer skin.
been using almosy a yeat now and it reverses VA and been amazing for me.
my Gyno suggested it as I dont take any other HRT and this is simply for VA
good luck i hope you find something that works as its a miserable thing to live with
jay x
Forgot to say
i live in Spain so these are available easily from the Farmacia aswell.
called Ovestinon here ( Ovules or Cream)
UK maybe Ovestin Estriol .. Or may not supply it
jay x
Hola Linda. Uso Vagifem dos veces por semana y Yes tanto en aplicadores a base de agua como en los de base aceitosa cuando lo necesito. Parece funcionar bien. El Yes es caro y creo que el médico solo recetará una cantidad muy limitada; pregúntale y ve cuánto te da, porque me interesaría saberlo. Soy consciente del tejido cutáneo más delgado y voy a probar las supositorias de vitamina E de Amazon que he visto en este hilo. Me pregunto por qué esta horrible condición no es más conocida y por qué los médicos generalmente no son muy comprensivos.
Linda, he respondido más abajo. ¡Este sitio me está volviendo loca!
Hi Linda do you not find the vagifem helpfull then? i did but had to stop using them due to the fact i started bleeding again and had to have a scan to check the lining of my womb which luckily was ok. The vagifem is on prescription. My doctor told me there is nothing else that works as well on prescription. Think ill try what Jay suggested or theres the vitamin E supposteries which many are finding helpfull too.
Sue
Sally the only drs. that are sympathetic are the older women ones who know what its like, my dr. a man, just said stop the vagifem and that was that, no other help offered. They used to give out a product called silks but thats no longer available in prescription either. Atrophic condition also afects the bladder and urethal area as well which the vagifem helped with, it helps moisturise and plump the whole area up, im sorry i had to stop using them.
Sue
I also use premeno duo ovules in between they are from stress no more uk they are very nice and hydrate ( non hormonal ) i only use half and cut them in half while still in blister wrap ..
jay x
Hi Susan
Yes I was reluctant and very sceptical after using the oestrogen creams to no avail plus wary of the increase in cancer etc but have got to admit the vagifem pessarys are working and I am much better inside but still get very sore on the outer lips and vulva area.
I have used vagifem for 2 months now and should be using it twice a week but I find the 4 days too long so am taking it every three days. Back at the gynacologist in October for a review.
If you haven't tried the Vit E suppositories then I would buy some because they are good but also try organic coconut oil I alternate between the two and also have some other pessaries that have calendula oil and palm/coconut oils.
Sallybongo - I agree with you. I use Vagifem twice a week, I use Vit E gel things that I insert (just tried Vit E suppositories today - hope they work but so far not as good as the gel capsules) along with coconut oil externally. I was better for a while but seem to be having a relapse lately. It is so depressing and just has me in despair right now. Totally don't understand why this is not more widely know. I asked my doctor and he said women seem to be reluctant to talk about it. I don't have that problem I can tell you. I just wish I could get more relief. The urinary (UTI feeling) issues are almost worse than anything. I drink good, filtered water all the time, I take D-Mannose to get rid of any bacteria in the urine and just don't know what else to do. I'm down in the dumps this morning - sorry. I try to be more positive but this is just got me down right now. All we can do is keep trying ... and sharing when something really helps.
I use Vagifem.... I've been on it nearly a year now and am not
really sure if it was making much difference or not....I couldn't
even insert the tablets without becoming sore and twice
resulting in a UTI as I was so dry and basically was to
frightened, for want of a better word, to let Hubby anywhere nearme as a UTI always followed. Like you I've spent good money
over the years and was reluctant to waste any more until I read
about Sylk Lubricant....I sent off for a sample which comes in a
little sashet (sp)....and you only need a few drops....I put it on theVagifem tubes and it made using them so much easier.
I did purchase a full size...40ml bottle.... bottle from the chemist
at a cost of £10.20... quite expensive.
I know this doesn't exactly answer your question but you could
visit your Dr with this info and ask if its avaliable on prescription.
