Vaginal atrophy Options

[PhoebeMcB]

Tinkybug,

Thank you SO much for responding. I have been going crazy worrying about this and thinking maybe something else was wrong with me. The oozy feeling is hard to describe, as well as the yucky. It almost feels like a period used to but without the bleeding. Is that sort of what you have had? I'm not using any kind of estrogen cream or anything but I put on some cream my doctor had given me for urethral syndrome.

Susan

[PhoebeMcB]

Hi,

It's me again. Just wondering if anyone else out there has experienced what I'm describing with the atrophic vaginitis. As you can probably guess, I do have problems with anxiety, and it would help to know that this is normal, if there is such a thing. I don't know how women deal with this, if the oozy, nasty feelings stay.

Susan

[Board Administra...]

Hi,

It's me again. Just wondering if anyone else out there has experienced what I'm describing with the atrophic vaginitis. As you can probably guess, I do have problems with anxiety, and it would help to know that this is normal, if there is such a thing. I don't know how women deal with this, if the oozy, nasty feelings stay.

Susan

Read the article, Atrophic Vaginitis, found in "Important Topics" at the top of this forum at: http://www.power-surge.com/php/forums/index.php?showtopic=6816

This is just the message board part of www.power-surge.com which has a wealth of information and articles about menopause and other women's midlife issues.

[tinkybug]

Hi,

It's me again. Just wondering if anyone else out there has experienced what I'm describing with the atrophic vaginitis. As you can probably guess, I do have problems with anxiety, and it would help to know that this is normal, if there is such a thing. I don't know how women deal with this, if the oozy, nasty feelings stay.

Susan

Phoebe,
Now have you kind of marked on the calender when these days are happening? Thats what I started to do and figured out for me that I get this after my period. I get some spotting now, the dryness and the oozy yukky feeling.
Now what I found very important is not to go all wacko over it, I try and distract myself and dont dwell on it.
I go out and exercise as best I can. I will try and take it easier those days, make simple dinners etc.
It will ususally last from a few days to a week.
So mark on the calender and see if there is a pattern so at least you can try and see when it passes.
Take care,
Tinks

[SilverHair]

Tinkybug, thanks for the advice about the Feminine Wash by Summer's Eve! I will be buying some of that tomorrow! That has been a big challenge, finding a soap that will clean the rest of me and not hurt my vulva!

[tinkybug]

Tinkybug, thanks for the advice about the Feminine Wash by Summer's Eve! I will be buying some of that tomorrow! That has been a big challenge, finding a soap that will clean the rest of me and not hurt my vulva!

Hey SilverHair,
I hope this helps you , you know I have had a horrible time with this vaginal dryness, and soreness and burning just a real tough time thses past years.
If you want the name of that vulva salve I order on line PM me and I will send it to you, also did you try the Replens yet, Vite E oil, Calendula its real thick and stay firm up there on on the vulva.
There are so many things to try but its trial and error to see what works for you.
Take care
Tinkybug

[icedancer]

I have found 100% Emu oil to work wonderful for dryness, atrophy, and
irritation. There are even some scientific clinical research on Emu oil.

icedancer

[joliejacq]

Hi Icedancer!

Haven't seen you in ages...

EMU OIL? OMG, the things we do to get relief in perimenopause!

(Just kidding..."

JJ

[icedancer]

Hi Icedancer!

Haven't seen you in ages...

EMU OIL? OMG, the things we do to get relief in perimenopause!

(Just kidding..."

JJ

Hi JJ! That is sweet you remember me. I hope you are doing well. You
have so many thoughtful and supportive posts on Powersurge over
the years and have helped many women. Your long-term posting
has meant so much to me and I'm sure others as well. You are
deeply appreciated.

Icedancer

[Dakotalady]

So, could anyone tell me how do you know if it's vaginal atrophy or just plain dryness? All I know is that I have been trying all kinds of creams, cleansers, vitamin E, triple oil, etc. etc.-and I still have horrible pain mainly on the outside of my vagina. Doctor insists that it isn't yeast or bacterial infection. He says he will try me on estrogen cream when I come back in another month and a half if I still feel like this. Lord-give me strength-I work a desk job and it is really trying to sit all day.

