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[Mich12]

Hi all,

Does anyone else have to wear a panty liner or pad daily from leaking urine? Is this common during perimenopause or is it just me? 

Also, sometimes I feel as if 'air bubbles' are 'rolling out of me' when I sit down or stand up. What the heck could that be? 

My urethra will also hurt when I have to use the bathroom. This is on and off and usually just after intercourse.

I had a cystoscopy from a urologist and all came back normal so this is just stuff happening from no abnormal cause. I don't like it. At all. 

Thank You,
Mich

[Dancinggirl]

Vaginal Atrophy is a pain in every sense of the word and has a bad effect on the bladder as well. Local oestrogen like Vagifem will often help with burning urethra and bladder problems.  Vagifem shouldn't give you thrush - in fact, once you've used it for a few weeks and things are healthier in your vaginal area you shouldn't be so prone to thrush. I use a bit of Multi Gyn Actigel each evening after my shower to help keep the flora balance good in my vaginal area and this reduces that chance of thrush and BV taking hold. DG x

[rantywoman]

Yes, it sounds like it could be the start of vaginal atrophy. I had those symptoms for ages and ignored them, just passing them off as somethingandnothing. However,  over time things got worse and I wished I'd gone and got treatment earlier.

[CLKD]

Get treatment for VA!  One should not leak urine, it's not necessary to suffer!

[Babsm67]

Hi, I have to wear liners daily as well & the nearer it gets to my period, the worse it gets.  I can be walking downhill with my dog & I leak with every step!    I just cannot hold it.  On holiday recently, I had an 'accident' whilst walking back to the hotel after an evening out & this was just AFTER my period.  I also get that feeling of pressure & it feels like I am going to get cystitus but then it wears off.  Occasionally, when inserting tampons, I am too dry then it hurts - so is that what vaginal atrophy is?  I had better get Vagifem pronto!   

[Taz2]

Just want to say that leaking urine to this extent wont be cured by addressing the vaginal atrophy issue although it should improve things. You need to get yourself referred to a Continence Clinic in order to have your pelvic floor and bladder function evaluated and then the appropriate treatment started. It's not something you can do on your own - you do need specialist help. Push for a referral from your GP. As the head nurse at my particular clinic says "It is every woman's right to be dry".

http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/incontinence/Pages/Gettinghelp.aspx   Our "sister" site https://www.bladderandbowelfoundation.org/resources/specialist-services/

Taz x 

[Mich12]

Mich1, I have had something similar every now and again during peri which seems to be related to fluctuating hormones but also a cystocele, small fibroids and especially when Ive had ovarian cysts.  For me its like a feeling of pressure and also that certain bits are 'shrinking'.  My gp has offered vagifem but Im still thinking about it as I'm so prone to thrush that while things are OK I'm happy to leave things alone.

S x

Hi there,

Thank you for your reply. I take Vagifem and it has worked very well for me as far as keeping things healthy in there. I too was prone to thrush and I take a Diflucan weekly for it and haven't had an infection since. I also take an antibiotic daily - Macrobid - for prevention of UTI's. This regimen has, so far, worked well for me but I am having some 'bumps' along the way - such as the leaking urine. :p Vagifem shouldn't cause thrush at all, in fact my ob/gyn said it helps prevent it so you might want to consider it in the future should your problem recur.

Take care.

[Mich12]

Vaginal Atrophy is a pain in every sense of the word and has a bad effect on the bladder as well. Local oestrogen like Vagifem will often help with burning urethra and bladder problems.  Vagifem shouldn't give you thrush - in fact, once you've used it for a few weeks and things are healthier in your vaginal area you shouldn't be so prone to thrush. I use a bit of Multi Gyn Actigel each evening after my shower to help keep the flora balance good in my vaginal area and this reduces that chance of thrush and BV taking hold. DG x

Thank You. I am happy to hear things are going well for you. It seems to take us a long time to figure out what is wrong and then to figure out what to do about what is wrong. It really is a battle for us women.

Take care.

[Mich12]

Yes, it sounds like it could be the start of vaginal atrophy. I had those symptoms for ages and ignored them, just passing them off as somethingandnothing. However,  over time things got worse and I wished I'd gone and got treatment earlier.

Thank you. I too have passed my symptoms off for such a long time, I guess just hoping they would resolve themselves but they never seem to do that, urgggg

Take care.

