Hi, I am 60 years old and post menopausal, and I was wondering if anyone has experienced this horror vaginal symptom and if so, got any advice with the horrible ‘drawing down sensation’ and discomfort in vagina area.
In April, 2024 I started vaginal oestrogen pessaries due to bladder infection/ vaginal dryness severe burning and soreness. Eventually got it settled most of the time with the occasional playing up of symptoms, by adjusting over a year and a half, the twice a week dose, which just wasn’t enough for me to keep painful symptoms at bay, to then x5, then x4 and for a while x3 times a week, with the exception of daily for a few weeks before my smear test last December.
Last few weeks I reduced to x2 a week, and it was fine for several weeks. However, on 1st September this year, it all started to go downhill which has left me housebound, difficulty walking and difficulty doing basic chores round my flat. The symptoms aren’t like the usual vaginal dryness symptoms that I have had in past, like irritated, burning, sometimes stabbing feeling and discomfort in vagina/ vulva area.
Day 1- bladder felt sensitive and a bit sore on and after passing urine on waking up, but settled the rest of day and felt okay after walking to shops.
Day 2- still sensitive bladder, the organ rather than the usual UTIs with nippiness and cloudy pee, but felt better than yesterday. My urine appeared clear.
Day3- symptoms got worse, twinges in bladder, discomfort with standing and sitting and had to lie propped up on my side when trying to eat, even having to bend over to the side when trying to walk to the toilet
Day 3- managed to walk a bit with walking stick to dental appointment with help from my elderly mother, who has been a hero, who I should be looking after instead of her looking after me!!!
Day 4- 7 horrendous ‘drawing down’ sensation started in vagina like things wanting to drop out - where everywhere online is saying Pelvic Floor Prolapse- - also passing urine has been worrying too e.g. sometimes slower flow, other times satisfactory flow, sometimes more and faster flow- amount, other times more. Also had episodes of urgency to go to the toilet to pass urine too and increase in the amount of times going to the toilet, but have had before.
Day 8- got emergency phone call appointment with gp, who said increase oestrogen pessaries from x2 a week to my usual amount in case that has a part to play, and booked me in for vaginal examination with my own gp- and said that a prolapse even if severe is not a medical emergency, although if urine stops it is a medical emergency, when I told her that it was slower that day, and less than normal flow
Day 9 - still struggling to walk in flat, using stick and not able to leave my flat, my mum had to unload my internet shopping and come down every day to help out with washing etc as had to lie in couch as much as possible. But living alone is a challenge with these symptoms.
- Eventually, could hardly get out of bed to stand to get breakfast,
My poor 80 year old elderly mum helped me to stay at her flat via taxi and she had to carry my essentials, make my food etc
Day 10- still struggling, and even with walking stick, horrendous drawing down feeling continuing and getting worse even trying to get to toilet on my feet for a few seconds, with pangs of pain in vagina area in certain positions. So my mother phoned 999 as felt as I couldn’t even hold out to GP appointment the following day. Trying to walk to toilet and certain movements caused me to call out in pain and even in tears.
After 14 hours since calling at 1pm, the ambulance arrived to check blood pressure and oxygen levels, they said was fine and thought as I had an appointment at gp for vaginal examination that morning at 9.15am, it would be quicker than when I would be examined at hospital, as would have to sit in A&E for long time before that. The kind ambulance workers said that if the gp spots an urgent problem, that the gp could fast track me to hospital to be seen quicker, than sitting in A&E waiting room for hours, as would happen if they took me to hospital, and I know that sitting for me is a challenge.
Strangely by 1am before ambulance arrived, although with help of walking stick, managed to hobble to toilet and drawing down sensation seemed to have mostly subsided, although still sensitive in the vagina area- I had been lying for several hours to my side with a pillow propped between my legs, after reading on line that was the best position to relax and not strain the pelvic floor. The lovely ambulance workers asked me to walk to the toilet so they could see how I moved- and spotted that I was very anxious, tense and said that I need to relax and also recommended getting support to help me with anxiety. They also asked if I took painkillers like paracetamol, which I never take as have swallowing problems and difficulty swallowing tablets. In April my endoscopy/ gastroscopy and biopsies came back normal, but an abnormality was spotted in my throat during Barium Swallow - they spotted a Zender’s Diverticulum, which is a like a pouch in the throat.
Gp gave me vaginal examination- which for me is a nightmare as I am very anxious about getting examined and have a phobia about getting vaginal examinations - and my patient gp managed on her third attempt ( although I managed to do deep breathing and stay relaxed for my smear test with my usual nurse last Dec, as she seems to have a really good technique.)
My gp said she didn’t spot a prolapse, but looked at my urine and said looks like a bit of an infection, although had been clear up to yesterday. Gp gave me a liquid Trimethoprim Suspension to take for 3 days. So felt so positive and ecstatic that it wasn’t a prolapse, as I was absolutely convinced it was, and stayed another night at my mum’s flat.
However, today came back home, although had to walk to shops etc en route home and first day was carrying a bag, although walking without stick, was still sensitive down there when standing for periods of time. Arrived back in my flat, so upset that the drawing down feeling has started again after my lunch. My mum who has supported me so much, but with her health conditions, it is too much for her- the stress/ worry of trying to look after me - and saying that I should stop going on about prolapse if gp says they didn’t spot one. So going to try to manage this the best I can without stressing out my mum, as she is not able to support me as the stress of it all is too much for her- and I am worried as she is just being put on high blood pressure meds and can’t burden her anymore with this problem.
Has anyone experienced this? If so, any advice please. Im so worried now that it can still be a prolapse if gp didn’t spot it? I know that urogynaecologists are the experts in this field, but can’t afford to go private as too expensive for me now that I have retired and I am guessing that the waiting list are going to be epic - if my gp refers me- although don’t know how I am going to get referred if she hasn’t spotted prolapse, but ……So worried that the gp has just not spotted it even though I have a prolapse. Despite being amazing and patient with me, even putting whale music up to my ear during my vaginal examination. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Sorry about the epic text, and if you read it- thank you so much for taking the time.
