Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Nicodemus on July 04, 2022, 08:01:45 PM
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In the last week or so but particularly the last few days, I've noticed I need to pee a lot more frequently. I have kept a diary today and it's roughly every hour, despite me not actually drinking that much today. When I go I produce a reasonable amount but I don't feel fully empty. I also feel slightly itchy and uncomfortable down there. No burning when I pee thankfully. I saw the GP this afternoon, they did a urine dip test which came out as absolutely fine. No other symptoms apart from a slightly raised temperature and feeling tired. I'm due to go abroad on holiday on thursday evening and really worried. GP gave me antibiotics (3 day course of macrobid) to take anyway in case I have a UTI that's just not showing up for some reason, plus a single dose fluconazole in case it's thrush. He said if I am not any better by tomorrow afternoon to ring them but that the only other thing it could be is bacterial vaginosis.
Before seeing the GP I tried DMannose over several days and also bought some YES VM. The YES made me feel a bit more comfortable in terms of the itching (possibly cos it's cold) although I don't seem to be dry down there. I don't think the DMannose did anything, but I have never tried it before and maybe it just doesn't work for me. I also tried bicarb in water a couple of times but I think that only helps if it's burning.
I'm just wondering whether this could be a meno symptom? I'm on Evorel 50 having just been moved off Sequi (started HRT about 8 weeks ago) but I don't take any other forms of oestrogen.
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In the last week or so but particularly the last few days, I've noticed I need to pee a lot more frequently. I have kept a diary today and it's roughly every hour, despite me not actually drinking that much today. When I go I produce a reasonable amount but I don't feel fully empty. I also feel slightly itchy and uncomfortable down there. No burning when I pee thankfully. I saw the GP this afternoon, they did a urine dip test which came out as absolutely fine. No other symptoms apart from a slightly raised temperature and feeling tired. I'm due to go abroad on holiday on thursday evening and really worried. GP gave me antibiotics (3 day course of macrobid) to take anyway in case I have a UTI that's just not showing up for some reason, plus a single dose fluconazole in case it's thrush. He said if I am not any better by tomorrow afternoon to ring them but that the only other thing it could be is bacterial vaginosis.
Before seeing the GP I tried DMannose over several days and also bought some YES VM. The YES made me feel a bit more comfortable in terms of the itching (possibly cos it's cold) although I don't seem to be dry down there. I don't think the DMannose did anything, but I have never tried it before and maybe it just doesn't work for me. I also tried bicarb in water a couple of times but I think that only helps if it's burning.
I'm just wondering whether this could be a meno symptom? I'm on Evorel 50 having just been moved off Sequi (started HRT about 8 weeks ago) but I don't take any other forms of oestrogen.
This sounds very much like vaginal atrophy. Lack of oestrogen can cause this. I would ask for ovestin or vagifem. These are mild forms of oestrogen. Vagifem is a pessary and ovestin is a cream.
You may want to browse the vaginal atrophy threads on here to learn more. Please do not worry as this can be treated. :)
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I agree sounds like vagina atrophy, if you had BV there would be a bad small when you pee, plus a off white grey discharge that sticks to your vagina and is hard to wipe off.
Please asked your doctor about vagina atrophy and hopefully they understand and know how to treat it. I use Vagifem internally and Ovestin externally.
Get a good external moisturiser too like Yes VM or Olive and Bee. It will take you a while to find what works for you. And it will take time to work. It usually a two week loading dose and then two times a week for life. You might be like many of us ladies that will need more then the recommended dose.
Please feel free to post any questions and there is a private Facebook Vagina Atrophy group which is very helpful too
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Thanks so much both of you. I still seem to be peeing hourly (not in the night though) so will be ringing them back later unless I make a dramatic improvement.
Can they do a test for BV? I don't think it is BV either and I don't think I would accept more antibiotics "just in case" unless a test shows I have it. I will ask about vaginal atrophy. Can you use Ovestin internally as well as externally?
The "itchiness" is almost a feeling like I have papercuts on the lips or just inside. I've had a look with a mirror and nothing looks untoward but it's not like I study myself all the time
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Thanks so much both of you. I still seem to be peeing hourly (not in the night though) so will be ringing them back later unless I make a dramatic improvement.
Can they do a test for BV? I don't think it is BV either and I don't think I would accept more antibiotics "just in case" unless a test shows I have it. I will ask about vaginal atrophy. Can you use Ovestin internally as well as externally?
The "itchiness" is almost a feeling like I have papercuts on the lips or just inside. I've had a look with a mirror and nothing looks untoward but it's not like I study myself all the time
I think the test for BV is a swab.
Yes, you can use Ovestin internally and externally. It can help to mix it with a little bit of vaginal moisturiser ( I use Yes VM) to apply to the outer area.
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Yep, doctor examined me tonight and it's vaginal atrophy. And he spotted a small tear - ouch. I'm not feeling so worried now that I know what the reason is. So big thanks to both of you again.
I've been given vagifem, ovestin and Sylk. I'm trying the vagifem to begin with (loading), may add ovestin externally if still sore in a few days. Bit worried the vagifem might make my migraines more frequent (should never read the side effects bit of the leaflet) but we'll see.