[tinkybug]

I Just wanted to say that I have suffered with the Vaginal Astrophy (spelling) and sometimes I think its just plain dryness I think its the same thing, in my opinion. All I know its been hell.
I have tried many things also but recently I found that Calendula has really been working quite well, and when it acts up I use Replens which you can buy at walmart. Now the Calendula I buy is by Hylands and its called Calendula Off .1x you can probably google it or go to your nearest herbal store. Now it has to be a good herbal store because some of the so called natural stores dont carry this good stuff.
Hope it helps,
Tinkybug

[Dakotalady]

I think it's hell too. I just know that it hurts so bad somedays that it's all I can think about. I'm only 38 and I feel like my sexuality is over. Bless my husband for being so understanding, but I get depressed just thinking about dealing with this everyday for the rest of my life. I'm way too young for this. And the fact that I work with only men doesn't help matters any.

[Shakti]

Hi Ladies,

My dryness has become so bad I have tried daily applications of Replens ( at the manufacturer's suggestion) salves, acupuncture, sitz baths, vitaman E, herbal infusions and supplements and so much more. Nothing helped me. I have now resorted to the Vagifem as I know that it works very well. I'm just a bit nervous of the estrogen but I got to the point where my quality of life was so bad that I decided to go for it. I am not exaggerating, I hurt 24/7.

Just to let you know what my dryness felt like: Burning raw reddened just on the inside lips and entrance area. Swollen and hot to the touch. I felt like a large tampon was inserted wrong. I had a pressure in the bladder area and had to urinate very often. Sex was very painful even with extra lubes. Wearing jeans really hurt even baggy ones. I was thoroughly checked for every disease, uti and even pregnancy and it was just very low levels of estrogen.

It will take about two weeks for me to feel completly better but at least there is a light at the end of the tunnel

[Dakotalady]

Hey, yes-that is exactly how it is for me too! And the feeling of having to urinate constantly is such a drag. Please let us know if the Vagifem works out for you, because I know that I want to definitely try it too. Good luck to you.

[Shakti]

Hi Dakotalady,

I too work with all men and I have to wear jeans to work everyday. I agree that you are to young for this as I thought that I was and I'm 47 and still getting a period albeit not very predictably. I'm on day 2 of the Vagifem and I have relief already from the urination pressure and a tiny bit less burning. I am still continuing acupuncture as it is really helping me with my other symptoms and last night I only woke up once! I'll keep you posted with my results.

[Duch]

Has anybody tried the Estring - which is a slow release ring of estrogen, worn high internally.

I'm on a pretty strong dose of estrogen, higher than the Vivelle/Estradot patches, and am finally feeling a tad more comfy. At least I can walk my dog without making a production out of it (just got over yet another yeast infection. I haven't had those in 30 years!!!!)

Shakti

I'm interested in the estring because its estroil, same as the cream the doctor is thinking of for DakotaLady. Doctors like it better because it's the weakest form of estrogen AND it's not metabolized through the liver, like other oestrogens. They feel its pretty safe.

Dakota

I used the premarin cream, 2 grams a day, high inside. I was more comfy using that than I have with oestrogen therapy. But it didn't do jack for insomnia, flushing, this weird feeling of walking uphill on a huge ferry... oh the list is too long.

[Dakotalady]

Oh yes, the insomnia, anxiety and hot flashes. It's such a magical time. I can deal with the hot flashes-but the insomnia and anxiety are something else. I have been on progesterone cream for about a month and a half. Has alleviated some of that "tense abdomen" anxiety and a lot of my weepiness. Thankfully, I now sleep again thanks to trazedone, an old AD that didn't work well as an AD, but was found to be a good sleep aid for some of us. I had tried Effexor and Zoloft because my old doctor kept telling me they would help me sleep again. Wrong! Only compounded the anxiety not to mention I had chronic diarrhea with them. It sure would be nice if there was one pill that could take care of all the symptoms we have. Never in my life did I have so many supplements, creams, and prescriptions.