I know that next time I see mine I will be asking the same
question.
misskh, Have you tried using the coconut oil for a lubricant? Certainly affordable. In the US even Crisco is "making" organic oil in 798 ml jars that may have cost me around $6.00. Otherwise you can buy more expensive versions from the natural food stores. I found it very difficult to insert the VitE capsule until I used some of the coconut oil for a lubricant.No problems after that.
Hi beverly...
no I've not tried coconut oil.... I'm in the UK.... it is available here.
I haven't tried the vitamin E trick either.... are these just the
normal Vitamin E tablets that you buy from a general chemist or
supermarket?
yes, just vitamin E capsules. The person who first recommended it here said her doctor suggested it. She pricks hers open first, but they disolve on their own soon enough. Coconut oil is natural and seems to have no negative effects at all. Google the uses for it. There are many. You had best sleep with a towel under you and use a thin pad the next day after using the Vit E.The oil is thick and colored.
Oh Pat sympathise so much with your comments. They say men think about sex all the time well my vagina has taken over my life! The first thing I think of when I wake is "how am I today, how painful is it, how much burning is there"
On the odd days when then is nothing you think hurrah perhaps I am cured or in a relapse but it never lasts the whole day. Last week I had three bad days in sucession then two days of just mild discomfort. No idea why as my routine was the same and I had used the same products etc.
As a married woman who is married to a younger man of 6 years I get really despondent thinking I have this for the rest of my life.
Susan. ¿Por qué tuviste que dejar de tomar Vagifem? He estado tomando este medicamento durante al menos 3 años con recetas repetidas sin problemas.
I know what you mean about vagina taking over our lives. I lost my husband in 2010, then met a wonderful man 3 or 4 years later...he too is younger than me. Thank God he is very understanding ... but it sure makes me feel terrible - being less than a woman sexually. So much loss in the last 5 years for me - and I include the VA in that. I lost my ability to enjoy sexual contact. We need that closeness. I wake up - just like you. How bad is it right now, will it get worse, nervous and anxious about it all day. I'm off work today so I am at home working on art projects. I take commission work from people and I have a lot to do. But can't concentrate and my hands are shaking because I am in a level of discomfort ... running to the bathroom every hour or so. Well, I am definitely feeling sorry for myself right now so I am going to STOP THAT. Thanks for listening...it helps to share and vent.
Sally i was using vagifem for about 6 months when i noticed i was getting like this slight period pain, then i noticed a brownish discharge that went onto have streaks of fresh blood in it. Iwas sent for a scan to see if my lining of my womb had enlarged at all, thankfully it hadn' t, This was the first signs it was affecting an area thats prone to cancer when using vagifem which i was warned about from day one. Was just told to stop using them and that was that. Your very lucky you have been able to use this for 3 years without any problems. I was put on the weakest strength as well.
Gosh...I find this quite scary as when I went on it last year my
Dr had just come back from a menopause talk conference and
said as the tablet dose had been dropped from 25mg to
10mg the tablets were safe to use and that they were topical (?)
So therefore safe to use.
misskh the vagifem i was given was pesseries to insert to get to the parts that neede more estogen replacement, ie urethal area and the vagina itselfe. They helped a lot, was sad to ahve had to stop using these as i have been offered nothing else, just left to my own devices, Are we talking about the same thing hear? ive found this info on google
What is the most important information I should know about Vagifem® (an estrogen hormone)?
Using estrogen-alone may increase your chance of getting cancer of the uterus (womb). Report any unusual vaginal bleeding right away while you are using Vagifem®. Vaginal bleeding after menopause may be a warning sign of cancer of the uterus (womb). Your healthcare provider should check any unusual vaginal bleeding to find the cause.
Do not use estrogen with or without progestins to prevent heart disease, heart attacks, strokes, or dementia (decline of brain function).
Using estrogen-alone may increase your chances of getting strokes or blood clots. Using estrogens with progestins may increase your chances of getting heart attacks, strokes, breast cancer, or blood clots.
Using estrogens with or without progestins may increase your chance of getting dementia, based on a study of women age 65 years or older.
You and your healthcare provider should talk regularly about whether you still need treatment with Vagifem®.