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Yep, doctor examined me tonight and it's vaginal atrophy. And he spotted a small tear - ouch. I'm not feeling so worried now that I know what the reason is. So big thanks to both of you again.
I've been given vagifem, ovestin and Sylk. I'm trying the vagifem to begin with (loading), may add ovestin externally if still sore in a few days. Bit worried the vagifem might make my migraines more frequent (should never read the side effects bit of the leaflet) but we'll see.
I am so pleased you saw the Dr and have been given the right treatment. All HRT have the same leaflet so try not to worry about the migraines. I get migraines but have not found any HRT has made them worse.
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Glad you’re getting the help you need, and your symptoms will improve soon! Enjoy you holidays.
It still astounds me how GP’s don’t think of VA first, it’s so common. I was referred to a urologist with my symptoms, thinking I might have bladder or kidney problems. It was just VA, much improved with vagifem.
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Wonderful sounds like you are lucky and have a great doctor. Remember it does take time to heal, and never stop the treatment it’s for life
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Sounds very similar to my experience and all the 'is it thrush, is it BV, is it blah etc' that I went through too.
The Vagifem won't affect your migraines, it is local only and will only affect that area. Do use the Ovestin as well, because if you can feel it (ie papercuts), it is in your vulva (usually) and that bit isn't going to be reached very easily by the Vagifem. The vulva and the vagina have separate blood supplies so often need separate treatment. Just put a thin amount of Ovestin on every night after your Vagifem. And use the YES in the mornings. (BTW, I think YES OB is better than YES VM or Sylk :) )
Don't expect overnight miracles but in about a month you should be feeling fine again. You will always need the Vagifem at least twice a week and the Ovestin as needed though - if you stop, it will come back. Unless you start systemic HRT and that provides you with enough estrogen. (20% of women need both local and systemic HRT.)
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I felt a bit better bladder-wise this morning after last night's Vagifem but still in quite a bit of vulval pain (burning, papercuts) in spite of applying Ovestin a couple of times. Took some ibuprofen as well. Bladder started up again this evening so took the Vagifem quite early but doesn't seem to be helping. I think we're going to have to cancel the holiday unless I feel a lot better by tomorrow evening. I got made redundant last week so it feels like everything's coming at once.
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I felt a bit better bladder-wise this morning after last night's Vagifem but still in quite a bit of vulval pain (burning, papercuts) in spite of applying Ovestin a couple of times. Took some ibuprofen as well. Bladder started up again this evening so took the Vagifem quite early but doesn't seem to be helping. I think we're going to have to cancel the holiday unless I feel a lot better by tomorrow evening. I got made redundant last week so it feels like everything's coming at once.
It is very early on in your treatment for the pain to go. This does not mean things will not improve, they will. Sadly, it is not a quick treatment.
I really am sorry you have been made redundant on top of this.
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I agree with Flossie, this is a long-term thing. It's not usually a 'take a dose and you feel better already' treatment - it's a case of 'might not notice any difference for 3 weeks, but then you slowly do' treatment....
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Yeah I understand, thanks both. Fortunately we've been able to move our ferry booking to September without being charged, so will just lose the accommodation money though might be able to claim on travel insurance for it.
In a way the redundancy is good as I don't have to worry about working whilst this is going on (I was awake most of last night in pain) and can just try and take care of myself.
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Do you have some YES OB? ALternatively and just as good is Olive and Bee....
The Ovestin is (medically) what you need, but might not provide enough padding or protection for long enough. Use liberal amounts of oil based moisturisers like those....
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I have some YES VM, which is feels nice but seems a little bit too sloppy. Is the YES OB better?
I also bought some Replens but then read a load of posts here saying it was awful so haven't tried it.
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I have some YES VM, which is feels nice but seems a little bit too sloppy. Is the YES OB better?
I also bought some Replens but then read a load of posts here saying it was awful so haven't tried it.
Maybe use a little less Yes VM. It is very watery but maybe that helps when the skin is too dry.
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I don't like the YES VM, like you say it's really watery, it comes off pretty quickly and so needs to be reapplied frequently. It is water-based. (Which is why it's watery ;D )
The YES OB is Oil Based. ;D So it stays put. It is made from natural organic plant oils and has no fragrance or smell. There is also Olive and Bee, which is also oil based - it is bees wax and olive oil. Any oil-based product is going to stay put much longer and be much more slippy and slidey than water-based long-term - in my opinion.
The only downsides to oil-based products are that they can't be used with condoms without risking corroding the condom and they can sometimes leave a fat-based stain in your pants because they are oil-based - but that comes out in the wash. And usually you can just figure out the optimal amount to put on which avoids that happening.
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Everyone is different, I’ve been treating VA for over three years, this morning my vagina was given me prickly sensations, even though I use Vagifem and Ovestin last night.
I don’t worry I know after my morning shower I use Yes VM, yes it does feel wet at first, but I don’t seem to get any more picky sensations down there, sometimes in the afternoon my vagina will do it again, I know I now need my afternoon Yes VM. At the moment I’m doing so well I don’t need a second dose.
