Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Postmenopause => Topic started by: holidaylover on March 13, 2025, 03:22:06 PM
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Hi Ladies, not posted in a while but looking for a wee bit advice. Two weeks ago I developed what I felt was the start of a water infection. Pharmacy gave me the standard 3 day prescription for Trimethoprim. I have never found 3 days enough to shift an infection so duly went to my practice where I was prescribed 7 days of Nitrofurantoin. All was going fine until day 4, apart from terrible nausea, when I suddenly experienced pins and needles in my hands and feet. I also felt a bit of tingling on my tongue. A quick google confirmed that these, are indeed, rare side effects of the drug. It also recommended I should contact my doctor or 111 immediately. Cue immediate panic!! This was Sunday so I contacted 111 where I spoke to a nurse who really did nothing to ease my worry. She said it was up to me whether I continued with the rest of the tablets but she was quite happy for me to continue them! I took no more and hoped my symptoms would ease. It is Thursday now and I am still experiencing tingling/prickling in my feet and hands. My hands feel a bit swollen and fluidy and my feet feel like there are ants crawling in them. I had a horrid night last night when I was kept awake with numb fingers, burning hands and feet, and mild cramping in my calve. Couldnt keep my legs still at all. Have been down to my doctors this morning and saw a Nurse Practitioner who is puzzled with my symptoms. He said he assumed I would not still have the tingling once I had stopped the medication. My water sample I handed in last week tested negative, so I am now assuming the problem is my vaginal atrophy. I had stopped the Ovestin (I know I shouldnt) but have now restarted. I just wonder if anyone else has had any of these symptoms and can either tie it in with the Nitrofurantoin or something else. Nurse practitioner is phoning me back once he as spoke to the doctor and thinks it might be an idea to get some bloods done. I had a blood test a couple of weeks back for an issue I'm having with terrible itching and all was good there. (Still no answers to the itching though). So, any thoughts or ideas greatly welcomed!
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That is a strong AB and there are lots of info about when to stop in the leaflet in the box. DH was prescribed it for a water infection which turned out to be e-Coli. Turning urine a strange colour was one side effect, I didn't show him the leaflet ::)
Personally I would stop if the sample shows 'no growth' and use the VA treatment every night for at least 2-3 weeks with an added dose in the morning ........
What would the pharmacist want bloods done for exactly? He should know if this particular drug causes your symptoms, he can at least google or contact the Manufacturer. I will fish out the leaflet later if I haven't put it into our compost!
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Its not the pharmacist wanting bloods done, its the Nurse Practitioner at my surgery. He has phoned back and the doctor recommends they are checked as he said we shouldn't just surmise that my symptoms have come from the antibiotics. Think they may be checking to see if I'm deficient in anything. Although I have just been looking back all my previous posts on this website and it seems I was having all these same symptoms 11 years ago!! And on one of my posts I mention a water infection and that I was given Nitrofuratoin and it would appear I suffered with burning hands and feet and a sore tongue, so looks like there could be a connection. All my tingles before were when I was going through menopause, and now that I'm over 60 and post menopause, I'm wondering if its still possible to have a big drop in eostrogen again causing these symptoms.
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Nitrofuratoin also gives me pins and needles and numbness in my arms and legs, along with feeling really unwell, each time I have had it. As far as I can remember, the symptoms stopped a short while after stopping taking it. I now have it on my medical record to not have it prescribed. I know so many people who seem to have had an adverse reaction to this drug. There was also a thread on this forum not so long ago about it.
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Hi holidaylover,
Going through the UTI circle at the moment too. Nitrofuratoin gave me similar symptoms with numbness and tingling, I ploughed on for three days but along with that the nausea was continuous so came off them. I switched to Trimethoprim for three days which was mildly better for tolerating but another urine sample was showing low growth and a bit inconclusive as under the threshold for a UTI infection. As I have mild left flank pain, I'm having another sample done so will see but all to say, usually their first port of call is Nitrofuratoin and then Trimethroprim for a simple UTI. I also think VA symptoms can skew the picture a bit too. Is it a UTI, is it GSM? Endless trying to work it out! Definitely worth having a round of bloods and hopefully they have a good iron panel in there including ferritin and B12 and full kidney tests again as these could all give you all these symptoms. Also, if it helps my skin was hideously itchy when I had very low oestrogen. HRT did help this at the time I took it.
