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[Midnight Shadow]

Please please can anyone recommend a barrier cream for my burning urethra.
Am using Vagifem for Atrophy, but needing a cream to soothe the outer skin which burns and stings after spending a penny. Sometimes put off going to the toilet which I know I shouldn't do especially as I have 3 kidneys. Betnovate was prescribed but it seems rather strong and burns me even more. Wake up hoping that it has all burnt itself out, no such luck. Love and hugs to all women suffering menopausal symptoms. Replies appreciated. 

[Dancinggirl]

Sadly there is nothing I can recommend to stop the burning.  I still get this burning but not when I pee - I mostly get the burn when I've been sitting down and getting too hot. I actually found the that Vagifem made me burn more. I'm using the Estring instead. Have you tried half a teaspoon of bicarb in some water (perhaps add a little cordial to make it taste better) as this will neutralise your urine.  You need to cut out all caffeine and any citrus in particular - so anything acidic. I assume they have ruled out an UTI?
The burning to really awful - I can so empathise
DG xxx

[Midnight Shadow]

Thank you for your quick response. What we have to suffer, just not fair. Always think though there are people suffering much more than me.  Yes I have been checked for a Uti and I do check regularly for them. No uti which I am pleased about. Apparently it is all to do with the Vaginal Atrophy and tissues in that area. Haven't noticed the Vgaifem burning, so that's good. Yes like you, sitting makes it much worse. Thought I might try Aqueous Cream. Amy happy to try anything. thanks again.

[Dancinggirl]

I'm afraid it took about 6 months of using local oestrogen before I got a reduction in the burning. Though I told a variety of doctors about this burning over the last 14 or so years it was only last autumn when I told the practise nurse at my new GP practise about this problem that I was told I should have been given local oestrogen much sooner.  I have obviously been suffering with VA all this time even though I was using HRT.  I had a premature menopause but only had a very low dose of HRt until about 48 which was probably not enough!!! Apparently systemic HRT doesn't always help VA and in fact I may still have to go back on systemic HRt as well to get proper relief. My GP mentioned that I could only use local oestrogen for 2 years but I will fight this - I can't go back to that dreadful burning all the time. I hope the Vagifem helps soon. DG x

[Maryjane]

I get plastic drink bottle filled with warm water, and poor it over me at the same time as ping, dab dry and then put yes oil based cream down there.

[Hattie]

Hi

i was given Eumovate cream at one time to use on the vulva - i used it for 3 months before going back to see a consultant. It is a steroid cream which is meant to reduce inflammation - sounds similar to Betnovate you have for the urethra and i agree is probably too strong and may well be causing more irritation.

Vaseline was suggested to me by GP as a urine barrier - i used this for some time also but found that it mixed with the white fillers that come out of the vagifem - my vulva skin went quite greyish and matt in appearance after a time - i probably used it for too long. I think vaseline is too cloggy for skin down there.

Another doctor recommended Emulsyfying Ointment to use a teaspoon full with a little water to wash with when my vulva skin was looking quite red - this sounds similar to the Aqueous cream which i haven't tried.

On another forum i found that Waitrose baby bottom butter - think that is what it is called - had helped - it has natural ingredients in it like olive oil. I found that it irritated more.

Also tried vitamin E oil squeezed out of capsules after a forum read but gave up on that as well !!

i read somewhere before about your burning with sitting - could i suggest that you look up Hope Pudendal on goggle that will take you to a website that on the left hand side has a symptoms button that will take you to a page that explains Pudendal Neuralgia. Pain on sitting is a symptom of the pudendal nerve being irritated and may be the reason for some burning.

A physio recommended drinking at least 4 pints of water a day to dilute the urine, washing with a squirty water bottle filled with water or getting in the shower after urinating especially the first pee of the day which is strong or even peeing in the shower. I too have stopped drinking tea and coffee to avoid tannins - gynae suggested this.

Sorry this has turned into quite a few negatives but what didn't work for me may work for you.   

Hattie X

[Midnight Shadow]

So kind of you all to reply. What a wonderful site this is. Yes, last year I had treatment for Pudendal neuralgia from an amazing physio. She has been a life safer to me. That condition cleared really well.  Will look at the hope pudendal site. Thanks for the recommendation. Like Hattie, every cream I tend to use burns. Will try the plastic drinks bottle idea. Also use salt water, not so handy when at work but soothing all the same. Had two bad days of burning so hope for a better day tomorrow. Thanks to you all. 

[Limpy]

Perhaps a low dose oestrogen cream- Gynest - might help things settle down?
Think it can be used with Vagifem but worth checking.
Seem to remember other ladies have commented about burning with Vagifem.

[Dancinggirl]

Unfortunately Ovestin and Gynest made me burn as well - I think it is the fillers that irritate - that's why I'm using the Estring as it is simply a latex ring that slowly releases oestrogen.  I think it gives a slightly higher dose as well. I did notice that my burning returned about 3 weeks towards the end of the 3 months you keep it in place, so I think it was running out of oestrogen.  I may see if I can change it earlier next time. 
The old version of Vagifam was 25mg but the new lower dose of 10mg is often not enough for many women and they use it 3 or even 4 times a week and also do the 2 week reload once a year.  DG x

[honeybun]

Have you tried Sudocream as a barrier. It's used for babies but also in care homes and hospitals for bed sores.

It's very gentle and almost impossible to wash off.


Honeyb
x

[Dancinggirl]

honeybun  - years ago when I mentioned the burning to a doctor at the meno clinic she suggested I use sudacream and it burned like hell - it's so strange - anything other than special feminine washes and aqueous cream tend to burn.  I do use Multi Gyn Actigel quite regularly to keep things healthy down there - this can burn a bit but is generally quite soothing. Even at this meno clinic in North London they didn't suggest local oestrogen treatment which I find baffling.
I think my urethra has collapsed as when I had a cystoscopy they stretched my urethra (most unpleasant) and I was peeing straight for a couple of weeks afterwards - it went back as before quite quickly. I pee at least twice a night (often 3-4 times) and I think it is because when lying down there is less pressure on my bladder and urethra and the bladder can fill better - this is my theory on my problem. During the day, when upright and particularly when sitting, everything is squashed. I am usually pain free for the first few hours in the day.
Some ladies report that they are treated for a low grade infection that needs a long term antibiotic.  I am really concerned that over use of antibiotics seems to be standard.
This urethral burning seems to be relatively common yet there is little general knowledge about it.  It must be related to the menopause and VA - I do think gynaes and urologists need to get together to work on diagnosis and treatment properly. DG x

[Hattie]

Dancing girl

Maryjane and Judith57 are seeing a top uro/gynae privately in London and it sounds like you live there. I am sure that they would pm you a name.

This is someone who understands the pudendal nerve and has other contacts to help.

My understanding is that the lowdose antibiotics are for weeks rather than longterm but MJ & J57 could tell you more and that may not be necessary in your case.

Hattie X

[Hattie]

Midnight Shadow

I used 25mcg vagifem and when it changed to 10mcg had Ovestin cream prescribed as well - this is a hormone cream 1% Estriol weaker than Estradiol in vagifem.

Do you think that the urine is causing the burning or is it the act of urinating as i think there is a difference ?
For me urine on the vulva makes it burn.

Hattie X

[libby1]

Hi

I get this too and this may sound weird but I find taking acidophilus helps. Not sure why but it might be worth a try. I take a capsule as soon as I get that uncomfortable stinging and it seems to help.

Libby
x

[Hattie]

Dancing Girl

have just read through your Burning Club thread which i hadn't read before - so my last post may be irrelevant.
Hattie