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What estrogen cream do you use

Posted , 9 users are following.

sha1271
sha1271

So I saw my PCP yesterday. Hadn't been able to get in to her for two years. She was great at listening to me. Finally after 10 years with LS she is referring me to a gyn at the hospital. 

I want to ask for an estrogen cream. So my question to you all is what do you use on your vulva and do you have it compounded in something. If so what is it compounded with.

Shari

 

0 likes, 89 replies

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  • hanny32508
    hanny32508 sha1271

    Posted

    I'm using estrogen that is called Bi-est.  Via my naturepath.  In combination with progesterone;  at first that was a cream to be put on the skin, later I received capsules to take orally. 
    • sha1271
      sha1271 marey

      Posted

      That is a primary care physician. Have to a referral from a pcp for everything with my insurance

    • marey
      marey sha1271

      Posted

      ah ok thanks! Are you  therefore US based? For some reason I had you as english...perhaps discussions about doctor's apointments...but they're pretty universal. do you have a similiar structure with specialists directing treatments beyond the GP/PCP ?
    • sha1271
      sha1271 marey

      Posted

      Yes I am in the US.  We to have the same with the specialists. My insurance requires a referral from GP/PCP before I can see a specialists which can be quite a pain.
  • suzanne00
    suzanne00 sha1271

    Posted

    Like Hanny does, I use a bioidentical compounded cream called Bi-Est (estrodial, estriol).  I also use a compounded bioidentical cream for progesterone and for testoterone (the latter helps maintain muscle, helps the heart, helps with libido, etc.).  My practitioner suggested moving to an oral bioidentical progesterone, because the absorption may be better, but my blood tests indicate a good level of progesterone and I'd rather do topicals than oral due to frequent medication reactions and allergies.  I have a nurse practitioner who prescribes these creams and checks my hormones via bloodtests at least annually.  I am 58 and have been on them for about six years.  I like having them and can't imagine life without them.  I came to this practitioner who found that I had a very low thyroid, low adrenal functioning, and low reproductive hormones.  I was a mess and I feel much better now!  I like that these creams are natural and not altered chemically like synthetics are.  But if I couldn't get bioidenticals, I would use the synthetics, because I like maintaining my hormones and feel better with them.  That's why when I started getting pain with intercourse and some atrophy last year, I was confused about whether I was getting menopausal changes (which the hormone creams prevent).  Then we finallly figured out more recently that it was LS.  I still feel that the hormones help maintain vaginal (and systemic) health as best as the LS will allow.  I've never had any itching, and my vaginal tissues (though not vulva which has white spots) are normal, at least.  I like taking the natural hormones too because they help maintain heart health, bone health, skin health, and premenopausal health overall.  The study that raised concerns about hormone replacement therapy was seriously flawed and has been refuted--it was on women who went through menopause years ago and who took oral synthetics.  Maintaining our bodies on natural hormones earlier in menopause seems to be associated with good health markers.  --Suzanne
    • carl05115
      carl05115 suzanne00

      Posted

      Hi suzanne00.  Nice to see you here on the forum.  Me

       

    • suzanne00
      suzanne00 carl05115

      Posted

      Hi Carl--I hope that you find the forum informative!  --Suzanne
    • cynthia40883
      cynthia40883 suzanne00

      Posted

      Hi Suzanne,, I am kind of a new member, but already have asked a lot of questions. Mostly, I am just so frightened. Most  everything that this group of women has shared, is helpful, but I am almost petrified to try anything new. I have not even tried the Chlobesterol, because I am afraid it will burn and make it worse. I hope I can get brave,and maybe I will, now that I am in this support group. My question to you is where do you put the hormonal cream> I used to use bioidentical progesterone, but it couldgo on my skin, leg,stomach was fine. I am 64, and have not used for maybe 7 years. I wonder if I still could. I also like the idea of oral hormones.Most docs say that oral HRT will not do much for vaginal lining. Most gyn docs here in the US, want to give Estrace vag. cream. I tried it before my LS started, and it did help a little. butnow I would be afraid to put in that area.Bio id also is not covered by insurance in the US. What a shame! Very Expensive. Thankyou for being so precise with your treatment and these hormones. I find that the more specific, the better for some of us who are just plain tired and weary of this disease.By the way, I am also a thyroid patient, mostly low, and on synthroid for years. My thyroid issue is called Hashimotos. I t can be difficult also. I am wondering how many LS sufferers have thyroid issues?  Cynthia
    • suzanne00
      suzanne00 cynthia40883

