Probiotics

Hello Etna,

Thanks for getting in touch and welcome to our online community. I see from your profile that you’ve joined a few of our forums. I hope you’ll find them a good source of support.

It’s good to hear that you have completed your chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but not so good to hear about the ongoing problems you’re having with BV (bacterial vaginosis).

Unfortunately, some cancer treatments, like hormone or endocrine therapy, can cause an early menopause. There are different ways of managing and reducing menopausal symptoms, but we understand how difficult this can be. I’m sorry to read that you are at your wit’s end and feel as though you are going round in circles.

This information from the NHS website, explains that it’s not uncommon for bacterial vaginosis to come back, and that sometimes antibiotic gel may need to be used for a few months. It does sound as if you’ve tried lots of treatments, so it might be worth asking your GP to consider discussing you with a gynaecologist, or a genito-urinary medicine (GUM) specialist regarding further treatment.

It sounds as if you have been given conflicting advice about probiotics, and because we are not part of your healthcare team, it’s difficult for us to comment. We’d recommend speaking to your breast care nurse or oncologist. Perhaps they could arrange for you to see a menopause specialist within the hospital. And they should be able to say what products or treatments you can use. It might be helpful, too, to speak to one of our Boots Macmillan information pharmacists.

I hope this is helpful. If you’d like to speak to one of our nurses, please don’t hesitate to give us a call. Our support line number is 0808 808 0000.

Best wishes,

Carole – Cancer Information Nurse Specialist

Our ref: BG

Thanks, I don't have a menapause specialist at my hospital, & the only boots McMillan pharmacy is a 20 mins train ride away which I'm not going to do, as I don't know actually know if they do actually work their anymore.

I would have to wait yonks to be seen by a gynecologist team.

Thanks I will prob have to speak to my team , even that's difficult as you have to phone up leave a voicemail & wait ,they call based on priority, 

Il figur something out thanks ,

Dear Etna,

Thank you for your reply. My name is Gemma and I am also one of the Cancer Information Nurse Specialists.

We understand how frustrating it can be to try to access healthcare teams for specific questions such as this.  It’s a great idea to leave a voicemail for your team to get back to you from. Another idea might be to try an email as it is such a specific question. If you do not already have an email address you could call the team secretary through switchboard and ask for one.

As Carole mentioned we really are limited in this situation, as we are not able to access healthcare records to give personalised advice. 

I had a look for any generalised information that might help your situation and could not find a product called “obtibac” but have assumed it was just a typo for the one I found called “optibac”.  Their online product information has a section for healthcare professionals that you may wish to share with your team or GP. Their product information also clearly states that they recommend; “If you are taking any medications or have a serious medical condition, consult a doctor before use”.  This is in order that your healthcare record can be considered in line with the product.

Your GP may be able to investigate this symptom this for you too; they may be able to contact a gynaecologist, or a genito-urinary medicine (GUM) specialist for an opinion without referring you. Thereby avoiding the lengthy waiting time.

I hope this information is helpful and that you get some relief from the recurrent BV which cannot be pleasant to live with.

Our ref: DW