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Pharmmom

Ok now that I have your attention!   I have a question.  I have experienced the vaginal dryness.  I use Vagifem, lubricants etc etc.  Sometimes its fine and sometimes its not.  I just developed a UTI which I know is from sex with hubby the other night.  Between the UTI, the dryness, the yeast infection from the antibiotic am I the only one that wants to say forget it!!!!!  I mean I enjoy sex but its alot of garbage that goes with it now.  Its always something.  I long for the good old days when I needed no lube, had 2 boobs and I didnt know how good I had it.  Don't get me wrong I am thrilled to be alive and doing well.  I am thankful.  I just have been thinking about this alot and have no one who "knows" to talk to.  Thanks for listening!!!  Barb

Harley44

Barb,

I am having similar problems, and I agree with you, dear. 

My dh hasn't complained, but I want my LIFE back!  I am also very tired of all the "preparing" that I need to do, IF I want to try to have sex. 

I am taking Tamoxifen, and it cause uterine polyps to grow in my uterus, and my endometrial lining grew from 4 mm, to TEN mm!!  I had to have a D & C last summer, and believe me, it was NO FUN!  My drs. refuse to just give me a hysterectomy, and I am just really feeling fed up with ALL of the 'stuff' that I am now dealing with, and they call this the NEW NORMAL...  well, I don't want any part of this NEW NORMAL!

I wish I could help you, with some advice, but I am in the same place as you are right now. 

There is another thread called I WANT MY MOJO BACK!, but I think all the ladies that post there have a relatively GOOD sex life.

It sux!

Harley 

Pharmmom

Hey Harley

Thank you!  I did go over to mojo and thought the same thing.  I have posted there and there have been some good times.  Its not all bad.  Its just now it does suk!  I mean I was actually resentful towards him because he just "does it" and no problems.  Its not that we do it that often either because of what I mentioned earlier.  Its just that he does not seem to "get" what a pain in the rear this is for me.  He tells me the breast does not bother him. He'll use more ky etc etc. I keep telling him its not about you all the time!  Its like what if you had your p**** 1/2 off and I said don't worry I don't care about that but you did!  How would you feel??  Do you see my point?  By the way I looked at your bday and you are a year older than me.  We are to young for this c***!!!!!  Barb  

konakat

Barb -- it's similar for me -- my guy says my "mutant boob" is just fine.  But it's not fine with me -- I think it's ugly. I miss wearing the occasional slutty top in the summer!!  Or sexy lingerie at home.  I hate being self-conscious.  I guess we should be happy that our men are trying....  But, Barb, you nailed it -- and we are too young for this crap!!

Oh -- the lube stuff -- there is an estrogen ring or cream you can use that apparently is safe.  I would be hesitant though, being ER+.  If you search the main site here there is some info.  But I'd ask my onc first before getting it from my gyno, or whomever. 

Member_of_the_Club

Big difference between the cream and the ring.  The ring is safer.

Anonymous

Harley: I was on tamoxifen first and wanted to get off of it due to potential female problems. When I asked my gyn about a total hyst, he said "the insurance companies do not approve them based on if they think you need them, if I ask for authorization, and your insurance covers them, they will OK it." He had no problem providing one for me, and they I was able to move from tamoxifen to an AI. It might be time to get another opinion from another doc about the total hyst...

konakat

I agree with Laura, but I don't think a total hysterectomy is required, just need to get your ovaries out.  Yes, see another doctor.  Tamox wasn't working for me so I'm getting my ovaries out Dec 29 and move to an AI.  Doing it laparoscopically it is a 20 minute, day surgery.  Nice. 

And thanks for the info about the ring Member_of-the...!

 Elizabeth

wishiwere

I will admit, I tried estrace per my gyn advice, but in doing so, my hot flashes slowed way down and I had bleeding, so I'm now off that, per the onco.  The onco suggested the estring is the ONLY thing he would agree to.

As for the hysterectomy vs the ovaries out?  Harley and others are having enlarged endometrial size which can indicate uterine cancer, which is why she wants it done.  Removing the ovaries won't help or reduce the size of the endometrium, just reduce the estrogen in your body except for that converted by the adrenals.  B/c also, she's on tamox which carries a higher incidence of Uterine tumors, she wants it out now, not after the tumors start to show up.  Can't say I blame her. 

iodine

I've used Estring, per my onc, and found it very helpful with vaginal dryness.  I kept thinking I had vaginitis, but the meds didn't work -- but the estring did.

Harley44

Wish,

Thanks for explaining my situation!  I couldn't have explained it better!! 

My onc offered for me to switch from Tamoxifen to Raloxifene ( Evista) for one year, but he went out of the room to go write the Rx, and when he came back, he said that Raloxifene hasn't been approved for use by us gals who have already been dx'd with bc, to prevent recurrence.  It is still being used by high risk gals who have not had bc, but are at high risk to get bc.  But, my onc said that Raloxifene does not have those nasty effects to the uterus, so I was really hopeful that I might be able to switch so I can avoid those nasty uterine se's!!    RATS!

My onc said that topical estrogen is ok, but the other drs. (my gyn and my pcp dr.) won't prescribe it, because THEY are waiting for my ONC to give THEM the go ahead!  Stupid idiot drs.!

Harley