Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: oldsheep on January 27, 2014, 02:45:27 PM
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From last thursday after swimming, I've felt pressure as if I have a low grade UTI. Constantly going to the loo, whether I need to really or not. No other symptoms and I don't think there's an infection.
I do pelvic floor exercises regularly, but I've started getting occasional dribble spots of urine, which is hugely depressing as makes me feel ancient. These aren't just on exercising or sneezing, but are random. I'm drinking a lot and mixing D Mannose into my drinks at least 3x a day.
Going to meno clinic tomorrow and will discuss it, but has anyone got any ideas please?
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It could be an infection. My mother constantly gets symptoms like this and although sometimes she is infection clear most times it's positive.
Maybe drop a urine sample into your surgery just to be sure. If you have a slight prolapse then that could be the cause of your leaking.
Honeyb
x
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thanks, I'll ask at the meno clinic tomorrow morning. At our GPs, getting an appointment takes days, then they send off a urine sample to the hospital and it takes 3 weeks for the result to come back :o
I have to avoid ABs. If it gets worse, or I get a fever, I'll obviously go to the doc.
Forgot to say I am on 2x weekly vagifem. Is that the most often you can use it?
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3 WEEKS :o that is shocking, you could be dead by then. Takes our surgery at the most 3 days and it also goes to the local hospital which is 20 miles away.
The dose of Vagifem is the standard dose but some women find it helpful to either add in an extra one a week and also if you have been on it a while do the two week every day reload.
Someone else will be along soon who knows more about it than me.
Good idea to speak to the meno clinic. It really does sound as if you may have an infection. Make sure you are drinking lots to flush things through.
Honeyb
x
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Could be atrophy rearing it's head! >:(
I would up the Vagifem and see if that helps
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Chlorine can cause inflammation and swelling of urethral opening which may account for occasional leakage. Urge to go is part of this irritation. I had many problems with chlorine and often use aquaphor before going in water to coat the peri area. Aquaphor is a heavy ointment and does not go into the water. By now hopefully you have answers. Amazon sells AZO test strips, which give immediate results and are same strips used by docs. I cut each strip into three to save money and keep carefully stored. Very reassuring to have immediate answer.
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Aquaphor -- that's useful info, thanks.
Sounds like VA to me. That dose of vagifem doesn't work for me and I get the symptoms you describe plus others. Am now using the estring which is a low constant dose and (for me) is much better.
Hope you feel better soon. What a drag.
ps you could always go to your local STD clinic (I don't think they are called that any more) for on the spot testing. They deal with that area and will probably be quite happy to see you. The only thing is they're not terribly clued up on ladies of a certain age!!!
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VA feels exactly like a constant low grade UTI to me with urethra, plus feeling like a rug burn on vulvar opening.
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For me it was razor blades high up :o …….. I couldn't breath in, breath out, move, without deep discomfort like someone was in there with a blade
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Thank you everyone!
What's estring please? I'm going to ask about increasing the vagifem. Trouble is I had a sort of period that caused fuss with the GP when I first started it. I also don't always remember to use it on the same days each week as use it at bedtime, and I forget. (Despite the symptoms ::))
As it started a few hours after swimming, maybe that's not a coincidence. I'm going swimming tomorrow - I have to, for other medical problems that it helps - will see how I get on. It's variable in intensity. Touch wood, it's not as bad right now as a definite cystitis. I've had those many times.
I'm keeping on the rooibos tea with mannose in it.
Is this the right cream? http://www.amazon.co.uk/Aquaphor-Healing-Ointment-103-ml/dp/B0018SN6N6/ref=sr_1_1/277-3257805-8890652?ie=UTF8&qid=1390845940&sr=8-1&keywords=aquaphor
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That's the one. Looks like a years supply. Great stuff!
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I have bumped my thread on VA.
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Thanks again.
I'll order the cream. It feels like pressure and irritation. Doesn't burn when I go (at the moment). I'm hoping the nurse at the meno clinic might test.
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My urethra was swollen and thus felt pressure. I even had a cystoscopy as I was employed by three leading urologists. Nice to have cystoscopy and then having to go back to work for the rest of my shift.
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Trey - sounds like the NHS - no rest there either ::)
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Hello Oldsheep
The estring is a silicon ring which is impregnated with oestrogen and releases this constantly at a very low dose. You put it in your vagina as high as it'll go and forget about it for three months, whereupon you need a new one as it will have exhausted the active ingredient. It's a flexible ring which (if I remember rightly -- only seen mine once!) would fit snugly if I brought my thumb and forefinger together in a ring.
It releases 7.5 micrograms daily which is a higher dose than the twice weekly vagifem.
advantages are that it's a low constant dose, so no fluctuations, no other ingredients to irritate, and (if remembering to use vagifem is a problem for you) no need to remember which night to insert your hormone dose.
There is proper scientific info about this somewhere in all the gubbins on the right, and Dancinggirl has just started a thread on it.
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Thank you! I tried to access this thread on my phone to ask the consultant at meno clinic but I couldn't.
Anyhow they tested and nurse said no infection but they'll send to the lab anyway. The consultant said try more frequent vagifem - even every other night is ok with him, as I'm on utrogestan nightly. I'm going to try 3x a week to start.
He's on-referring me to the gynae urinary clinic but that'll be 6 months. Next meno clinic appointment (barring dramas) in one year. In my area of London, we are now only allowed one routine follow up a year.
My bp was up again, well the top figure anyhow. I'm taking more exercise so hopefully just a blip.
They are so nice at Kings though.
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re: "I tried to access this thread on my phone ... but I couldn't."
You should be able to access the forum on a cellphone.
If you have problems, go right to the bottom of the forum page and there's a link for WAP2. That should display ok on a phone.
Emma
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Emma - Thanks for the link.
I had been having problems trying to get MM on phone.
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oldsheep - did you say you take Utrogestan orally?
I take mine vaginally but it always causes problems with my bladder when I am on it (12 days every 6-7 weeks). I always have to get up in the night and go more often during the day, and feel as though I need to when there isn't much there or if I've just been.
I've put it down to the progesterone doing its job in changing the uterus lining and somehow it (the uterus) pressing on the bladder (presumably a slight prolapse due to age and lots of children). Mine is a feeling of constant pressure as if my bladder is full.
In my case it also could be some of the progesterone getting into the bladder and irritating it (I've no idea if this is rubbish or not!) but not sure if this would happen if you are taking it orally? Also it would be odd for it suddenly to happen if you are post-meno - unless it is due to another stage in meno?
Hopefully the vagifem will help you!
Hurdity x
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thanks Emma and thanks Hurdity!
Yes, I take Utrogestan 100 - one per night. Daily as it's supposed to help with sleep (?!).
A bigger problem has come to light. I have skin irritation from the 75 Evorel patch. I didn't have it with the 50. Maybe they use different adhesive....
Anyhow the consultant said I'd have to stop using the patch if it continues but I don't want to. The gel just didn't work for me - I had flushes etc back as it wasn't being absorbed.
The patch has been the best so far, touch wood.
He seemed to imply that the problem with using creams before applying the patch was simply that it wouldn't stick well enough. I've never seen anything so sticky; it's hard to get off! I'm wondering if I should apply a thin layer of my calming cream before putting on the patch (could always see if it sticks or not?)
It's this one, got it in France and it's so helpful with other irritated 'bits'. doesn't cost anything like this in France!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Saforelle-Cream-200ml/dp/B002WZK2ZO/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1390928238&sr=8-3&keywords=saforelle
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Here it is ;-)