Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Postmenopause => Topic started by: MrsMitch on July 30, 2025, 01:16:51 PM
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Hello ladies 👋👋
I really hoped by now I'd be pain & symptom free from VA or whatever it's now called which I forget! Having had it for over 12 years undiagnosed or treated & finally getting estriol pessaries & cream x7 weekly. But nope, things are getting worse. I had a brief spell of around maybe 4 plus months when all was pretty good but then things have got much worse.
I managed to have a smear test only by using extra pessaries for a week before ie 2 per night. That was really good. But I didn't particularly want the extra expense every month. Should have carried on though.
I've just finished my 3rd course of antibiotics for what I & GP assumed was a UTI. I've had 2 urine samples tested, both showed nothing. Yet I'm still peeing every 20 mins & always have the urge to go.
I'm hoping the lovely GP at my practice will let me have a face to face appointment with her when she rings me tomorrow so she can then refer me back to the menopause specialist I've previously seen.
So lovely ladies: are any of you on a higher dose of vaginally oestrogen than both cream & pessaries nightly? I'm also using testosterone but my latest blood test is 0.3 & see hormone 62.8 & the surgery wants me to split each tiny sachet into 20 doses!!!
Is there anything that will get rid of the pain plus urinary symptoms or is there no hope. I'm really fed up. Sorry for the essay but after all these years I just want to be normal. (I do also use oestrogen & progesterone).
Thank you.
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Your GP was remiss in repeatedly prescribing ABs for an infection that didn't show, however there is a condition where an infection may become embedded in the bladder. Your GP should now refer U 2 the appropriate Clinic as this may well be out of his/her skill base.
Blood tests are reliably un-reliable. U should by now have had relief with appropriate VA treatments. When my symptoms niggle I add an extra insertion of 'ovestin/estriol' mid-afternoon, take 2 Nurofen then do a 3-5 night reload. Works for me.
U need to be referred to a dedicated Menopause Clinic. Is that hormone level the same every day for example, very unlikely? So splitting the sachet ........ I expect some1 will be along with more knowledge about the use of Testosterone. Who prescribed this initially?
The Change - does what it says on the tin. Which HRT have U been prescribed?
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Have you tried using cream internally instead of pessaries? You might absorb better that way particularly if the atrophy is bad. Is there any scope for increasing systemic oestrogen as that can help too?
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You've been going through this for a long time, I would have thought you should be referred to urology perhaps, I think you should be seen by a specialist and not necessarily a menopause specialist.
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If you're on estriol pessaries (Imvaggis?) they are weaker than vagifem estradiol pessaries so it might be worth switching to to them as also they will target different receptors to the estriol cream. However if you're already on the estradiol pessaries it might be worth trying the Imvaggis estriol pessaries as the hard estradiol pessaries might not be melting enough (which happened to me) whereas the waxy Imvaggis pessaries melt more easily.
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Thank you ladies. I have used the cream internally before when the pharmacy would only get that & not the pessaries. I wasn't using it long enough like that to know if it was better so I will try. I do know that the little hard pessaries are slow to dissolves because I had an internal ages ago & the GP said see could see the remnants of one!
I'm getting stabbing pains in my urethra from vaginal end up towards my bladder - I'd had those for a while before I ever had VA symptoms so I do wonder if my UTI symptoms are simply lack of oestrogen.
Can anyone remember what Louise Newsom uses - I vaguely remember her mentioning she uses testosterone vaginally combined with oestrogen which targets the area. One of the reasons I was prescribed testosterone was for bladder issues.
I have seen a dedicated menopause specialist at the hospital- took 18 months to get to see her. I'm going to ask to be referred back to her.
I do seem to do pretty well on higher oestrogen, vaginally, I have been on 7 pumps in the past of gel which didn't help VA.
Thank you for listening & suggesting things. You're a massive comfort 🤗
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GSM & Intrarosa!! That's the two things I was looking for, found the answers on another thread!
Going to ask my GP when she calls me today if the Intrarosa might be better as I believe it delivers testosterone right where it's needed.
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Hi
I really feel for you - I'm in my late 60's now but when I first started on Vagifem the soreness was of the scale, I would sit in the cool bath in the middle of the night as so sore.
I went to the Out Hours GP and he mentioned irresistible cystitis or IC and inflammation of bladder lining even my own GP hadn't heard of it. He was so kind and wrote down who he felt might help. Eventually referred to Gynie who dealt with urinary problems as well and she prescribed Vagifem and also medication to reduce acid in urine.
