Cancer Survivors Network

I am sorry Kim. I think probably a lot of women have this problem just because of the lack of Estrogen anymore in our bodies. Talk to your ob/gyn, and, hopefully they can help you! Good luck to you and let us know if you find something that works!

There is a product called Liquid Silk. Many woman who have had internal rads for uterine cancer have used it. Of course, ask your doctor about it first. I think that it is okay to use and can help with the dryness. KY is not so good because it is alcohol based and can actually dry the vagina out more. There are many products that might help with this.
Stef

Spit works great!! But I haven't seemed to want any sex since I was diagnosed. Just haven't had the desire. Poor hubby, waiting so patiently! Anyone else have this problem. Is it from the shock of having BC? Haven't started any treatment yet, so that's not it. :) Pammy

Thanks ladies,
I am so appreciative you shared your personal ideas on this topic with me. I have tried lubricant but it did not help. I can try the things listed and see what happens and hopefully I can get some answers from the new doc

j916, if I can ask you about it you can certainly ask me, LOL, I am not sure what it is caused from. My obgyn said it may be dryness because my ph level is off in that area so the Replense is supposed to help but isn't helping enough. I also have had the pink discharge. I will let you know if I get any helpful info at my next appointment. The Replense is something you use every 3 days to replace the moisture it is not a lubricant you only use when... well...you know...my obgyn told me today to try it every 2 days while waiting for appointment with new doc. I don't have an IUD so I know it is not that.

Thanks all,
Kim

that works, let me know. The pain I have is right at the "entrance," and it feels as though my hubby has ground glass around his you-know-what. With pain like that, I really don't want to have sex....as you can imagine. KY does not help. Neither does saliva.
So, anything you find out, I'd be willing to try too!

Debi

if your dr has any suggestions, and thank you for replying! My pain is about half way inside, if not a little further. Is replense over the counter, or Rx?

Replense is Over the counter. I am hoping to get an appointment soon so I will get back to you about any other info.

Are you the one with the pretty medical bracelet mentioned, where did you get it?

Kim

Kim, if you find out anything good, let us know! A lot of women suffer with this because of the lack of estrogen. It is very painful right at the entrance. Thanks for bringing this up!

I ordered a pretty bracelet from www.thingsremembered.com They run about $25.00 with $12.00 for the personalization. I had mine say NO B/P or IV...figured that would just about cover it if I am "out of it"~ sheesh, I had best NEVER take it off if thats the criteria! LOL

Hugs,
Claudia

Claudia, thanks for posting this. After reading the responses about lymphedema, I want to buy one.

Count me in that group Moopy... looks like I'm going shoppnig... at least online..

Uh, yes Pammy, I have that same problem with desire. Before this there was no problem, really regular, a good time was had by all, etc, etc. In fact, my drive was more than my husband's. Now, I'm almost never that into it. Lord. Please post if anyone has a solution to this.

Mimi

I know how you feel Mimi. I am so much older than you and have had times when I just did not want any sex. My husband is now impotent from 2 types of cancer, but I have to say that our intimate life together is probably the best it has ever been. I guess what I am trying to say is that you go through phases and sometimes we don't understand why.

it really helps to know that others have this same problem. It's so darned embarrassing. I can deal with "pleasuring" my husband in spite of having no sex drive, but I can't stand intercourse anymore because it is sooooo painful.

I will ask my doc about Premarin, and some of the other suggestions.

Thanks, all, for keeping this thread going.

Debi

I was forced into doing 'IT' Right from the start, It hurt so much and now I just can't bloody stand the the thought of it anymore

Jxxxxxxxxxxxx

Back in the day...in the early 60's when I was a raging hormonal teenager, and my mom was just beginning "The Change", she was also prescribed Premarin~ in tablet form, I believe. The thing I thought ( and still do think) odd about Premarin? It is a contraction for the words Pregnant Mare's Urine!!! I am not saying it doesn't work, but who thinks of these things in the first place??!!! I think they must be the same people who first saw an artichoke and thought, 'Wow! if I snip off the tops of the leaves which are cutting my fingers to shreds, boil it, scrape the flesh from the leaves with my teeth and try to discard the fibrous non-edible thing in the middle~ OMG~this thistle is delicious!!! I think I'll dip in in mayo!"

For the record, I do love artichokes, but my mind wanders way too much, evidently!

