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LS or atrophy because of menopause?

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HollyPH
HollyPH

I wanted to share the fact that I am making progress with LS which was diagnosed a year ago, however, I believe the dermatologist made a bit of an error whilst getting it under control. I thought my experience might help someone else.

I was using Dermovate which did make the LS recede but I was getting sore just inside - so she prescribed more Dermovate. Now I didn't think LS moved 'inside'. It was getting so bad that I just felt something else was 'wrong'. I talked to my GP and got her to prescribe an oestrogen treatment (pessaries) which is for atrophy caused by the menopause (I'm 51 and went through an early menopause - it was all over at 46).

It had things turned around in a couple of weeks. Now, a year on from my LS diagnosis she tells me you'd never know I'd even had it and kind of said that it sometimes difficult to identify what is making it worse. The inner sore areas now are just scattered patches and I will continue with the hormones believing this will see it off. I only occasionally use the Dermovate as a precautionary measure.

So if the Dermovate is not completely clearing it and you are still very sore inside, it might be atrophy. I dread to think how bad I would have been if I'd continued full pelt on the steroids.

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • marey
    marey HollyPH

    Posted

    hi kep

    so you feel the oestrogen helps? So pleased for you. i wonder if there i an oestrogenic diet I know black cohosh is of value.

    love marey

  • Morrell1951
    Morrell1951 HollyPH

    Posted

    So, Kep, do you think maybe you didn't have LS at all? I have had LS my whole life with splitting and vulval fusing, but it really sped up after my last period. At age 61 I finally was diagnosed with LS and prescribed both Clobetasol (Dermovate in UK) and estrogen cream. I became terribly depressed and started sprouting hair with the estrogen, so I'm doing without it. My gynae approved. The steroids have really calmed my LS down.

    This just goes to show that we all have our different cases.

    • marey
      marey Morrell1951

      Posted

      glad to hear that your LS is calming down...that s really good news.

      sorry to hear you were down.

      the hair sprouting is quite a phenomena. someone had suggested (an on-line medic from the states) that i try an oestrogen cream or pessary...my own GP was dead against it and i hadn't been keen in any event...I call myself hairy marey a it is!! ...sounds like I had a lucky get away!!

      may i ask where the hair sprouted was it on your legs perchance? sounds lik eyou are ok now and have a handle on your condition.

      love marey x

    • Morrell1951
      Morrell1951 marey

      Posted

      Upper lip, mostly. Not a real pelt, but I took it as a measure of how powerful it was. Supposedly 'local', but cream in the vagina is a way of delivering it systemically. I have some confidence that not only is the Clobetasol (Dermovate) local, but we're putting it in a location where thinning is not an issue. At least less thinning than the fragility LS itself causes.
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