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[SueE]

Hi all

I feel so grateful that I stumbled on this wonderful forum but I am beyond anxious about what is happening to my body at the moment so would love some help please.

Eight weeks ago a developed a nasty cough with my fourth dose of Covid. I then started getting uti symptoms like a frequent need to pee, burning sensation and a weird dragging sensation in my pelvis. My gp gave me antibiotics but the symptoms carried on. After a month I saw a pelvic physio who said I had a mild bladder prolapse and vaginal atrophy. Went back to gp who has prescribed Vagirux for 2 weeks and then down to twice a week. As soon as I started inserting the tablets my burning issues got worse but I have persevered. I am also doing pelivic floor exercises regularly and can definitely feel them improving.

What is worrying me (i have health anxiety so it doesn’t take much) is whether the symptoms I have really are VA or bladder/uterine cancer. I’ve read women on here talking about burning but not sure if they’re talking about a bit of burning externally on the labia or the deep seated agonising burning that I have? It’s not constant and I have had a couple of burn-free days which were great. It tends to get worse as the day goes on, as does the tight, bloated, dragging feeling in my pelvic area. I’m still peeing with urgency amd more often than usual and I have microscopic blood in my urine. I’m terrified to be honest and my gp just said it could take a while to improve.

All advice gratefully received 😊

[CLKD]

....... and breath!

   vaginal atrophy mimics repeated urine infection-type symptoms really really well.  Medics still don't get it! so keep prescribing ABs  .

Your physio is correct - a prolapse may well make VA worse.  Many find that Vagirux ain't a lot of good, preferring 'vagifem' and/or 'estriol'.  The idea is to insert every night for least 2-3 weeks. We can use it every night if necessary regardless of what is in the leaflet in the box.  Dr Newson is trying to get these words altered for clarification.

Many of us have microscopic blood - within normal limits for most.  When my symptoms niggle I put an extra dose into the vagina and again for at least 5 nights and swallow 2 Nurofen 3 times that day to ease the nip as the urine flow shuts off.  U could ask for 'vagifem' and 'ovestin/estriol' - we cannot over dose on replacement. 

Stinging is often present due to the vaginal skin being very thin.  As the product soaks into the vaginal walls and they plump up, it will feel better.

Let us know how you get on.

As oestrogen levels drop the body may become dry: inside and out; skin, scalp, deep in the ears, eyes, vagina ........

[SueE]

So it’s normal to sting/burn internally? Sometimes the pain is intolerable, I just want to cry.

[CLKD]

It's probably due to dryness, some describe it as paper cuts.  I would be tempted to put an extra vagirux up: 1 now and another in about 3 hours, is it a pessary like 'vagifem'? 

Did U test +ive with each bout of Covid?  It is known that the virus alters hormone limits in some women, there is Research being done.

[SueE]

It’s a small white tablet with a multi use applicator. I just been reading some other threads on here about women reacting badly to vagirux but having improved symptoms with Vagifem even though they’re supposed to be identical?

Yes I tested positive every time. What would the result of changing hormone limits be?

[SundayGirl]

I have used both Vagifem and an unbranded generis Estradiol pessary and found them to be identical.

If you only did the loading dose for two weeks then immediately reduced to two per week, it's possible that your vaginal walls are still lacking in oestrogen.

It may be worth doing the loading dose again for a full month, then slowly reducing, if you want to. Many ladies use the pessaries daily along with estriol cream externally.

The internal sting/burn should reduce the more your vaginal walls plump up.

It tends to get worse as the day goes on, as does the tight, bloated, dragging feeling in my pelvic area.

I have the exact same symptoms during a flare up. It's nothing sinister 🙂

[SueE]

Thank you, SundayGirl, that’s very reassuring!

Have you used Vagirux which is what I have? My gp won’t prescribe a longer loading dose than 2 weeks despite me asking for it. They also won’t prescribe estriol cream so I have ordered some from a private online pharmacy.

[Bunny lady]

Hi SueE I’m so sorry you are going through this. I have been there but there is hope.
I had recurrent UTIs and eventually after much researching and antibiotics - I diagnosed VA - never heard of it before and it is not pleasant is it? It’s been just over 3 years now since it all kicked off - about 8 years post menopause! I asked for vaginal estrogen and though it’s been a bit of a journey - I still get flare ups after illness, particularly Covid, I have regimen now that seems to help for me. I use estriol 1mg cream daily ( used to be ovestin). I also use Vaseline if needed and releveum cream (desert harvest ) if really needed. I take D mannose daily and also a vaginal probiotic. The advice here is so helpful.
I agree with CLKD that taking ibuprofen can help with inflammation as can heat pads in the bladder.
You may want to Watch your food intake for irritants such as caffeine and citrus while you’re in a flare up but I take prelief or calcium glycerophosphate (desert harvest) everyday too. Hope this helps. Please don’t lose hope xx sending hugs.

[SundayGirl]

Sue E - have a read at this (thanks to Ayesha for the link)
https://bssm.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/GSM-BSSM.pdf

If your GP won't budge on their stance, Gina is available to buy without prescription as a backup.

[CLKD]

Your practice is way behind in treating VA.  I would be asking why they have such a stance on prescribing appropriate VA treatments?  Perhaps send a message to your practice manager, suggesting that she has a lookC on here ;-).  "Me and My Menopausal Vagina" is a good read and should be essential for all practitioners and pharmacists!

[SueE]

Thank you everyone, thank goodness for this forum!!

I have now ordered the book, Vagifem and ovestim cream from online pharmacy. I’ll switch from Vagirux to Vagifem and if it improves the burning I’ll go back to my gp and ask to be switched over and for the ovestim to be prescribed.

Bunny Lady, can you tell me which vaginal probiotic you recommend?

[Ayesha]

I will just mention that it can take four months for the treatment to take effect, patience is a virtue here I'm afraid.
Do read the document in the link, its invaluable in my opinion when dealing with medics who still have a long way to go in understanding this disgusting condition called GSM (Vaginal Atrophy).

[Bunny lady]

I take women’s bio-cultures (NutriZing) from Amazon. The key ones I believe are L.Reuters and L. Rhamnosus I got them after listening to a Liz Earle podcast about GSM and so. Thought give it a go. D mannose was recommended by my meno specialist who is also a chronic UTI specialist Dr Catriona Anderson. If I feel a bit of bladder spasm I take more D mannose. Hope that helps. As Ayesha has said this is not a quick fix but please hang on in there and find the right regime for you as we are all different. The book me and my menopausal vagina is amazing.

[SueE]

Thanks everyone. Such lovely words and useful advice. My gp has agreed today to change my vagirux prescription to vagifem but is still refusing to give my oestrogen cream. One step at a time!

 I’ve been told by my pelvic physio to do three lots of 20 reps of pelvic floor exercises a day and in my last appointment she said my pelvic floor is getting much stronger. However it seems it make the burning worse when I do them!! Has anyone else found this?

[CLKD]

U may be able to buy 'estriol' on-line ;-)

Correct keggels have to be done otherwise the pelvic floor won't benefit.