Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Ms_london76 on September 23, 2024, 05:32:47 PM
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Hi everyone
I have been suffering mentally since all this started. My gp didn’t do an external exam with me at the beginning of all of this so she like some drs throw solutions.
Was on vagifem for about 3 weeks but the burning and increase in urination was intense. Switched to parmarin cream which created similar results with the addition of constant burning, severe headaches and extreme sensitives to things I once loved (wine, coffee) plus not sleeping the night I was taking it.
Now my dr told to me to get off of everything which I tried for a day. After a run I was on the floor crying in pain and used yes gel.
My last dose of Premarin was last Friday .5mg, everytime I used it I would never sleep that night. The last time I used it the burning was so intense it kept me up all night.
My dr is not avail until next week, I am so desperate I may go to an er cuz of the burning. Can’t see another dr and I need a referral to a gyneo.
Though the burning persists since I stopped Premarin, I have noticed my ability to retain water has increased. I drank a 30 oz water and had a couple pees but nothing like I had before. Where my bladder was exploding.
I have upped the yes gel to post workout and in the evening cuz I don’t know what else to do.
I feel so lost and alone in all of this. I am crying all the time. All the things that brought me relief now cause me pain.
I am only 2 months into this dryness, per cuz I had my period in Sept after 5 months. I need help and I am begging my dr to refer me to a gyneo asap.
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Why do U feel alone, we are here with experiences to share: I think that U have several threads with responses on MM Forum?
A gynaecologist won't know much more than GPs seem to about what women require. A referral to a dedicated menopause clinic is more likely to be more use to you.
Do read through the responses and make notes. Keeping a mood/food/symptom diary can be helpful too.
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Ayesha on another thread has suggested that because of your sensitivity to oestrogen that you ask to try a lower strength oestrogen product.
Looking it up i see that Premarin cream is 0.625mg/g have you got a lower estriol cream available in Canada?
We have Estriol 1mg/g (0.1%) cream but there us also a 0.01% cream available here.
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Yes that makes sense and yes I keep a diary. Thank you CLKD for replying to me.
I hate stopping treatment however all the symptoms were getting so much worse not better.
The bladder thing was the newest discovery where it got better when I stopped treatment. Can’t figure that one out.
When I do any sweating the burning happens, now learning to use yes gel a couple of times a day helps minimize that.
I could not hold my bladder taking treatment. Still waking up to pee at night but I fall asleep right away. The weather got cooler here so that may help.
It does help to have this forum. No one in irl can understand what is happening with me. And yes I am reading other peoples post about this issue. Some are on treatment and they get the burning still.
Private meno clinics are out of pocket! Some do virtual appointment versus in person. I will see a naturopath next week who does specializes in this.
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Ayesha on another thread has suggested that because of your sensitivity to oestrogen that you ask to try a lower strength oestrogen product.
Looking it up i see that Premarin cream is 0.625mg/g have you got a lower estriol cream available in Canada?
We have Estriol 1mg/g (0.1%) cream but there us also a 0.01% cream available here.
I am actually not sure if there is.
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Why do U want to see a 'naturopath' who may sell preparations that won't help with your symptoms if what you have tried from the NHS thus far, hasn't helped?
Many years ago [1992] I got drawn into consulting with a Chinese practitioner, all went well until he told me that I shouldn't use peppermint with what he had mixed but couldn't explain why. £80s worth of stuff went onto the compost rather than through my gut. Desperation wasn't worth risking something that he couldn't explain properly although I was desperate at the time.
Minusminnie has given good advice on estriol - why don't you believe her? :-\
What would you like us to suggest?
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My friend who is the same age as of me is going to this woman. Says she has seen a huge difference in her own symptoms.
She is a dr and is requesting any blood work and labs be sent to her and may send me on more tests
She specializes in peri and menopause. Apparently recently attended a conference in the states as well. She also does prescribe hrt as well if needed etc. she is the real deal.
She is not just a naturopath but someone who actually sees women who are going through this. Her speciality is hormones and menopause.
I am looking at all options.
My own dr was not as detailed about my medical history than this lady is.
I can’t see my own dr until next week. So yes when I see her I will ask about the low dose as well
I just drank another 30 oz water and only had to pee once- side bar note
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U seem 2 B overthinking .......... it's easy to get into a spiral of measuring but input and output will be different because the kidneys take liquids from food as well as drinks.
Is this person registered as a GP? If she is selling stuff, I would advise listening but not buying anything as it may be unregulated. Because your friend has been OK, doesn't mean that you will have good results.
If U can't C your GP then make an appt with a Nurse Practitioner? I can C a Nurse within 24 hours and my GP within a week or 3 if my problem isn't urgent.
