Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[jessieblue]

Hello again everyone.  I posted last week about having another uti.  First time in nearly 2 years which is gutting because now i feel on high alert and not safe as my prevention methods have failed me.  Weirdly I wasnt using oestrogen cream as it gave me bad irritation and thrush when I used it 2 years ago but just this week I was feeling so good down there I decided to use a tiny bit around the outside area and urethra.  I had quite intense burning in my urethra on applying it and then over the next two days developed the uti symptoms.  Im confused as to whether it was coincidence or somehow related.  Of course now I am scared to try oestrogen.....however I need it to prevent utis.  I suffer terrible health anxiety so I need to try and get a plan that gives me some confidence.  My urine sample had to be sent privately......gp refused to send to lab but said there were lots of nitrites on dipstick and gave me trimethoprim for 5 days.  I took the sample straight to my private gp centre and they ran the MSU for me.  Result was lots of pus but no bugs.  There was a mixture of organisms but she said this can be just contamination as the pot was plastic.  Nothing obvious showed up but she agreed that doesnt rule out infection so gave me 2 more days trimeth to make up a weeks course.  She is also prescribing vagifem.....gp refused.....to try.  Im worried the vagifem will lead to another UTI or thrush.  I was wondering if an oestrogen gel that you apply to your thigh would be effective rather than directly in the area?  Does anyone know how these compare?  I dont really want to do systemic HRT as would be likely to get every side effect in the book.  I also get that latchkey incontinenece thing.....even without the U|TI.  Where as soon as Im near a toilet I literally cannot hold it yet can be fine for hours otherwise.  I have lots of bladder symptoms anyway so its hard to tell what the hell is going on.  This is really unsettling me.  I use YES VM multigyn products and take d mannose if I feel any sensations coming on.  Probiotics and drink a lot of water.  Thanks all. xx

[Dancinggirl]

Hi jessieblue - you are doing many of the right things but I find the oestrogen cream made me burn - I use Vagifem every 3 days. It doesn't give you thrush but it will help the bladder and urethra - just use a bit of Multi Gyn Actigel or the YES stuff on the morning after you have used the Vagifem.  You do need to use Vagifem every night for at least 2 weeks to start with, then reduce to 2-3 times a week - for the rest of you life!!!! Don't use Multi Gyn or vaginal moisturiser at the same time as the local oestrogen or it won't absorb properly.  You need local oestrogen to help you whole urogenital area. Don't use Multi Gyn too much as it can be too acidic and cause burning - so only use if you think you need it.   
Even with all the prevention techniques, you will get flare ups I'm afraid. When it's hot, if I sit down for too long (especially on leather or plastic chairs) or I haven't drunk enough water - I do start to burn.  I tend to fill a 500ml bottle with water and a teaspoon of bicarb of soda (I flavour with a little elderflower cordial) and drink this throughout the day - wear loose clothing, lie down for an hour midday and the burning usually subsidies. I am really scrupulous about cleaning myself after opening my bowels ( I can go 2-4 times a day!!!) to reduce any risk of bacteria travelling to my vagina and causing BV or thrush. 
I assume you have stopped all caffeine and fruit juices?

Here is the section from the NICE guidelines about treating urogenital atrophy - you should print this off to show your NHS GP as he/she needs educating!!!:

Urogenital atrophy
1.4.9
Offer vaginal oestrogen to women with urogenital atrophy (including those on systemic HRT) and continue treatment for as long as needed to relieve symptoms.
1.4.10
Consider vaginal oestrogen for women with urogenital atrophy in whom systemic HRT is contraindicated, after seeking advice from a healthcare professional with expertise in menopause.
1.4.11
If vaginal oestrogen does not relieve symptoms of urogenital atrophy, consider increasing the dose after seeking advice from a healthcare professional with expertise in menopause.
1.4.12
Explain to women with urogenital atrophy that:
symptoms often come back when treatment is stopped
adverse effects from vaginal oestrogen are very rare
they should report unscheduled vaginal bleeding to their GP.
1.4.13
Advise women with vaginal dryness that moisturisers and lubricants can be used alone or in addition to vaginal oestrogen.
1.4.14
Do not offer routine monitoring of endometrial thickness during treatment for urogenital atrophy.


DG x

[jessieblue]

Thank you for the above.  Im so worried about infection, that the infection cannot be treated.  Will vagifem help to clear an infection if I have an embedded one?  Its so hard when your doctors dont know as much as the information you can get from this forum.  xx

[jessieblue]

Thank you Jeaniewings and I am so grateful for all the input.  I have been implicating things suggested on this forum and will continue to do so.  I am worried however because I do have an infection this time.....pus in the urine so thats not caused by atrophy as such.  I do think I have atrophy but havent been diagnosed with it.  I did have mona lisa touch last year to try and help too but even that hasnt staved off another infection.  Topical oestrogen and something called happy hormones are going to be my next stop if I can get along with it. Maryjane just posted on my other thread about biofilm infections and Im confused now as to what this is and how would you know you had one?  I have had bladder issues for 10 years since age 44.  Sudden onset on holiday in florida with supposedly no infection.  I try and ignore the symptoms most of the time as it was so often made out that it was my anxiety causing imaginary symptoms and I suppose it could be.......so I have convinced myself for 10 years that when the symptoms hit they were in my mind, but then i had the actual UTI last summer and that changed everything because now I know its not all in my mind but maybe some is??  My anxiety is firmly in control, Im sorry if I sound awkward.  Im just backed into a corner of fear at the moment.  When my mind gets like this I cant think straight or organise my thoughts.   So sorry. xx

[Hurdity]

Sorry to hear about your ongoing issues jessieblue - just to re-emphasise as has been said - some women need systemic HRT as well as local oestrogen just to help keep VA at bay - and you are more likely to need this if you are post-menopausal ie haven't had a natural period for 12 months because your own oestrogen levels will be very low.

Hurdity x