Seems can be a something that shadows us.
,
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Hello ladies 👋👋
I really hoped by now I'd be pain & symptom free from VA or whatever it's now called which I forget! Having had it for over 12 years undiagnosed or treated & finally getting estriol pessaries & cream x7 weekly. But nope, things are getting worse. I had a brief spell of around maybe 4 plus months when all was pretty good but then things have got much worse.
I managed to have a smear test only by using extra pessaries for a week before ie 2 per night. That was really good. But I didn't particularly want the extra expense every month. Should have carried on though.
I've just finished my 3rd course of antibiotics for what I & GP assumed was a UTI. I've had 2 urine samples tested, both showed nothing. Yet I'm still peeing every 20 mins & always have the urge to go.
I'm hoping the lovely GP at my practice will let me have a face to face appointment with her when she rings me tomorrow so she can then refer me back to the menopause specialist I've previously seen.
So lovely ladies: are any of you on a higher dose of vaginally oestrogen than both cream & pessaries nightly? I'm also using testosterone but my latest blood test is 0.3 & see hormone 62.8 & the surgery wants me to split each tiny sachet into 20 doses!!!
Is there anything that will get rid of the pain plus urinary symptoms or is there no hope. I'm really fed up. Sorry for the essay but after all these years I just want to be normal. (I do also use oestrogen & progesterone).
Thank you.
Hi MrsMitch , nice to hear from you again but sorry to hear that you're still struggling with all this....it doesn't get any easier does it !!!!
I don't really know what to advise but certainly empathise with your symptoms. We seem to go through the same things at around the same time you and I.
As you know I stopped all HRT 20 months ago (ish) and started vagifem this March.I also seem to go through episodes of uti like symptoms and going to the loo every 20 mins etc...it seems to pass eventually and I'm just left with this bladder pressure.
Unlike you I was seen by a urologist and had a cytoscopy Nov 23, so I know my bladder is ok...he did say my "peepipe" (his description not mine 😂) was very narrow and he stretched it best he could, it gave relief for a day or 2 and advised vaginal oestrogen and that was it.
Maybe seeing a urogynaecologist maybe helpful....hopefully your GP will offer some good advice today.
Let us know how it goes xx
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Hi NorthernGirl 👋 good to hear from you, too, just wish we both has great news about our health. We do seem to coincide with issues, don't we?
My GP called & I'm seeing her at 1.30 today & taking in another urine sample. I'll report back.
I looked up the condition you mentioned Old Frumpy & it seems to be called Interstitial Cystitis. I will mention that to her.
I've also got a very odd dull throbbing very high up in my vagina. It is exactly the same as the discomfort I had years ago when I had a cone biopsy on my cervix. But apparently my GP wants to try an internal exam if it's possible. Gritting my teeth in advance for that as I can't see it happening!
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Hopefully you told the GP a firm 'no'? It's your body, her suggestion >:(
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Well I'm back from the GP. I'm very fortunate to have her in that she listens & says she knows we need to get on top of my issues. She was the GP who actually managed to do a smear test when I thought it'd be impossible & she managed an internal this time with very little discomfort. She said everything is as red as a baboons bum! My urethra is very inflamed too. However it seems I have raging thrush which could have been the cause of initial irritation of my urethra or be as a result of 3 rounds of antibiotics. So now I have more!
She wants me to use the estriol pessaries & ovestin internally, too, nightly & see where we are in a month. She's sent a swab off re thrush but I've got the antibiotics to start anyway.
She did say she would keep seeing me until I'm out of pain & hopes it won't be necessary to refer me back to the menopause specialist at this stage.
My last testosterone blood test results mean I've got to make 1 sachet of testogel last 20 days! She said there is little evidence testosterone helps bladder issues but from what I've read here, I'm not sure I agree. That said, it doesn't seem to have helped mine. It did initially as well as for libido but I'm not sure it's doing anything anymore.
So overall, ladies, pretty good appointment. At least she's willing to try to get me sorted out.
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Why have U been given more antibiotics? :-\ These are known to kill the bacteria throughout the digestive system and unless a swab has been sent for testing, the GP cannot know which AB to prescribe. How many days B4 this latest result is back?. Do U feel that you require yet more ABs when none of the others have actually helped symptoms?
