What to do about a dry, sore, and irritated (you know)?

What should I do about a dry, sore, and irritated, "V?"

I'm not going to say anything else tonight, because I think I'm messing up everything I do today.

But people have posted about this kinda thing before, so I think it's ok.

Margaret

Oh, you kids!! Now we should behave here.

I use Monistat just to ease the dryness but I think that an estrogen type cream might be better long term, you could
call your gyno just to get a rx.

Celeste--But wouldn't coconut oil cause an infection?

I use a bio-identical hormone which I started after menopause and it is a big help. I go to a a Dr that is a DO but she practices functioal medicine. More towards the natural side.

I use coconut oil for other things. Never thought to use it for the V.

I use small amounts of bioidentical progesterone. Doctors will often rx estrogen cream, but I think that after menopause the ratio of estrogen to progesterone is relatively high and that it's progesterone that's needed, not estrogen.

Totally agree about the docs ignoring the progesterone and testosterone levels AND adrenals… sigh… seriously—what DO they do correctly? it's a wonder we're all still alive and breathing. I already had a full-time profession.

anyway, I'm not in charge of this forum but I surely hope that on a medically-based forum of information that the female anatomy is not exempt. It is the 21st century after all… Please speak without worry. We're all adults here.

when I thought my hormone levels were all out of whack I found a compounding pharmacist who specialized in menopause (although thinking back, what does that really mean? that he doesn't "do" levels before menopause—only after?) Anyway, he was quite helpful—he sends stuff all over the country so let me know if you'd like his info.

A few mos. ago I had levels that my ND was shocked by and said were "post-menopausal". I had a breakdown, of course. She prescribed some bio-identical stuff. I filled the Rx but never used the cream. I brought my test levels to the pharmacist and he agreed—they were post-menopausal but if I was still having regular periods, clearly they are not telling th whole picture. Not only was I having normal periods but I could detect normal ovulation with those cheap little sticks.

On my next appt w/ the ND, we discussed the cream and a) she acted like she didn't remember prescribing it, b) also didn't remember making such a big deal about them or telling me they were post-menopausal levels, which she was now swaying they weren't… ***??? are you kidding me? She was very apologetic but it was as if the previous conversation never took place. I'm still not sure what to think about that exchange or if it's a sign I need to see someone else.

I'm so tired of being in a twighlight zone with these medical professionals. If I pulled this SH*# in my profession I would be out of a job so fast.

OK.. rant over… sure hope you all get some relief.

-p

I've read that boric acid works really really well.

I went through a horrible period where I was having nasty reactions to what I later found out was regular laundry detergent & stain remover. So I switched to an organic detergent with no stain remover—or I would at least wash my undies separately from anything else that needed a stain remover. This worked well to really calm irritation.

Organic laundry detergent is tough to find so for awhile I was washing by hand using an organic lemon-based dishwashing liquid with a boric acid soak. I also use fragrance-free T.P. and an organic body soap in the shower… and organic tampons and pads—very critical. After some research, I really think that the chemicals used in tampons have done a lot of harm to women.

-p

Wow! This is a popular subject!

I guess the males on this forum won't be reading this, so I think we're ok.

Girlie, I didn't even get the joke; I had no clue what you meant about cobwebs, so I guess you're ok.

First things first, I am a breast cancer survivor, so I can't use estrogen in any form, cream or otherwise. I don't think I can even use bio identical hormones, but I can definitely use progesterone, and I haven't used my progesterone cream lately. The stuff is pretty expensive!

So what is bio identical progesterone? Are you talking about the health food store stuff? That only helps a little.

I've tried Carlson's Vit. E suppositories, coconut oil, and "Vital V," and of all those things, the last helped the most, but nothing made a radical difference, and the "Vital V" is expensive.

Boric Acid? Now that's interesting. Where do you get that, and how do you insert it? I guess I can look online.

I also read that you could use Evening Primrose Oil, vaginally. Don't get mad at me, bc I'm going to try that tonight, regardless!

Replens is completely out. It actually made the problem much, much worse. It left this nasty plasticky residue that I had to, ummm, dig out of there.

Thanks for all the info. At least I don't have to worry about intercourse, seeing as I don't have a partner, but even so, it still hurts and feels chafed!!

As far as laundry detergent and all that, not a problem. I use Charlie's Soap. I don't use anything scented whatsoever.

Thanks again; very intrigued about the boric acid.

Margaret

I have organic laundry detergent, toilet paper and "lady" products. I think it's like 7th generation brand that makes them all

Actually there is sexy organic panties -

Yes I'm married, but things haven't been good in that dept.

For many months I could barely move because of my shoulder blade/ arm issue - that was for about 6 months - and was in so much pain I could barely function.
Then I had a couple months where it was ok - and we were together again, but as I got sicker everything hurt - including that. Now I am feeling a bit better but it's been several months and I feel so unsexy. Like I'm this sickly unattractive hag. He's probably just waiting for a green light, but I'm scared becuz I don't want it to be a bad experience for us. Maybe Im just not attractive to him anymore - I don't know.

Boric acid comes in a capsule and you just insert it vaginally before bed.

Your body produces estrogen from fat cells, which is why even overweight men develop moobs. After menopause (and especially with ablation) your ovaries are not producing anything. They were the main producer of progesterone while you were having periods, but now your body is essentially not producing progesterone at all.

With a relatively high ratio of estrogen (from body fat and exogenous xenoestrogens) to progesterone you are losing connective tissue strength.

You may think a lack of estrogen is your problem, but I guarantee that with the adrenal disfunction brought on by your infections, that any progesterone is being shunted into making cortisol and you have none remaining to counterbalance estrogen.

Pregnanolone is the beginning hormone for the cycle that produces all the hormones including testosterone and progesterone. Progesterone is at the beginning of a cycle that produces hormones including estrogen and cortisol.

So by supplementing progesterone instead of pregnanolone you are able to bypass overproduction of testosterone, which in women can cause masculinization, PCOS (if you are still having periods) and heart disease/atherosclerosis.

My dry eyes were caused by lack of progesterone. Before I began bioidentical transdermal progesterone (7 years ago) I couldn't even wear my contact lenses, my V (sorry) had no lubrication, my skin (labia included) was starting to lose significant density. Now there is no issue - well except for more normal skin aging but we can't escape that.

I use this progesterone transdermally and apply it daily to different areas of my body (with no underlying fat tissue so the progesterone isn't absorbed and bound in fat cells). I am not recommending this brand, there are others out there, but this is one of the more concentrated and therefore more economical to buy.

http://www.progesteronetherapy.com/#axzz3KZPWNXiz

When all my multiple symptoms started 8 years ago, I was assured by both my family doctor and endocrinologist that I was experiencing symptoms of perimenopause with their only recommendation being a prescription of beta blockers.

Needless to say I thought I could do better, and never returned for my "peri" issues. The holter monitor tests and heart ultrasound indicated no abnormalities (I'm not sure how because my palpitations were horrendous and scarey) so I headed off on my own, researching progesterone therapy.

It is only now that I have been treating myself with the same herbs that I am using for our daughter, that I realize that most of my symptoms were actually caused by infection and the stress it was putting on my body. I have never discontinued progesterone, although I am requiring significantly smaller amounts since entering menopause and clearing my infections.

Well, now it's getting REALLY sore, so I'm trying to get an appointment with the OB-GYN, but of course, they don't have anything available.

I'm wondering if I have bacterial vaginitis. I'm going to try the drugstore thing; I doubt I can get high-quality boric acid around here.

If that doesn't work, does anyone know of natural remedies?

Margaret