Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Postmenopause => Topic started by: kazy68 on September 18, 2023, 04:54:40 PM
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Hi all,
Been period free for 16 months now, and been suffering with what Dr's have said is urinary infections, finished my 4th course of ab's around 10 days ago, not one course afer another, 4th lot over a period of around 12 months , before that ( around d 6 weeks ago) ended up having 2 lots of them,
Since the last lot I have been experiencing what feels like period cramps, really achey and dull pain all in my abdomen, with excruciating back pain that likes to travel down my bum cheek and leg, but the most uncomfortable thing is not feeling the urge to urinate, occasionally I get a little twinge and go but most times I think it's been awhile and I go anyway and always wee when I go ( sorry tmi ) has anyone ever had this happen after an infection, usually this how I know I got one coming but its not going away,
Can't get in to gp today (nothing new there) going to try again at 8 in the morning,
And as my title reads yes been googling and scaring myself to death, anxiety through the roof can't tell you how much water I have drank seriously lost count all I think about is " do I need to go" " can I feel anything" can't get it out of my head making me a nervous wreck.
Any help, advice would be wonderful
TIA
Karen
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Your symptoms sound a lot like vaginal atrophy to me. Are you using any localised oestrogen? Drs often do not know what vaginal atrophy is and will continue to give us antibiotics as some vaginal atrophy symptoms mimic UTIs.
Googling symptoms always seems to point to anything fatal. Even if you google a headache it will say it could be a brain tumour. I know it is hard but try to ask on here rather then googling.
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Thank you for reply flossieteacke,
I have been reading about va mimicking uti, but i dont think i have other symptoms of va, if I'm honest I don't have a clue hun, just can't wait to see gp and not have another phone consultation,
Do you have to have dryness with va, because I'm not, not sore, no discomfort nothing other than what I'm experiencing at the minute (sorry tmi again)
And as for Mr Google, I know i sit here and say to myself don't do it, and I do it :( must stop doing it.
I will mention a to gp though you never know could be the answer to all of my problems.
Thank you
Karen
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,.........I have been experiencing what feels like period cramps, really achey and dull pain all in my abdomen, with excruciating back pain that likes to travel down my bum cheek and leg.......
Karen
A big YES to this. Exactly the same symptoms I get when having a va flare up.
Do you use vagifem/ovestin? If yes, double up for a few days, if not, ask your GP for some.
And as for dryness - I don't suffer with dryness so much anymore, it's more the achey and painey things now.
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Thank you for reply flossieteacke,
I have been reading about va mimicking uti, but i dont think i have other symptoms of va, if I'm honest I don't have a clue hun, just can't wait to see gp and not have another phone consultation,
Do you have to have dryness with va, because I'm not, not sore, no discomfort nothing other than what I'm experiencing at the minute (sorry tmi again)
And as for Mr Google, I know i sit here and say to myself don't do it, and I do it :( must stop doing it.
I will mention a to gp though you never know could be the answer to all of my problems.
Thank you
Karen
Unfortunately the Googling becomes addictive, and it feeds the cycle making it continue. You really do need to distract yourself, delay googling tell yourseld youll look later, then come on here instead etc. What Google lacks (as my GP told me) is context. Headache, tiredness etc, all can be signs of something sinister but in vast majority of times they are not. Keep off of Google, break the cycle and wait until you see your GP, who will have your medical history in front of them, ask you the right questions and and give you a diagnosis based on your specific presentation and context.
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There's a saying along the lines of 'if you hear hoofbeats, think horses not zebras'
Unfortunately Dr Google goes straight for the zebra ::)
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GOOGLE NHS sites only.
What would u do if you didn't have access to GOOGLE? What R U trying to prove to yourself?
We have a thread somewhere, "what I have diagnosed myself today" or similar ::) so health anxiety is a peri problem.
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Thanks all for replying,
I don't take anything at all to help with meno symptoms and believe me I've had and still got a few, not got a very sympathetic gp, for some reason he likes to have a giggle and and tell me it's my age, always try not to see him if possible, see a wonderful female gp instead,
Seriously though I had no idea va had symptoms like this thanks all for info,
Has anyone experienced the urinating troubles I've been having or is this down to va too.
As for the googling, great idea penguin, need things to take my mind of it all.
Only ever Google UK, not trying to prove anything, i guess I'm looking for things to be wrong, stupid or what, I have suffered with ha since peri so know exactly what I'm doing to myself when I do Google, time to change my habits and find something different to do.
Karen
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Your GP sounds awful! Just to dismiss what you are going through and say it is age is so rude.
You do not have to have dryness for it to be VA. You can have the UTI symptoms you describe.
I did not realise I had internal dryness as I always seemed to be wet. I then found out it was a thin watery discharge which was a symptom of VA.
I think localised oestrogen could help your symptoms. It is worth a try anyway. VA is not age related. Mine started at 38.