I would wait for the swab report and begin the appropriate VA treatment - 1 now and another this evening then every night until symptoms ease. Which mayB a long time as you've had so many problems getting this under control. Which estriol pessaries have been prescribed? I am fortunate in that ovestin worked almost immediately, initially pessaries which were withdrawn. Now I have the tube with an applicator [estriol] plus I smear a little around the urethra and labia [or KY jelly] - anything to stop the area becoming dry = itchy.
When symptoms niggle I have found that swallowing nurofen x 2 in the afternoon plus a 'extra' insertion of estriol really helps, then going into 3-5 nights of esrtriol. I've been 5+ years with this and so far it's worked in that the initial urine infection-type symptoms went with regular treatment. PHEW!
I would also ring the Surgery and ask for the appt to a menopause specialist now as there are in some areas, 12-18 months waiting lists even in the private sector. When the appt does arrive U can cancel if it's no longer required.
Hopefully some1 will be along re testosterone. VA is usually due to lack of oestrogen which may make the whole body dry: inside and out; scalp, deep in the ears, nostrils [me] skin, vagina, anus ..........
When I had thrush after stopping The Pill and 20 years later when I had emergency surgery, it was an itch that I was unable to reach! high up. Fortunately I didn't have the thick creamy discharge which can accompany the itch!!! Nor was my vagina smelly.
Let us know how you get on.
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So glad for you MrsMitch that you seem to have a GP that actually cares and wants to solve your issues.....hopefully these antibiotics will help before your swab result comes back. Did you think you had thrush?
Keep us updated and good luck xx
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How to get rid of Candida in NHS?
You'll usually need antifungal medicine to get rid of thrush. This can be a tablet you take, a tablet you insert into your vagina (pessary) or a cream to relieve the irritation.
What is your GP actually treating :-\
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No, I didn't think I had thrush, but then again, when I was visiting the gynae years ago, she told me I had it & treated it. I do have a permanent discharge, which I know can accompany VA but on Wednesday I did pass a huge gloop of something as I got out of the shower. The speculum had a lot on it. I suppose because I've got so much going on down there, where I would have realised I had thrush years ago, now I don't.
I wish painkillers did work, CLKD, I've had so pretty hefty ones for a hip problem in the past & nothing touches the pain. I wish it was that simple! With regards to the menopause specialist, because I've already seen her, I won't have to wait 18 months to see her again. Obviously there will be a wait but I do think because this GP is so willing to get things sorted, I'll just wait a while to see how we get on. She prescribed oral treatment for thrush because she said as I'm so sensitive & sore that a tablet would be more appropriate. She did say normally she would wait until the swab results are in but because everything has been going on a while, she suggested starting straight away. I'm not particularly bothered about all the antibiotics tbh. When I last saw her I was talking to her about how often I get BV which I treat with balance active. She took a swab which was negative but she was saying she has a lot of patients who have the same & sometimes a short course of antibiotics sorts things. Well it certainly has for me so that's one less thing to worry about!
Thanks ladies, as always, you're a wonderful help & support.
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Good Luck!
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Do keep us updated, MrsMitch, your story is certainly a complex one and I know it will help other women who's GSM is not straight forward.
Hope you and the medics find a solution soon. :)
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Well, here's an update: I'm bleeding 🤦♀️
No change in any HRT other than 4 days of adding vesting internally to the pessaries. But considering I used to put the cream just inside my vaginally & I'm inserting the cream only halfway, I can't see it could be anything to do with that.
I suppose I'll see how long this lasts, the meno specialist told me only to contact the GP if it lasts more than a month & I doubt it will.
We just don't seem to get a break, if it's not one thing, it's another 😆
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Well, here's an update: I'm bleeding 🤦♀️
No change in any HRT other than 4 days of adding vesting internally to the pessaries. But considering I used to put the cream just inside my vaginally & I'm inserting the cream only halfway, I can't see it could be anything to do with that.
I suppose I'll see how long this lasts, the meno specialist told me only to contact the GP if it lasts more than a month & I doubt it will.
We just don't seem to get a break, if it's not one thing, it's another 😆
Oh no MrsMitch, you're definitely going through it again aren't you? You're so right when you say if it's not one thing it's another, we just never catch a break do we .
