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[Shecar1966]

Hello all, firstly, new member here .... 57 years and been on pessaries and patches for over a year now - after three years of monthly 3 day headaches, (which no medication could shift), occasional hot flushes, brain fog/forgetfulness, lower back pain that had got increasingly worse and 2 years of bladder discomfort and incontinence ..................... finally a doctor appreciated that menopause could be the issue!
The HRT is fighting the headaches and hot flushes and the brain fog doesn't seem as bad now - certainly less confrontation with husband over who said what and when  - However the bladder incontinence & lower back pain have worsened - despite treatment

HRT Meds: Evorel Conti Patches & Estradiol Vaginal tablets

Bladder incontinence: Oxybutynin - didn't help, so changed to Mirabegron (Betmiga) - still no help, significantly worse now, to the point of losing control of bladder when I stood up the other day ........................... (sister site Bladder Matters is something of a ghost town!)

Back pain: 500mg Naproxen twice a day, Co-Codamol that causes constipation if I take enough of it to actually manage the pain!

I wonder whether anyone else has experienced these problems - I'm not confident that everything should be written off as menopause - especially taking  medication that is not helping?

 

[CLKD]

   if you have genuine bladder incontinence your GP should have referred U to an appropriate clinic for specific tests.  We all have 'the right to be dry'.  It's so embarrassing to worry about losing bladder control!  There are pants for the interim until you get proper advice and treatment.

Has vaginal atrophy been suggested?  This can mimic urine infection-type symptoms really really well.  As oestrogen levels drop muscles may become lax - aches and pains as well as the body may become dry: inside and out; vagina, deep in the ears, eyes, skin, nostrils .........

Appropriate VA treatment should B tried.  'vagifem' and 'ovestin' are usually prescribed, the idea being to use nightly for 2-3 weeks to replace oestrogen locally which will plump up the tissues.  Do read 'the bladder issues' thread and anything relating to vaginal atrophy.

I am totally unable to take anything by mouth with 'co' in it  .  Has your GP referred you for X-rays?  Which HRT regime was prescribed? 

Let us know how you get on. 

[Ayesha]

Back problems do become a problem as we age and nothing to do with simply being a menopause symptom.
Your symptoms seem severe and I would be back at the GP's for more investigations to see what exactly is happening down there. 

[Dierdre]

Asked to be referred to an Urologist.

[VioletAquarius]

For bladder, what about seeing a pelvic floor physiotherapist, or try pumpkin seed oil or pumpkin seed extract, or magnesium hydroxide.

[Shecar1966]

Hello All,
Sorry, not being ignorant - ignoring replies or anything - we live in the welsh hills and internet is in and out - mainly out!
Thank you all for your advice - I'm booked in to see a doctor on Monday! Will update then, (hopefully)

[Taz2]

That's ok. It must be frustrating not always getting a signal. I think you should push for an x-ray of your back. My lovely doctor once said never just put symptoms down to menopause.Have you had any physio for it so far?

Good luck with your appointment.

Taz x

[VioletAquarius]

I agree with Taz2 about physio for your back, or kore therapy.