[Duch]

Mine gave me Effexor too, saying it would put a stop to the flushing. It did curb it, but I couldn't get over the 37.5 dose. In 13 days of using the small dose, I didn't sleep more than 3 hours, it caused anorexia, and the doom! Dear Lord, I thought I was on the point of having my personality, my mind shatter into 3 separate pieces. Kind of like watching through someone go from normal to multiple personalities in a fortnight.

esh. Sleep again. esh.

[Shakti]

Duch and Dakotalady,

When I went to the Doc the other day I asked for the Estring. She suggested that I use the Vagifem as the Estring delivers a constant and uncontrollable dose while I can use the Vagifem once a week instead of twice. I know that the Estring delivers a small dose but so does the Vagifem. She really wanted me to try the Premarin cream but the horse treatment controvesy (sp?) made me shy away.

I'm not sure that this is related but on the Vagifem you take it everyday for two weeks, I took my third day dose and slept all through the night for the first time in forever it seems. My vagina went from burning raw and constant pee pee to feeling like I have a pair of jeans on that are slightly rubbing me. I'm praying that I don't trade one symptom for some other, but so far so good.

[Duch]

Thanks Its good to know what our options are.

Did you dr say if you could use it a bit more frequently, to try to get past that tight jeans thingee?

[itchywoman59]

I am new here, having just found this website after 2 years of absolute misery. I cannot believe that everything I have been going through have been normal menopausal symptoms. I have seen doctor after doctor for my recurrent yeast, BV, vaginitis, vulvodynia, blah, blah, blah, with never a word from any of them about the big 'M'!. I was handed an rx for premarin and estrace cream, but that was supposedly to help with the facial hair, and mood swings etc. The nether regions were glossed over as just a problem to deal with. I was feeling that I was an absolute psycho with a fixation on my vagina and maybe, just maybe all the itching, burning, rawness and creeping feelings down there, were all in my head. But, from here I see that it is all part of the wonderfulness of coming of age so to speak. What joy. Well, I have read most of these posts and have gleaned some wonderful information. Thank you ladies for sharing your stories. I will be a frequent visitor here from now on. I am not alone I am sure you know how that feels. I have a question though...does this vaginal dryness, rawness, itchiness ever go away? I look forward to hearing from all of you.

[Shakti]

HI Itchywoman,

Welcome to Power Surge! You will find a ton of great info here for your problems. I, too wonder if this ever goes away as I am taking Vagifem and would like to not have to rely on it for the rest of my life but it sure is making my life much more comfortable. I'm looking forward to hearing how you're getting along.

Shakti

[Just ducky]

Well, I got to the bottom of my itching and burning...and if you girls arent getting any results with your gyno, I suggest you try a dematologist. I wouldnt have..but what happened to me forced me to and it was the answer to my ongoing problem.

Twice, in the past year and a half, I have had burning and redness around the vaginal lips and sometimes itching, but in the hair. Between the 2 times, I would sometimes feel like I had paper cuts here and there, down there. Twice, I self treated with monistat, twice it didnt help, twice I ended up at the dr, twice no yeast or bacteria. The last time, I asked..so why am I burning..and whats this dry flakey skin I can see in the hair area? Oh..its feminine dryness.

So I was on my own. I bought every cream, lotion, and feminine product I could. That last burning spell lasted all summer...and during the following months, I still itched from time to time. I was never really satisfied with this dryness story. If that was the problem, why did the burning stop? What, for 4 months, I suddenly became moist???

In november, as I showered I felt what I thought was the head of a pimple on the top of one of my butt cheeks. It came off as I washed..I didnt look, nor give it a thought. Shortly after that, I felt a dry small circle back there. I looked and it was red, the size of a dime. I had no idea what it was, so I just applied whatever lotion I was using. A couple of weeks later, it was the same. I tried neosporin for two weeks. Same. Just before xmas, I tried cortisone cream.

A week after the new year, I noticed this thing was bigger, and clearing in the center. OMG, I thought..this sounds like ringworm. I got some lamisil cream and began to use it. Two days later, upon waking up..I felt very itchy down below. I recalled, I had been getting this itch for a while..and figured it was my dry flakey skin. I grabbed a mirror, looked and found these disgusting, huge red and purple circles..on the inside of the leg..going way back..and up the (scuse me) crack as far as I can see. Because I thought I had ringworm, I was sure this spread down there to jockitch..since its the same fungus.