Hope you don't have to go thrugh all the investigations again for pmb ....but I'm guessing by what you said this won't be an option 🤷♀️. Take care of yourself x
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It's seems to be a never ending cycle for so many of us doesn't it Northerngirl? I know you've been there too. I wonder if things will change for the better or worse for the next generation of women. Nice as my latest GP has been, she was also very very critical of Davina Mcoll whilst she was ripping into Louise Newsom, so I wonder if all the increased media attention to menopause won't help in the end. Probably because it highlighted the fact GPs have been appalling for too many years with women's health, they just dig their heels in. Combined with us being much more knowledgeable which I think most of us know they definitely don't like!
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Just looked at the swab results & it says this:
Spec.type/site Genital swab High vaginal
Candida NOT isolated. No significant growth
What does that mean? The GP said the visible signs of thrush were pretty bad yet the result seems to be saying no significant growth. Any idea ladies? I'm still getting the dull internal stabbing pains I was getting prior to thus course of antibiotics & I had thought this morning my cystitis like symptoms are gone but they seem to be back worse than ever this afternoon.
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It mayB VA which can mimic repeated urine infection-type symptoms as well as thrush. 4 me it was an itch high up that I couldn't reach to scratch :o and a pessary cleared the candida. No swab taken in the 1980s, it was diagnosed on symptoms.
MayB use more VA treatment: morning and night for 5-7pm days and see how the symptoms are.
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MayB use more VA treatment: morning and night for 5-7pm days and see how the symptoms are.
Maybe that's the best way twice daily. But if that were to sort it, no one would prescribe me enough to use extra during the course of a month to keep things under control, would they?
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Hi everyone,
Sorry to hear Snowcat and MrsMitch that you both are still suffering with this. I’m unfortunately in the same boat.
My question to anyone who uses Vagifem is this: Did it irritate when you first started using it? I have used it off and on but often feel more pain the day after I use it. I am trying to decide whether to push on and keep trying it. I read so many have success with it. I am amazed when I read that using it everyday and sometimes twice a day resolves symptoms quickly. That is so wonderful.
The reason I am thinking of continuing despite the next day irritation is I have already tried most everything else and have not found any that do not irritate.
I guess I am very sensitive.
Maybe the irritation lessens with continuous use?
Please let me know if this has happened to anyone else.
Thank you!
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Hi Lime
Just wanted to say I’m just like you, tried ovestin and vagirux over last few years and both irritated and made me even more uncomfortable and I’m ashamed to say although I keep trying when I have a flare I just can’t manage to get through the discomfort, so I’ll be waiting along with you on any feedback. It’s really frustrating when you hear how much better everyone feels on vaginal oestrogen isn’t it?
Thanks also to Mrsmitch for posts as it helps at least to not be alone.
Lesred x x
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I think both of you are reporting something that seems very common, as far as posts I've read in the past in this forum. It does seem women find vagifem irritates them. I've only ever been prescribed generic estradiol & originally Ovestin now replaced with estriol 1mg cream. Those have always been no irritating & certainly haven't ever made things worse. But if you do a search on here, although you might have to read quite a lot of posts, it does seem to come up - although it might include other brands, I don't remember.
With me & Snowcat it was years of using dermovate with is a very harsh steroid, that exacerbated our pain. I wonder if both our issues have been complicated by it's use when we shouldn't have been given it for long term use on the vulva.
Having VA undiagnosed for over 12 years & in that time repeated use of steroids making everything so much worse, you'd think that by the time I got the pessaries & cream I would find them an irritant. But for me they were the start of improvement all be it short lived.
The common denominator in all this seems to be we're in awful pain, we fight to get the right treatment/dose & then find our symptoms either get worse or don't go away & then we're in a cycle of despair not knowing what we should do.
I'm sorry that's not an answer for you, but keep posting & keep reading on the forum so that you have plenty of knowledge so you can try & get your health care professionals to help properly.
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Hi Lesred,
Thanks so much for your post letting me know I’m not the only woman on earth having so much trouble using the medicines that we need to help us get better.
I am sorry you are having the exact problem, It is extremely frustrating.
Keeping fingers crossed for both of us to somehow get relief.
MrsMitch, Thank you also. Will read back over old posts regarding Vagifem. You are at least lucky the medications do not further irritate you.
Not at all lucky that your symptoms still persist.
