Now I am on estrace vag cream on top of everything else

::::: running screaming from the surgeon's exam room:::::

Not going to go into details, but my eight week check was not pleasant. Apparently, vagina isn't healing at a good rate (which can happen to anyone, luck of the draw thing). Just so glad this surgeon is never going to have to touch me again. Told me to come back in six months for a pap, totally ignoring that I have some post-op issues that need close follow-up and a solution.

Oh, he gave me the okay to make whoopie. This surgeon is totally demented! How can anyone say in one breath, healing problem and the next breath, make some crude comment about not hurting my dh having sex? And this is during an exam, which was not comfortable. He refused to let DH in the exam room too and DH heard me out in the lobby.


Saving grace is I did not sit around powerless and wait to find a replacement gyn. I need to be having regular follow-up on certain issues and by golly, I will get it for myself somehow.

Insurance has a contract that I had to go to the operating surgeon for post-op follow-up. Sorry I did now, but I also can't expect a doc who didn't do the surgery to just step in either.

It's over now, time to vent and move on.

over my preference not to use hormonal preparations derived from eqine sources. I am an animal lover and the thought of some poor horsey kept in a stall and not allowed to pasture seems uncool to me. I don't have the same protective thoughts about wild yams and soybeans. I have stated my objections to using premarin and synthetic progestins I don't know how many office visits now, at least eight. Yup, you guess it, offered me some vaginal cream made from horse urine! And tried to make me feel foolish for having animal cruelty concerns. He handed me script for this cream, I tore it into pieces and told him to write another for a yam-based estrogen source.

Seven more days until I see the more considerate gyn. No one needs to be put in a position of being treated poorly.

I'm sorry that you had a bad experience at your check-up. I hope you'll be able to find a gynecologist with whom you'll be more comfortable. You have every right to a doctor who works well with you, and please don't give up until you find one.

My doctor also prescribed Premarin vaginal cream for my vaginal atrophy. I requested a script for Estrace vaginal cream, because it is bioidentical. The Estrace vaginal cream has really helped me, and I hope it will help you, too. My clitoris re-appeared, and we're having fun now.

Best wishes,
Helen

I just was in the bathtub pondering the disappearance of something near and dear to me. Been using the testosterone as bait to coax my :::ahem::: out of hiding. Maybe I was on the wrong hormone after all!

Bless you! I might have a happy New Year after all.

I just told my doctor the same thing today!! She looked at me blankly, as if to say, well where did you lose your clitoris? She gave me the Premarin cream and I'm desparate so will swallow my horse guilt and use it for now. Do you think the estrace cream works better??? You really made my day! Joeanne

I never tried the Premarin cream, so I don't know if it works as well as Estrace, or not. It's worth a try! I chose the Estrace cream because I prefer to use bioidentical hormones, but some women do very well with Premarin.

If you haven't opened the Premarin yet, and don't want to use it, your pharmacy might take it back.

Good luck to both of you. The estrogen vaginal cream took several weeks to start working for me, so be patient.

Best wishes,
Helen

Hi! I raised and trained horses, taught horseback riding and foxhunted for years, and will always love horses. The ethical issues around Premarin are tough and very emotional ones... it's a personal, emotional decision and beyond the scope of the hyst support we can offer on these boards, I think.

That aside.... I used Premarin cream for three weeks once. I had to have a second repair surgery after my hyst/bso/A&P repair, and I was given Premarin cream to help the tissues heal. While I was hesitant, my DR, whom I have a lot of respect for, assured me it was the most effective thing to heal the incisions quickly and completely and it would not be systemic. I have to admit it worked GREAT. From what I've read, it is more effective more quickly than is the estrace cream, but both of them work. You should go with what you feel is right, as long as it works for you. For me, my own personal feeling is that I wouldn't be comfortable using Premarin (cream or oral) long term, but for short term problems I'd use it again, it was so effective.

As far as hormonal remedies for clitoral atrophy go, either topical estrogen or testosterone can work. In fact, your body can make estrogen from testosterone. Which one you use might depend on what kind of other symptoms you have.

I've been lucky, I have had DRs who are sensitive and thoughtful and whom I know have my best interests at heart when they make decisions about how to treat me. Even so, I know that sometimes they can say things that might sound (or even be) insensitive or inappropriate.

I remember feeling horrified at first when my DR found my vaginal adhesion and told me that I should try having sex to purposely tear it, but that "of course it might hurt and bleed". I thought about what she said and at first dismissed it, thinking she was crazy to suggest I try to have sex with that "thing" there, knowing it would be painful and messy.

However, after talking it over with DBF we did decide to try to gently tear it to potentially avoid having another surgery. Turned out it was way too big to tear, but the thing I wanted to say here was that I decided that she was only looking out for my interests, even though it didn't sound that way to me at the time.

I hope this helps!
s,
-Linda

Hi Surferbabe---I started the Premarin cream for now. I can switch if it works. If nothing happens after a month of use, my dr. said she will call in for the testosterone gel. Did you find that the clitoral atrophy only responded to the test. gel?? How long did you wait before you switched from the etrogen cream?? I'm scared that nothing will work but I'm trying to remain calm. Why did you end up not using progesterone at all? The side-effects?? Thanks so much, Joeanne

since Dr. didn't suggest discontinuing the testosterone cream. With my combo of symptoms and lab results, there is an indication I need systemic testosterone as well as topical. Ditto for the estrogens. But that is the advise of one doc to one patient. Can't be universally applied to every hysterectomy patient.

The other baffling thing is surgeon insisted "no ute, no progesterone need" but when I told him I had started the progesterone cream on my own and saw improvement in brain fog and frequency of hot flashes diminished, he acted like it was his idea all along.

Surferbabe, I don't know what is going on inside my vagina but I can say right now, DH will refuse to participate in an sexual activity that is going to be painful to me. We have encountered the painful intercourse thing too many times in the seven years we have been together and it really bums him out that pleasure becomes painful. I keep telling him he can't take personal responsibility for the pain, but he does anyway and self-blame isn't healthy in an intimate relationship. DH says if we have to do the estrace for three weeks, get re-examined and then think about intimacy, fine by him. DH also heard what was going on in that exam room and wants to have another doc check me out first. I had real trouble tolerating a digital exam or speculum yesterday and it just may be too soon to consider intercourse.

Good information about adhesions. Not something I have really considered but I do have a strong tendency to develop adhesions. More food for thought.

Supposedly, the worst spots in my vagina are anterior, near the TVT repair site, not posterior, but since I was feeling the sensations as I was examined, I have to disagree. The rectocele repair area where my perinium, posterior vag opening, was stitched is still raw. The gyn seemed to be trying to put some of this off on the urologist. I am hoping that this is just swelling as a consequence of the exam, but the rectal area isn't feeling really good today. When I inserted the estrace applicator last night, encounted a lot of swelling and the vaginal opening was tightened up.

I really appreciate Helen sharing what she did. It is good to have a timeline to compare to so I will know that if I don't see a response in a month, may be time to reevalute medications used for treatment.

Changes in sexuality never crossed my mind when contemplating this surgery and I am really at a loss here. I thank you all for letting me post what I feel is an appropriate topic and hear about the experience of others.

Hello,

just wanted to write that I am sorry your surgeon was so insensitive! And I can't believe he wouldn't let your DH be in the exam room.

I know that at my post-op check-up, I was still healing, but the exam itself was not at all painful, so I'm puzzled by your doc's confusing messages to you.

It's good that you have a more considerate person lined up!