She is a dr and is requesting any blood work and labs be sent to her and may send me on more tests
. I may seem to be picky but who is she requesting blood work from? may send U on more tests for any particular reason? Hormone blood tests are reliably un-reliable because they depend on so many issues. How much more will this cost you against going 2 a dedicated menopause clinic?
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Its good you have a friend who you can relate to about all you are going through, therefore you are not as alone as you think you may be.
The naturopath route sounds an interesting one and I hope you get the outcome you are looking for, let us know how it all goes.
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U seem 2 B overthinking .......... it's easy to get into a spiral of measuring but input and output will be different because the kidneys take liquids from food as well as drinks.
Is this person registered as a GP? If she
is selling stuff, I would advise listening but not buying anything as it may be unregulated. Because your friend has been OK, doesn't mean that you will have good results.
If U can't C your GP then make an appt with a Nurse Practitioner? I can C a Nurse within 24 hours and
She is a dr and is requesting any blood work and labs be sent to her and may send me on more tests
. I may seem to be picky but who is she requesting blood work from?
may send U on more tests for any particular reason? Hormone blood tests are reliably un-reliable because they depend on so many issues. How much more will this cost you against going 2 a dedicated menopause clinic?
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I am totally overthinking and stressed about this. This is how I am I tend to get hyper focused on stuff like this.
No, the water thing I am not imagining when on estrogen I could not hold water the way I am holding it now. Something has changed there so that is new. My bladder wanted to expel all the time. Just noticed this in the last couple of days.
I cannot recall where but there was a side effect of increased bladder or bladder irritation I am not sure which estrogen is was for or estrodial. I just saw it today and I was like yup that was me.
The naturopath is requesting that blood work from my own doctor.
I am curious to learn more, but vitamins I can buy at my own stores versus thru her.
There are not many menopause clinics around if they are wait lists referrals etc. I wish a RN could help but here they can’t help with much.
Stay open to learning what I can. I am not saying no to any form of hrt. I am just calming the downstairs area down for now before I dive back in again.
I always had a sensitive bladder but it was like my bladder was on steroids. I did think I had an uti at times because I was going so much. But the bladder is calmer now.
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Its good you have a friend who you can relate to about all you are going through, therefore you are not as alone as you think you may be.
The naturopath route sounds an interesting one and I hope you get the outcome you are looking for, let us know how it all goes.
I am curious to learn more. I am a yoga teacher so we talk a lot about holistic approaches etc. I am not sure if I will do what she says but I am open to learning more.
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Remind me - where do U live?
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Canada
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I was trying to find out where I read that information but I found it BC health website discusses vaginal estrogen and side effects among many were:
Increased thirst/urination &
increased or new vaginal irritation/itching/odor/discharge
I really thought I was going out of my mind the amount of times I was peeing when taking vagifem and parmarin. Yes I understand what you eat and drink of course.
Things that never bothered me as much like coffee or wine were flowing out of me like lava. Coffee in particular was like 1/2 cup of coffee for about 6/7 trips to the bathroom in the morning in a span of 2hrs. That was not normal for me.
So when I say I notice I am retaining water better I really noticed a difference. So with about 60oz of water in me now the amount of time to the bathroom has been literally cut in half.
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Ayesha on another thread has suggested that because of your sensitivity to oestrogen that you ask to try a lower strength oestrogen product.
Looking it up i see that Premarin cream is 0.625mg/g have you got a lower estriol cream available in Canada?
We have Estriol 1mg/g (0.1%) cream but there us also a 0.01% cream available here.
I am actually not sure if there is.
I had a short look last night at Canadian sites but couldn’t see anything universal if that is the right word but you do have compounding labs that gps can go to.
Have you thought of having your bladder tested separately I’ve not had this done but some ladies may be along to advise.
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Early hours of this morning I found:
Red Hot Mamas
Menopause support group and discussion community - U may find Canadians there to chat with.
which symptom would you like to ease first?
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Thank you CLKD
So when i started this journey i had occasional dryness issues caused my excessive sweating with working out each day, hot summer, teaching hot yoga. I was not complaining of bladder issues. All started with talks with other ppl at my studio who suggested hrt.
I started with vagifem which all of the sudden constant burning, weak bladder, becoming sensitive to things like coffee wine, electroylotes. Half the time i thought i had a uti. Dr moved me to the cream. Burning got worse and did not sleep on the nights of using that. Bladder was bad.
I understand what the dr is doing, after all these treatments she wants me to get to a baseline. To let the body calm down especially since i got a period after 5 months on Sept 10. Since my period i have been constantly stressed trying to self diagnosis reading, posting stressing myself out even more. So i see her point now cuz i do this to myself.
I am not even sure what my baseline is.
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There is a condition of embedded bladder infection but symptoms would be constant. Has your Medic arranged for a fresh urine sample to be sent to a Lab to see if it grows a 'bug'?
