Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Lynne888 on November 25, 2013, 03:34:12 PM
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Since having biopsy 3 months ago, my constant urination is back with a vengeance. I'm not sure if the procedure has antagonised something but over the months it has got increasingly difficult to calm my bladder. I've suffered with interstitial cystitis for about 12 years. I could control it with medication but when I hit menopause it got unbearable and I was going to the loo every 5 minutes at its worse. It was awful, I couldn't sleep or go anywhere and if I tried to walk the dog I would have to stop and wee! Vagifem was my lifeline. It stopped the constant urination and I was a different woman. Since the biopsy things have been dreadful. I tried the estring which made my urination worse and so went back to vagifem but whilst things improved, they were never great. I saw my GP last week and she suggested starting again with vagifem and doing 2 weeks of everyday use again. I've done this for 6 days and my weeing is now terrible. I'm so frightened I will not get any relief from it all. Anyone suffered similar issues? Could it be the biopsy that started this again? I've been doing the usual IC calming methods. They haven't worked :(
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Oh I do sympathise with you, I thought I was bad going on average 18 times in 24 hours :(
I suffer from Anxiety and Panic Attacks so put it down to that but apparently it can be any number of things in Women 'of a certain age'
Smudgesmum x
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Hi Lynne - have you been given any medication for the IC? Were the biopsies taken from the bladder?
Is there any help here http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/interstitialcystitis/#treatments ?
Taz x
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Could the biopsy have caused an infection? Has the doctor tested a wee sample since the biopsy?
Ariadne xx
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I take stuff for IC, its not calming it down at the moment. The biopsy was almost three months ago so I guess it's a bit late to cause an infection but I have some antibiotics so I've started taking them just in case. Yes it was a bladder biopsy. I had forgotten just how miserable constant urination can be. I have to know where the nearest toilet is before I can venture out. They found a very tiny ovarian cyst which I was told was not an issue and wouldn't cause any problems but I have to go back in December to have a scan to check on it. I wonder if it had grown and is causing the problems?
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I doubt whether a cyst would grow that quickly to impact on the bladder. I expect that the area has been aggravated and you have my sympthathy! You could be referred to a Bladder Nurse but wonder if rather than Vagifem another product would be help? I found that laying in a warm bath and relaxing, even if it meant doing a wee, helped a lot: or sitting on the loo but then my toes turned blue ::).
I woudl ring the secretary to the Surgeon who did the procedure and ask what the next step is going to be , 'given than I am passing urine constantly and it is impeding my enjoyment of life' ............
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What medication are you on at the moment Lynne? Did you have your bladder stretched at all? A close friend of mine who had IC found it made a tremendous difference to her symptoms.
Taz x
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I haven't had my bladder stretched. I take oxybutynin but it isn't great. I am going to ask for vesicare, I found that better. I've learned from other IC sufferers that when a flare happens, it helps to take antihistamine and buscopan. Also the cystitis drinks help calm the bladder. Usually when I do this, I get some relief even if it's not much but it hasn't worked this time. For some reason, the vagifem DOES seem to be aggravating things, but I will see how it is in a couple of days. I'm hoping it will start to sooth. I will ring my GP on Wednesday if it's not. Improved. CLKD, I have been taking warm baths, but it's the frequency I find impossible to deal with :(
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Hy Lynne888
Could you try an estriol based topical oestrogen instead of Vagifem ie orthogynest pessaries or one of the creams - you may find these gentler, if it doesn't get any better with the Vagifem?
Hurdity x
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I agree Trauma was done and infections can be low grade for weeks and weeks then FLARE
See your GP I know its crapy but best get it sorted asap so you can have a lovely Christmas xx
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I'm starting to think it might be an infection. The AB's have kicked in and I had a better night getting up twice to the loo. I also used two vagifem last night to try and get things under control but I know I was risking it as I wasn't sure whether the vagifem was making things worse. I really hope things are calmer today. I am going to ask about creams and my GP has suggested trying oral HRT. I think I could need different medication moving forward. Yes, the thought of feeling like this with Christmas on the horizon is a nightmare. I need to get it all sorted.
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hi lynne888,reading your post ,I hope you don't mind me stepping in ,taking amitriptyline,does help in these sort of circumstances,iv been on it for over 4 years now for anxiety ,once I go to bed I do not get up to go to the toilet,i read that they can give it children to prevent bed wetting, in severe cases its taken for different things,in different doses,just wondering if it could help you in any way,could be worth asking your doctor,if you google it will tell you what exactly it does,x daisie
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Hi Daisie, not sure if it's the same (I think it is) but I take Atarax. I actually try not to take it very often. It knocks me out and I usually cannot wake easily in the morning. I prefer to take it at weekends if I need to so that I get a good night's sleep and it doesn't matter if I do not get up very early. I have nights when I take it where I do not get up to go to the loo but most times I would still get up for at least one wee. I think I have IBS too and that definitely kick starts my IC. It's all a nightmare!!!