      Posted

      Hi Cynthia,

      I really like my bioidentical hormones. I think that they restore a more natural hormonal balance and so potentially improve vaginal health, heart and bone health, libido, skin tone, etc. I've tried the creams on other parts of my body, but I like putting at least the estrogen cream on my vulva--because it helps those tissues, reduces bladder infections (for me), increases elasticity and normal vaginal function, and most closely mimics direct absorption of hormones into the reproductive tract. I also use a progesterone and a testosterone cream. But, it isn't necessary to apply them to the vulva--any thin skin allows for adequate absorption. I also much prefer the natural bioidenticals to the synthetics because the body recognizes these as chemically identical and the synthetics may be associated with a somewhat greater risk of problems. 

      I'm with you about trying anything new--I have a lot of food and medication allergies, so I go really slow with new additions. I have used the clob treatment for a few months now, but I'm not sure how much it's really helped. Some people on the forum say that it takes a year or more to help. Most of us do improve some or learn to manage this disorder. 

      A lot of us are feeling improvement with baking soda rinses and coconut oil, as well as changing the diet to whole, unprocessed foods (and maybe stopping gluten, sugar, and dairy). I'm on an autoimmune diet, so no grains, nightshade veggies, and some other foods, too. I think that diet can really cause changes in our inflammation levels.  We want to lower any inflammatory foods, lower stress, correct sleep issues, and get adequate exercise. 

      I also have thyroid issues and have had Hashimoto's, too (but my antibodies are now down, likely due to my dietary changes). LS is OFTEN associated with thyroid issues, and many of us on this forum have MANY other autoimmune disorders that have emerged (e.g., I also have celiac disease). 

      All my best to you!  --Suzanne

    • veronica19599
      veronica19599 suzanne00

      Posted

      Hi Suzanne, Thanks for posting. Could I ask in which country you are located?  I moved to Europe from Australia 2 years ago, where I was receiving similar treatment to yours. I can't speak highly enough of this kind of treatment, particularly for women like me, who have had a radical hysterectomy.  In France doctors don't prescribe bio identical hormones.  Since leaving Australia, I've had a difficult time getting my treatment. Any suggestions? I don't really want to have to make the trip back to Australia each year to have my tests.  I found some doctors on the internet in London but they charge £300 just for a consultation.  I might as well fly home at those prices! 
  • sha1271
    sha1271

    Posted

    So you both are using it for hormone replacement due to menopause?

    curious Susanne, do you use the cream on the vulva skin for LS? Some women swear by it for improving the LS skin, such as color, elasticity and over all health of the vulva skin.  I have not yet entered menopause so im not sure they will prescribe it.

    • suzanne00
      suzanne00 sha1271

      Posted

      I wasn't in menopause either apparently until last year.  They can assess your blood levels and see if adding some hormones could help at any adult phase of life.  Also, low levels on your vulva would not raise your blood levels significantly.  I use higher levels for menopause now because I want the systemic effects, not just the local effects. Yes, I have used them on my vulva.  I think that the estogen cream likely helped me, but since I was on it when my LS developed, I don't know what it would have been like without it.  Someone suggested that all of the creams on my vulva could be what might  be irritating it, so I went changed from applying them on my vulva all of these years (and the creams felt soothing), and I've been applying them elsewhere the last couple of months.  But guess what? My LS has gotten worse when I stopped using them on my vulva!  Unknown if that was just a coincidence.  So now I'm applying the estogen creams again on my vulva starting the last few days and I think that the tissues are improving again.  
    • hanny32508
      hanny32508 sha1271

      Posted

      I have been prescribed the above well after menopause and due to LS.  Menopause was for me an abrupt thing around age 42, when I had a total hysterectomy.  Premarin drove me already nuts at that time, so I stopped using it, not knowing what the alternative would be so many years ago.  Perhaps it should have been treated differently then, but what did I know.  Did I get LS because of this?  Hard to tell.
    • sha1271
      sha1271 suzanne00

