For the Ladies

[Tivia]

This is great timing on this post. I am going out in the world again and meeting people after having shut myself off for a few years because I didnt feel well, and a bad breakup. But I was wondering about this last night as I lay in bed, since I havent used it in about 3 years I wonder if it will function now with sjs and all the other illness  . I dont want to shut myself off crawl in a hole and wait for death to come, I want to have some fun and fall in love again. But I also am afraid I wont be able to do the things that couples do to keep the relationship happy 'wink wink'

I guess I am posting this because I met a few people over the last couple of days, and there is the possibility dating again etc. I mean there are days I feel like dying, and days I feel I could run a marathon. How do you explain to people you cant go rock climbing today or plan a trip because you are not sure how you will feel. Thats the relationship killer right there.

[grammad97]

Been dealing with this for a long time and finally talked to primary who is a female and she wrote RX for a twice weekly insert of a vagifem tablet and a month later I am not hurting when I pat dry or get intimate.  Using less slippery stuff too. Some of those products made my insides feel like a blowtorch had been used on me. I only use the ones that are labeled sensitive or natural.

[LisaMarie]

Some of those products made my insides feel like a blowtorch had been used on me.

That was how I felt when I used a yeast infection treatment.  I don't think I had one though but did it anyway just to prove that I still would have issues therefore did not have a yeast infection.

[lori]

does the dryness cause frequent urge to urinate?rhuemy says it can.. just checking

also does oral difluconac( for yest ) cause worse dryness?

[gurs]

Yes, If your dry, you probably have some bladder issues..thinning tissues cause this. The urge to urinate will increase, as mine has. Feels like an infection, but normally its not. All my docs recommended vaginal estrogen....My rheumy uses it, and just uses a dab of the cream and rubs it on (not using the insert). I still have to try it. I used vagifem a few years back, but didnt like my side effects. I have estrace and premarin cream Im going to try now. Im super sensitive to any type of estrogen, so Im kinda stuck. Been using this natural cream from a company called
Thursday plantation..tea tree feminine cream...it has a cooling effect. I use it all the time.

Ive been on oral diflucan for years, daily, and if anything, it should help against the yeast, which really can cause dryness.

Gursie

[lori]

Gurs..

bloodwork shows i have plenty of estrogen.. infact am on a natural progesterone cream to balance out estrogen domiance...

i asked gyn about estrogen and she said i had plenty and the topic ended....

just want to get to root cause and treat

btw, if yeast was the prob- atfer 4 days on 200 mg wouldnt i see some imoprovement? now wondering if its a bacterial infection that i was treated for in oct that maybe didnt get totally eradicated...?

[DesignerS]

I didn't know you could take Diflucan for months or even years! I just took one 100 mg tablet since I just finished an antibiotic.
The vaginal estrogen cream is not helping, the HRT is not helping, and none of the lubricant/moisturizers have helped to this point. I guess this is going to be a battle for the rest of my life...until we are too old to care about that kind of intimacy;) LOL
I did, however, pick up some coconut oil! Which really isn't an oil, it is more like shortening. If my hubby doesn't mind the smell of a fresh picked coconut, maybe it will help

Designer

[gurs]

Ive been on diflucan for years because of my severe systemic yeast, and low immune issues, landed me in the hospital with
esphogeal candida..was super bad. All started when my hormones went nuts after hyster. I still have yeast issues, but it seems
to keep it under control ( a bit) with tons of probiotics and supplements daily..oral nystatin..ughhh.

A friend of mine had major issues until she got her thyroid dose corrected, now she is yeast free for the most part.

I guess if everything else checks out, has to be the darn SS....I remember even as a young girl, the dryness and pain
down there..horrible, horrible, disease isnt it?

hope you guys find something (me too) that works. Wish I had some more answers.

Gursie

[susanep]

 I have a lot of these issues, but because  I had a blood clot in my leg several years ago, they won't give me any kind of hormone.

I don't want another blood clot, but  I have not even had the opportunity to have a hormone of any kind to see if it might help me to feel better.

Any ideas?
susanep

[Katybarstool]

Susanep

As I understand it, the vaginal oestrogen isn't absorbed in the same way as other forms of HRT and is a lot smaller dose. Could you get advice about it? It certainly helps with atrophy, which is a big cause of dryness/discomfort.

Kathyx

[Piebird]

Has anyone tried condoms?

I am on the pill and petrified of getting pregnant if I miss a pill. When this happens we use condoms. I like them. I buy lubricated ones and have success.

I thought I would suggest it because you had said that you both get covered in lube. Condoms make for very easy clean up and because of sensation loss hubby can play longer.

even if condoms are not needed it can add some spice, something different. And you can try ribbed or the hot and cold sensation ones.

[slccom]

I was looking for female condoms, which would be really helpful. I can't find any. Sharon

[slccom]

For some odd reason, now I can find them. They are at drugstores. I figure it would protect me from irritation.
Sharon

[gurs]

I talked with many gyno's-hormone specialist about the vaginal estrogen and absorbtion of them etc.

They do get into the bloodstream....i noticed right away after first trying vagifem..my legs hurt, tummy, headache. My docs
all agree the more you use them, the more the estrogen will build up. So, if your not supposed to use estrogen, I wouldnt try it.
Even on the insert labels on them, it does indicate its systemic...not sure how many dont think that if you put it in your vagina, that
its just going to stay there or something? ha ha?? I know the dose is much lower, and some women use vaginal estrogen alone and
get great relief from all their menopause issues?

Gursie

[lighthouse33]

I just started premarin last night!  Holy cow!  $200 for a 1.06 ounce tube!  It says it has 30 doses.  Use for 7 days and then twice a week. 

My gyno commented that I was transitioning into menopause and that all he saw down there was dryness everywhere and age spots. 

I go back this week for a vaginal ultrasound as the first step to see what is going on with my bladder.  He suspects Interstitial Cystitis.  That is the inexpensive test, the others will be the expensive ones.

I'm also going to try a probiotic feminine supplement called RepHresh Pro-B.  It is supposed to blance yeast and bacteria to maintain feminine health.