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tnx holidaylover for the clarification.
Let us know how you get on? certainly low oestrogen can cause dryness inside and out of the body.
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If the tingling sensation persists I'd check my B12 and folate levels. I get terrible painful almost nerve like irritation feelings in my feet when I don't take my vitamins.
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Thanks for the replies ladies. Getting bloods done this week so it'll be interesting to see if that throws anything up. I'm still 'tingling' so a bit worried to be honest. Still getting symptoms of a UTI as well so don't really know what to do about that either.
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Get some treatment for vaginal atrophy and get a urine sample sent to a Lab to test for 'growth'. How do U feel this morning?
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holidaylover,
I would like to know how are you feeling now, because I have the same symptoms without taking Nitrofurantoin!
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Hi Sage
I still have the tingles and the itchiness. Its driving me nuts. Had the feeling today of ants creeping up my legs. Had bloods done last week, to check if I was lacking vits (and whatever else they were checking for) but haven't had results back yet. I'm bad for googling but have been looking into the symptoms of histimine intolerance and that seems to produce the same symptoms. I also still keep creeping back to gluten intolerance, as that seems to fit too. Have you had any tests done or come to any conclusions yourself? Its horrid, isn't it?
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Hi holidaylover, no tests yet. I think histamine intolerance could be very possible because I'm currently on an allergy rollercoaster. I'm also thinking migraines, as my mouth/tongue is affected. It's driving me nuts as well! Looking forward to hearing from you re your tests results. There are so many, I have no idea where to look!
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Sage,
I have phoned down to the surgery today with regards my blood test results. All have come back fine! So back to square one. I actually had hoped something was picked up and popping a Vit supplement would be the answer. I still have the tingling tongue and hands and feet. Today I feel like I have ants crawling up my legs. I have looked back on my previous posts on this website and found one back in 2014 where I describe the exact same symptoms as I'm getting now. I had all sorts of blood tests done back then, along with MRI, neuro appointment and nothing was found then. Symptoms did go and I put it all down to my hormones. What I cant understand, if that was the case, why they are back now that I am through menopause, for about 7 or 8 years. I am 60. It just seems so strange that they all came back so suddenly, like WHAM! I assumed it was the Nitrifuratoin I was taking for a UTI. Something has definately been 'triggered' and I feel it a sort of flare up, if that makes sense. I have made another appointment with doc to try and get to the bottom of this, although that's not for another 4 weeks yet! Hope your coping ok .
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Hi holidaylover,
That's a bit frustrating but I am glad your blood tests results are fine. I have to say I was expecting this, hence why I haven't bothered having the usual blood tests done.
I am also 8 years postmenopause and will be 60 next year.
Still feeling dreadful and now I also have burning skin.
I think this could be an autoimmune issue, given the recurrent symptoms pattern, maybe triggered by some infection.
Autoantibodies testing may be helpful.
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Hi
Yes, I'm thinking autoimmune too. I'm going to ask the doctor about histimine intolerance and I'm still wondering if it has something to do with something I'm eating. Blood tests for celiac have been negative but I've not been tested by endoscopy. I'm getting bothered with slight sore spots on the inside of my lips, at times like tiny ulcers.
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Do C a dentist about your mouth then let us know what the diagnosis might be.
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I dont think its anything to do with my actual mouth CLKD,as well as my tongue, the tingling is also in my hands and more my feet.
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Hi again holidaylover, do you have any other symptoms, even if they're mild and don't seem related to the tingling (hands, feet, tongue)? I'm not thinking that we have the same thing going on, but I'm curious that we have the same sort of tingling. I suppose you have some digestive issues given that you have mentioned histamine, gluten intolerance? A friend of mine who was a registered nurse for decades has suggested I could have a DVT, because my left calf hurts (the same sort of pain after having cramps). No redness and swelling, but she says this is not always the case. I have migraines since I was a child so this is also something I am considering. Have you ever had migraines, with or without headaches? Hope you're feeling better! I'm not, unfortunately!
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holidaylover - if U have tiny ulcers in your mouth do C a dentist to rule out anything untoward, it mayB a mineral deficiency. Dentists are trained to spot cancers too ....