Now..I am slathering this lamisil on my most personal parts...doing it twice a day with showers. I began to change my sheets, double wash my clothes, spray my rugs etc with lysol, since I didnt want to pass this dreaded fungi around.

Three days later, I called they gyno office and talked to the midwife that I use there. (I am 60, but use the midwife). I told her what I thought I had..and asked if there was something else I could use. No..she said..but thats hard to get rid of..if you see no improvement in a week call me.

I also ordered some "magical mystery cure" from the net, it arrived and I began using that. I cant say I saw no improvement..but it sure looked like slow going. A week and a half of this toxic junk and I wanted to go back to the lamisil. Again, I called the midwife to see if it was ok to use it. Yes, she said.

It wasnt 5 days later..when I began to notice more areas that were clear, now had something there that really burned. I thought I had been buring my skin. I had finally had it and made an appt to go in.

I had to wait 3 days and of course repeat the story to the midwife. She looks at the circle on my butt..and says..thats not ringworm. I said well if its not..how did I get all of this, down there. She looks down below..and says..well..this "looks" fungal..wait. I want the female gyno to see it. She comes in. Looks at the back one..says this isnt ringworm and if I were you, I would get to a dermatologist and get that biopsied. She scared me to death. She looks at whats down below and says..well..that looks fungal, but its going away..just stick some a&d or desitin on it. I pointed out the new ones. I said..are those burns? Could be..she said. Then they both preached to me about having the back lesion checked..and totally disregarding what was burning me below.

It took me 5 days to calm down enough to finally make a dematologist appt. They took me in 2 days.

The second the doctors assistant (who is just like a doctor) saw the butt lesion..she said..thats not ringworm..its psoriasis. You're kidding, I said. I said, but whats down there? She could see some of it as I was standing. Psoriasis..she said. She took a swab for fungus..I guess because I had been so sure of what it was..and of course..it wasnt.

As we talked..I told her about a dry red spot in my eyebrow..and how my ear had been peeling and red..she looked at both. Psoriasis. I had some spots on my legs..that I thought were bites or pimples. Psoriasis.

She finally asked, if I ever saw psoriasis before. Yes, I said..but it doesnt look like anything I saw on me. She said..oh..and people get this in the scalp. I said..um..I have it in my scalp. She looked..psoriasis. Just to convince me..she had the doctor come in. He checked all parts with the same conclusion and when she said..look at her scalp..he said..well, thats the clincher.

I totally forgot to ask about all of that burning I had..but, I did mention the flakey itch..she said thats what it was from. It wasnt until I left, with information overload, that I realized, the burning and redness that I had those two times..were no yeast infection. I dont even have to ask at my next appointment..now that I know..what psoriasis looks and feels like, down there.

I normal person would not be thrilled finding out they have something that they will clear up and get back, for the rest of their life, but I could have kissed those people. I knew something wasnt right down there for a long time..and now, I finally found out what it was. I am not nuts, I am not dry, I do not have any atrophy, I have psoriasis..something I never knew could affect that area.

Had I not had a flareup like this..I would never ever have gone to a dematologist to say that I had an itch or burn down there. I felt I was asking the right doctors..the ones that are supposed to deal with that part of the female body..and those two, were totally clueless...not to mention, scaring me to death.

Anyway, I am being treated with cortisone ointment, which is working pretty well. I dont itch, I dont burn and a lot of what was there is clear now.

I know many of you here have been having the same symptoms I had, and after being brushed off by gynos, are seeking your own methods. I was doing that too. What was itching and burning us is skin. If the gynos find no infections, they are at a loss. They are playing guessing games with us. Go to a dermatologist. It didnt take that girl 30 seconds to tell me what I had.

I hope my story helps someone. I believe we are so schooled to see the gyno for problems down there..that we think they know everything that could affect them. My story proves..they dont.

[Duch]

Hi Ducky - Glad you found a solution - what an awful ordeal!

On Estring

Is anyone using it, and how are you feeling?Would you recommend it? I've been using ky warming lube, which doesn't last and I'll be damned if I can sense any warming.... What works, and what's useless???