Hugs,
Claudia

Wow... I am fortunate~ a 60 yr old broad, estrogen positive, and even after 5 years of Arimidex, spit works just fine! Nothing OTC or anything else needed... Guess I should consider this a blessing, huh??? And I dare say my Reggie would be insulted if one only thought this is so cuz he isn't "well-endowed!" OMG!!!! And me being The Cougar in the relationship~ shame on me! HA HA HA

Hugs,
Claudia

Well, if a man is well endowed, spit isn't going to work. If he isn't, spit would, I am sure. Sorry...

Ya know...this is an argument which can have no winners! But why spit would only work for "shrimps" and not "mastadons" makes no physiological sense to me! And being that this thread ( from a few months ago) credits those well-endowed Porn Stars using this "natural lubricant"...well, I rest my case! This is without a doubt the silliest posting ever to a real problem! I am just saying that thankfully it isn't my physical problem~ I am laughing so hard right now and Reggie is wondering why! No way I am telling him it is assumed that he must be smaller than average if spit works fine! HAHAHAHA!

Thanks for the grins~ but Ladies, if spit works for you, don't imagine it's cuz your man is less than average! It just isn't so! LOL LOL LOL

Hugs,
Claudia

Why so defensive? Guess it hit too close to home? Sorry....

Defensive? OMG no~ I am so amused by this I am about to fall of the couch laughing! This is so hilarious, that I have tears running down my face...it is so funny to me! Trust me, I am not easily ( almost never) insulted, nor am I thin skinned...I am just finding this the funniest thread ever! It is an endorphin rush almost as good as sex...with my well-endowed man! LOL

Hugs,
Claudia

I don't see the humor in this for you Claudia. Why don't you just let it go? It is a real problem for some women and they are entitled to their opinions. I don't think your making fun of this thread is very mature. If spit works for you, good. If it doesn't for others, that is fine too. If you think your man is well endowed, then good. Just drop it for pete's sake. And, you are defending yourself. If your sex life is good, then good for you. Who cares?

Awwww...no harm no foul! Consider the subject dropped! Just light hearted silliness getting us through the Cancer Challenge! I wasn't the one who brought up endowment in the first place, and it made me laugh! Lord knows we all need to laugh! LOL Its so my last word! On to the mundane...artichoke recipes, anyone? :-)

Hugs,
Claudia

The last word would be nice. I doubt the other women that posted consider it light hearted silliness. I doubt they think this is a laughing matter. Sorry that whoever brought up the endowment hit too close to home. Good luck to you!

Well, perhaps I owe you an apology! The thread was pretty much in keeping with the subject at hand~ and reading from the beginning, everyone ( myself included)was quite concerned and realized this is a serious question which was treated with the dignity it deserved. After almost 7 years of posting on these boards, I hope my caring and senstive nature is evident to most everyone here. If now and then, someone says something which strikes me as funny, and Heaven knows we need to be irreverant now and again~ I see nothing wrong with laughing! I wasn't at all insulted by the suggestion as to why maybe spit works for me! I was simply following a silly thread with an "assumption" about my man to an equally
silly conclusion! It takes nothing away from my sisters in here who are having either physical/emotional difficulties.
If anyone was at all offended, I again apologize. Hopefully, my Kindred Spirits in here know me better, and were laughing along with me, realizing I would never purposely say anything to demean any of us in our battle.

Hugs,
Claudia

I have never taken offense at anything you have ever posted. You are always the most uplifting, giving, caring, sensitive person on these boards. And yes, you have a great sense of humor. Yes we need levity, and yes the subject is maybe more sensitive (no pun intented) to some of the others on these boards. We can usually take all of our issues, big or small (again, no pun intended...), with some humor and levity, and if it hits too close to home for some of us, maybe we can just read the posts and move on. Please don't feel as if this was any of your doing. You are loved here.

=^..^=

Way to go Claudia!! If you recall, I was the one to agree with you that spit worked well for me too!! Does this mean that I have inadvertantly offended someone as well? I hope I didn't and I'm here to say just this......it's all her fault!! She is 45 feet 1 inch taller than me!! She mentioned it first!! (wink, wink). ROFLOL!!! Please, we are just presenting another option and trying to do it light heartedly on such a sensitive subject!! Apologies to anyone offended. :) Pammy

I was laughing out loud and i really needed this mundane? thread i found it way funnier than artichokes. and even though i do relate to this subject...and haven't tried spit..but really like KY yours and mine. I think we all need a break from all the seriousness of our lives. Plus Claudia you know I "GET" you.
Hugs, jackie

I took this serious, as, I think the women that wrote their posts did. I feel sorry for the

woman that posted. And, I think it would be great if they could find something that would

help them. I didn't find it funny at all and I still don't. It wasn't offensive to anyone. I think it is a very serious matter and noone was really looking for a laugh out of it.

