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[sorbet]

Firstly Happy New Year all .
I’ve had my life filled with caring for elderly family and put myself on the back burner.
Excuse the pun but I’m in agony with atrophy and burning.
I can’t see how to join the burning club.
I swapped from Vagifem to estriol this year and was using Sylk , to say this is ruining my life is an understatement.
I have been guilty of not persevering with HRT cream but was nervous after reading it can cause thrush .
Constantly on antibiotics for uti symptoms. Strangely there is a temporary element of relief after bowel movement
Sent a vaginal swab off and do have 2 very unpleasant pathogens both from the streptococcus group .
No BV or Candida.
Immune system very low due to steroids.
Any ideas all I really don’t know what to do with myself.
I wish someone could inject a pain reliever in my vag .
Please could you move my post to the club .
Any help greatly appreciated. xx

[Flossieteacake]

I am so sorry to hear how much pain you are in. I have never heard Oestrogen cream can cause thrush. I think oestrogen is vital for VA. It sounds like you are having a very bad flare and the UTI has made it all worse. How many days antibiotics do you have because they often give 3 days which is not enough.

Are you using the estrodol cream now? I would use this every single day. Mix a little with the Sylk and apply that to your outer area. Have showers instead of baths and do not wash in anything other then emollient. I was told to apply emollient to the vulva before showering, wash it off in the shower and then apply more after to act as a barrier. I wash my whole body in emollient now to minimise any irritation.

Now that you are going to use the cream daily your skin will start to recover and to heal. Here is a link to the burning thread.
https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,32871.msg890443.html#new

[sorbet]

Thanks so much Flossie.
I don’t think I actually had a uti , it’s the burning that makes it feel like one .
I will send another  sample off this next week for a private in depth culture.
I need to ensure these Vaginal pathogens aren’t in my bladder.
I feel I also have mild prolapses,  but to be expected I suppose. I was diagnosed with hypertonic pelvic floor dysfunction after I caught Covid.
I’ll certainly cover myself in a barrier emollient before showering. I shower daily, use only water down below but it doesn’t stop shampoo.
I’m going to use the Estriol every single day along with Sylk and hope it helps .
Thank you Flossie take care.

[Flossieteacake]

Sorry, I misunderstood. I can understand how the burning feels like a UTI. That happened to me a few weeks ago. I was convinced it was a UTI but the sample was tested in a lab and no sign of a UTI was to be seen. I hope the private scan goes well. It is sad you cannot have that done on the NHS.

By using only water you are actually drying the skin of the vulva. I too thought that was a good idea until a menopause DR told me otherwise.

I find Yes a bit better then Sylk. Sylk is great for inserting the applicator of the cream but Yes seems to work better for moisturising. I use both.

You are so welcome.

[CLKD]

Vaginal Atrophy mimics repeated urine infection-type symptoms really really well which a GP should be aware of.  However 

If U don't use VA treatment every night the symptoms will recur.  Sit in a cooling bath for 10 mins, then get some treatment up there now and again this evening.  'Slyc' is OK for the outer labia as well as treatment.

Very rarely does VA treatment cause thrush.   Get to see a physiotherapist interested in Womens' Health for advice about your pelvic floor.  The incorrect exercises may make matters worse.

When I get the need2P I swallow 2 Nurofen 3 times a day to ease the nip when the urine flow shuts off.

[Minusminnie]

I shower daily, use only water down below but it doesn’t stop shampoo.

I hold/grip a separate clean regularly thoroughly rinsed oval sponge between my legs to catch any shampoo drips down my body while rubbing it in.  Bit of a palavar but just part of my routine now.

(We've got a showerhead that comes away for rinsing which is handy as you can bend over and away from your body).

[sorbet]

Thanks so much you lovely ladies .
All advice greatly appreciated.
I’ve applied the estriol twice today,  burns badly but needs must . I’ve ordered a sitz bath to fit on the toilet seat for some cooling . Showering  is definitely a problem,  I’ve probably dried the poor old girl out even more using water.
I don’t feel like the ph is right either.  Going to order YES now and take ibuprofen , it’s going to be a long night.
Thank you 😊

[Minusminnie]

A single dose 150mg fluconazole tablet may rule out thrush if, reading back to your first post, you think that might be part of the problem. A gynae suggested that to me to use that as thrush is systemic.

As you have a diagnosed hypertonic pelvic floor a physio told me that tightened muscles can also cause burning. Irritated nerves also burn and cause muscles to tighten so sort of which comes first the chicken or the egg ?  If you are getting relief from a bowel movement something is going on.

Personally if you have changed from vagifem i would give the type of estriol cream that you are now using a time limit in case fillers in that are irritating nerves further. Did you change from vagifem as it wasn't doing anything ?

 

[sorbet]

Hi Minnie
I took a Fluconazole it hasn’t made any difference. I am allergic to Canestan it removes any lining in the vagina.
I definitely have a hypertonic pelvic floor, it’s in permanent contraction and only opens voluntarily if I cough or laugh . The physio said it produces lactic acid and causes the pain .
Once it’s really bad down there the whole are swells with inflammation.
I do agree and feel sure I have a rectolae which is making the burning much worse.
I changed from Vagifem because the doctor put a Vagifem pessary onto a piece of tissue paper and asked me what it was doing! 
I replied nothing, she said your VA is so dry the Vagifem can’t dissolve and do it’s job .
I have thought once there’s less dryness I’ll go back to Vagifem.
Thank you for your reply 😊

[CLKD]

Canasta made me burn  - I sat in a cool bath for ages after, so it wasn't thrush as I had thought!

LIVE yoghurt - eaten and applied, can ease thrush ;-).  Do keep the pots separate though 

[Minusminnie]

Canasta made me burn

what a game !

[Minusminnie]

Hi Minnie
I took a Fluconazole it hasn’t made any difference. I am allergic to Canestan it removes any lining in the vagina.
I definitely have a hypertonic pelvic floor, it’s in permanent contraction and only opens voluntarily if I cough or laugh . The physio said it produces lactic acid and causes the pain .
Once it’s really bad down there the whole are swells with inflammation.
I do agree and feel sure I have a rectolae which is making the burning much worse.
I changed from Vagifem because the doctor put a Vagifem pessary onto a piece of tissue paper and asked me what it was doing! 
I replied nothing, she said your VA is so dry the Vagifem can’t dissolve and do it’s job .
I have thought once there’s less dryness I’ll go back to Vagifem.
Thank you for your reply 😊

Hope that you can find some sort of relief soon.   

[CLKD]

     blasted predictive text 

What ever it was that I used, bought over the counter.  Made me burn ..........  Never again!  LIVE yoghurt every time.

[Minusminnie]

I changed from Vagifem because the doctor put a Vagifem pessary onto a piece of tissue paper and asked me what it was doing! 
I replied nothing, she said your VA is so dry the Vagifem can’t dissolve and do it’s job .

found this last night and copied it .....

Pessaries need moisture in the vagina to dissolve completely. If they do not dissolve, pieces of the pessary may crumble and fall out of the vagina. You may notice this if you have vaginal dryness. To help the pessary dissolve, insert it as far as possible into your vagina at bedtime.

[Joaniepat]

A good idea is to dip the Vagifem applicator into a bottle of Sylk before insertion. This will help the pessary adhere to the vaginal wall and dissolve. To help the urinary system, many insert the applicator about half way up and aim it forwards towards the bladder.
JP x