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Yes on Sept 9 she tested my blood work for diabetes my liver and kidneys were in normal range. I also did a urine test.
The morning of the appointment I was peeing so much I didn’t think I would make it to her office. I had taken d manose earlier that morning and the burning and peeing was off the hook all day. The next day I didn’t take d mannose and I was totally fine and got my period.
I never heard back so I think it’s fine.
Since stopping the cream my bladder is holding up way better than when on the cream. Sometimes estrogen can effect the bladder and I was one of those lucky ones were it did. She did say it happens to people.
I am managing for now with yes gel when needed. I am just taking it day by day.
Switching toilet paper to something softer was my mission today. Cuz I read all sorts of chemicals can irritate that area. Especially if they bleach it etc…
My honest guess is my body is just super sensitive to things. And estrogen was making things worse and not better. I am not giving up on hrt or options but want the area to not feel so inflamed first.
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This is where I pulled that information about the bladder irriation
https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/medications/estrogens-cream-vaginal
It happens to some ppl not everyone but some. I thought I was going crazy cray with all the bathroom stops and thinking I did have a uti or yeast infection. But turns out it’s just the estrogen.
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This has been so hard to process.
It’s only been a couple of months dealing with this and I am losing hope. And losing my mind basically.
When your whole life has been based on fitness and stay in shape and helping others to be their best self. Now all the things that brought me joy, relief, therapy even. I can’t do or do with pain. It’s like someone took the wind from my sails and I am falling…
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This has been so hard to process.
But you are processing it by everything you are trying & thinking through.
Adapting can be hard but you will even if you can’t see it now.
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Anxiety can cause huge urine ouputs.
Did U read the red-hot mammas website?
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Anxiety can cause huge urine ouputs.
Did U read the red-hot mammas website?
Yes i did the layout was different though.
Oh yes i know when i am nervous sure i pee more.
But there were times were i would be uber relaxed and could hot hold the bladder. I often teach two classes on wed back to back, with some time in between. The last time i taught the second class, i had emptied my bladder pre class. And at the end i was desperate to pee again and i had to leave the class. That is not really normal behaviour for me. Actually never did that before. That was when using premarin.
My profession relies on me being in the hot room, I am at the peak of my career and never ever had an issue in the hot room until July. Now do I need to quit my studios? The job I trained hundreds of hours for? I do need to hydrate more. I always slacked off cuz I didn’t want to pee all the time lol.
The last time I was teaching here I was only using vagifem I think. And the dryness was so bad past my first class.
Today slight burning from yes gel but was manageable almost pain free.
Stings when I clean the area with water for some reason
Because I am a yoga teacher I am very in tune to my body. So all of the sudden reaching for toes is painful, cat cow, down dog etc. makes me so incredible sad and I had took for granted how well my body moved before. Now I can barely sit for periods of time.
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It's probably ageing process. As oestrogen levels drop the body may become dry: inside and out as well as muscles becoming lax = aches and pains. Plus dribbling of urine.
MayB seek the advice of a physiotherapy interested in womens' health.
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Physio!? How will that help? I honestly don’t know what you mean?
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In the UK physiotherapists are trained in womens health, i.e. the correct way to preform pelvic floor/Kegel exercises to improve the muscles and ligaments around the pelvic area.
A good practitioner will be able to advice on bladder re-training too. Although U have been able to hold urine for a long while, this may not have been good for bladder health as you age.
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I see.
For now I try to stay postive but it’s hard when I am battling this. Can’t even sit on a hard service without extreme discomfort.
Only a few months ago I was normal and fine and now I feel like my life ended and struggling mentally.
Unlike an injury that takes time to heal but eventually does will this ever get better.
I have read all the stories of ppl suffering with this thing for years. Trying different medications, reactions back and forth doctor visits.
As mentioned before I have two seniors parents that rely on me to be healthy. Now they are both worried about me and I don’t know how to fix me. So I cry over and over.
Now I can’t go to a movie or a date never mind sex. Yoga has been my outlet for so long now going into a hot room actually scares me. But I love what I do and I soldier on and cry later.
I consider myself to be so healthy and physically fit and now all this has taken a toll on me
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Post second class I did a self exam.
I didn’t see anything concerning (didn’t stick any fingers anywhere. I did see a lot of lubrication (which may have been yes gel last night) I was expecting to see it dry so that surprised me a little.
I was already ready to insert yes gel post two classes and sweating but choose not too. I will do it tonight.
Also I am not a doctor and not really sure what to look for when looking down there.
And because I have been so stressed about this I dropped weight. Which happens when I am stressed. Go figure lol
On a side bar, I seem to have more good moments than bad ones since stopping the estrogen.