[Just ducky]

Duch,

It had to take all of that for me to find out what was ailing me. I would never have gone for burning vaginal lips, or itchy hair, or paper cuts. I was told it was dryness..and I believed that at first, but a small part of my mind couldnt figure out why it would go away, then return.

I can tell you the feeling of relief I had a week ago thursday, when I walked out of that office. Funny, I know..because most of us dont want psoriasis..lol

What I had below during my burning times..was just red..no lesions. Only once, I had what looked like a burn and a peeling of the skin, and it hurt like hell. I thought the monistat did it.

Now that I have had this all over the place down there..I know what those "yeast infections" were. The thing is..the gyno didnt. They didnt know what it was when it was red..nor did they know what this horrible rash all over the place was. They were as dumb as I was..thinking it was fungal.

Not all of us "older gals" burn and itch. My 97 year old aunt cant relate to what I am talking about. She never had a problem like this. I am sure she should be a whole lot dryer than we are..lol

I just think many of us are putting too much faith into the gyno when it comes to problems like this..and none of us relish the thought of showing all, to some dermatologist we never saw before in our lives.

But, if you get that feeling that you are being brushed off..or whatever magic cure in a tube they gave you isnt curing the problem..I would try a dematologist. I think you will be surprised with the results. I sure was.

[Duch]

aaarrrggg

Has anyone tried "Maximus" or "Wet?" K-Y isn't v satisfactory for us.

[Duch]

Hi Ducky

I posted too soon, and didn't see your thoughtful reply. I'll pass this on to a sister-in-law, who has been plagued by psoriasis for yonks. For me, it isn't an issue. My Obi-wan-gynobi and my gp both feel its vaginal atrophy (can't they come up with a better diagnostic term for it?). I've tried oil based lubes and they're flat out messy, so I switched to a water based one (KY) . I can't walk the flippin' dogs without risking a thrush infection, and I'm at my wits end.

[Just ducky]

Duch, I sent you a private message, since we arent allowed to mention brand names here (I think).

[leanne0721]

Hi girls! Just Ducky... you can post brand names, just not links to commercial websites. I've been having some VAJAYJAY (as Oprah calls it LOL) problems myself this past year. I read on the Recommended page here at PS that inserting a Vitamin E capsule can help. It does!! I don't do it everyday, but probably a couple times a week and I feel better. I swear my worst meno symptom right now (because as you know the symptoms change!) is dryness. EVERYTHING is dry- even my eyeballs!! I like the KY warming lube. You can use it if your not having sex - just put a little on after a shower, it seems to help.

[tinkybug]

Good Morning Girls,
I just wanted to put in my 2 sense if you dont mind.
I have stuggled with UTI's and vaginal burning for years. Back then I didnt know it was due to Peri but I was in my Early forties and now can see thats what it was and is.
So to make a long story short after going to many a doc and after many a antibiotic I figured out myself what to do for the UTI's and havent had a flare up in at least a couple of years.

What I have battled is dryness, sorness and pain in the vaginal area, I was mistaking this for a UTI because that whole area hurt, anyway this is what finally helped.
1. Someone on this website said not to wash with any soap but with Summers eve feminine wash, its great.
2. Replens works great I know some women have issues with it because you do get a lil discharge with it but you have to weigh the benefits at the first sign of burning or itching I use it everyother day for at least 3 days and its gone.
3. Calendula Off. 1X by Hylands this is 50 times stronger than VIT E, I use it everyday when I am near my period and feel itchyness and then when I am good to go I stop.
I also use it before a joyful time with hubby or the Ky jellys work good .
3. Make sure you wear only cotton underwear especially in that area.
I also have been taking probiotics which keep the freindly bacteria in check, and eat yogurt.
So this is my humble opinion of what has worked for me.
Now that I have stopped with the long spotting run I had the area wants to get a bit dry again so I will start with the Calendula and that should put the moisture back.
4. I also have a salve I use in between all this other stuff.
Since I have been using the Calendula though I have noticed a great difference, Dearest talks about this and I believe the Replens on this website you girls can double check if you want.
God take care of you.
Tinks