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Have you neen offered pain management medication for vaginal atrophy?

Posted , 4 users are following.

lee12629
lee12629

Since Vulvodynia and atrophy have many symptoms in common,in fact some women have both ,Vaginal Atrophy and Vulvodynia,have you been offered any options other than HRT such as tricilic antideprsants to reduce central nervous system pain,anesthic ointment or siezure drugs that also can control nerve pain?If these things help vulodynia I would also think they would help the pain of VA.One of the gynocoligist I saw said she might consider this if other things such as Replens etc dont help.Food for thoughy.Pain is caused by nerves and adville etc barely touch it with me.

1 like, 73 replies

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  • tracy12090
    tracy12090 lee12629

    Posted

    I hadn't considered it until my appointment with the specialist and it seems what was once VA is also now Vulvodynia too. Although I didn't recognise the symptoms. He's given me Nortriptyline 10 mg and I've been taking them a week and already noticed a reduction in pain levels. The side effect so far has been extremely dry mouth but I think it has decreased slightly or I'm drinking more :-)
    • lee12629
      lee12629 tracy12090

      Posted

      Im thinking i have both also..im pushing this at my next apt.We need help on the pain end.
    • lee12629
      lee12629 tracy12090

      Posted

      Did they do the cotton swab test on you..i think thats standard,in going to ask for that..its always the lower half of my vulva and entance that i get the most discomfort from.
    • tracy12090
      tracy12090 lee12629

      Posted

      Lol. Unfortunately more water, you're supposedly not supposed to drink alcohol with Nortriptyline. But I explained to the Dr I drink 6 units a week as he medicaly described it and he didn't warn me against it. From what I've read moderate drinking isn't a problem with low doses.
    • lee12629
      lee12629 tracy12090

      Posted

      Well low dose it is,with this condition at times need a break from the stress of it.
    • tracy12090
      tracy12090 lee12629

      Posted

      I would it's debilitating even if it's not the worst illness you could have. The best outcome would be to forget I have a problem :-)
    • tracy12090
      tracy12090 lee12629

      Posted

      I wasn't looking all I know he was poking around with something. Luckily it was painful that day usually it's a good day when you get an appointment! Mine is the front of the vulva any pressure gives a nerve type pain
    • lee12629
      lee12629 tracy12090

      Posted

      Oh i probably have that too lol. My underwear are no longer comfortable..
    • tracy12090
      tracy12090 lee12629

      Posted

      Snap I can't wear underwear with seams in or jeans :-(
    • lee12629
      lee12629 tracy12090

      Posted

      Im wearing loose pants now..at home comando under a night gown,now you know why older women in the olden days used to wear house coats lol
    • beverly52803
      beverly52803 lee12629

      Posted

      For 5 years I had an infection that was not properly treated. I couldn't sit, let alone wear real pants, so I certainly can relate. I became the queen of sweat pants. It's been years now since I was prescribed the proper med( by another doctor) so I wear whatever I want (but nothing too tight). At my age I would look ridiculous anyway! I think you are correct about the housecoats ; )
    • lee12629
      lee12629 beverly52803

      Posted

      5 years,that must have not been fun.Yup my clothes are ok but kind of limits my wardrobe.All my friends are so style conscious. Oh well.
    • tracy12090
      tracy12090 lee12629

      Posted

      Lol, I've gone done the skirt route I haven't worn them since school! I couldn't go commando as I find it dries out even more down there then I split :'(
    • tracy12090
      tracy12090 lee12629

      Posted

      It's good to laugh about it sometimes! Saves getting depressed
    • beverly52803
      beverly52803 tracy12090

      Posted

      It has been said to be the best medicine.

      I find keeping an awareness that there are always people worse off helps as well. But in the meantime we have to do our due diligence and search everywhere for relief if not a cure. We owe it to ourselves. And be thankful for the internet!

    • beverly52803
      beverly52803 tracy12090

      Posted

      I wonder if coconut oil were put on a pad if that would help you? I have bled a bit when getting an exam, but fortunately I am not experiencing what a lot of you women are re skin splitting.

      Speaking of commando we need to form a guerilla force. Seriously, there's strength in numbers. There are over 640 million women on this planet over age 55. Now that is a significant number and should we should have influence the medical world.

    • beverly52803
      beverly52803

      Posted

      sorry, a few too many shoulds there ;-)
    • tracy12090
      tracy12090 beverly52803

      Posted

      I do use coconut oil inside the vulva and a panty liner to trap the moisture and this is working well thanks :-). I do have to make sure that the pad is well above my urethra as the rubbingof the edge has caused splitting in the hood.

      I wish I was 55 thanks to the op I was only 49. The male Dr I initially saw with unbearable hot flushes and dryness said I should count myself lucky as I get all my menopause symptoms over and done with at once, some women have it dragged out for years! How wrong he was on so many levels

    • beverly52803
      beverly52803 tracy12090

      Posted

      Menopause arrived when I was 50. I was delighted and had very few  issues (other than interrupted sleep which I still have). Unfortunately my gynecologist at the time chose to see an infection as a menopausal symptom and was treating it with everything under the sun (including hormone cream) other than the Flagyl I needed. It could be the VA was starting at that time. Whatever doctors were saying to me re using hormone cream I wasn't interested in as I wasn't experiencing problems, but as the years went by the exams got more painful. Seems there are such different levels of problems doctors really don't know how this will play out in different women's bodies and they really have no solution for the worst ones other than hormones.

      Have you looked into the laser treatment?

    • tracy12090
      tracy12090 beverly52803

      Posted

      Sorry for the delay I just see this response. I think VA is definitely a progressive thing. It's terrible that you were misdiagnosed in the beginning. I had the grumblings of it with burning before I had my hysterectomy. But after it developed into nearly every symptom there is.

      I asked the Dr about the Mona Lisa but she said because of my tendency to overheal I might be worse off with the scarring. She did say by all means go for a consultation if it's free but don't pay for it. But as I already have many distorted scars from operations I don't think I'll take the chance. Unless I couldn't take Hrt in the future

    • lee12629
      lee12629 tracy12090

      Posted

      Dont want to be person,but how do you keep the pad in place and not touching the uretha?
    • tracy12090
      tracy12090 lee12629

      Posted

      I use the slim breathable, fragrance free panty liners in my underwear they have a sticky back. I make sure thats it's high up so it's flat on the urethra and the edge isn't chaffing. It doesn't seem to rub as I wear skirts and dresses now
    • lee12629
      lee12629 tracy12090

      Posted

      Seems every time i wear a pad it unsticks from the underwear and is very uncomfortable . especially if its a small pad
    • tracy12090
      tracy12090 lee12629

      Posted

      Maybe it's the brand. I've never had one unstick yet. It's a shame I'm back to a pads again as no longer have periods.
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