[Mich12]

Get treatment for VA!  One should not leak urine, it's not necessary to suffer!

What is the treatment for VA? I currently take Vagifem 2x a week, Diflucan weekly for prevention of thrush, and Macrobid daily for prevention of UTI's, oh and now also Estrace 2-3x a day outside the vagina to help with the thinning skin.

Take care.

[Mich12]

Hi, I have to wear liners daily as well & the nearer it gets to my period, the worse it gets.  I can be walking downhill with my dog & I leak with every step!    I just cannot hold it.  On holiday recently, I had an 'accident' whilst walking back to the hotel after an evening out & this was just AFTER my period.  I also get that feeling of pressure & it feels like I am going to get cystitus but then it wears off.  Occasionally, when inserting tampons, I am too dry then it hurts - so is that what vaginal atrophy is?  I had better get Vagifem pronto!   

Hi there, thank you for your reply. I am due for my period - first one in 8 months, perhaps this is why the leaking has increased.  It just got worse this past week. I will just use the bathroom and stand up and be walking around and drops come out....I can feel them 'falling' out. Thank goodness for liners! 

[Mich12]

Just want to say that leaking urine to this extent wont be cured by addressing the vaginal atrophy issue although it should improve things. You need to get yourself referred to a Continence Clinic in order to have your pelvic floor and bladder function evaluated and then the appropriate treatment started. It's not something you can do on your own - you do need specialist help. Push for a referral from your GP. As the head nurse at my particular clinic says "It is every woman's right to be dry".

http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/incontinence/Pages/Gettinghelp.aspx   Our "sister" site https://www.bladderandbowelfoundation.org/resources/specialist-services/

Taz x 

Thank you for your reply. I will ask my ob/gyn about a referral. I don't want to live like this if I can change it and get treatment. I imagine it will only get worse. I do have an overactive bladder as I go way too many times a day and 3 times a night. Now the leaking. My urologist gave me medication but it made my mouth too dry so I cannot take it.

Take care.

[CLKD]

ABs are known to cause thrush  ………. which thrives on sugars in the body.  I had vaginal thrush when I stopped taking The Pill.  Fortunately have never suffered with it in the mouth.  To ease true thrush eating LIVE yoghurt regularly as well as using it, on a tampon, to insert as high up as possible, eventually this should kill the thrush.

When you say 'taking' Vagifem  - I hope not  .  Also it is only possible to detect a urine 'infection' by a fresh urine sample being sent to a Lab. to be grown, to see if there are bugs present.  This will determine which AB is necessary.  Or not.  With Vaginal Atrophy it is usually un-necessary to treat with an antibiotic. 

Anyone who suffers with regular leakage should do as Taz suggests: I agree, it is every womans right to be dry!!!

[Babsm67]

Hi,  thanks for the replies Taz2 & CLKD about the incontinence problem - I was actually assessed at the clinic a few years ago & it was recommended that I have the operation where a mesh 'sling' is put in place to stop the leakage.  The problem is, (and this probably sounds ridiculous) I am terrified of having it done because I have read 'horror stories' of women having terrible problems afterwards & taking out lawsuits (mainly in the USA).  For me, to have this incontinence problem stopped would improve my life no end.  Has anyone else on here had this done?(perhaps I should look at the 'sister' site later today or start a new thread).  Babs x

[Taz2]

Hi Babs. It's not something to be undertaken lightly. Was the procedure called a TVT or TOT? Information here about this type of op http://www.ouh.nhs.uk/patient-guide/leaflets/files%5C100624tvt.pdf.  Were you offered a ring - not ideal but at least it may help a bit. This is the bladder forum from the other site http://www.talkhealthpartnership.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=118

You  may find that something like vagifem will help a bit with the uncomfy feelings - especially the pressure and cystitis type feeling.

I had a cystocele and a uterine prolapse so had a vaginal hysterectomy last summer plus an anterior repair. I've found that my slight stress incontinence has improved but the anterior repair is beginning to fail already (not uncommon) due to age and weak tissues. The next step for me might be the TVT op if things worsen as I get older but it's not something I feel particularly joyful about!!  I think that in the end it comes down to whether your day to day life is getting more miserable due to this condition as to whether you opt for the procedure. Some women have really good results.

Taz x