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[20032003]

20032 ……… have you tried drinking Actimel or similar?  For me slow transit is eased by 3/4 pots a day, it certainly encourages the digestive system to empty fully.  Otherwise I have small pieces left behind    - with the constant feeling of needing to empty the bowel.

CLKD: Can you have slow transit without your poo being superhard? My experience the last few years are that my BMs tend to be smaller and more frequent. I have to go more often to get the same sensation ofcbeing done....

[Jenna]

Hi nella - as you think the local oestrogen didn't help, maybe you could try using a vaginal moisturiser on the underneath area, as it could be dryness causing the problem as babyjane says. I use 'Yes' water-based vaginal moisturiser and find this a great help. (I also use local oestrogen two days a week, but use the moisturiser at all the other times.)

[CLKD]

Yep - 4 me it's the feeling of needing to 'go' ………. then the movement can vary in intensity, structure, speed  …….. I found that Actimel-type drinks helped the spasm through the digestive tract so that I 'go' daily, if I stop drinking them, as recently, my bottom feels full  .  I have to put a tick on the calendar otherwise I can't remember if I've been/not 

Nella: How's the symptoms that started the thread?

[20032003]

Yep - 4 me it's the feeling of needing to 'go' ………. then the movement can vary in intensity, structure, speed  …….. I found that Actimel-type drinks helped the spasm through the digestive tract so that I 'go' daily, if I stop drinking them, as recently, my bottom feels full  .  I have to put a tick on the calendar otherwise I can't remember if I've been/not 

Hrm... I go every day - at least twice. So that's not the problem for me. This might be TMI but it's like my butt has become SO sensitive the last couple of years...

Oh, and I do apologize to Nella for somewhat hijacking your thread!

[nella]

Hi all, thanks for the replies!

Jenna,
do you mean putting the vaginal cream deep "towards" the bladder or in the outside area around the urethra?

Stellajane,
yeah, it's exhausting. I have no other word for it.... I think we have quite similar symptoms then, but I don't feel it much in the urethral area, more in my tummy if that makes sense. Yeah I think too it may be more related to the cystoceles than the VA but just because all my other symptoms of VA went away with laser therapy and this one is the only one who stayed the same. 
Like when you have to really go pee but without ever ending the stimulus by peeing....
It is interesting you say you have more feeling of having to pee during the progesterone stage of the HRT, I got told something similar in my intro in this same forum, since I am taking the progesterone right now and more than one person told me it is a no no for bladder issues.... I'll discontinue it for sure!

CLKD,
unfortunately the symptoms are always the same. I am starting to think I'll have to cope with this forever. Such stubborn they are

20032003,
no need to apologize and you did not hijack my thread, no problem at all! I hope you can get relief from your symptoms soon.
They sound like a great discomfort.

Thanks again,
N

[CLKD]

Usually regular treatment can ease VA.  It may take a few tries at the different preparations as well as adding KY jelly or Vaseline etc. to the outer lips to stop dryness and itching. 

[Jenna]

Hi Nella - I use the Estriol Cream or the 'Yes' water-based moisturiser all over the vulval area, so around the entrance to the vagina, around the urethra and on all the smooth skin underneath.

[EmTyler]

HI all I know this is a really old thread but it is the best description of what I’m going through. I would be so grateful to know if this was resolved. The op has described how it is for me all the time. I have pessaries and did the loading twice, then twice a week, then a week of every day, now every other day plus cream. Plus pelvic floor therapy. Nothing is changing it.

[Ayesha]

You need to use treatment every day, pessaries, Estriol cream, moisturiser. Most of the advice given for Vaginal Atrophy is out of date and its a matter of finding what works for you, you take control. If you are over 50 you can buy your own treatment as a back up if your surgery restricts your usage.

This document will help you to understand what's happening to your body and the range of treatments available, its a great study.
https://bssm.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/GSM-BSSM.pdf

[EmTyler]

Thank you, I think Im really struggling with a kind of routine? Ive seesawed between the loading doses, then every few days etc. This description is exactly how Ive felt. They’ve offered a referral to gynae as it’s not improved at all since oestrogen started (local) end Feb.

[CLKD]

EmTyler - Don't see a gynae, they often know little more than many GPs seem to about vaginal atrophy!  Ask 4 a referral to a dedicated menopause clinic, there are waiting lists: if conditions improve when the appt does arrived, U can cancel if no longer required.  Point out that many ladies require appropriate VA treatment every night !  We cannot over dose on replacement and the info in the box is out of date big time.

If your GP is worried about suggest that he/she contact Dr Louise Newson directly for advice ;-). In the meantime get that treatment up there every night as well as moisture's if necessary. 

[SundayGirl]

EmTyler - it's still very early days if you've only been using local oestrogen since the end of February so I don't think a referral is the way to go at the moment.
 
I too struggled initially with symptoms returning. I did a 4 week load and felt loads better. I then dropped down to alternate days and my symptoms returned. Once using daily again, I felt much better.

Since then I have experimented with the frequency of use and have come to the conclusion that I need to use daily. I can miss the odd day but no more.

[EmTyler]

Hi Im sorry I dont know how to tag people but SundayGirl and CLKD this is so helpful thank you. I didn’t know menopause clinics existed!
This description by Nella is exactly me which is why it was such a relief almost to read it.
I feel overwhelmed by all the choices.
So far I’ve done pessaries since mid fEb (loading/ sporadic etc) and recently cream a couple of times (different days). Also three doses of antibiotics for UTI/suspected UTI/ not suspected but lets see, and two bouts of thrush treatment (after swabs). Im exhausted!
I am very lost as to a plan. Ive just bought moisturiser, lube (both YES), probiotics on order. Tested B12 (fine).
The vaginal dryness is much less an issue than the bladder pressure and not empty feeling.

[CLKD]

We don't tag on MM Forum but keeping to the same thread to read any responses should get you replies. 

Which ABs were prescribed and for how long each time?  Your GP should have realised that your symptoms are more likely to be due to oestrogen levels dropping : which can cause the body to become dry: inside and out; skin, scalp, deep in the ears, eyes, vagina, anus, between the toes - as well as muscles may become lax = aches and pains. Sadly any medics simply don't think outside the box for repeated urine infection-type symptoms which VA mimics really really well.

Get that VA treatment up there every night for at lest 3 weeks plus a moisturiser on the outer area when necessary.  Twice a week or intermittently when symptoms niggle won't help.  Because the vaginal walls may be thin they can alter the sensations in the urethra = the symptoms which U R experiencing.

[EmTyler]

Hi, to be fair this all started in January when I tested positive for a UTI, and had two courses. Then I had an online urine analysis which showed group B and had penicillin which I think did knock some of the active pain on the head. What was left was this persistent feeling, id never heard of VA at all despite being on HRT generally for three years. Since mid Feb Ive used pessaries (two week loading dose) and then another week (repeat loading dose). The cream is additional and for external use (used three times).

Maybe I will start again with the daily pessaries. It’s just quite confusing. Plus Im worried they are giving me thrush. Ive ditched the applicator as it felt manky to reuse the same one despite my best efforts at cleaning it.