AI Dryness....Nobody?

Dogsneverlie

AI Dryness....Nobody?

Dogsneverlie

Hi,

I've searched and maybe not searched good enough.........I can't seem to really find where anyone discusses the complete vaginal dryness associated with Arimidex or AIs in general.  I just started Estring yesterday.....when I posted about Estring, only one other person I think commented.  Is that because the dryness is not a big deal with others?  Not to be too blunt, but truly, there is NO WAY that I can have intercourse.  I am literally THAT dry.

The Estring is REALLY low dose and you keep it inserted for 90 days, which feels odd to me but I am old school and before my hysterectomy rarely used tampons!  Knowing BC is estrogen based, I am still a little nervous about using this but have to do something!  Even lubricants don't work - they dry out quickly!  My MO is the one who has prescribed it for me and I completely trust her.

Really sorry if any of this sounds gross or inappropriate for anyone out here.  Was just wondering what all of you were doing if you had this challenge.

vlnrph

Oh yes, very dry EVERYWHERE (throat, eyes, nose - could be partly due to winter heating season). Now on an aromatase inhibitor holiday due to a trigger finger, it really feels nice to have some estrogen back on board! Prior to going off the med a couple weeks ago, the product called Replens in addition to a silicone based gel seemed to help a little. Individual applicators were convenient.

Others do use Estring or Premarin vaginal cream: minimal systemic absorption is possible but probably not enough to worry about. Hope you get good results.

LindaE54

The first few months after I started AIs, it was very dry, now a little less but still have to use silicone base lubricant.  I asked my Onc for a better way, she suggested Replens and recommended I not use anything else. 

Linda

Hopeful82014

It hasn't been an issue for me so far but my MO was very upfront that it could be an issue and to let her know because there were ways of dealing with it and not to suffer in silence. I appreciate that she brought it up - I'm not sure I would have felt comfortable doing so myself.

doxie

Dryness is very common and troubling for many on AIs. As with vaginal atrophy and loss of desire. Check out the new Sex Matters Forum and the Mojo thread in it.

formydaughter

Dryness - yes. Embarrassingly, it makes me itchy. TMI. My MO recommended cortisone cream and KY. I was thinking Astroglide for sex. Anyone tried this? Not happy to hear that lubricants don't work so well. MO he wanted me to strictlyavoid all with estrogen.

Obxflygirl1

yes, very dry. We tried everything. My GYNOB said to apply coconut oil every night. And when we do have sex to lubricate husband also. It has helped tremendously. It's not greasy and it absorbs very well. Good luck!

Okiemomof4

Dry as a bone. My MO really doesn't want me to do any esteogen, either. So, I do replens and v magic (found it on amazon), coconut oil and LOTS of lubricant. Astroglide. Also, I now drink cranberry juice daily because I am concerned about UTIs. MO did say he'd reconsider the vaginal estrogen if I want it. It's about quality of life, too. Still mulling it over.

dlb823

Emu Oil or Avocado Oil. Both work great for me.

Meow13

Dry and ichy

Dogsneverlie

Thank you so much.  I feel funny having this Esting inside of me.....not used to that at all.  Got the script and then did not use it for over a month and then over the weekend I thought, "I have got to do SOMETHING".  I am being paranoid about not being able to remove it after 90 days (I bet it doesn't make it 90 days only because I don't like it in there!).  The first day I was feeling a little crampy and thought this thing isn't even going to make it 24 hours!  It's better now.

KY burns me now for some reason (that was no fun).....used to use it before all of this and it was fine but now it burns.  I am going to try some of the other ideas you have provided to see if one of those is better. 

Thanks Doxie - I will check out that forum, missed it when I posted.

It is embarrassing - I did not tell my MO.  I was at a new doc for my annual and when she reviewed my meds, she said you must be awfully dry - do you have painful sex?  She was great so I opened up a bit but I do get shy about that stuff.  She is the one who told me about Estring and I wanted to discuss it with my MO before it was prescribed.  My MO actually did the script.

Linda - what silicone based lubricant do you use (if you don't mind telling me - I know this stuff is private)?  I am so lame.....didn't even know there was a difference in lubricants......

I'm relieved that I have others to share this misery with!!!!!!

LindaE54

Dogsneverlie - I don't mind your asking at all.  I was also so lame about all this - even went to a sex shop to see their lubricants.  You got me checking my gel - it's not silicone base but glycerin as first ingredient.  It's called Durex Play that I buy in pharmacy here in Quebec.  I prefer it over the KY.

Linda

Dogsneverlie

Thank you very much Linda!

otter

Dogsneverlie, vaginal dryness is a known and common SE of aromatase inhibitors like Arimidex. Because of menopause, I was having trouble of that sort anyway, even before my BC dx. When things got worse with the Arimidex, my med onc recommended Estrace. She said to use just a tiny amount on a fingertip, applied around the edges (so to speak). That's very different from filling the applicator and putting it inside.

I tried the Estrace, and I think it helped. I also did some trial-and-error with non-prescription stuff. I found that brand-name KY did help some, but generic or store-brand knockoffs were awful -- they burned, and only made things worse. Then I discovered Astroglide gel. I swear, the stuff is magic. I stopped using Estrace after a year or so and only use the Astroglide gel.

I can't say things are back to where they used to be, but hubs and I are in our 60's now, so we can't expect miracles!

otter

Moderators

Take a look at this too:

Sex matters: Vaginal dryness

Should we move this topic to the sex matters forum we have?

Dogsneverlie

Hi Otter - oh man, your last line got me laughing!  I will add Astroglide gel to the list of things to try!  I know what you mean....after surgical menopause my body was thrown into shock.....I did have some of the same symptoms but nothing like this.

dlb823

If you want a product that contains Estriol, Bezwecken makes a really good one, available here: http://www.helenpensanti.com/ESTROGEN-ONLY-PLANT/p...

I've used the 1 mg. strength in the past, and it worked great. I've even dabbed a touch of it on my face (learned from another BCO member) to soothe and smooth my estrogen-starved skin. I've heard multiple top docs say that there's too little estriol in these for even bc survivors to worry about the absorption beyond the genital area, but given my re-dx, I'm personally using what I mentioned above instead for now. And as always, you may want to run it by your onc before going this route. Deanna

formydaughter

I got coconut oil today. Wasn't sure which type, so I bought a liquid and an emulsified form that looks like body butter.

I've loved Astroglide for years. Will have to report back on the coconut oil!

Dlb - what happens to your skin with estrogen starvation

dlb823

formydaughter, estrogen plumps skin up and keeps it looking healthier. No doubt it's a complex process with other hormones and collagen, etc., but when estrogen is lacking, I think it shows in our faces -- or at least I can tell my skin needs a lot more nuturing since I've been on Anastrozole (Arimidex).

formydaughter

thank you. I'm in my first month of Lupron and about to switch from Tamoxifen to an AI. Just wondering what I'm looking forward to with SEs...

farmerjo

Bump!