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[jessieblue]

Hi everyone, so here I am again moaning and generally hating myself more by the day for doing so.  I have tried so hard to pick myself up after suffering crippling health anxiety and depression as well as just about every damn meno symptom in the book.  I have a history of utis and pain soreness burning irritation thrush....Im not sure which down below...bladder symptoms urgency incontinence and many other general body aches pains sicknesses etc.  Having been given ovestin in the past this didnt work for me as i developed redness and burning down below and had to discontinue.  After getting  Mona Lisa touch laser and things a little bit settled down there I left well alone and treated only with YES VM and occasionally multigyn and d mannose for avoiding uti.  This went well for about a year until I decided to try ovestin again to see if it would be better received.  After just 3 days or so of a tiny amount on the outside and arounbd the urethra I had a burning feeling on use and then uti symptoms.  I had leukocytes but no bacteria showing but had trimethoprim antibiotics for a week and it seemed to clear.  I then had an exam and was pretty "sore" down there, so asumed thrush and took flucanazole.  My doctor did a swab before i took the tablet and it came back negative.  no thrush no bacteria.  The fluc seems to settle things and I started using the oestrogel I was prescribed.....very carefully.  A small blob to begin with and see how it went.  I was also given vagifem but havent tried it yet as too scared it gives me inflammation again or thrush.  After getting upto 1 pump of oestrogel after a week or so I developed raging inflammation down below!  I have no idea if this is related or something else, I havent used anything down there at all.  I shower dont use soap and use YES daily.  No sex nothng.  So now I dont know if I have thrush or inflammation.  I only had a flucanazole 2 weeks ago and I cannot tolerate canesten pessaries or vaginal creams.  I dont know if I am allergic to the oestrogen, it also makes me feel very nauseous.  Im so fed up girls, I can barely walk as the inflammation is right in the opening and it rubs together when you walk.  I feel like I have a uti again but not sure if its just the irritation and I dont know what to do to help.  I have such awful tummy symptoms and nausea and acid reflux diarrheoa since antibiotics and now it seems every opening is painful and inflamed.  I dont know how much more I can take.  I feel I cannot take any form of HRT and yet I need it.  Has anyone tried any herbal remedies like happy hormones or macca root etc?  I have seem a private gp and a gyn and even tried the laser with no luck.  I dont think I will ever be well again and I am no longer able to enjoy my life.  I dont go out at all because of all these horrid physical symptoms.  Has anyone managed to get past what feels like an impossible phase of meno?  Thanks for listening to my rant yet again. xx

[CarryWarry]

OMG you poor poor thing!  I think if I were you I would go and see another specialist and take all this information with you.  There MUST be an answer to this.  You are obviously highly highly sensitive.  Other than this I don't know what to say, but there must be somebody out there in the gynae/HRT specialist field that can help you.  Where do you live?  Are there any other specialists around you?  Mine is so good and she really cares.  Hugs to you x

[jessieblue]

Thank you Carrywarry.  I dont really know where to go next.  It just seems its HRT or nothing but I should have known HRT wouldnt agree with me as I had to stop the pill because of problems too.  I have a mirena coild and had no problems with that so I just thought some oestrogen would be straightforward but it doesnt seem to agree with me.  Maybe I dont need it.....Im not sure.  I absolutely hate this physical form I am trapped in.  My body is my enemy and I honestly cannot tell you how much I hate it.  I had no idea these horrors awaited me, I have never known anyone suffer really with meno other than maybe some hot flushes and tiredness etc.  The specialist I saw for the mona Lisa touch is a very well reknowned gyn in this area.  I was actually reading yesterday that the FDA have warned against the use of lasers for vaginal rejuvination saying they can be harmful and do not regenerate internal structures.  So obviously not worth having any more of those. xx

[Kathleen]

Hello jessieblue.


I am so sorry to read of your suffering and you have my sympathy.

