Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Postmenopause => Topic started by: holidaylover on April 23, 2025, 05:46:01 PM
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Hi Ladies
I've posted previously about my UTI symptoms which seem to be getting worse. At the beginning of March I had 3 days of Trimoprethim, then Nitrofurtoin which I think I had a reaction to (tingling extremities and tongue). Just before the UTI symptoms came I had started taking Ovestin again, which I had got out the habit of using. I wasn't taking this for UTI symptoms but for internal dryness. My UTI symptoms got worse again, but for some strange reason I only had them bad one day a week. I upped the Ovestin again thinking this would help but what I'm noticing is that my symptoms are getting worse. Very sore in the pubic area. Full bladder pressure, pain and bloating with constant urge to pee, although hardly any pee comes out. There seems to be a bit of bowel irritation too. Has anyone noticed that Ovestin has worsened their symptoms instead of improving them.
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When I re-start the 1st 24 hours the symptoms niggle - have U tried taking pain relief and using an 'extra' dose one/2 mid-afternoon then continuing every night? Why did U stop treatment, it's essential to keep on top of VA. It mimics repeated urine infection-type symptoms really really well.
Constipation can cause symptoms to niggle. Applying internally and around the urethra and vulva may well help. My sysmptos are of feeling a full bladder with irritation .
What R your periods doing?
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My periods are doing nothing CLKD, hence why I'm posting in the Postmenopause section!
I don't have constipation, and the UTI symptoms only started after taking the Ovestin. I started with the two week loading dose, then down to twice a week, as instructed. UTI symptoms started then, so I upped the Ovestin dose thinking if its VA extra might help but the UTI symptoms have worsened.
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These symptoms 4 me were really annoying and limiting ::). MayB a different form of treatment would ease the feelings? Remind us how you were when you initially began with VA treatment.
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Holidaylover - Ovestin (0.1% estriol) really irritated my vagina and bladder, causing soreness and frequency of urination. Have you tried a pessary instead? They didn't work for me however, as they never seemed to dissolve. I prefer a cream based treatment and now use the 0.01% estriol by Marlborough pharmaceuticals. The other chemicals in it are very different to Ovestin and I find it very soothing and can go through the night now without needing the loo. It's the same amount of estriol per dose - the quantity of cream is just more.
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CLKD Think I was fine, but it was a few years ago. Looking back its probably two years since I used it last and it was two years ago I had similar symptoms regarding UTI. I never than associated it with Ovestin but it has me wondering. I see my doctor on Friday regarding symptoms so we shall see! Just wanted to see if anyone else had experienced similar.
Chopsuey, that's good to know. (Not that you suffered, but that it could be the reason for my pain also). I'll also look into the alternatives. Thanks
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As I dropped off to sleep my next thought was that the fillers/packaging may be irritating rather than the active ingredient.
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holidaylover,
yes, same as you, used estriol internally last night and today uti symptoms worse.
Vagifem seems to be better for me.
Hope your Doctor has some advice for you.
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Thanks for the reply Lime. I'll ask tomorrow about an alternative. Terrible pain today, constant running to loo, with little flow, but seems to be affecting my bowel and stomach, causing indigestion type pain. Feel totally inflamed.
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holidaylover,
Did your Doc offer any alternatives?
It’s hard for me to know if the pain is an infection or just the awful burning from VA. I saw my gyne a few days ago who tested for infection but have not heard back from him yet. Burning like crazy now.
xLime
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Lime
Well he's given me another lot of antibiotics. Urine sample was negative with dipstick but showed traces of blood. Its been sent off to the lab. I have an appointment tomorrow to get an internal examination (which I cant say I'm looking forward to, I'm scared its going to be extremely sore). I'll ask then about replacing of the Ovestin. I've been awake all night with pain, but this time it seems to be more bowel spasms and pain and burning up into my digestive tract. But I also have a sord of weird feeling in the vagina area, almost heavy, so I'm wondering about prolapse. I imagine I will also be tested for infection then too. I'll let you .
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Many urine samples show traces and if there is VA it stands to reason that there may be blood on passing urine because the vaginal tissues tear easily. Although ABs will ease symptoms briefly they should not be the first course of treatment due to World Wide overuse of them.
Dip stick testing often isn't enough.
Have U taken any pain relief?
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CLKD, Ive taken my antibiotic, paracetamol and buscopan for my bowel. Drinking peppermint tea to see if that helps.
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When VA flares up my bowel feels 'stuck' ....... :-\
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holidaylover,
I’m taking an antibiotic now too, as well as using vaginal yeast medication. I get strange feelings in different parts too. It’s very difficult to sort out.
Wish you the best tomorrow, hope it is not too painful. I had a vag ultrasound last week & was sore for a few days afterwards.