Sage - if your friend this you may have a DVT - is this without examining you and what was her speciality: has she/he suggested who you should contact with regards this. A suspected DVT should never go unexamined.
Odd aches and pains are 'usual' during peri etc., but knowing the reason can be helpful ::)
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Hi Sage
Still tingling!! Tongue seems to be the worse at the moment. Seems to be worse after eating but cant pinpoint anything in particular. Even tingling on roof of mouth. Yes I have other symptoms but up until now, hadn't thought they could be connected. I have bowel issues (previously been diagnosed with IBS), but recently seem to have constant diarrhoea in the morning. Cramping a bit after certain things and I'm suffering with a runny nose a lot at times too. My anxiety has become a lot worse with panic attacks at times. Stiff achy joints, knees and fingers especially. When I read up on histamine intolerance I certainly have most of the symptoms. I know celiac can produce these too, but like I said, blood test said no! I'm thinking of, starting Monday, trying to go gluten free and keeping a food diary, to see if I see a difference. My tongue was bad at the weekend when I had a glass of red wine and I know that this contains a lot of histamine. I haven't tried an anti histamine yet, and I have read other things like VitC can be good. I haven't suffered migraines at all ever. Have your tried anything? CLKD, I've had a whole load of bloods done and nothing was picked up re deficiencies.
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My mouth problems, did I say, are caused by SLS in toothpaste.
When I had bad allergic rhinitis all year round, I used appropriate over the counter remedies, anti-histamines, which helped me to sleep as well as relieving symptoms.
When were the blood tests done? Red wine may have additives that can affect the body, my Dad was unable to eat anything with VitB12 i.e. Marmite, bananas as well as Chianti which had bananas added for some reason ::). It's such Trial and Error ain't it!
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Forgot to mention the terrible itching I experience too. Mostly my back and tops of arms. Definitely worse in the evening and when I'm in bed. That though was happening before the tingling. The tingling this time happened suddenly. Hands feet and mouth all came on at a specific time one morning, but I then assumed it was the Nitrofuratoin as I had taken one that morning, mistakenly on an empty stomach. Don't know if it was this that triggered something.
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Itching may be due to low oestrogen.
Remind me: have U stopped the AB?
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Yes I stopped the antibiotic, but when I went back to doctors re. the tingling I was told that the water sample I had handed in was clear, so no infection after all. My bladder is being a nuisance of late and again I think its more a case that something else is triggering the pain and discomfort I'm getting. I drink a lot of herbal teas and I'm wondering if one of these is aggravating the bladder. (or something else I'm eating) Seems to flare up and a couple of hours later can be fine again.
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Can't remember, I'm having a right meno brain week >:(. Have U tried vaginal atrophy treatment?
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How are you doing, holidaylover? I thought things were getting better (mouth/tongue stopped tingling) but today it started again. Legs hurting like hell. I have some noisy neighbours driving me crazy and this seems to be one of the triggers! 😡
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Hi Sage, I was also noticing my mouth not being as bothersome and, suddenly its started again. I noticed it once staring up after I drank some tonic water and then the other day I had a cup of green tea and felt the roof of my mouth staring to tingle and then the tongue too. Absolutely no clue what's going on. I have a docs appointment at the end of next week but I'm going to phone in the morning to see if I can get in sooner as I'm off on holiday a week on Tuesday and I'm panicking a bit with the thoughts of having a really bad allergic reaction to something when away. My bladder pain has also started up again and is now on a daily basis. I'm so worn out with it all.
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I know what you mean, I can't stand this cr@p any more.
I was wondering if stress and anxiety or anything brain related could be one of the culprits. Do you have anything of the sort going on, if you don't mind my asking?
Don't worry about allergic reactions, it looks like an autoimmune or chronic issue but not the allergic type. My diet has been the same for the last 8 years, same for skin products, and I haven't been taking any medication for a couple of years (started B12 and magnesium spray 2 weeks ago hoping they might help, but alas).
Do you think the bladder pain is due to infection? Could it be interstitial cystitis, which is basically chronic inflammation that could be triggering a systemic response? Both my legs are affected now, so at least it doesn't look like DVT.
If there is a brain connection maybe it will get better once you're off on holiday, fingers crossed!