The thing that struck me was your use of anti biotics and continuing inflammation. I know I bang on about this subject but there is a lot of science highlighting the connection between diet and chronic inflammation as seen in auto immune diseases. I eat a starch heavy, whole food plant based diet and my Ulcerative Colitis is a thing of the past. In all honesty I take a mild antiinflammatory drug as well because I'm not brave enough to give that up but I know my diet suits my digestive system as I feel so much better.

 Could it be that you have a lot of systemic inflammation that is perpetuating your problems, certainly a tummy upset after anti biotics is a common response. Doctors don't study nutrition at all so they never consider the influence of diet but many clinical studies have demonstrated otherwise. You may want to research Dr John McDougall and his starch solution diet, also Dr Greger of nutritionfacts.org.  This may seem like a long shot but if you find that something is perpetuating your condition and you are able to avoid it then you could be on the road to a lasting recovery.

I hope you find some answers soon. Take care and sending hugs

K.

[pepperminty]

Hi, poor you!

I would deal with one thing at a time.

For Down below I would see a vulval dermatologist, to see if there is anything to be diagnosed etc.
Just use YES products or hydromol as a barrier cream.

I use organic cotton panti liners and change them at least twice a day in this weather as sweat and vaginal secretions can irritate the skin.

Sounds like the Mona Lisa worked for you, until the ovestin? maybe try that again?

Try ginger for nausea, it worked for me when I started HRT, and eat little and often.
Speak to your GP about acid reflux, antacids can help such a ranatadine in the short term .
Take a good probiotic , that can help with upset tummy.
Stress can play a major part and make everything worse.
Maybe try some some counselling, mindfulness or can you speak to a friend? 

I am not sure about the oestrogel causing inflammation down below, or wether that is a coincidence. Anyway one thing at a time, otherwise you wont know what is working and what isn't.

I do hope you feel better soon.

Pepperminty x

[Dancinggirl]

Jessie blue - other ladies have given you some good support.
I agree with much they have suggested and I think you are needing a more holistic approach. peppermints makes a good point - tackle things one at a time.
As others have mentioned, I do think that you need to look at your diet and try adjusting what you eat. Really concentrate on small, highly nutritious meals that are low in sugar and saturated fat. Avoid fruit juices, caffeine and alcohol. Eat regularly and eat slowly and eat just one course and possibly half the portion you would normally eat. I have managed to reduce the acid reflux by eating small meals regularly (maybe 4-5 small meals per day) and you may find this would prevent low blood sugar and help to keep your mood level and less anxious.  All this anxiety, the antibiotics and acid production will unbalance your digestive system and possibly make your urine acidic and this will give the UTI symptoms. youbare also probably clenching your intimate area because you are in pain and this can make things worse. Basically I think you are in a viscous circle and us making things worse.
Another aspect that I believe is important is looking after your vaginal flora. antibiotics kills all the good bacteria in the gut so try to avoid these unless you are actually diagnised with an infection. Having a diet based on fresh foods will restore the gut flora, so less chance of bad bacteria that can infect the intimate area.  Probiotics could be worth trying and I take digestive enzymes that seem to really help my digestion generally.
Vagifem used properly should help to improve the vagina and bladder and help reduce all the burning and skin sensitivity.  To avoid any irritation from the fillers in the Vagifem I use SYLK moisturiser (YES would be ok as well) the morning after.
I practise Mindfulnees and do lots of walking to reduce stress and anxiety - if you can do 10 min brisk walks three time a day this would be a great start.
I found Ovestin made me burn but I'm fine with Vagifem- much easier to use as well but it can take a few months of use to really work. The first couple of weeks, using it daily, did make me burn a bit then things started to feel better and I now use it 2-3 times per week.
I doubt the Oestrogel caused problems with your intimate area - it was probably a coincidence. I think you have been unlucky with your experience of oestrogen and you simply need to start trying the Vagifem before bed and use lots of vaginal moisturiser in the morning. Start each day with a glass of water and make sure you drink enough water throughout the day. Why not write out a simple regime for yourself - things that are easy to achieve - baby steps.
I've had this horrid discomfort and it can get better.
DG x