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I wish that GPs didn't hand out ABs so readily >:(. Initially they eased my symptoms of needing to P - I would sit on the loo with a cuppa and a glass of water as that was the place that I could relax my bladder. Then the GP diagnosed atrophy and appropriate treatment regularly used has helped. Sometimes it does sting :-\ , as the vaginal walls soak up the medication this improves.
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holidaylover - do you suffer from IBS or digestive issues? This can cause sensations of bladder pressure or fullness. I know when my digestion is acting up, I feel like I need a wee constantly. My bladder hurts too.
If your symptoms start up when you reintroduce Estriol cream, could it be that you're getting irritated with the applicator?
Just throwing some suggestions out. :)
Hope your appointment can shed some light on the issues.
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SundayGirl, yes, I was diagnosed with IBS years ago. I can go ages without any problem and have never pinpointed what causes a flair. I'm wondering if the Trimethoprim is the culprit other than something I have eaten. Felt like fainting with the pain yesterday so I'm throwing all things peppermint into the mix! Its like one really tight spasm that just doesnt go.
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If the pain is that severe U need to make an appt to see a Nurse Practitioner holidaylover for a relaxant.
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Going to see a doctor today for an internal examination so will mention this too. I'm off on holiday tomorrow, slightly panicking, and not looking forward to it like I should.
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Anxiety can cause VA symptoms to niggle more. Going anywhere nice, postcard please ;-)
Let us know how you get on. If all else fails get some KY Jelly up there to soften the whole vagina and take pain relief.
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Well I've had my examination. Doctor couldn't get the speculum in at all as I was so narrow and inflamed. My skin is flaky and peeling of and bleeding. So I don't think using Ovestin has done me any good at all. She felt in and up around and has confirmed that it is not VA!!! She says I have Lichen sclerosus! Has given me ointment to wash with and a cream to use. She examined my stomach regarding my bowel and has diagnosed diverticulitis which could well have been triggered by the antibiotics which I was taking for my suspected UTI! The results for that have come back negative. Now, I'm off to Lanzarote for a week tomorrow and I have also been advised to have a liquid diet for three days, so that's going to be fun!!
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How has she diagnosed diverticulitis from an external examination? Anyone I know with that needed colonoscopy. I was at my GPs yesterday with stomach pain and IBS issues and he mentioned diverticulitis but said I'd need colonoscopy to check. If she couldn't get the speculum in as it had narrowed, it still sounds like some atrophy but I don't know enough about LS to be sure. If the treatment doesn't improve things I'd go back. Enjoy your holiday
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Hi Jules, I was having UTI issues a couple of years ago which also came back negative so I was sent for scans. This is where it was discovered I had diverticula. It really hasn't bothered me until now. But its trying to figure out what the trigger has been that's difficult. I spent the week of my holiday with both bowel and bladder pain (its strange but they seem to come at the same time) so just threw everything at it with the hope of some relief. Doctor hadn't given me anything except a leaflet on Diverticulitis and recommended I did the 3 day liquid diet. I visited my local pharmacist the morning of my holiday I was in such pain and he prescribed my an anti spasmodic for the bowel and some Fybogel. So I took that along with cystitis sachets, rehydration sachets, and some paracetamol thrown in for good measure. Bowel is slightly better now but my bladder is not behaving at all. Constant urge to pee even after I've been and a feeling of pressure low down in the pubic area. This has been going on since the beginning of March. When I was away I felt like hardly any pee came out and the flow was a bit slow if that makes sense. Never felt that my bladder was emptying properly. I cant see how the cream I have been subscribed can help with vaginal dryness as I have only to use it externally. The problem is internal and I only am aware of it really when I attempt to have sex. Its excruciating and impossible. She was so quick to say it wasn't VA but I don't know how she can be so sure. But, I'm scared to use the Ovestin again in case that has been the issue. It all seemed to flare up after I'd used it and I wonder if the applicator has affected it. Perhaps I've inserted it too high. A couple of years back when my issue arose, I was using the Ovestin but I had also just been for a smear test which I found painful. Anyway, I have a follow up appointment in a couple of weeks to see how things are and I will ask again about VA. I keep hearing stories about Interstitial Cystitis and embedded UTI's which don't give a positive result so its all a bit of a guessing game at the moment and not helping my health anxiety. Not fun, that's for sure.
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How long, and how often, have you been using Ovestin? It's possible that the sensations you're feeling are the nerve endings waking up again with the addition of topical oestrogen.
