To help me work out what's hurting and why?

[LongLaneLove]

So, I'll bullet point the recent past for ease

age 50, in menopause

no hrt until a few months when I started using 1/2 - one swipe of gel

GP gave me wrong advice about taking progesterone so I haven't been taking enough

As a result I've got a womb scan booked to see if my lining has built up but GP thinks not

On Wednesday got what I thought was cystitis, given antibiotics which I started on Thursday. Also taking cranberry/granules/etc

Now feel like my entire torso is bloated, painful and cramping

My main question is: could this be related to antibiotics/cystitis (I haven't had it before) or could it be completely separate and related to now taking upped dose of progesterone - it's suddenly occurred to me that this feels a BIT like period cramps, but tbf it's been about 3 years.

I feel unwell, like shit, bloated and swollen. My GP has referred me for a scan in relation to the misinformation on the hormones, and they can't really do much more.

I haven't had any menopause issues otherwise.

Does this sound like something anyone else has experienced?

...basically I'm wondering if my increased dose of progesterone is linked to the cystitis somehow, and I'm getting period cramps linked to that hormone and somehow that's triggered cysistis?? Or some other UTI effect? Is that a thing?

I've googled but not getting anywhere on that specific point. Thanks for any help.

Google vaginal atrophy.

I had what I thought was cystitis (tests said no infection, and thrush (again nothing on tests) and had a really painful bladder / bottom of my stomach, all at the same time. It was honestly one of the worst things that's ever happened to my body.

Went to a different GP and he prescribed me Ovestin cream, which is a hormone cream for menopausal women - dear god it was a life saver, I could have kissed my GP 2 days after I started using the cream.

Thanks woodburning I'll take a look at that and the Ovestin cream. Your symptoms sound VERY similar to mine. I'm slightly unconvinced that I actually have cystitis, but the again the granules etc are possibly helping. I'm really not sure.

Thanks again.