I WANT MY MOJO BACK!
Comments
-
Dear Frustrated husband, hang in there. I liked the Gynatrof but it's not my only tool in my toolbelt. I also use vitamin E suppositories, coconut oil and we use astroglide during activities. Nothing works perfectly but be patient with your wife. I am sure you will find what works best.
0 -
It is brilliant that I finally found this page! I have been in denial for a year. I am so impressed with those of you who soldiered on through painful intercourse. We just stopped because it was so disheartening that it was so painful, and then my husband was afraid he would hurt me again, and I have zero libido so I sure wasn't initiating. I finally thought it was time to address it...
So, I went to see a new OBGYN who has specialized in menopause. She suggested Estrace 10 micrograms for 14 days, then twice a week. She is giving talks at international conferences on treatment of vaginal symptoms in breast cancer patients. Basically, the use of a little local estrogen is not found to be associated with any increase in risk of recurrence.
My MO, who is a BC specialist who also gives talks at conferences all over the place, and who is very conservative, also suggested it. Essentially she suggested to get to the lowest dose/frequency that works.
Obviously, lube is suggested too. Thanks for all of you information on which ones. I am shocked by how much the ones with hyaluronic acid cost! $30 for 3 treatments!! Will check out online….
I had also read about the "Mona Lisa" vaginal laser treatment meant to treat atrophy. Wondered if anyone has heard of or tried that. My OBGYN said that there are no studies done yet ( in process) showing safety, so she can't recommend it.
0 -
I really do want my mojo back! But I am just too darn tired to move. Thi is scan week and I am a wreck. I'll find my mojo in two weeks after my results. Power on ladies! ~M~
0 -
zinny this is probably a stupid question but does the Estrace help with libido and sex drive or only helps with vaginal dryness and/or atrophy? Physically penetration is doable for us with little discomfort but I have zero, zip, zilch drive and feel nothing. Not being able to orgasm is so frustrating.
0 -
Smurf: I think that part is mental. I have been going to that erotica site that someone posted a while back. I honestly think if I couldn't orgasm, I would probably give up on the whole thing.
Shetland: I am so glad to hear your story. Thanks for sharing. I wish my husband and I had better communication. He's totally got the Catholic guilt thing going on so he has never been good at talking about sex, which drives me kind of nuts. But he mostly gets the job done so I just live with it.
0 -
Smurf: I didn't mean to imply that your body hasn't changed. It has. I have no libido either but I try to work at getting myself started.
0 -
Thanks so much for the reply Trvler. Think I might have posted the Literotica site. I read there, look at porn but no "stirrings".
Hubby and I communicate openly about it. He's great and we keep using it so we don't lose it but gee it's not that rewarding for me.
0 -
Smurfette and Trvler, and Molly too!
Nice to see some familiar faces…guess we are onto this next, after, stage. Smurfette - the estrogen only helps with the vaginal atrophy and dryness. No effect on sex drive. I have a non BC friend with similar issues, and she has gone on a little Testosterone cream to help with that, but as I understand it, our bodies would make it into estrogen so its a no-go. Damn. I was a little excited thinking I might have Austin Powers style mojo…
I got a little excited just looking at the different lubes and toys you can buy, and not shopping excited but sexy excited, so maybe things are looking up? lol. Will check out literotica…
I told my husband about the 3 orgasms a week mandate that someone's MO gave her. He looked little frightened, frankly!
0 -
The testosterone would still need aromatase to convert the testosterone to estrogen, though. So the AI drugs we take should keep that from occurring. When I asked my MO about this at one point, he said that while testosterone cream was definitely safer than estrogen cream, you're still potentially putting yourself in the position of making the AI drug have to work harder.
As far as orgasms go, THIS has become my best friend, lol. You can use solo, or find creative ways to integrate it into foreplay with your partner.
0 -
I was just going to say, is everyone using a vibrator alone to see how things go with that?
0 -
Thanks zinny. I thought that might be the case. I have a little vibrating egg that used to be my fave but even it's not working any magic.
0 -
Smurfette--I feel like the outside nerves down there just aren't the same, maybe that's why the vibrating toys are taking longer to do their job.
0 -
I agree with Pamela, The nerves down there do seem less sensitive after all these treatments, so smaller vibrators might not work as well for some of us. The Massage Wand I linked to above is a real 'workhorse' though! I find the ability to orgasm much easier once I started using that.
0 -
Hi Zinny! My MO is adamantly against Estrace but I have a stash so I use it when I get desperate. Mainly for bladder issues though. Most studies indicate that vaginal estrogen is not systemic. Obviously if you use too much it can be. DH and I use a vibrator and I have to work really, really hard to get "there" but I still can and for that I am grateful. I don't think DH would be interested if I was getting nothing out of it. If I use some coconut oil right before intercourse it helps the lube last longer. It is so disheartening to even have to talk about this stuff!
0 -
amy - thanks for that link. most entertaining to look at all of the attachments on the "personal massager" aka workhorse!! Would that be an appropriate mother's day gift, I wonder?
2 weeks of the estrace and things are feeling a whole lot better! And appear to be working better, too... All of the suggestions have been really helpful. I step down to Estrace 1-2 times a week. I ordered Gynatrof. Looking at the ingredients, there is a soy lecithin, I think, and a hops derivative. Anyone who has used this with Estrace and thoughts? ( obviously not using on the same day…..)
