Posted , 10 users are following.
I joined the forum in January when I was first diagnosed with VA. Since then I have plodded on using the estogen cream as directed and although it helped some I still had some pain and burning on bad days. I am now taking Nortriptyline which is a antidepressant but is also used to treat pain especially nerve pain. After 4 days of taking 20mg the pain had gone which was unbelievable.
I thought I would share with other VA sufferers has it may be an option for you. Maybe you could suggest it to your doctor and give it a go and hope that it helps you as well.
1 like, 31 replies
kellys3 Jayneeliz
Posted
That is interesting uses for nortriptyline. I take it as a migraine preventative 40mg daily and my doc told me its an old anti anxiety med not antidepressant. I had been previously taking it so I couldn't say if it has helped my VA or not. Maybe it's not as bad as it would have been had I not been taking it.
Guest Jayneeliz
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karen51466 Jayneeliz
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Thank you Jayneeliz, I appreciate any suggestions, and am willing to try anything in hopes I don't have to succumb to Estrogen treatment. I don't like to take any medication unless absolutely necessary and proven to be safe or safer, especially when it has around 20-30 side effects, with one being rare but possible death. As my sister and I know and sometimes laugh about it, but we are always the ones who get those "rare" side effects.
tracy12090 Jayneeliz
Posted
Glad to hear its benefiting you, I've also been taking it at a lower dose with success. Its not cured the VA but helps with the uncomfortableness caused by it. As a side effect I get a better sleep also as im suvh a light sleeper it helps.
Suki_girl Jayneeliz
Posted
Are you sure that you do not have vulvodynia? It cas cause very similar symptoms to VA. I was diagnosed with vulvodynia three years ago and, amongst other treatments, was put on Amytriptylene. The general consensus was that my vulvodynia was casued by hormonal fluctuations due to premenopause which caused repeated and persistent thrush which aggravated the nerves in the vulva area. Amytrip and Nortrip work in the same way on pain by damping down overactive nerves. In vulvodynia the nerves in the vulva area are over active and over sensitive so that they register touch as pain. The pain can be provoked (by touch) or constant and has a searing, burning sensation. Similar pain can be felt by women who have VA. But the pain with VA is not caused by overactive nerves (rather, dry, weak vaginal wall cells), although possibly the nerves could become involved too. These are complicated and overlapping conditions. I am still on amytrip, because I fear the return of pain if I come off it. I also now have VA but do not have any pain with it - could that be due to still being on amytrip?
Suki_girl Jayneeliz
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tracy12090 Suki_girl
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I agree I had VA that progressed to nerve pain which is Vulvodynia. It's very delicate down there these days any material can cause pain. But with the Nortriptyline and Ovestin im taking its calmed everything down and I actually have days where I feel normal again :-)
Guest tracy12090
Posted
Thats what I was asking about does anyone get the vaginal pain i'm seeing GYN about mine Oct 3. Mine started after all those transvaginal and biospies. However I am NOT sexually active so is the ladies suffering from this only because of sex ?
karen51466 Suki_girl
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I'm assuming any Atrophy anywhere on the body would have nerve involvement....that's where the pain comes from. I guess everyone has different pain levels and sensitivities. Do I go to a neurologist? They will deal with the nerve problem. gynecologist? They look at estrogen level, UTI's, infections. Primary? He would probably send me for an MRI being this has been going on now for three months with creams that didn't work...several different diagnoses...I am now trying Coconut oil....not sure about the Vitamin E inserted. Is that pill form? Gel pill? Do these dissolve or do you remove them? Has anyone had this that was active at gym then suddenly had to stop exercising? I lost 35 lbs this summer and had 15 lbs left to go, now I've put back on 5 so far. Im afraid to exercise in fear of the extreme pain returning.
tracy12090 Guest
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tracy12090 karen51466
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I was the same as in doing exercise losing nearly a stone but had to stop with all the friction of it rubbing. Cycling would be out of the question at that time I could hardly walk or sit comfortably. I tried vitamin E pessaries they were quite soothing but didn't cure anything in my case. I think they were called Carsons you just insert at night. OK for mild VA maybe.
karen51466 tracy12090
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tracy12090 karen51466
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beverly52803 karen51466
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kellys3 beverly52803
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beverly52803 kellys3
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kellys3 beverly52803
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karen51466 beverly52803
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karen51466 beverly52803
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Brevis beverly52803
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beverly52803 Brevis
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donna18720 beverly52803
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