Hi and welcome to MM Ali72
I'm afraid the Vagifem can take some time to restore your whole bladder and ‘lady bits' but it should help the whole pelvic area - I'm very surprised you feel it's the Vagifem triggering the painful bladder as the badder needs oestrogen to function well. Is it bladder pain or are you simply getting a painful urethra that makes you feel as if you need to pee so often? If so, this is a common problem and I will give you the strategies I use to combat this later. The fillers in any local oestrogen treatment can cause some irritation, Vagifem is the least irritating (the oestrogen creams made me burn terribly) , and I suspect this is what you are experiencing??? Using the YES moisturiser will help to sooth things, so I'd just use plenty of this the next morning after you have inserted the Vagifem night before.
I have been diagnosed as having IC but I know it is urogenital atrophy that has to be constantly managed.
HERE are my tips:
Vaginal dryness, due to the lack of oestrogen, can result in bacteria and thrush taking hold in the vaginal area and this will effect the bladder. The bladder will also be suffering from the lack of oestrogen so won't function so well. So it is vital to keep things healthy and balanced.
I use Vagifem at least 2 times a week (sometimes more if the bladder starts playing up).
I maintain my vaginal flora balance by using SYLK vaginal moisturiser every day - usually twice a day (YES moisturiser is also good) - but you mustn't use this at the same time as the Vagifem or it will affect aborption. I use Multi Gyn Actigel (I buy SYLK and Multi Gyn Actigel online)a couple of times a week to also keep the balance right - this can sting a bit at first but is also soothing.
Avoid caffeine, fruit juices, alcohol and anything acidic as this will cause the urethra to burn.
Avoid getting too hot around your ‘lady bits' - so loose clothing and don't sit down for too long.
NO SCENTED PRODUCTS anywhere near your ‘lady bits' - be careful of soaps, shampoos, washing powders etc.
Make sure you drink enough WATER - your bladder will try to empty more often if you are in any way dehydrated as the urine will be more concentrated and acidic which makes the bladder want to get rid of it.
WE need to drink between 1-1.5 litres per day, depending on our size and how much fluid we take in from food. If you sweat quite a bit with flushes and exercise then you will need to drink more.
Whenever you feel any burning, drink a glass of water with half a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda - this will neutralise the urine and ease the burning. Drinking this the night you use your Vagifem may help or possibly drink the next morning.
Totally agree with Hurdity - do not take Prozac for pain or for menopause symptoms unless you are actually depressed.
However many women do use ADs/SRRIs alongside HRT as this can work well to control meno symtpoms, depression and anxiety.
Have you been diagnosed as in peri or post menopause? if so, you really need to systemic HRT to protect you heart and bones as you are still very young? The ME and migraines could all be related to the lack of oestrogen if they started when meno hit!!! What HRT were you given? Using a kinder transdermal HRT might be appropriate for you and we can help with advice on this. Do look under TREATMENTS off this site for more info.
Maryjane will hopefully be along to tell you about the deep infection that is now believed to cause some cases of IC and ongoing UTI type symptoms. I'm afraid the urologist I saw, when I had a cystoscopy, seemed very vague about IC, mentioned that Vagifem ‘might' help but didn't give me any advice about how to handle this condition - I've had to work things out for myself and pass on my strategies in the hope it will help others. Sadly, very few GPs, gynaecologists or urologists are clued up on the link between the menopause and so many symptoms we get at the tine in our lives.
DG x
