Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Kassery on April 26, 2019, 02:38:24 PM
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Hi all I'm new
Before I start I do suffer from anxiety about illness which I'm sure few of you do too x
I'm 51 and now in menopause or post as I've not had a period for the last 2 years. I've done quite well I think hot flushes all that nothing really bad but over the last few months first my bowels and because I have ibs was really worried as was conspipated but that seems to have sorted
Now about 2 weeks ago I found my bladder started getting pressure no burning or anything still weeing ( I clean for a living and must admit if needed a wee I'd think do this and that then go) I thought I'd damageed something below, anyway went to docs not my normal a male lol ushally go to a woman and he said I had a slight infection and sent urine sample to hospital that came back normal but took 5 days of antibiotics.... Now 2 days ago started again I went back to my doc female and did a sample no infection but did surgest about these pills?
I read few of your posts about them but worried to take them?
Also after the docs I told a friend older lady she said never heard of this and the menopause she said I should get a second apinion so now I'm worried it's something else 😔
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Also lower back ache a little not sure if that's me as I'm always cleaning that made me think something else x
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Anyone???
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WHOOOA! ;D. We pop in as and when, plus there might be a time lapse ;)
Your GP should not have given you ABs without a sample being 'grown' in a Lab.. A dip stick in the Surgery does not show infection.
However, ABs do ease symptoms of vaginal atrophy which is what you describe. Have a read of the atrophy threads in the Forum, also the ones about 'bladder' issues. As oestrogen levels drop off so muscles may become lax = aches and pains. The body may dry too, inside and out which includes the vagina, skin, deep in the ears, eyes .........
There are two prescribed products for VA - Vagifem and Ovestin. Because VA mimics urine infection-type symptoms really really well, GPs often don't ask the right question. The treatments are prescribed for use every night for 2 weeks initially. I find that a pain relief tablet also helps.
Some ladies find that they require the use of 'vagifem' every night and some find 'sylc' and 'yes' products useful at the same time. It's Trial and Error and treatment is for ever otherwise symptoms return.
Don't talk to people who have no knowledge of menopause. Don't GOOGLE - he don't know nowt either. Do read and ask queries here. Some find keeping a mood/symptom/food diary useful too.
:welcomemm:
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Hi there thanks for reply.. Yes I had a urine test sent to the hospital last week was normal but now still bladder pressure
I'm not liking it!! :(
I've been given the pill vegiferm today
I will look for this post you say :-X
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Start with the vagifem tonight. Read the threads ;-). Take a pain relief which may help ease symptoms as it relaxes the feelings of needing to pee.
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Thanks.. That was supposed to be a :) not a :-X sorry lol
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Oh any excuse to use these ;)
Have you found this one yet:
WHIZZ
Let us know how you get on!
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Hi Kassery and welcome. There are many on here with bladder pressure from Vaginal atrophy, me included. I use Ovestin, similar to vagifem but a cream. It could take a while to be effective so keep at it. I've been up and down for months.
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Hiya kassery and welcome. I can only agree with the other ladies.my first symptoms of VA were bladder.
Vagifem is a very low dose of eastrogen, if you are worried about that.. It doesnt get into the bloodstream it's just absorbed locally where its needed.
Hope it helps but as Suzy says its not instant.
Xxx
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Hi Kassery :welcomemm: I too went on Vagifem for repeated UTI's. Give it a try
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Hi Kassery :welcomemm: I too went on Vagifem for repeated UTI's. Give it a try
I did the same. Started last September. No UTI's since a minor one in November and sleeping better because I don't need the loo as often.
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Thanks ladies I just hate this pressure it's horrible and keep thinking it's something else as I worry so much.. I know im mad
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You are not mad. And if you are then we all are so you're in good company :)
Do you think you will give the vagifem a go? You wont know if it helps until you try...gente nudge!!
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The bladder pressure is really insidious and gets you down. I have been struggling for months, increasing the dose sometimes on gp advice. It goes away then comes back. With me, stress makes it worse, strong alcohol and red wine, spicy food. It's a case of managing the condition and finding what's best for you.
