Hi Midnight Shadow, I would be going back to your physio asap as I wouldn't be surprised if your PN isn't raising its ugly head again, the more we go into meno if we have this problem the more it needs to be nursed as once you have it, it is like an old back injury etc.
I started off two years ago after having polyps removed from my womb, with a burning urethra when I pd, backwards and forwards to gp,local Uro/gynae etc didn't get any better, so started my journey cut a very long story short I have PN which is seen more often in menopausal women than is realised but is misdiagnosed.
I then went to see a Uro/gyna and I have e-coli with a thickened bladder of 7mm this is extremely thick it should be about 3.5mm, so I have been on ten weeks of rotational antibs, saw the consultant six weeks ago and it had gone down to 2.5mm even he was amazed, but I still had infection, so had another four weeks of antibs.
I now know which antib got rid of the infection and it was Nitroformin (sp), as I changed after two weeks to ciprofloxin and within four daysi was in quite a lot of pain again, I have been off the antibs for two weeks now, I tested my p yesterday and I have, blood +2 , leukocytes off the scale plus nitrates and a touch of protein, so it is looking like my infection is back.
Slightly going off track but my dog had exactly the same problem, three months of antibs and half her bladder removed because the infection had done so much damage, incidentally caused when she was spade, they see it quite often ( far more than they let on). She had formed pockets in her bladder where infection lived.
Back to humans, I have not been on antibs for 25+years or any form of medication and I hate being on it, however my infection obviously has taken a hold and has formed these pockets of infection, long term untreated UTIS can cause untold nerve damage as Judith 57 and myself have found out to our cost.
Two days of antibs and my pain reduces dramatically, I am very aware of the long term use of antibs ( daughters a vet ) however I can't do right for doing wrong in this situation, I just hope my lack of having them over the years helps, grasping at straws here, but I get checked every month for thrush, and so far none and my PH level is spot on, some people never get thrush however long they are on antibs.
I also wake up pain free and don't start getting uncomfortable until about 2.00pm, I have been told by three eminent specialists that this is the nerve/nerves firing off as the day progresses, if I lie down and put my feet up above my head the pain generally goes within ten minutes.
I am also on cimetidene as this has antinflamatorie in 70% of patients, with blader pain. Painfull blader syndrome/IC does not respond to antibs, and there is a high chance I will be left with this after the 18 months of undiagnosed UTIS.
I was given steroid cream burnt like crazy, you can ask to have it made into an ointment which does not have all the additives added, as they will be what you are reacting to, but I just use actigel (same as honeybun, can't remeber proper name), and the yes oil based stuff, if you touch the end of urethra does it hurt? Mine did I went through the roof the first thing to stop hurting after I started the antibs was that, however it's all flipping back now.
I am going to try local oestrogen again, to see if that helps they are not keen on me having the oestring as they don't want anything left up there.
I have given up all wheat/gluten/dairy and processed sugars, and just eat pears as these are the only bladder friendly fruits, since giving up these items my energy has really really increased, and my IBS bloating/wind has gone. I drink coconut milk, and coconut yogurts which have a soothing effect, they say about bladder pain/urethrea that if you where to have an open wound on your hand, would you squeeze a fresh orange on it etc no because it will sting , but you would put milk, porridge etc on it the same for our bladder regards what we eat and drink.
I have also stopped eating any of the low fat items, especially spreads as they are one chemical away from plastic and full of sugar, back to good old butter, as butter doesn't come under dairy can't remember why.
