Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[cjmca]

Hi ladies

I was just wondering had anyone experienced a relapse in any urinary symptoms when Vagifem / topical estrogen was reduced?

I have Premature Ovarian Failure and estrogen deficiency for the last 15 yrs, am 34 now. The pill gave me awful side effects so I rarely took it, and no other form of HRT was offered.

I had thought my gynae wanted me to do a one month initial course of daily Vagifem, rather than the standard 2 weeks. Unfortunately I misunderstood and I wasn't meant to reduce the Vagifem after a month, but 3 months. Unfortunately last week I reduced after 28 days and had no Vagifem or Ovestin for 2.5 days.

I started reloading Vagifem 4 days ago. But good lord my bladder is not happy. The pain is getting even worse, not better. I woke up this morning and my tummy muscles are so tight, I think maybe they go into spasm along with my bladder. Anyone else experience tummy tightness?

This is the first time I've done a Vagifem reload. It took 5 months to figure out what was causing my urinary symptoms in the first place, and 5 days ago I was wearing my jeans and walking 11,000 steps on the Fitbit. Now I can hardly get out of bed! My bladder just aches so bad, it's like an elephant is sitting on it 😞 The pain has actually never been this bad.  I know I'm very estrogen deficient and I can only imagine my bladder was ecstatic with the initial dosing of Vagifem, then I stopped (and I was about 75% better at that point), and I can only think it's gone what the hell, where'd the estrogen go?! But ow ow ow ow ow  Anyone else experience this? Am quite frightened by this relapse, which feels worse than the initial pain 

[Tinkerbell]

Are you not on any systemic HRT?

[CLKD]

The way I dealt with any bladder issues was to sit on the loo so that all the muscles could relax.  Allowing any urine to dribble.  Maybe add one dose of Vagifem in the day ……..  to boost the amount. 

[Dancinggirl]

cjmca - I really think you need some specialist advice.  You are far too young to be oestrogen deficient so there should be some effort put in by a doctor to find a systemic HRT that suits you. I doubt local oestrogen will ever be sufficient to keep all your urogenital problems under control for the long term.

I had a premature meno which started in my 30s and I've still had urogenital problems despite having systemic HRT.

Are you getting full UTI symptoms e.g. burning, needing to pee often etc?  You will need to get a urine sample to the GP for testing in case you have an infection.  You are right, your bladder  etc is desperate for oestrogen and will be susceptible to infection because of this.  Vaginal moisturisers that help to maintain a healthy flora balance can be helpful and should be used alongside the local oestrogen - Sylk or YES vaginal moisturiser are good.

Just keep using the Vagifem daily and pop to the GP on Monday with a sample. In the mean time, add half a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda to a glass of water and drink this morning and evening and keep drinking water throughout the day to help flush things through - this will help to reduce burning and may relieve some of the bladder pain.

Of course, the tummy tightness may not be your bladder - you could simply have pulled a muscle???
Do seek help and get some full HRT before further damage is done due to the oestrogen deficiency - HRT is very different from BCPs and these days it is mostly natural hormones so there will be one out there for you. DG x

[cjmca]

Sorry I forgot to mention I'm on Estradot 50 and utrogestan 100. But it wasn't until I initially started using the Vagifem that I had any relief at all. I missed it for 2 days and symptoms come raging back. It's scary!

[cjmca]

Yes I've UTI symptoms, but no UTI, urine clear.  I had no idea the bladder was lined with estrogen receptors. I know now! I'm just shocked at how quick the symptoms returned when I started the tapering phase of the vagifem. Ow!!

cjmca - I really think you need some specialist advice.  You are far too young to be oestrogen deficient so there should be some effort put in by a doctor to find a systemic HRT that suits you. I doubt local oestrogen will ever be sufficient to keep all your urogenital problems under control for the long term.

I had a premature meno which started in my 30s and I've still had urogenital problems despite having systemic HRT.

Are you getting full UTI symptoms e.g. burning, needing to pee often etc?  You will need to get a urine sample to the GP for testing in case you have an infection.  You are right, your bladder  etc is desperate for oestrogen and will be susceptible to infection because of this.  Vaginal moisturisers that help to maintain a healthy flora balance can be helpful and should be used alongside the local oestrogen - Sylk or YES vaginal moisturiser are good.

Just keep using the Vagifem daily and pop to the GP on Monday with a sample. In the mean time, add half a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda to a glass of water and drink this morning and evening and keep drinking water throughout the day to help flush things through - this will help to reduce burning and may relieve some of the bladder pain.

Of course, the tummy tightness may not be your bladder - you could simply have pulled a muscle???
Do seek help and get some full HRT before further damage is done due to the oestrogen deficiency - HRT is very different from BCPs and these days it is mostly natural hormones so there will be one out there for you. DG x

[Dancinggirl]

cjmca - thank goodness you are on systemic HRT.  It is going to take some time for your body to get full benefits.  Having been so deficient in oestrogen for so long it will probably take longer for things to stabilise.
Make sure you drink enough, use some Sylk everyday as well and hopefully yrou bladder issues will impove.
You are doing all the right things.  Keep us posted.  DG x