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hi lynne/I don't know ill have a look iv not heard that name for it before,i take it every night,but I too feel drowsy in the mornings,but it does wear off as the day goes on,i hope you get something to help you out x daisie
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Can you ask your GP for some Kentara patches? They are gentler on your system than pills for overactive bladder. I have used them and they work very well indeed.
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Thanks for this millimoo. I haven't heard of the patches before. I will definitely ask! Xx
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I can highly recommend them Lynne. I tried the drugs but they gave me SUCH a dry mouth. I've been on the patches for just over a week and so far today I've only BEEN twice and it's 1.40pm
x
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Yes the dry mouth is awful. My tongue sticks to the top of my mouth! I've been using vagifem every day again for a week now and the constant urge to urinate has not got any better. It's miserable:(
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Lynne go to the Doctor ok dont suffer xxxxxxxxxxxx :-* :-* :-* :-* :-*
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Dry mouth can be caused by dehydration too. There are sweets and mouth sprays which can help with this. It is miserable and I think your GP should refer you to a bladder clinic for an assessment or back to the Surgeon who did the procedure!
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Thought I would update you on my constant urination. Basically I still have it. I DID have an infection. I have taken 2 lots of antibiotics and I still have the constant urination. I now also have thrush. I have treated it (yesterday) with a one off pessary but it's worse today. I'm not sure what is wrong. I really thought the issue was the infection but as two lots of AB's haven't knocked it on the head, I do not know what to think. My biopsy came back clear in August so unless something has happened between then and now I cannot think what could be wrong. I have to go for a doppler scan on 16th to check on a tiny cyst that was found when I had my previous scan 3 months ago but I can't imagine the cyst has grown big enough this quickly to cause any issues. I have changed to vesicare, it always suited me better but no improvement yet. I finished the 2 weeks of vagifem every day on Thursday. In the past the vagiferm has started to work after 2 days. It's all rather depressing with Christmas on the horizon. I shall be speaking to my GP on the phone on Monday.
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:hug: I can't imagine how you are coping :-\
Was your urine sent for analysis so that you were given the 'right' ABs? Thrush can be helped be eating LIVE yoghurt, when I suffered badly I had one pot in the bathroom to apply vaginally as high up aspossible: the other pot in the fridge ;) eating large tablespoons several times a day. It helps set right the bacteria in the gut!
Greek yoghurt is 'LIVE' - has it written in red on the pot ;)
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Are you taking pro-biotics Lynne - the capsules have a higher number of whatever it is!
Taz x
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Yogurts are good but really not strong enough.
You should buy a good capsule with billions of the right bacteria. Have you also consider D Mannose. A lot of people find it very successful for bladder health.
Honeyb
X
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Yes the urine was sent away and 2 AB's were recommended. I've had both now. I have got pro-biotics,but haven't taken them for a while as I have the pro-biotic drinks every day. I've also got my own yoghurt maker and make live yoghurt, just haven't bothered for a while so maybe I should get back on that. I take D-mannose but don't think it has much effect on me. Thanks for your suggestions girls. I will go and root out the pro-biotics.
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Have you had the urine tested post-antibiotics? This is very important to make sure the bug has gone.
Taz
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Not yet, I am taking the last day of the second lot today. I will be taking in another sample this week. It's all a bit odd that these problems have only manifested themselves after the biopsy.
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You need to see the person who performed the biopsy!
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Where was the biopsy taken from - sorry - if I knew I've forgotten!
Taz x
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Bladder biopsy. I have to go to hospital on16th. No chance of seeing the guy who did biopsy. Nothing was found so I'm no longer his patient but I am going to mention it all on 16th to whoever I see and hope that I can get some answers. If not I'm going to ask the GP to write to him
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I've managed to speak to my GP this morning. I think she is at a loss what to do. She says to double up the vagifem. I'm not sure this will help as I have doubled up myself a few times and it made no difference. Just out of interest, has anyone had frequent urination and taken vagifem AND something else? I DO take vesicare but my GP has mentioned taking another form of HRT too so any advice would be appreciated.
I asked her about the little cyst which was found back in August. I have to go for another scan next Monday for that but she said she would be surprised if it had grown enough to be causing a problem. She actually thinks it will have either gone or be the same. However, the vagifem would not calm things if the cyst HAS grown.
I am starting to think that something else is causing my frequent urination. I was up 5 times in the night. It is no joke and really tiring.
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Have you asked about Kentara patches yet? I used them with vagifem and ovestin.
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No I haven't yet mainly because I'm not good with oxybutinin but even when I was taking it, it didnt calm my frequent urination down. I shall ask about it when I see her though
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Have you got interstitial cystitis Lynne or did I dream it? :)
Taz x
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Yes I have and it's been great for 18 months since using vagifem. Since the biopsy it's all gone tits up again, I can't calm it down. I suppose I should be glad it's every 40 mins to an hour that I need the loo and not every 5 mins like I've had it in the past!
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You want it sorted though ............ :hug: are you drinking plenty, sometimes the kidneys work more if they aren't getting enough fluids.
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What a pain! What was the biopsy for if you don't mind me asking? Were you already beginning to experience some sort of new bladder problem?
Taz x
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I had a thickening of the lining Taz. All was clear x