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That all sounds both painful and frustrating. Obviously I'm not a doctor and don't know you so hard to say but from my experience, I had issues inside and outside. I saw a consultant about my repeated UTIs related to sex mainly as by then I was having to use prophylactic antibiotics. I was prescribed pessaries but at that time didn't use them as the leaflet info frightened me. I managed with vaginal moisturizer for a while. My experience with vaginal estrogen was hit and miss, I had 2 or 3 incidents of spotting from it so stopped and started but eventually had no choice but to use it regularly and also started estriol cream externally as I could see changes there. The doctor said she could see the lack of estrogen, that in menopausal women the uretha is pale. So it clearly affects your bladder and I also got sensations around there but with no infection. I don't get it anymore but religiously stick to my treatment regime. Vagifem alternate nights and estriol cream externally twice daily mixed with Yes moisturizer. Its been 18 months now and I don't get any discomfort and I've found that as long as I use lubricant, sex is comfortable.I just wished I'd started earlier as it would have halted some of the atrophy. You might be suffering from a combination of things. I hope you manage to get to the bottom of it all.
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Can l ask what hrt you are on please?
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Spotting may be caused because the vaginal walls are thin so anything in there aggravates the skin.
Estriol can be used nightly for years without concerns.
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Lichen Sclerosis must be diagnosed correctly - there are several threads on the Forum to get ideas as to who 2 B referred 2 for advice.
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Can l ask what hrt you are on please?
I used vagifem pessaries and estriol cream externally. I don't use systemic HRT
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Well I've had my follow up appointment regarding UTI symptoms and bowel pain. She examined me and said that I was looking better after having used the ointment externally for Lichen Sclorosis. Because my UTI symptoms continue and as water samples are coming back with no infection, yet blood when dipped in surgery, I have to see an urologist. I still have no clue how my bladder and bowel pain seem to be happening at the same time. She seemed to agree that lack of estrogen could be the issue but said because I had mentioned that I was concerned the Ovestin was the culprit, the steriod cream she had given me was an alternative!! I asked about trying Vagifem instead and she has given me this. I felt my appointment was rushed and I didn't get a chance to ask more questions. She never mentioned the continuation of the steriod cream nor did she give me a repeat prescription for the Vagifem. She did however, also give me a prescription for an antibiotic 'in case I had an infection in the bowel'. I'm reluctant to take this as no test has been done to clarify. I'll start with the Vagifem and see how that goes. Absolutely sick of the daily pain I am feeling and really want to get this sorted.
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She needs to update her knowledge! U need to use the vagifem every night and if things have improved: which I am certain they will have: by the time the appt arrives, then mayB cancel it. Keep a diary of symptoms/treatment etc. to discuss with her.
What type of pain is it in the bowel, occasionally I get very sharp shooting pains for no apparent reason which make me. yelp! If your digestive system is slow then any form of constipation will press on the bladder - whoever thought the design needs :beat:. Hopefully once the vagifem begins to ease sympt0oms the bowel pain will lessen.
B4 a bleed began I would have 'the runs' even if a period wasn't due. I also remember the feeling that my bottom was hanging out :o :o which was hormonal 4 me.
Most dip stick tests show signs of blood especially if VA is present. It is often normal for most patients tested and if samples have been 'grown' to show nil of note, it's usually VA causing the problems.
let us know how you get on?
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Be very careful with the steroid cream . I was wrongly diagnosed with lichen and given Dermovate . I paid privately for a second opinion and the gyne said it was severe AV . The steroid would make it worse .
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I have invisible blood in my urine. After my UTI troubles I had a cystoscopy because my urine showed blood. Nothing was found and I was told to alert the tester in future that it had been checked. I do remember when I had period pains I sometimes got a pressure pain on my bowel. Depending on your size, pelvic organs can be very close together. I'm having tests for pelvic pain currently, I think my bowel but sometimes I can't tell if it's bowel, bladder, gyny or just by dodgy hip flexor muscle. Seeing a urologist might be a good thing. It's something that can then be ticked off.
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Went for my cystoscopy appointment. Just got into changing room to put on the gown, when nurse informed me that I was no longer to get it. Urologist had seen that I had one previously (5 years approx) and because I had no noticeable blood in urine (although it shows on test) and all UTI tests were negative, there was no need for another! I have now been instructed to fill in a form indicating the amount on fluid I take in, and how much I pee. I have to do this for 3 non consecutive days then send form to hospital. From there I have to have a scan. I am in absolute agony today and I really cant tell where the pain is coming from. Still pressure on bladder although this isn't as bad as it was. I have pain on lower left side which I assume is from my diverticulitis and I have awful pain on my right side, sort of above my hip bone. My back is sore too and feels stiff. I feel like this could be ovary pain and I'm panicking a bit. I'm thinking cyst or worse. I'm scared something is pressing on my bowel and bladder. The pain is intense, almost like a burning stinging pain, but I also feel like its needs to break away and rumble (if that makes sense). If feels like something is being twisted inside. If I press on my right side I can certainly pinpoint where the pain is. It makes me wince. And Im not quite sure what to take for the pain. I also last week started taking Vagifem and I'm wondering if this could be causing the ovary and pelvic pain. I also bloat terribly at times, but this comes and goes. I also dont know if the urologist I am seeing will just concentrate on the bladder with the scan or if this will show bowel/gynae issues too.
