Does chamois butter really help?

[Technotart]

<tucking these formulations away in my notebook so I can look em up and use em on perimenopausal patients who complain about saddle pain on the bike>

Thanks for the info!

[Aint Doody]

I did have to have a prescription for the gel. At first my doc was a little reluctant--wanted to give me pills. I finally won him over. And the good news is that my insurance paid and I only had to pay a co-pay. I'm going on a 60 miler tomorrow (if the weather co-operates) and I'll let y'all know what I think. I have a good friend who rides even more than I who's planning to call for her own prescrip. (By the way, the compounding pharm. recommended increasing the percentages to 20 & 2--said it certainly couldn't hurt). The pharm. also said he thought one application would last 5 to 6 hrs!

[spazzdog]

Hi Aint Doody... I'm 49 (for a few months anyway) and almost done with the whole journey into menopause. I've not taken anything hormaonal; I guess I'm lucky.

As to the grrly-bits issue with riding... I was miserable back in 2000 training for an AidsRide. No matter what I did, how I sat I literally had friction burn on my clitoris and major chafing of my labia. I was a very unhappy grrl.

I bought a Koobi saddle (www.koobi.com) at the recommendation of somebody at the Boston-P'town ride. I figured for $69 bucks, it was worth a try.

I have never had another issue with my grrly parts. I don't use chamois butter... just me, the shorts, the saddle. The cut-out goes all the way thru the nose... thus where there is air, there is no irritation.

my 2 cents - spazz

[julbee]

Hey Spazzdog! Thanks for the link! I have heard good things about this saddle! Of course, the goal should always be to use as little of any type of "treatment" as possible. If a saddle change does the trick.... wonderful!

Aint Doody! Hi! I'll be interested to learn as to how this formulation has worked for you! Did you increase the percentages or did you stay with 10% and 1%? I'm sure the 20% and the 2% are quite potent!

The whole idea for using the compounded gel is to minimize absorption into your bloodstream, while still getting the anti-inflammatory benefit. You see, NSAIDs (non-steroidal ant-inflammatory drugs) have a proclivity for your GI lining cells. This doesn't change with the route of administration! It happens if you swallow the NSAID pill, you get the NSAID by IM or IV routes. The stuff makes a dash straight for GI lining cells. This can be a problem... or even dangerous for some people. That is the attraction to the gel. If used sparingly, as directed, there will be zero to very minimal blood concentration.

With that in mind, it's best to use the lowest concentration of a topical NSAID as possible. If you NEED a higher percentage... great. If the lower percentage works well... don't increase it! BTW.. I hope you were sufficiently warned to not get this gel into your eyes.. at all?

And yes.. if you are needing the gel... don't forget to repeat the application(s) at the prescribed intervals.

I have been warned that if you use this cream anywhere on your neck area, one might feel very sedated. Please keep that in mind! (That did prove to be true for me!) You want benefits with minmal side-effects! (Which includes minimal health risks.)

For anyone using an oral anti-inflammatory medication, please be sure you are well educated in the potential/possible side-effects. Seriously.
Minimize the risks for yourself by becoming educated on this issue! You won't regret it!

Happy Riding!

[Aint Doody]

Don't y'all love this website?! I'm getting soooo much good info. I did use the gel--actually it is more of a cream. It actually felt a little stingy on those more delicate parts so I wasn't sure it would do me any good. And possibly I was thinking about it too much. Or as julbee warned maybe the concentrations were too high. I rode 55 hard miles--plenty of climbs. I reapplied after my shower. When I got up the next day, I could have gotten on and ridden more without a twinge. (I couldn't because I was in a pretty stupid golf tournament.) Should I consider diluting the concentration somehow? The big test will be this week-end when I do Cycle OR Week-end--135 miles in 2 days. I'll keep everybody posted. I like spazzdog's idea of the saddle, but since my Pilot 5.0 is new, I just can't see investing in a new saddle just yet.....See you in Spandex!!!

[emily_in_nc]

I like spazzdog's idea of the saddle, but since my Pilot 5.0 is new, I just can't see investing in a new saddle just yet.....See you in Spandex!!!

Hi AD ~ I'll let you in on a little secret! One of the first things most cyclist do when they buy a stock bike is buy a new, comfy saddle for it! So, don't worry, you don't have to avoid doing that just because it is a new bike. Off-the-shelf bikes are notorious for having crappy saddles!

I test rode a Trek 5200 WSD (high-end carbon fiber bike) the summer before last. At the time I'd ridden several full centuries and more metrics on my Terry with a Terry Butterfly saddle. Five minutes into my test ride of the Trek, my girly bits were screaming! If I'd bought that bike (I didn't - I later built up an Aegis Swift from the frame), I would have changed that stock saddle out in 1 second flat! So don't feel bad about swapping it out and early to save your hiney - you will only be about the billionth new-bike owner to have done exactly that!

Good luck,
Emily

[Aint Doody]

Emily--I'm sure you're right. I could spend a small fortune with potions and lotions! And my bootie comfort is certainly important. I've heard a lot about the Terry saddles. OK--let's start with the saddles. What should I look for? My LBS doesn't stock much--small town of 15,000.

[jpbayarea]

There is a homeopathic ointment CALENDULA, can be found at any natural food store and is wonderful when applied to any rash/skin irritation. I use it at night after a ride and by morning the 'girls' are in fine shape. And, as they say, regular sexual activity does promote thicker tissues too....so have some fun and try the Calendula. I sometimes put it in the fridge for an extra boost of cooling comfort on hot summer days. Good luck!

[Aint Doody]

Well, y'all, here's an update on the "booty situation." I have a friend who lent me her Terry saddle just before I did a 6-day San Juan Islands trip with Bicycle Adventures. We did a lot of hard riding, and I never even had to think about the potions and lotions. I'm sold on Terry saddles now. A good saddle is definitely the most important thing if your bottom hurts.

[wabisabi]

On the post-menopause thread--I had early (40) menopause, and am 55 now, and was concerned about things, ah, drying out. My gyno prescribed Estring, which is a small ring with a very small amount of estrogen that goes in like a diaphram. It definitely replenished the parts and they are, as the gyno says, "much happier."