      Posted

      Interesting that your LS symptoms worsened when you stopped it all together. I have yet to get a dr that will actually test my estrogen levels. I have heard several women say that estrogen cream helped the vulva skin a great deal. It's been mentioned by some to only use the estrogen cream on the days you don't use the steroid cream.  One other person said the estrogen cream irritated their skin. Perhaps if you think it is irritating your skin you could use it on the vulva just a couple times a week and then elsewhere the rest of the week.  I can never tell what is irritating me, the creams, ointments or the LS itself. However, I have neglected to put anything on my vulva the last few days and I have dryness and an irritated raw spot. So for sure the LS this time.
    • suzanne00
      suzanne00 sha1271

      Posted

      The creams never felt irritating before I got LS.  But now the tissues are just irritated generally, so not sure that it's the creams causing me to feel the irritation when I put them on, but maybe just the LS causes this.  The clob ointment irritates me, too.
    • suzanne00
      suzanne00 hanny32508

      Posted

      Hanny, do you mean that you wonder if you got LS because of NOT using hormones, or because of the hormones?  --Suzanne
    • sha1271
      sha1271 suzanne00

      Posted

      I just recently switched to the clob ointment from the cream, so far it's been better for me. I haven't  gotten any bruising or tears since using it.  And the white skin is disappearing . So fingers crossed it continues to be good to me.
    • sha1271
      sha1271 hanny32508

      Posted

      I think we all question what may have caused it. I swear getting my tubes tied caused mine since that's when it started. But maybe I would have gotten LS anyway. 
    • suzanne00
      suzanne00 sha1271

      Posted

      I just started on clob a month or so ago, two weeks on the cream (which was really irritating), now ointment.  Hoping that it helps.  Glad that it helps you.  How long did it take to start working? 
    • hanny32508
      hanny32508 suzanne00

      Posted

      I was wondering whether not using hormones made that I got LS.
    • sha1271
      sha1271 suzanne00

      Posted

      I used the cream for ten years and realized it was irritating the raw spots. Once on the oinment my symptoms cleared up within 3 days. The cream never worked that fast on my symptoms, it used to take weeks for things to clear up. So definately know the oinment works better for me.
    • hanny32508
      hanny32508 sha1271

      Posted

      I find the Bi-est was/is irritating, but thought is was part of some sort of 'healing'.  Not?
    • suzanne00
      suzanne00 hanny32508

      Posted

      The Bi-est has only become a little irritating to my tissues when I first put is on since my LS started this past year, and mostly just recently.  I also switched compounding pharmacies recently , so I wondered if their different carrier cream was the problem.
    • hanny32508
      hanny32508 suzanne00

      Posted

      That's a good question, a question I did not ask yet - different carrier.  Should make another apointment with my naturepath/doctor who helped me with the Bi-est.  

      Just went through a painful episode. Nothing seemed to help anymore and going to the bathroom became so very painful and almost impossible.  Then I remembered the vitamine D cream for pain and lo and behold, it worked.  I'm over the worst now I hope.  

      A person sometimes forgets the various 'helps' that were tried.  Vitamine D cream was one of them.  But it does nothing for the fusing.  

    • suzanne00
      suzanne00 hanny32508

      Posted

      Where do you get vitamin D cream?  I am a great believer in Vitamin D! 
    • hanny32508
      hanny32508 suzanne00

      Posted

      I received that via my naturepath.  He came up with this idea.  Perhaps you can tell me 'what you believe in' with vitamine D. I have just followed my naturepath's suggestion and don't know much about it.
    • suzanne00
      suzanne00 hanny32508

      Posted

      Gosh, there is a lot of new information the last few years on how very important vitamin D is.  If there were only one supplement that I could take, vitamin D would be it.  It is actually more of a steroid-like substance in the body that acts epigenetically on over 200 different genes, turning them on or off.  Low vitamin D levels (everyone probably should get blood levels checked) are associated with so many problems and diseases, including poor bone structure, depression, autoimmune illnesses (yes, LS!), dementia and alzheimer's, cancer, and many more.  The problem is that most people are getting much less than they need, and many doctors are recommending doses far lower than is needed to maintain blood levels in optimal ranges.  I take 5-6000 IU's daily and I also sit in the sun for a few minutes as often as I can when it's sunny in the warmer months. There's a lot of info out there now on the internet about this, and a good site is the vitamin d council.  
    • hanny32508
      hanny32508 suzanne00