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If it's an ultrasound scan they won't see the bowel well enough. It needs a CT scan. You might have said but have you had a Fecal sample tested and blood tests? If not I would ask for those. Please make sure your GP has carried out all those screening tests. They can see all sorts from the right blood tests. I've been for my results today and everything was normal. My pain lasted around 6 weeks and kept changing but I have an amount of stress at present so I will now assume it was IBS.
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Hello Holidaylover
Apologies if this has already been mentioned but have you had a full abdominal ultrasound scan? I presume this would show things like your ovaries as well as bowel and bladder.
You may want to consider contacting a private company like Ultrasound Direct, I had a scan with them a while ago and found them to be very good.
I hope you get this sorted soon and sending hugs.
K.
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Thanks, Jules glad your results are fine. I have lots of bloods taken recently, and all were fine. When I went in for an eternal examination I was too inflamed for this to take place and the doc then said she would do bloods, so I assume that was for the gynae area. I haven't had a stool sample checked although I did my Bowel Cancer Screening one just last month and all was good there. Kathleen the urologist is having me get a scan.
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Thanks, Jules glad your results are fine. I have lots of bloods taken recently, and all were fine. When I went in for an eternal examination I was too inflamed for this to take place and the doc then said she would do bloods, so I assume that was for the gynae area. I haven't had a stool sample checked although I did my Bowel Cancer Screening one just last month and all was good there. Kathleen the urologist is having me get a scan.
That's good news then. I don't want to alarm you but my friend had her bowel screening test 2 months before seeing her GP and it was clear but I've learned they're not as sensitive as the ones your GP requests. She also had ultrasound and that can't examine the bowel so something was missed. She needed a CT scan. My GP has checked for ovarian cancer, inflammation and tumour markers. It's amazing what your blood shows. I also had a Fecal test for any bacteria.
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It's such a waste of an appt time, why not either read the patient's notes prior to the appt or do the scan anyway! It would be no more expensive than a lost appt.
Many dip stick tests show blood in the urine which may be the result of thinning skin and/or atrophy. There doesn't seem 2 B much joined up thinking!
Do go to a Pharmacist to discuss pain relief and I doubt whether VA treatment would cause those symptoms. U R inserting every night?
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Yes, inserting every night. Ironically, I've just had my scan appointment through the post just now. Its for a CT Renal Scan so don't know what that will all pick up. At least I'm heading in the right direction.
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Let us know how you get on.
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The saga continues...... I got my CT scan of renal area although the lady doing the scan said it would show up anything in the stomach area too. She said the results would be back in 7 - 10 days. I am still waiting 5 weeks later! And, still in pain. My bladder pain is a lot better but the bowel pain remains. I have stopped all VA treatment again as I feel this was adding to the UTI feelings. I was in agony 3 weeks ago and ended up at our local hospital at 10.30 in the evening. It felt like something was about to burst in my stomach. I had urine checked and bloods done and in the words of the doctor 'You are a mystery'. No sign of infection and he mentioned interstitial cystitis (he was obviously aware that I was under the urologist) and sent me on my way with information regarding this. He did say I should follow up with a docs appointment so I did that the next day. I asked for another scan to be done as at times the right hand side pain feels like ovary pain, (cyst like) or even appendix, like something crampy and twisting and sharp all at the same time. It is very sore if I press on the area. However, he said no need as he was sure the original scan would show anything up like this. He did, though, suggest I supply stool samples to be tested. I had a phone call as a result of these to say I had Campylobacter. Apart from the severe stomach pains, I havent had diarreah like the description of Campy refers to. I have IBS and usually start the day with a soft bowel movement but nothing like I would have expected from food poisoning. The bowel issues started back in April when doctor said it was diverticulitis. Could I have had this bacteria infection all this time? Has anyone experienced it? The week after she mentioned diverticultis, I went off on holiday and I actually was more constipated than anything. Now, I have completed a week long course of Clarithromycin and the pains continue. I visited my surgery at the end of the week when the prescription was done. My doctor requested I did another lot of stool samples and hasnt given me anything else to take. Of the 3 samples I handed in the last time only 1 came back with results. (dont know if the pots werent full enough with the other 2). So still a bit of a mystery but what I have also noticed since being on the antibiotics that I have been feeling really strange, anxiety wise. Really since I stopped taking them (the past 3 mornings) I have been feeling panicky, agitated, having palpitations, crying for the most stupid reasons, feeling week and shaky with a dreaded doom like feeling. I also have developed a black tongue!!! Has anybody had a reaction like this from this antibiotic. I cant take penicillin as I have an allergy. Sorry for such a long post. My health anxiety is in overdrive and Dr Google is being a naughty boy! But Campylobacter left untreated can be deadly! And I dont know what the hell has happened to my scan results!