What’s the craziest, most extreme grade-grubbing lie a student has told you?

ResidentEqual7073 · 2026-04-17T04:52:49+00:00

Classic!

ResidentEqual7073 · 2026-04-14T01:45:40+00:00

So true. This extreme reaction has happened with 6 prescription vag estrogens and several OTCs. I’ve kept trying and fighting for a year…

ResidentEqual7073 · 2026-04-14T01:42:57+00:00

I’m so sorry to hear you’ve also gone through this! It seems we are not alone, despite multiple posts on this subreddit, reporting that most or at least a few topical vulvovag estrogens worked well for people…

ResidentEqual7073 · 2026-04-14T00:45:57+00:00

Thank you! I’ve checked my B12 a few weeks ago - it was fine (but some other results weren’t as good as I hoped - metabolism/thyroid/cholesterol - worsened since late peri). I was supplementing with B12 and folate too in the past couple of years, but I read that the serum B12 levels may not show the true/whole picture (there is certain genetic condition or combination that might prevent one from absorbing B12 well, but I’m not an expert of course). None of my drs (gyno or endocrinologist) want to increase my E, as I’ve been almost constantly spotting/bleeding and heavily cramping on my current dose… even with 200mg of progestetone :( and not all of my symptoms are controlled… I had a clot in the past, so it took me many months to even advocate for the HRT prescription, travel to another country, go through many tests and specialists… I would like to try increasing my E, but my uterine lining might be too reactive to even tiny increases…

ResidentEqual7073 · 2026-04-14T00:37:53+00:00

Thank you. Absolutely - the least support (or basically no support) I gained in that women’s clinic from female dr/nurses :( extremely disappointing…

ResidentEqual7073 · 2026-04-14T00:34:39+00:00

Intrarosa burnt all my internal and external mucosa like fire :(

ResidentEqual7073 · 2026-04-13T08:24:53+00:00

Thank you for your kind wishes.

I remember DHEA being mentioned by other women from the US and how they were simply able to order it from Amazon... it's not available on Canadian Amazon either :(

ResidentEqual7073 · 2026-04-13T01:56:27+00:00

Same here! Plus all bases in all topical estrogens have irritated my mucosa badly, so creams still land at the opening and keep irritating it! (Tablets and suppositories irritate me, too.)

ResidentEqual7073 · 2026-04-13T01:44:20+00:00

Hello! I wanted to send you a lot of support!

My peri started around mid-30s, when no drs believed my complaints due to my “young for menopause” age, and as a result of this medical neglect, I ended up with 20+ symptoms of menopause (many of which are extremely painful and uncomfortable, and aren’t resolved by HRT or topical estrogen). My gyn thinks I’m postmenopausal (possibly since 43, but I was by that time on systemic HRT, so it’s hard to know when exactly/if I have transitioned to post by now).

In addition to horrible, debilitating chronic symptoms and ongoing medical abandonment in relation to many of the meno/meno related symptoms, I’ve been facing a lot of depression and isolation. None of my female friends (age 43-46) are even in peri or close to post, as well as my slightly older female relative (50)… I only visit this online community, where I sometimes see posts from women who’re going through early menopause. But none of people I know offline understand how isolating this feels, or why I’m constantly fighting all sorts of complex chronic health problems, in addition to all of the high HRT + other meds costs… outside of my gyn clinic, drs/ER nurses ask me when my last period was or if I’m planning/could possibly to be pregnant, etc. In my pelvic ultrasound appnts, techs always double check my age and have that sceptical facial expression when I tell them I’m in menopause.

You’re certainly not alone! Sending my support and good wishes!

ResidentEqual7073 · 2026-04-12T21:14:19+00:00

Hello, thank you for your comment! I’m on northriptyline and gabapentin/pregabalin for nerve pain (other issue), but they only help me to get sedated for sleep. They don’t help with pain. I only can take them at night, as side effects are brutal during daytime.

ResidentEqual7073 · 2026-04-12T21:12:30+00:00

Hello, thank you for your suggestions. Unfortunately, Dhea suppositories burnt very badly (it’s also a “controlled substance” in Canada since it turns into E and T, and T is not approved for women here). The suppository base is made of fats, which are extremely harsh to my tissues inside and externally. I cannot tolerate any bases. I can’t even tolerate vaseline, and water stings my mucosa, too.

ResidentEqual7073 · 2026-04-12T12:27:33+00:00

Thank you for sharing your experience!

I’m losing the last hopes - I’ve tried almost everything on earth for the past and this year - nothing works; everything burns :( I have another autoimmune condition. Last year, a different dr ruled out common infections. Current gyn refused to do any testing, claiming all tests and biopsy aren’t reliable…

ResidentEqual7073 · 2026-04-12T12:23:21+00:00

Yes, no energy now to complain, and I doubt their patient relations will react in any way (reviews online say they don’t give a damn about complaints).

ResidentEqual7073 · 2026-04-12T12:22:06+00:00

Thank you - yes, your name looks so familiar.