And, I think we should just let this thread die too, like some other controversial ones.

This reminds me of the 1percent thread, doesn't it? I think it would be nice to just let it go!

I don't see anything offensive... and trust me ... I feel often frustrated by the issue and have since before my dx... this has been a problem for me for several years... (poor hubby).. I haven't participated in this thread but have read every word... and I want you to KNOW... that I APPRECIATE THE HUMOR... on a topic that can leave people feeling a little ackward and and uncomfortable.. it breaks up the seriousness and allows us to laugh.... By the way... there are studies that PROVE... LAUGHTER HELPS TO INITIATE HEALING... and really I think that is what we are all looking for!

Hugs,

~T

You have me laughing so hard from the Premerian to the artichoke to the spit................hahahahahahahah....
Thanks I needed that!!!
Aurora

P.S. I just wanted to add that I don't want offend anoyone either. I know this is a serious problem, One that I might even experience as my treatment progresses, but I needed a laugh and Claudia gave me one.

Claudia,
I have had this problem for years dating back to my uterine cancer and pelvic radiation. I have tried many things and some worked better than others. I was not offended by your remarks at all. It was funny and even with this "problem" I can see the humor. I was thinking that the problem with spit wouldn't be endowed or not, but the ability to produce enough spit for the size no matter what it is. So it is a ability to spit. There are many reasons for the dryness and the best thing that someone who is truly concerned about the discomfort or pain with intercourse is to talk with your doctor. If you ask for suggestions then that is what you will get and to critize someone or make what I would consider deeming remarks about someone's partner is not funny either. All of this was said with a touch of humor and spit was just a suggestion. I think my only concern with spit would be the possibilty of infection. But then I grew up spitting in my eyeliner to get it to the perfect consistancy for application. Yes, Claudia, we grew up in the same time period. I am picturing our 50 foot woman with the poorly endowed partner. Can't picture it, sorry. So let's all put this to rest. After all, spit happens.
Claudia you are one of the kindest sweetest, most supportive ladies on this board.
Stef

Hi Claudia,

I just wish I had a normal sex life that I could laugh about! You're really lucky.

Thank goodness my hubby is understanding and we're creative...but honestly, if I never had to have sex again, that would be fine.

Debi

Thanks all for the posts. I never expected to get so many. I am trying to get an appt with a specialist. Lucky enough to live near big cities. Anyway what a pain to get into the place the obgyn referred me to. They sent me a 24 page questionaire to fill out. Also need last 5 years of records from ob office but first I need to get release of info and fill out and fax over but of course the faxes are not going through to the ob office and their faxes are not getting to the specialist office. Anyway when they finally get all the info it takes 10 days to review and then get an appt for 6 weeks from that. I will let you ladies know if I get any helpful info when and if I get an appointment.

Faithandprayer,
I am done with chemo and on Herceptin now. I read on Replense directions that dryness can be caused by chemo,not sure if Herceptin applies or I have another whole issue but it seems like lots of ladies have it so may be from the treatments we are on. I was told to use a condom when having chemo and asked the nurse why since I am married, one partner, and have tubes tied. She said just for a couple days after the treatment to make sure all the chemo is out of the system because it can pass to other people and you don't want all that toxic stuff passed to other people. So I think your partner's saliva is ok, yours for your partner not ok for a couple days after treatment. Hope this helps.

Kim

I am new to this discussion board thing, but I also have an issue with painful intercourse. I finished my radiation and chemo last June, but am still having this issue. Was the specialist able to suggest anything? Has anyone tried the product Sylk?? It is not cheap, but if it does work, it would be well worth it. Thanks ladies.

for bringing this up. Very important issue

IMO Reggie must be well endowed as you have the confidnece to mention it. You go girl.
For the ladies with problems, do you also have the guys checked out too? I have to say I am dealing with the chemo and butt problems no interest here, but I got to help the guy along soon.!

Ah, I remember this thread from the summer! Well, since then things have improved for me. One reason is that I am coming out of chemo-induced menopause, I believe. But also, I've been using this product called Zestra. Totally natural, no estrogen or anything. It really helps :)

This thread caused me more grief than anything I have ever responded to! I shudder to recall how my "innocent" words and what I thought were simply adding silliness to an otherwise serious topic were mis-construed by some of the kindred ones here on the boards. It gave me pause and I have re-considered putting things in words just because they are on my mind! I am not happy at all to see it has made its way back to the top of the list...

Oh, and I'm glad you are "better"! YAY

Hugs, and please post on everyone elses thread so that this moves waaaaay back to the umpteeth page again! LOL

Chen♥