      Posted

      Thanks Suzanne, I'll have a closer look at the importance of vitamine D.  I take the drops as well and now see the link. I should be grateful for the advise of my naturepath, shouldn't I.  
    • marey
      marey hanny32508

      Posted

      hi shari, suzanne and hanny...this is a great dialogue...am just exploring the Ovarian Adrenal Thyroid Axis and wondering if I have oestrogen dominance...so as you were suggesting hanny ...am going to have those saliva tests...been booked in to see an endocrinologist by my GP as I asked for iodine testing, antibody testing and Ig. Beyond his brief apparently ...so off to the endo. Hope he can org the saliva tests too.

      My last test showed vit d within normal levels. I had been supplementing but found that, with  the lacto fermentation I was doing,  my Vit k2 levels were being promoted ....and this had a good effect on vit d plus with all the recent sunshine.... I didn't feel the need to continue the Vit d. However ...I'm now going through more of a detox phase and less busy with fermentation...meaning with change of emphasis I might resume vit d to keep the levels up...its round and round isn't it? ...but I'm enjoying a cautious sense of having some influence and really appreciate this commentary. Also just finished a fast!  

    • suzanne00
      suzanne00 marey

      Posted

      Hi Marey--Oh, you did find this discussion--great!  How did your fast go?  Suzanne
    • marey
      marey suzanne00

      Posted

      It was great thanks. Five of us completed it!  Think we may continue on a regular monthly basis. This is so Paleo...the famine feast cycle replicated!

      I've also just paid up to follow sara gottfriend's protocol. Its a de-tox. This is something I've been meaning to get round to and it makes sense post fast. Am trying to decide if I'm reacting to dairy. I know I used to in teens and early 20's ...I fixed my tendency to bronchitis back then by quitting dairy but felt I was thereafter able to tolerate it. Just looking out now for all poss allergens ...talking about nuts with hanny...kind of tending to leave them alone at the mo...i prefer coconut milk to almond milk...and am guessing cow's milk will be out for this de-tox, tho I've had a bit of a GAPS moment by going for some nutrient rich fats...jersey cream, organic yoghurt, sour cream and cottage cheese all sitting in my fridge to go in smoothies I've been making...but if they're out they're out ...prob will be...as will soya and will see what else ....rather excited to be exploring this practicality again with all new tools....eg Power Habits!!

      have you found the chris kesser thing? its attached to shaun croxton's underground wellness..on the theme of getting sexyness back ...the sexyback theme he's calling it...that's the last thing I feel at mo but the libido is all wrapped up with this hormonal balancing so we'll see. I have my moments..but don't know if i could do anything about it even if i did get rev 'd up! How's your man?

    • suzanne00
      suzanne00 marey

      Posted

      Hi Marey--A bunch of stuff is coming to my inbox, including the Chris Kesser and Sean Croxton's stuff.  Haven't had the time to follow.  Let me know what you learn!  Just found a great link to new developments in autoimmune treatments--immunotherapy!  Hoping I can paste it here without this going to moderation--here goes...http://www.bris.ac.uk/news/2014/september/autoimmune-disease.html

      Emis Moderator comment: It went for moderation but also I have changed the given link to the article from Bristol University which also has a link to the full paper at the bottom. I couldn't allow the original link as it went to a site unsuitable for inclusion. If users want the original link please use the PM service to exchange.

    • hanny32508
      hanny32508 suzanne00

      Posted

      Thanks for that link. To know that research is making good progress towards some kind of cure for people with auto immune diseases gives a person hope.  

       

    • cynthia40883
      cynthia40883 hanny32508

      Posted

       have been taking vit. D gelcaps for a few years. Maybe the drops are more effective? I can look for thse at the health food store?     Cynthia
    • hanny32508
      hanny32508 cynthia40883

      Posted

      I don't know Cynthia whether drops are more effectice than gelcaps.  It's one gelcap less.  So much of supplements comes in gelcaps.  I don't know what that accumulates too in the end.  Just a thought.
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