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For what it's worth wine isn absolute killer for me too. And fruit juice and tomatoes. We are all different but there seems to be some common triggers
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I think I will give it a go.. At the moment I think I can smell wee not sure as weeing so much lol
I'm really hoping it don't stay long it's driving me mad :na:
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Hi Kassery, the sooner you start the vagifem the better, it's not a quick fix but you will week by week start to improve. I've been taking vagifem for 4 years now and havent had any bladder issues since taking it, I also had a prolapse from lack of oestrogen which causes the heavy pressure feeling. Once the vagifem starts to work it strengthens the bladder wall and reduces the pressure and need to pee all the time. You'll find lots of support along the way on here, we're all in the same boat.
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Hi thanks for your support very heavy pressure today fingers crossed.. Slight dull ache in tum not sure if anxiety as I'm terrible worrier x
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Anxiety will cause all sorts of physical feelings and can be very debilitating. You may also get a few cramps and side effects the first few weeks of taking vagifem, dont worry this is normal and does settle. It's just your body adjusting to the much needed oestrogen. Just ask if you have any worries, someone will usually have had the same worry and can help.
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Deirdre may I ask. You said you had a prolapse. Is it now "fixed".how long did it take to appear after eastrogen deficiency Did you do anything to help it? I am starting womens physio therapy for my bladder issues. I'm pretty sure I've got a prolapse although it's only been 8 months since my oopherectomy and I'm on HRT but my eastrogen levels are low . Shes going to examine me next visit. But she said although it's there sometimes you can feel a prolapse and other times not.
Did you have physio?
She told me not to lift anything heavy and not to strain on the toilet. Both are a bit hard to avoid at times and it's got me paranoid now. I asked my gynae and she said "if you get a prolapse we will fix it with surgery" she said it so blase. I dont relish the thought of more surgery
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One should either squat low to open the bowels properly: apparently : or stand upright over the toilet. Gravity assists. Apparently.
Take some pain relief?
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Anxiety will cause all sorts of physical feelings and can be very debilitating. You may also get a few cramps and side effects the first few weeks of taking vagifem, dont worry this is normal and does settle. It's just your body adjusting to the much needed oestrogen. Just ask if you have any worries, someone will usually have had the same worry and can help.
I've been getting the aches since yesterday yeah anxiety just a dull ache it makes me worry more x
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There's a lot of nerves down there! What are your plans for today?
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Tc, yes I had a prolapse caused through the lack of oestrogen, it first started with the sore dry burning of atrophy then within a few weeks everything just dropped and was grade 2 bladder and rectom prolapse. My gynae upped my vagifem to 5 a week and also Ovestin for the entrance around the outside every night. I then started physio, group meeting to start and then 1 to 1 with the therapist. I'll be honest I never though it would work and thought I would have to have surgery which terrified me. After a few months though I started to notice some days nothing was protruding (was like a golf ball popping out) and if I was constipated or lifted anything heavy it would pop out again. I learned that lying on my back and pushing it back in started to work and at one point my gynae tried a rubber pessary ring but that was uncomfortable and I couldn't pee so i pulled it out. I also found doing yoga helped with strengthening my pelvic muscles. Losing weight would have helped also but I do struggle with doing that. I used to swim alot before the atrophy but the chlorine irritates so had to stop. The prolapse took about a year to completely go back but it did finally work, just a long haul to get there, but then it took years for the oestrogen to deplete so it stands to reason it will take time to be replaced.
I also had a slight prolapse years ago after breast feeding my 3 children in a space of 4 years, that was also oestrogen deficiency and everything went back to normal about 6 months after finishing breast feeding, so I know it's all linked.
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Really interesting. I've had a hysterectomy and can feel I have a slight bowel prolapse. It's not poking out but I can feel the wall is thin. I also have a weakness between my vagina and bladder as I had a fistula after the surgery which healed after 3 months with a catheter. I was on tibolone but just come off it due to it giving me really bad wind! Had the same on patches plus very sore breasts! I'm going to see if I can get the vagifem to at least keep down there a bit stronger without the systemic affects of the hormones!