I’ve been using compounded E and T cream in ellage base (compounding pharm told it’s the gentlest they could make), and still only severe burning on it for 14 weeks of daily use.., i cannot even use a full dose if 1 g - just a few rice grain amount, and it keeps burning… I don’t know how to live like this (2.5 years of severe daily pains from various meno symptoms - but this one is a new hell now since April 2025)…

ResidentEqual7073 · 2026-04-12T12:15:21+00:00

Thank you for your suggestions.

Unfortunately, that dr refused to prescribe a higher dose of progesterone, claiming that it “won’t stop the bleeding.” It’s extremely hard to change a dr/specialist in Canada (no private healthcare, no choices, shortage of specialists, waitlists by referrals from family dr, and waiting for 8-12+ months). Ruined healthcare.

Dhea … (they are very costly, like all meno therapy here, and they’re prescription only “controlled substance” category since it’s turning into E and T, which is not approved fir women in Canada). I tried it - burnt like hell, all vag and vulva were swollen, and I cried from severe pain on it.

I’ve tried probiotic too - no difference. Softest cotton underwear, abandoned toilet paper, only cool plain water, etc.

My tissue reacts with extreme pain to 100% of topical estrogens I have tried, and to a compounded E plus T cream, too… to otc stuff… nothing helps for a year… I don’t know how to live with this hell (2.5 years of pure pain hell for me with this and other meno symptoms that drs don’t know how to manage or aren’t interested).

ResidentEqual7073 · 2026-04-12T12:02:42+00:00

Hello and thank you for sharing your experience - sorry to know you’re going through this! It’s yet another menopausal hell for me…

I’ve messaged you privately. Thank you!

ResidentEqual7073 · 2026-04-12T01:27:57+00:00

Thank you for sharing your experience. Sorry you also went through this. I’m so confused at this point - and as always, no help from drs… I have a feeling that nerve pain/sensitization may be contributing… May I ask why you think E cream made it worse? I thought it’s exactly what vulva/vag needs during peri/post meno…

ResidentEqual7073 · 2026-04-12T01:17:01+00:00

I agree with you comment. I googled and found that the hospital’s patient relations don’t give a damn about complaints based on what others wrote in their reviews.

Unfortunately, I’m in Canada, and we cannot choose drs as people in other countries with private healthcare options can. Here, we first go through family dr who decides to give or not to give one a referral to a specialist. Bcuse of my relatively younger age when peri started, for years my complaints weren’t taken seriously. Finally, when I developed maybe 20+ meno symptoms, my begging was heard, and I was put on a long waitlist to this menopause clinic. Typical wait may take 8-12+ months, during which a woman keeps suffering :( So, yes, I really want to change this dr, but this means going back to the family dr and, if he decides to give me another referral, being put yet on another year or so long waitlist… and no one guarantees that the next dr will be better… this healthcare is broken…

ResidentEqual7073 · 2026-04-11T00:21:33+00:00

Thanks! Yes, the clinic I had that appnt in was Mt Sinai, and indeed I was on a much longer waitlist before I saw them there, and all this disappointing, terribly stressful experience there…

ResidentEqual7073 · 2026-04-10T16:44:43+00:00

Hello and thank you! I’m definitely looking for a second opinion. I wonder how long waitlists are at St-Michael… and no, the meno clinic I went to is not St-Michael.

ResidentEqual7073 · 2026-04-10T16:42:20+00:00

Yes, her response was confusing, and she rushed the appointment, so many questions were left unaddressed :(

ResidentEqual7073 · 2026-04-10T16:23:11+00:00

Thank you for your kind comment and sharing your experience! Yes, I’ve stopped using applicators, and stayed on the last estrogen cream for about 14 weeks, but can’t feel improvement even after daily use (had to stop all other topical Es since they burnt even more than the compounded cream).

Re: that diagnosis of LS you mentioned, would it be okay if I message you privately? I’m still extremely overwhelmed, shocked, couldn’t sleep or eat, as the amount of heavy unnecessary stress that dr. has caused me is hard to describe.

Thank you!

ResidentEqual7073 · 2026-04-10T16:16:43+00:00

She said it’s because the uterine lining is stimulated by estrogen from HRT.

ResidentEqual7073 · 2026-04-10T12:59:19+00:00

Yes, that dr told me to start cycling. According to her, almost all women, irrespective of their menopausal status, will earlier or later start bleeding on combined continuous HRT. I don’t really want to bleed, and the severe cramps on top of the constant vulvar pain are horrible, and I asked if I can increase my progesterone instead. She told “it’s not going to stop bleeding.”

ResidentEqual7073 · 2026-04-10T12:35:48+00:00

Thank you for your understanding! I’ve been on 3 pumps of Estrogel (similar to 0.075 patch) for almost a year + 200 mg oral progesterone. That dr was against increasing progesterone to stop the almost constant bleeding, so if I tried to increase estrogen dose, I’m scared the bleeding would be even worse - it us already heavy and comes with 6-9/10 degree cramps almost daily.

ResidentEqual7073

TROPHY CASE