Vaginal atrophy. Why didn't someone warn me?
There’s a long list of things nobody warns you about when you go through cancer treatment. It is fairly well known that chemotherapy, radiation therapy and significant surgery all carry risks and sid...
Forum Discussion
Hi ladies
Thanks+3- for starting this thread. This topic is really important.i had a right mx in march then single silicone implant in july waiting for nipple recon now and i have noticed a few weird hormonal things. I didnt need rads or chemo as i had huge dcis but my nodes were clear . Yay. Never thought losing a boob makes me lucky but i hav learned so much i wish i never knew.
I was already in a natural perimenopause for a few years when i was diagnosed and i had already stopped taking oral hrt & was only on the pessaries. After dx i stopped all hormone therapy. The first weird thing was the really strong underarm b.o i suddenly started getting. I hadnt needed deodorant for over 15 years but straight after my mx it was suddenly overpowering and still is. Also I hav never in my life had much vaginal odors but since my first surgery i suddenly understand the fish analogies i hav always heard and this continues. Its Not an infection seems like some sort of hormonal reaction to the mx.
Im er + but never offered tamox ?? but i hav found my hot flushes that had begun to settle down, are now out of control -laying boiling with no covers in the middle of winter, hot then cold up to 20 times a night. Laying for hours exhausted but unable to get back to sleep made worse by having to wear 2 bras and sleep on my back and not change position because my 620 cc implant is quite large and heavy and im not quite confident in it staying put yet. My gp said it is safe for me to take remifemin black cohosh tablets twice a day and ive been on it about 3 weeks now- it seems to be helping with the hot flushes. It has no estrogen so it could be worth checking if its safe for some of you. The toilet paper thing i had noticed but just thought it was declining paper quality. Uh oh no apparently its me :'(
We found quilton brand dunny paper stays together and isnt super expensive. As for the lubes i find vagisil quite good for day to day use. I am lucky enough to be feeling very well and the physical side of our relationship has been very important to both of us. I have found that i also grieve my nipple and i think my natural intact boob is greiving too as it seems to have gone dead and lifeless even tho it hasnt been touched by the surgeon. I find to lessen some sexual anxiety regarding incontinence etc we hav started having a lot of sex in the shower. We use lots of mild hair conditioner as a lubricant and then wash it all off after. Is cheap and Hasnt caused any (unwanted) reactions lol . I have to push myself at times to keep sex going. I showed my partner my scars straight away and he has been amazing. I know the atrophy problems arent all about sex and its a low priority in some cases but for me that would be the biggest loss and is important.
Cheers v
Thanks+3- for starting this thread. This topic is really important.i had a right mx in march then single silicone implant in july waiting for nipple recon now and i have noticed a few weird hormonal things. I didnt need rads or chemo as i had huge dcis but my nodes were clear . Yay. Never thought losing a boob makes me lucky but i hav learned so much i wish i never knew.
I was already in a natural perimenopause for a few years when i was diagnosed and i had already stopped taking oral hrt & was only on the pessaries. After dx i stopped all hormone therapy. The first weird thing was the really strong underarm b.o i suddenly started getting. I hadnt needed deodorant for over 15 years but straight after my mx it was suddenly overpowering and still is. Also I hav never in my life had much vaginal odors but since my first surgery i suddenly understand the fish analogies i hav always heard and this continues. Its Not an infection seems like some sort of hormonal reaction to the mx.
Im er + but never offered tamox ?? but i hav found my hot flushes that had begun to settle down, are now out of control -laying boiling with no covers in the middle of winter, hot then cold up to 20 times a night. Laying for hours exhausted but unable to get back to sleep made worse by having to wear 2 bras and sleep on my back and not change position because my 620 cc implant is quite large and heavy and im not quite confident in it staying put yet. My gp said it is safe for me to take remifemin black cohosh tablets twice a day and ive been on it about 3 weeks now- it seems to be helping with the hot flushes. It has no estrogen so it could be worth checking if its safe for some of you. The toilet paper thing i had noticed but just thought it was declining paper quality. Uh oh no apparently its me :'(
We found quilton brand dunny paper stays together and isnt super expensive. As for the lubes i find vagisil quite good for day to day use. I am lucky enough to be feeling very well and the physical side of our relationship has been very important to both of us. I have found that i also grieve my nipple and i think my natural intact boob is greiving too as it seems to have gone dead and lifeless even tho it hasnt been touched by the surgeon. I find to lessen some sexual anxiety regarding incontinence etc we hav started having a lot of sex in the shower. We use lots of mild hair conditioner as a lubricant and then wash it all off after. Is cheap and Hasnt caused any (unwanted) reactions lol . I have to push myself at times to keep sex going. I showed my partner my scars straight away and he has been amazing. I know the atrophy problems arent all about sex and its a low priority in some cases but for me that would be the biggest loss and is important.
Cheers v