Women's health taboos

This is interesting for me, as i was prescribed oestrogen cream to help with my prolapse. I asked about side effects and was told there would be none as the cream was administered locally and not orally. I then read the literature that came with the pack and couldn't make my mind up whether to use them or not. I have been on hrt in the past with no ill effects, but this time my doctor never asked me whether there was any history of breast cancer in my family - which there is. Anyway, i decided not to use them, and i suppose at some stage i will have to go back to my doctor and 'fess up' as this thing is not going to go away without intervention of some kind.

My friend aged 72, recently diagnosed after exhaustive tests with vaginal atrophy was given oestrogen cream and told she may experience "spotting". She had bleeding just like a period for several days complete with menstrual cramps. She was very upset and has refused to continue. She is trying Replens for the discomfort but has no sexual activity so is not too troubled with symptoms at present.

No, gillybob you are not a nut job - I think there are lots of people who feel the same as you. I, on the other hand, really do not have a choice about having a poo in a public toilet, because of the way my innards function (or malfunction). But, if I can manage it, I will sit and wait till someone in another cubicle flushes, which will mask any sound from my cubicle . And I always try to get into and out of the cubicle without anyone seeing me, so that no-one knows which one I was in. How mad is that?

Bit off topic, but the Embarassing Bodies TV programme always amused me, in that people who were too embarrassed to go to their doctors with an intimate problem were quite happy to show all on TV.

Quick example Lara is that there is very little research into the effects of using vaginal creams containing oestrogen to combat vaginal drying and atrophy. It is a form of HRT - but the extent to which it raises the risk of breast cancer is unknown. Those of us who have had breast cancer, or have a high family risk, are left not knowing whether these creams are safe to use. And they are of course the only really effective treatment for the condition. And it is a condition that causes discomfort to celibate women as well as those who would still like a sex life with their partners.
Hope the interview goes well.

Well now that we're on the subject, here goes........

I eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables. I drink water and diluted juice.

I eat dried apricots and prunes (recommended) but I still only "go" once or twice a week.

I am sure that this is more of a psychological problem as I can only use the toilet (for poos) at home and would make myself ill at work rather than use the loo (it is clean as I clean it myself).

I have a problem with;

The smell of poo (someone might smell me)
The sound of it possibly plopping into the bowl (someone might hear)
The fact that it might not flush away and someone might see it (????)

I know I am complete nut job !

Drinking gallons of water will give you nice clear urine but it won't necessarily relieve constipation as it's not all absorbed into the large bowel - fluids end up in the bladder.

You might need something like Lactulose which draws water into the bowel and will help soften hard stools.

I was going to start a new thread on the report. But seems I can't find the right button to start a new thread. Am i suffering from a senior moment? Help!

You're being asked because of the Chief Medical Officer's report, published this morning, which she has devoted to women's health methinks LaraGransnet.
Apparently she uses the rather coy phrase "below the waist" !
I think the problem is not taboos - its a lack of funding and research interest.
If men suffered from PMT, flooding periods, peri-menopause and post menopause symptoms (including vaginal drying and atrophy), stress incontinence etc there would be a great deal more research. Sexism strikes again. And when you add in that many of these things afflict "old ladies" agism adds to the problem. But we are living longer, and living longer with these problems. Sock it to them Lara.

I will discuss anything in the appropriate place and with the appropriate person by that I mean I wouldn't discuss health at all except in the most general terms at a social gathering or at the meal table UNLESS with other clinical folk when anything goes. If I couldn't tell my GP anything I wouldn't go to him but I can and I do. I don't mind if anyone wants to discuss anything with me and I will keep that confidential.

I don't think there's much i wouldn't feel able to enter into a discussion about these days, certainly not with the lovely people on gransnet, nor with my doctor. I was surprised to find that, having recently been diagnosed with a slight uterine prolapse, i was able to discuss it with my daughter. We don't usually get into stuff like that.

I think I picked up on my mum's prudishness at a very early age. She had trouble talking about anthing to do with the ruder body bits.

Since I went onto the GN Vaginal Atrophy thread, quite a while ago now, I revealed more about my post menopausal problems than I ever thought I would on any public forum.

I think that experience has made me a lot more able to talk about such things without acute embarrassment.

After having a baby what is taboo? I can't think of anything

Red wine has the same effect as prunes I find............ and infinitely more enjoyable

Lara

Can't think of anything that I couldn't discuss with whoever wants/is willing to talk/listen.

Jings and Marmark - I'm glad I put 'normally', huge sympathy for you and others who can't just sort things with a diet change. On the 'taboo' subject - I've had some free frank discussions on colonoscopy since having one, with no more embarrassment than talking about mutual cataract ops - often with the same acquaintances. I guess I'm becoming a health bore! Unhealth bore maybe ...
As for menopause - I was prepared for the hot flushes by a long ago pantomime Dame who kept saying 'Ooh, I must blow down my blouse!' All I can remember about my own was a wisp of regret that I was no longer fertile - and the way my class of 9 years olds used to rush to open the windows whenever Miss went red in the face. Aah, my caring kids of 25 years ago!

Tell me then.I eat plenty of fruit and veg,drink gallons of water.
Nothing short of dynamite will make me go.

You really wanted to hear all this didn't you Lara?

I've got some of that in the cupboard, but it's way out of date. I wonder if it goes off.

DH used to swear by Syrup of Figs.

Prunes, water, fruit, veg. - useless. I think dried figs might be useful. (But you can't beat some OTC meds)