It is such a complicated problem for some of us. Sending hope for you to get relief.
xx
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Hi MrsMitch and Lime
Yes I think the problem is we all have various original reasons for all these gsm problems! Mine started years ago, had so many different scans and tests showing nothing really told I had over active bladder, great and not that helpful, then urologist decided va and gave ovestin which irritated! Then vagirux was going to be the answer, no just made it more uncomfortable, hrt next, 4 mths in started again, back to ovestin, still made it worse, stopped all hormone treatment and went away, tried hrt again for other symptoms, etc etc. so wondered if hormones causing it? must admit I think I must be a medical mystery. Obviously not the only one! So Lime made me think am I just being really rubbish? ie should it be worse and how long does one cope with that for?
Thanks so much for your comments and as you say either way we are all uncomfortable !!
Sorry just read through the above and it sounds like the ramblings of a mad woman, just trying to understand why the obvious treatment makes it worse. Also now have over a month before appt with menopause nurse so I’ll probably be a withered old mess by then! Anyway hey ho I’m off for a wee ;)
Lesred x x
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Not the ramblings of a mad woman at all, don't worry! It helps to get it all down tbh because GSM is hugely complicated. I cannot for the life of me write short concise posts & for that I apologise to the ladies here. Do keep posting because honestly it helps to read detailed experiences of others even if it only results in us knowing we aren't alone. Then hopefully one day one of us will post something great about treatment that worked!
It's good that you're all here - not that you've got messed up bits, like me, but you're all here to listen & try to help. Ladies of MMF you are the best :thankyou: :thankyou:
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Hi ladies, just wanted to say that you're not alone with this issue I've only started on vagifem in March and it's not really producing miracles for me so far either but it's early days.... I've had the generic estradiol pessaries prescribed yesterday so we'll see what happens.
I've not got symptoms as bad as you ladies that's for sure so I really feel for you as mine are bad enough. It gets you down doesn't it, the constant pain/discomfort, constant bladder pressure or constantly weeing etc etc ....whatever individual issues we have we get a lot of help/advice on this forum. It's good to know that we are not the only one suffering.
Good luck ladies and let's keep updating and helping each other x
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I know Snowcat & I are trying to find out exactly what causes our flare ups, Northerngirl, too. She's been struggling since yesterday & I've in so much pain since last night. Mine has spread to the outer area where my public hair is - the outer area near my vagina & bottom. I have no idea, nor has she, what's suddenly done it. So it seems what ever we're using, this wretched condition just likes to break through.
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Northerngirl,
Thank you very much for giving your moral support. I have used both Vagifem and the generic Estradiol pessaries. I can’t say that either one is much better or worse. That doesn’t help much I know.
Lesred, thank you for the laugh about “off to wee”.
MrsMitch, this is certainly a rollercoaster ride. Last night I too was in terrible pain. Today not as terrible. It’s strange the way the pain can affect one area one day and a different area the next day and come and go. If you and Snowcat can figure it out, we’ll all be grateful!
I also don’t understand how some women
do not have this problem at all. Aren’t we lucky.
xx
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Oh goodness that is me at the moment too MrsMitch, mine is also spreading to outside, and like you I just don’t know what to do, the whole area is very unhappy, it’s like trying to put out a bush fire! I’m never sure what’s going to set fire next…
Northern girl thank you for solidarity it really does help as I’m sure we all know, and please please MrsMitch I would be so enormously delighted if there was suddenly something that actually worked, imagine how exciting! The problem is I know when all is fine and I even think to myself wow it’s all been good down in my nethers for ages, and then it’s suddenly not! And Lime you are so right, none of my friends have this issue, or they choose to keep quiet perhaps, which doesn’t help anyone.
I promise to say if I work out what helps, but I’m never sure why it’s ok when it is ok. Lots of good wishes for happy nethers to you all and good luck in all your efforts!
Lesred x x
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I have huge difficulty with lots of ladies I know who sailed through the menopause. We had a couple round a few weeks ago & they are relatively new friends. She mentioned her health as she's having joint pain & I asked how old she was when she went through the menopause. Her husband said ' oh she didn't go through the menopause ' (she's 64) my husband & I looked at each other & really struggled not to laugh. She was early 50's when she did but symptom free. He didn't know what to say when he was told every woman goes through menopause!
Then there are the friends who are keen to dismiss your struggles because they didn't have any problems, they are the worst. They've seen me in sleeveless tops in winter with the back of my hair wet & just said aren't you cold.