0 -
Good question about the Gynatrof. I stopped using it and went back to my vaginal vitamin E suppositories. It is just so expensive to buy and ship from Canada.
0 -
Molly, Amazon.ca has a 20 application tube for 32.99 CAD. That's almost free in USD
0 -
Thanks for the info on your "best friend" amylsp. I have ordered one. Next week can't come quick enough.
0 -
Here's to 'cumming' quickly, lol.
0 -
Lol on the mothers day gift. Last year I was stopped at a traffic light outside a Lovers Lane and I looked over and there was a sign reminding everyone that Mothers Day was coming up. My 19 year old son and I had a good laugh about it and what he would get me for my gift.
i bought a new product to try. Pjur med repair glide. I will give you all a review once I try it. I am hoping it will be a reasonable replacement for the Hyalofemme that disappeared from amazon.
0 -
i'm really bummed out. I use like the way my husband felt inside me. I don't anymore. I've had to work so much harder for the big O than ever before. I'm really only reaching orgasm with clitoral stimulation, and missing the intensity and pleasure of the combo. I've been using Gynatrof on a regular basis to keep things moist. I've just started Thermiva treatments. If these don't work I'm going to ask for the vaginal estrogen. I really hate getting to the point of wanting estrogen, but I'm not willing to give up sex. It's too important for me and my relationship with my husband. Damn cancer!!! This is so depressing.
0 -
Two weeks of estrogen, now stepped down to twice a week, with some gynatrof too, and guess what?! It is working! I can barely believe it! Things were impossibly uncomfortable and I never really believed it would get a lot better, maybe a little, but not a lot, but it seems ( almost) normal. Cannot believe I didn't do anything about it for so long...
I was worried that I didn't have hot flashes for a couple of days, but they are back with a vengeance, so clearly my body is still feeling very very estrogen deprived
0 -
That's great, Zinny! Is it topical?
0 -
Yes - The Vagifem 10 microgram estrogen intravag tablets.
The brain does funny things, too. I didn't think it would affect my libido, but knowing that the goods are working again makes the idea of sex a whole lot more interesting, and not having a pinch/burny feeling sure makes it easier to have an orgasm. So, the whole shabang seems to get better...
0 -
Great news, Zinny!
0 -
-I'm new here but have been reading posts for a few weeks and have gotten some great tips. I was just prescribed Estrace. My GYN suggested it after an exam and I told her how awful the sex is even using lubricants. I'm now using coconut oil externally which has helped with outside dryness. But the inside...Anyway. my GYN suggested I give my MO this article about breast cancer survivors and vaginal estrogen cream. My MO said she was for it as long as I was being monitored by my GYN:
http://www.acog.org/Resources-And-Publications/Com...
Zinney--I was directed to use Estrace twice a week and only a pea sized amount. The packaging says daily for 1-2 weeks then cut down on frequency. I see my GYN next week for a follow up after getting a polyp removed from my uterus last week. It was found when I requested a baseline of my uterine lining before I start Tamoxifen. I'll ask her about that if I don;t feel this twice weekly is working fast enough. Can't have sex until after my follow up so no hurry!
0 -
thank you for sharing this article. I'm supposed to get coconut oil/ vitamin e suppositories. No rush as my DIEP Flap is next week, so sex will be nada for a while..
0 -
Thanks for that article link. The most important line….
- "Data do not show an increased risk of cancer recurrence among women currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer or those with a personal history of breast cancer who use vaginal estrogen to relieve urogenital symptoms."
0 -
I have not started chemo yet, but this aspect of treatment has terrified me.
I had a brief meeting with the oncologist, I had to go to his office to sign papers for my oncotype test and he said there was no point discussing anything until we had the test back (which will be June 13th, next meeting). But when I was there signing papers I told him it was very important that my vagina not become a useless piece of beef jerky, all dried up and crispy.
Perhaps this was a bit abrupt as the poor guy wasn't sure what to say. But I thought, I'm going to lay my cards on the table and if this guy can't roll with the punches, then I better find out now because I will need a new oncologist.
I also asked him if he had the statistical translation skills to tell me what my prognosis is, from the Oncotype test, if we assume I do NOT take Tamoxifen for 5 years. Again, I think he was there to discuss cancer and not statistical analysis and interpretation (gee, fella, get with the program!)
This cancer crash is so awful on so many levels that you can't imagine when you're not there. First is the terror and an up close conversation with yourself about mortality. That was an ugly talk! Then you end up with a boob that is new to you, or no boob at all, and you try to make personal and private adjustments for how to live with that. My left breast is angry, a different colour, has a weird, squishy goose egg rising out of the armpit side, the nipple is pissed off and won't look at me anymore. One boob is plain old boob and other boob is an angry stranger with a bump on her head and looks like she's packed her bags and is leaving in a huff. Well !
Now add to that that I will be expected to take treatments that are NOT guaranteed to save my life but are pretty much guaranteed to turn my hoohoo into shoe leather, but no matter, I won't be wanting sex anyway. Oh joy.
I am furiously making notes of things to try and what worked because forewarned is forearmed and I want to go into this ready for battle. I appreciate the honesty and frank talk that all you ladies have shared. Thank you.
0 -
A word of encouragement. Personally I did not find that tamoxifen caused bad vaginal problems. From the first day I started Tam, I always always without fail used generous lubricant. The idea was to not even start a pain/fear cycle. For me that worked. I had to get to know my body again and what was too much, just right, not enough. But I did not feel all dried up.
0