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I had no dryness or soreness just infections. My GP said definitely not VA but then saw a specialist privately who said “well you DO have VA”. Push your GP to let you try vagifem or something similar because really you have nothing to loose. I hope you get this sorted out soon, and yes, I know it’s hard but stop googling. Think of the hours of your life you are wasting!
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Your male gp sounds like he needs a good slap. How bloody irritating. I had exactly the same symptoms, that awful niggly, weirdly pulling feeling that feels like you need a wee. I didn't know what it was. It's really horrible. You need to be diagnosed and start with local oestrogen if it is atrophy cos it won't go away on its own.
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Thank you for all your replies and help,
Called surgery this morning still no available appointments to see GP so seeing nurse instead at 12.45, hopefully she can help, weirdly when I sleep the pain seems to go thankfully, takes a while to get comfortable but and then within 20 minutes I am relieved of a little pain, until I get up have that first wee and omg, back with a vengeance, let's see what nurse Margaret has to say today.
Karen
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Nothing is stupid - when we are worried our brains go into over drive >:( ........ as a phobic I would be self checking continually :-\ :'(
Will U take a list of your worries to the appt.?
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Sometimes you do feel stupid, it's when you know your doing things that make you worry, but you find it difficult to stop doing those things :-\
I will be taking a list with me can't remember what I go for if I don't have a list, I won't make it a long one though as soon as I start reeling of my problems they just flow out lol.
Karen
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I write it all down in bullet points on my phone and hand over to my doctor, and then he can pick out what is relevant to ask more questions on. Otherwise I ramble on and go off on tangents 🤣
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If it wasn't for Google I wouldn't have found this forum and all the wonderful info I have found out from browsing, but yes, best not be addicted to it.
As for VA symptoms, peeing constantly was my first symptom, followed by all the other miserable symptoms already talked about here. Will also say three courses of antibiotics before being diagnosed with VA, antibiotics I never needed, I am still very angry about that!
Don't put up with being disregarded by ignorant GP's who put it down to age and I hope you get the treatment needed if its VA, it's easily available.
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Oh well nurse Margaret is as bad as some of the gp's out there didn't want to listen, not interested if my symptoms were va related or not, dipped a stick in sample said slight infection, ( doesn't feel slight ), gave me another bottle to do sample to be sent of for testing, she actually sat there and told me how far to fill the bottle, not my first rodeo love, another lot of antibiotics, and shooed out the door, so bloody angry why don't professionals listen, came out and made appointment to see female GP shame it's three and half weeks away, but I'm in the que so it's a start.
Karen
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If you're over 50 and not having periods you can buy Gina from the chemist now without prescription, it's the same as Vagifem.
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Oh well nurse Margaret is as bad as some of the gp's out there didn't want to listen, not interested if my symptoms were va related or not, dipped a stick in sample said slight infection, ( doesn't feel slight ), gave me another bottle to do sample to be sent of for testing, she actually sat there and told me how far to fill the bottle, not my first rodeo love, another lot of antibiotics, and shooed out the door, so bloody angry why don't professionals listen, came out and made appointment to see female GP shame it's three and half weeks away, but I'm in the que so it's a start.
Karen
I'm so sorry to hear that the appointment wasn't helpful and that you didn't get heard, Karen. Hopefully the GP appointment will be more successful, although a pain you have a further wait. Must say your comment re it not being your first rodeo did make me laugh, I'm going to nick that one!
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Oh thank you Hun might give that a go,
One thing she did ask was there cancer in the family, well yes lots, and then it was oh ok got to be careful what you have, I thought it was ok to have hrt now, even with cancer in family,
Think she is old school tbh she's about 64 I'm sure ppl have said she's due to retire, bet she doesn't read up to date reports, oh my days look at me being mean to someone I don't even know, I must stop doing this, keep letting my mouth run off before thinking lol.
Lol penguin use as and when required, I'm 54 with 3 children any one would think I've never done a sample before.
Karen
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Oh forgot to say,
Walked out chemist without paying for prescription ::) on way back up to pay for it, going to take sample back hopefully get results back before next Thursday, THURSDAY, for a wee sample, shocking.
Karen
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It's a long while and the sample may become contaminated also, weekend - no Lab work taking place >:(. U have been badly served Kazy68. Is there a GP in the practice with an interest in womens health or R U able to move to another Surgery?
There are very few risks - she's not taking your needs seriously. Being mean is absolutely fine, I am tamping on your behalf!!!! each Surgery should employ a dedicated menopause trained Nurse Practitioner. Wishful thinking ???
Telling someone how to fill a sample bottle - I'd laugh if it wasn't so serious >:( ::)
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Hi I have sent reply on vagial atrophy so won't go through it again .but just look under Hugsneed1958 and hope my reply helps with info on tummy cramps. I have health anxiety too always checking. Horrible anxity.. but I use vagifem and ovestin and reason tummy cramps low estrogen. You can use life long and both 7 days week if needed it still only equivalent to 3 hrt tablets a year.low absorbed. Try not to worry. I still worry useing too much.anyone out there use both Vagifem and ovestin.my dr said can do. Thank girls