If there is ever a press article about menopause online & you go to the comments section, it usual has lots of people, many women too, criticising those who have an awful menopause as exaggerating or being pathetic because their mothers, wives, sisters & aunts never used to complain like we apparently do.
But when you meet a woman who hasn't had a good time it's like you've met a kindred spirit. Suddenly you've got so much in common.
I always say that if you had been diagnosed with any debilitating illness, no one would question the difficulties you go through. But with this, it's totally different. It's very much them & us as I've yet to meet a woman who had an easy menopause that has even an ounce of understanding or compassion. My husband will tell friends off if they start with the 'well I can't understand it, I sailed through it' & he will happily educate ignorant husbands, too!
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I'm envious of women who moved through the menopause with little fuss or change. I know some. I've not told anyone fully about my issues, only my GP and a younger friend who has started with VA. I have ME. I get the same reaction to telling people about that. ME and VA, people don't want to know or think it's all in my head. But I have a friend whose menopause symptoms were so severe, very low mood, repeated hot flushes, anxiety, she one day wanted to fling herself down the stairs. So it should be taken seriously. She has never had any problems down below. We don't all get the same symptoms. Nobody tells you do they, it's all about puberty and pregnancy but nothing beyond. My symptoms were minimal and manageable (the VA had started but I didn't know) till I reached 60 and its been downhill since then. If I hadn't happened to find this site and read experiences, particularly Ayesha, I dread to think the state I'd be in. As it is, my vagifem and estriol cream are holding the ship steady for now
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I'm envious of women who moved through the menopause with little fuss or change. I know some.
I'm not convinced they do, though. Of the ones I know they all have serious health problems that IIRC from reading here, may not have happened if they had been given HRT in spite of not having any menopause symptoms. 3 have debilitating osteoarthritis & 2 heart problems. A further one has such brittle bones she's terrified of just a small knock breaking yet another bone.
Am I remembering correctly that I read a low therapeutic dose could have changed their future health? I does make me wonder.
I have another friend who didn't notice the menopause but she's getting awful problems with fatigue & aching joints. She stopped having periods about 10 years ago. I suppose there is no way to tell but it does make me wonder.
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I have two friends with no noticeable menopause problems and they're both in relatively good health.
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I found out in July I have mild osteoarthritis and this scares me now .
20 months since I gave up HRT and really don't want to have to go on it again but it's definitely a concern now x
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I can imagine it is a worry. Do you think it's related to hrt? From all the health checks I've had, I can't say I have anything like that, I'm 67. I don't need BP meds and my heart is ok. I've never taken systemic HRT. Who knows.
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It is also down to your genetic heritage. The women in my family generations ago lived very long lives into their 90's, two members dying in recent years at over 90.
I do come from a very huge family and I can honestly say that those who have not lead a healthy lifestyle, smoking, alcohol, are not doing as well as those who do. It makes a huge difference to how you live your life to how your body reacts during the ageing process.
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I think the same Ayesha. My dad lived to 94. My mum is still here at 91. My great aunt lived to 107. I have never smoked, I stopped drinking 2 years ago. I don't eat fried or processed foods. I have the odd sweet treat. I've still got a menopause belly and VA though. I think it's lifestyle, genetics and luck of the draw
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Whatever I read was potentially flawed, perhaps!! So I will erase that from by memory because it's so vbad, I could do with more space for something important 😆
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This may be a ridiculous thought but would an epsom salt bath soak
( unscented of course) be soothing for VA pain?
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A big no from me on that. Epsom salts are very drying and will bring on a flare up. I learnt the hard way not realising what was causing my flares, I love an Epsom salts bath!
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Thank you Ayesha.
I’ll Scratch that off the list of possible remedies.
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What about a
Colloidal Oatmeal Soak?
It claims to help relieve inflammation.
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I tried that once, of something similar- ouch!! It seemed to inflame things for me. I suppose what the cause of inflammation is, maybe. But you won't know until you try it, I don't think that has anything on it that's too bad.
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Thank you Mrs Mitch. Good to know.
The search for something soothing continues…..
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So I spoke to my GP again & she thinks I have bladder instability. She did talk briefly about bladder retraining but said due to the severity she would prefer to try Solifenacin at 5mg initially. I'm past caring as long as I get some relief so of course I'm going to give it a go. There is the option to increase to 10mg if necessary & I've got to let her know in a month how things are. She did say if it hasn't helped in 3 weeks she'll up the dose & if it still doesn't work she says she will decide the next step. So I'm encouraged she's being proactive.