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I tried patches last year thinking it would improve my atrophy but still had to continue with the local oestrogen as well. I didn't feel any additional benefit from the patches and had a lot of side effects so as I didn't have any other menopause symptoms other than atrophy I decided just to use the vagifem and ovestin.
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Aeia - were you encouraged to do 'physio' for that region? How long since your surgery? :welcomemm:
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Thanks for the reply dierdre.
Hi CLKD, waves!!
Aeia. Good idea to get vagifem. Clkd mentions the physio.and it seems to have been beneficial to deidre I was pleased to read that. I am starting physio "proper" next week. The first week was a class and the last appt was spent asking me about symptoms. The womens physio told me it takes time. She said it can take up to a year and that is in line with deidres experience.
It's good to know that it can be improved so thanks so much for that dierdre.
Interestingly my physio told me all women are referred for physio in my borough now before surgery is even considered for prolapse as it can negate the need for surgical intervention. So it would seem very worthwhile trying it.
Xx
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Can I ask anyone if you are unlucky enough to get the side effects when would they start?
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I dont think there's any rule, you either get some or not and it can happen anytime, best just to go with the flow and be patient until they settle.
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Good Evening Ladies
I know its Christmas Eve and so, I may not see a response here for a few days.
A brief outline of where I'm at.
I'm 50, mother of a 14-year-old ( born 9lbs 4oz) and 10-year-old twin boys ( born 6 lbs 3oz and 5lbs 6oz).
Bladder Control hasn't been great since the twins were born but getting worse in the past 18 months. Now wearing a Tena liner every day, once I need to go, I need to go and as soon as I set foot in the bathroom if, under pressure, I struggle to actually make it to the loo on time. :(.
I am on my 2nd Mirena Coil and as far as my records tell me, I'm on year 5 with this one. Haven't had a period in almost 10 years if not more. Practice nurse noted oestrogen levels dropping 2 years ago and again 18 months ago. I know this isn't reliable. Experienced a few night sweats over the past year, absolutely no symptoms of ovulation ( used to get aches, increased mucus monthly), have incredible brain fog, can hardly walk in the mornings with stiff joints, went through hell for 18 months with itchy shins, have broke skin on my fingers at the moment with dryness, absolutely no interest in sex, low mood etc.... etc...
Almost 3 weeks ago I got a stabbing pain almost at the very top of my cervix area. It kind of stopped me in my tracks I get it once maybe twice most days now and so my health anxiety has me in an awful place. For the past few days, I am feeling a fierce pressure in my lower pelvic area. I feel like I am not emptying my bladder. In fact, the pressure almost reminds me of the times when Ds1 was almost at full term and his head was dropping in preparation for delivery.
I brought ds3 in to see our GP yesterday as he has a v bad chesty cough. Thought I'd get an appointment too to discuss my worries but he was already on Christmas holidays and had a locum in place who I don't like. I've decided to leave things until January.
Does anyone think this is simply Bladder pressure?
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I'm no expert and my issues aren't excatly the same. I had dryness that following treatment with vagifem turned into bladder irritation and burning. I was referred to a woman's health physio through the local hospital. The appointment came through quickly. I had a consultaion that lasted an hour with lots of questions, an examination and then advice. It was really comprehensive. She talked about the bladder, the bowels and the pelvic wall. I was a bit concerned about the possibility of prolapse as I have had a dragging feeling in the past and like you had 9lb babies (biggest 9.15) but she said there was no sign, which was great news for me. She did say my pelvic floor showed weakness and gave me some exercises to do. It really is worth asking for a referral as there are things you can do.
Do you use any local estrogen, eg vagifem, or ovestin or estriol? As far as I understand it, they can make a big difference to urinary incontinence. I'm sure someone will come along soon who has more knowledge than me.
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Thanks for your reply.
I am currently not using any estrogen products.