The solution to painful intercourse!!!!!! Yipeee!

Update on SC:

Success on my solo effort!  Thanks, ladies, for the tips on SC usage and amounts.  However, I did notice a lot of burning that subsided after a few minutes.  Anyone else?

Another interesting side effect - I have oral (not genital) herpes and noticed breakouts the day after using the SC.  It does have an ingredient that they say can cause genital herpes breakouts, but nothing about the oral variety.  Anybody else have this?

L-Arginine.  I had three itchy blister things appear on my arm just below my shoulder.  I'm wondering about that now....

I think they can just omit that from the recipe, next time.  I don't know how it'll affect the results, though. 

Thanks! I am going to ask that the next refill leave that ingredient out. I'll report the results. My "mega zits" have occurred in the arm pit, upper back, right shoulder, and on my "sensitive area". Just one at a time, but quite large in size.

That goodness for BCO, otherwise we'd all be sitting in isolation thinking we are totally insane. I was wondering if the zits were lymph nodes indicating progression and worried sick; now I can put them into "small price to pay for getting a part of my life back" category.

My insurance cost $25 for the cream. My DH picked it up from the pharmacy several days ago. I read here about it & my gyn ordered it right away. I didn't ask my MO yet, nor have I tried it yet. Had my exchange surgery 6 days ago & not quite ready yet. Am very excited to give it a whirl very soon.

Thanks for details you helped with some of my questions.



Rgiuff- I found a compound pharmacy on long island, if you need more info let me know.

Hi ladies,

Been reading your wonderful posts!  How do you even begin to get your sex drive back? I wish I felt like even trying it!

There is an anti-viral that can control herpes - it's called Valtrex. You need a prescription from your doc.

Thanks, hrf.  I do have a prescription for it and it most certainly helps!  

Just call me SC ootaloo!  :-D

Puce - my sex drive is all in my head, literally.  The equipment isn't interested but by God, it will be by the time I'm through!

Forgive me for not going through the entire thread, but after a few pages I did not find anyone mention what helps me.  BACKGROUND ... I am ER+ HER2+,  I was 39 when diagnosed, I am now 45 (yea!) ... still on Herceptin - it's been nearly six years.  I had problems overall with dryness, vaginal attrophy, vaginal infections, and I even got clitoral infections ... to include scaring there due to dryness. 

So I was referred to a really good gynocologist.  I am have an E-String (yes that is an estrogen ring) inserted and a testorone cream (for the clit).  Both are very low levels, but it keeps the tissues down there much healthier.  The E-String is of the human types of estrogen (unlike Premarin), is an extremely low dose, is absorbed locally (my systemic hormone levels tested through blood and saliva are still in the "menaposal range"), is inserted and left there for three months.  

My oncologists of course were very skeptical with the hormones ... but systemically my hormones are not elevated, so they are okay with it (... besides they are men).

Anyway, I have to run off.  I will have to visit this thread again ... need to read up on that scream cream 

Glenna, what I dont understand is that my GP looked at the ingredients & knew what they were for... so did the pharmasist... Maybe some of these Oncs should take a minute and READ what they do! Am really curious now what my onc who has been on hiatus for 6 months will say when I show them to her??? Will make sure I get a large batch ordered before I show it to her!

That said, I did take a few printouts of the comments from here with me for backup when I took it in. And she did read (and copy) them along with the pdf list... figured she wanted to know how to use it. Maybe even for other patients?? She's about mid 50's  

All I can say is keep trying and good luck!

I first showed the pdf sheet to my gyn. She seemed interested but said that I needed to get the onc to prescribe it for me. I'll try again with him next week when I see him. Seems most of the oncs resist at first and we just need to push the issue. I get what puce and whippetmom are saying .... the sex drive isn't there at all but I thought it worth a try for DH.

Zumbagirl, the on line one that can be simply ordered is NOT the one we are using. The one we are using REQUIRES a prescription and a compounding pharmacist.

Tami444,

That is one of the problems with the lack of any indication of menopausal status or age in our signature lines. The younger patients have less intense vaginal atrophy (unless they have had ovarian ablation) and they don't agree with those like me who post about the greater effects as time goes by and one ages more (on top of having done chemotherapy). Thank you for posting your age, that helped. I was treated at age 51 and for a couple of years afterward the E-string also helped me. Eventually it wasn't enough. It can and probably will get worse with time, but I'm so happy to see the possibility of an alternative with the use of SC.

A.A.

Suz, why did you hate Vagifem?