Frustrated over another dr. visit, help!

I made appt., went thru my complaints with my ob/gyn, its been a year, woo-hoo....1) very dry vagina (even though I use Replens and Premarin Vaginal creme, when I can afford it), 2)irritability (my md put me on zoloft 50 mg) 3) hot flashes (i've been on Estrotest, highest dose) 4) no sex drive and VERY painful abdominal pain, centered on right side. Now radiates into thigh and hip area....response - how about another CT scan? won't change hormones and won't test. What can I do? I rec'd 2nd opinion last fall 3 mos post-op and even a urologist say same thing...adhesions. I'm given Loritab for pain, but its almost a daily event. Please help me! I've checked with 2 pain mgmt drs and neither have been successful in treating female chronic pelvic pain. I need to be seen by another - what - MD,Internal Med, Surgeon, Gastro-Int (no blockage noted, maybe IBS symptoms, but that could be stress)....anyone have any ideas on where I go? I have run out of the Estrotest last few days and am looking at some of the advertised methods like Estra-D, or something like that.

Hi TWhite

I'm sorry you are still experiencing so much pain.
The first 3 symptoms you've mentioned....vaginal dryness, irritability, hot flashes may be helped by switching to a different HRT.

For the vaginal dryness you could try something like vagifem. It is an estradiol tablet that is inserted vaginally. If you are happy with your premarin cream, then using it reguarally may help with that symptom.

The irritability may be from the Estratest. It contains methyltestosterone and that could be the culprit behind the irritability.

The hot flashes are usually from low estrogen. If you are still experiencing them while on estratest, then I would say you are not getting enough estrogen and making a switch in the dose or type of HRT may help with the hot flashes.

I have read that Some women do find that while they are using Estratest, the ratio of testosterone to estrogen does not work for them. You may have better luck seperating these two hormones and using just an estrogen such as a patch and adding in a testosterone cream for the missing libido.

I really do not know if changing your HRT will help relieve you of your cronic pelvic pain. In my opinion I don't think that would be related to your hormones and probably needs to be followed up with your doctor.

We have some articles that may be helpful in reading about the different HRT's available.
You can access them with the links below.

http://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/hsl...s=&forumid=174

http://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/lin...o=browse&cid=3

Best Wishes