It’s taken me a long time to find what works for me, I would say two years of trying different products and how often to use it.
But what works for me won’t work for everyone. It takes time, maybe try a moisturiser give it time and see what happens. If you keep improving, stay with it, if you see no improvement or get worse give something else a go, you will end up with a draw full of treatment, good luck
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Hi nicodemus just to let you know I've sent you a private xx
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So I passed the 2 week mark earlier this week, by this point the bladder was a lot better though still not 100% but I still had/have a pretty much constant itchy prickly sort of feeling either on the vulva or just inside the vagina. I'd been putting Vagifem inside and Ovestin outside nightly and using either Yes VM or Sylk in the morning and sometimes the afternoon both inside and on the outside. It did seem that mixing the nightly Ovestin with some YesVM made the prickling go away for a few hours but it doesn't seem to do it every time I try it. I use a pea sized lump of Ovestin, not sure if that's not enough or too much or what.
At the 2 week mark I went down to twice weekly with the Vagifem/Ovestin combo and moisturising once or twice a day but my bladder started getting a bit twitchy so have gone back upto nightly. Having searched around the forum a bit more I see some women are told to do a 3 week loading dose instead of 2.
Am I right in thinking the vagifem will help the bladder but not the prickly feelings on the outside? Should I be moisturising more often on the outside and just inside to deal with the prickly thing? Should I just keep up with nightly Vagifem/Ovestin until I feel better all round and then try cutting down?
I'm thinking about getting some coconut oil and or possibly some Yes OB to try instead of the YesVM.
I can't wear pants or trousers at the moment, feels like they are pulling on me, thank goodness for long sundresses.
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So I passed the 2 week mark earlier this week, by this point the bladder was a lot better though still not 100% but I still had/have a pretty much constant itchy prickly sort of feeling either on the vulva or just inside the vagina. I'd been putting Vagifem inside and Ovestin outside nightly and using either Yes VM or Sylk in the morning and sometimes the afternoon both inside and on the outside. It did seem that mixing the nightly Ovestin with some YesVM made the prickling go away for a few hours but it doesn't seem to do it every time I try it. I use a pea sized lump of Ovestin, not sure if that's not enough or too much or what.
At the 2 week mark I went down to twice weekly with the Vagifem/Ovestin combo and moisturising once or twice a day but my bladder started getting a bit twitchy so have gone back upto nightly. Having searched around the forum a bit more I see some women are told to do a 3 week loading dose instead of 2.
Am I right in thinking the vagifem will help the bladder but not the prickly feelings on the outside? Should I be moisturising more often on the outside and just inside to deal with the prickly thing? Should I just keep up with nightly Vagifem/Ovestin until I feel better all round and then try cutting down?
I'm thinking about getting some coconut oil and or possibly some Yes OB to try instead of the YesVM.
I can't wear pants or trousers at the moment, feels like they are pulling on me, thank goodness for long sundresses.
I would use the vagifem and ovestin every single day. I always do. I know the leaflet says otherwise but for severe symptoms, daily helps.
The vagifem should also help your bladder. 3 weeks is still early and it can take time to see an improvement. I think the pea size amount of Ovestin sounds fine. That is how much I use too.
If you are dry then you can moisturise more. I had to in the beginning of my treatment. I was told by a menopause DR not to was the area in water alone. She suggested putting E45 cream on before my shower, washing it off in the shower and then reapplying E45 afterwards. I have found this really helpful.
It is understandable not to be able to wear pants or trousers while your skin is so raw. The sundresses sound like a great idea.
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I'd suggest doing Vagifem every night for 3 full weeks, then see if you can do every other night - at the first sign of anything returning, go back to nightly. Some women really do need it nightly. Hopefully your GP will be okay with prescribing it to be used nightly, because some can be idiots about that and if that's the case you might need to see another GP.
With the external discomfort feelings, keep using the Ovestin at least daily if not 2x daily in a thin layer but also get some YES OB. It is WAY better. It will stay there all day. You can put it on top of the thin layer of Ovestin as well. You can also try Olive and Bee, which is also oil-based and very similar. (But more expensive for a smaller tube!)
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It took about three months for a daily treatment of Vagifem and Ovestin to finally work, it needs a lot of patience but you get there in the end.
I use Sylk every day which I find perfect for me, not too watery but just the right consistency.
I've noticed in the heatwave that mild symptoms are rearing their ugly head but an extra dose of Ovestin locally and Sylk helps but its obvious to me that I still need the daily treatment of all products.
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Yes I don't think the warm weather is helping.
Thanks Ayesha, I know I need to be patient. It seems it varies so much with some people seeing relief in a few weeks or a month and others longer.
I've ordered some Yes OB which should arrive tomorrow. I should have done that the first time you suggested it joziel, so thanks for reminding me.
That's interesting what you said about washing flossie, as I had just been using plain water thinking that was best.
Thank you all. This place is about the only thing keeping me sane at the moment.
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Just a tip with the YES OB - sometimes it gets too solid that it doesn't come out (as it's oil-based so if it gets too cool, that can happen) - just run the bottle under the hot water tap for a few seconds to warm it up a bit if that happens. It seems to happen more with some tubes I've had than others.