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Have you told your GP about using intrarosa yet.....does she think it's an additional issue?
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Ooh no, Northerngirl, I'm keeping that to myself until I know if it works. Talking through my bladder problems with her made me realise just how long they've been going on - since around 2008 when I had a very slight sore patch high up in my vagina. VA treatment never seem to deal with my bladder, possibly very slightly when I had a brief window of being pretty good down below.
I think if I tell her at this stage she won't be happy. Rightly or wrongly, that's what I've decided to do for now.
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I thought I'd put a quick update on here in case to get your ladies thoughts on this. So I've been taking Solifenacin for just shy of 3 weeks now & it apparently takes 3 - 4 weeks to work & there is the possibility of increasing it to 10mg too.
So I've noticed over the last week or more that I no longer have any dreams. None. Normally I have plenty of dreams, never nightmares but proper dreams that I often wake from & ponder on thinking how weird dreams are!
Did a quick Google out of curiosity this morning & find there is an increased risk of dementia with them. Now I know all meds have side effects but dementia??!!
Clearly the absence of dreams must mean my brain is being affected & it seems the risk is prolonged use in elderly but maybe that's because the majority of users are elderly.
I definitely don't like the sound of that. So far it's made no difference either.
What do you think, ladies? That is a risk I do not think is worth taking.
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Hi MrsMitch I was on tolterodine for a good few years about 10 years ago, it’s similar to Solifenacin for oab, it made my mouth v dry I remember but can’t remember about sleep/dreaming? It worked well for me for a while and then stopped working once peri hit me so a Gp I don’t normally see took me off it saying it wasn’t needed and he was right, I personally feel you should’ve seen a benefit of some sort by now, and if not and you are worried I’m not sure you need to persevere. In saying that if you take it for 2/3 months and it still hasn’t worked I’m sure it won’t do harm dementia wise. As I say I took similar for at least 3/4 years and I think I’m fine ;). I just really hated the dry mouth and dry sinuses it gave me and also the fact it mostly was used for incontinence which I definitely didn’t/don’t have!!
They are unusual drugs I know and I am still not entirely sure they worked for me or if it was a placebo effect as they gradually stopped working at all! They did work well initially but tolterodine was split dose morning and evening and I did eventually reduce to once a day due to dry mouth, and was still fine.
Is it just the dreams or lack of as side effects? I also agree they are mainly given to older people which is difficult.
Bottom line if they haven’t started to help at all in a week or 2 I would personally stop them, as the point is to feel the benefit and calm the bladder down!
X x
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Hi Mrs.Mitch,
I’ve lately been researching these overactive bladder medications and unfortunately it seems most have serious dementia side effects. There is one called Mirabegron that does not
appear to have this effect although it does have other side effects, possibly less serious. My sister in law takes it and I think it has helped her. Unfortunately,
most medications are a two edged sword.
You might want to ask about Mirabegron.
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I can't comment on the increased risk of dementia but I wouldn't worry about the lack of dreaming. You have vivid dreams during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. If you wake up during REM sleep you usually remember it well. If you wake up during non rem sleep you are far less likely to remember them, often it's more like your own thoughts rather than than 'normal' dreams which are a bit bizarre. Perhaps your sleep is less interrupted by bladder issues so more likely to wake during non rem sleep?
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Thanks for your thoughts, ladies.
Lesred: I started with a dry mouth after 3 days of taking them. That seems better now but my voice gets a little croaky sometimes so definitely drier in that area. Chewing gum seems to help.
Lime: thank you, I'll look Mirabegron up. I wonder why they all seem to have the risk of dementia? I'm wondering exactly how they work to then have that as a side effect.
Sheila: I wish I could say my sleep has improved as a result of taking them but it hasn't! That's why I'm not impressed with the drug. It hasn't had any effect what so ever. I'm still peeing a ridiculous amount & always have the urge to go just as I did prior to starting them.
Because my GP says I have bladder instability & that's what she's treating me for I'm wondering if she has the correct diagnosis. I don't know if these tablets would help no matter what specific condition I have or whether they only work for that one.
Anyway, thank you, as always, ladies. I have to update my GP now I've been taking them for 3 weeks. I suspect she'll up the dose to 10mg before she decides to do anything else.