Aching bones, tired, bleeding, hot at night etc

[FeelingIll]

I'm mid 40s and for the past few months I'm being feeling unwell almost constantly - not horrendously unwell but enough to make doing anything more than staying in bed with limited activities a struggle.

My bones and muscles have been aching all the time all over, more bones than muscles if that's possible. I keep feeling hot and last night I woke up with the bottom half of my legs sweating and I never sweat. Constantly tired, can get dizzy especially during periods (which I'm still having but start off heavy bleeding then half water/urine - half blood). Lots of urinary issues to point have to work from home. Irregular bright red bleeding from both sources though tests done and a fibroid found and know I have haemorrhoids. Tiredness may just be lack of sleep. Going through hospital tests but they aren't showing much and it's 2 months between each one.

Husband says I need more exercise - I'm thin but don't exercise as I feel weak though it maybe a vicous circle. I do have anxiety but am happy. Any ideas what this could be / what I can do? Not getting very far with doctors / NHS but can go private though never done that so not sure how you do it. Thanks very much. I've started taking a multi vitamin with vitamin D and B vitamins in and seems to be improving things a little.

Thanks so much Polly, very kind of you to help so much and thanks too WipsGlitter.

Was Vesicare but side effects were worsening so doctor said I mustn't take it anymore and was too ill on it to function. I think in Jan they will try me on something else though I don't have a good track record with drugs. I'm going to keep on with the pelvic floor, I think it maybe getting slightly better but hard to say for sure. Don't have any dryness if that makes a difference.

Tampon is staying in place and was soaked top to bottom and didn't go to wee so it's something else. First noticed a few months back but then was clear liquid now yellow, before that was using pads. A couple of weeks ago started getting pain after weeing but went after a week but a uti is very possible too.

Thanks very much DanTDM - my Mum had a really bad menopause so won't be amazed at all if I do too, she went on HRT and much better.

If you have a smelly yellow discharge you need to see your GP for a swab. I honestly don't think it's wee. If it were, all your wee would come out that way- so it would be litres over the day and this would have been seen on the urodynamic test.

You need to be referred to a gynae, one who is interested in pelvic floor and menopause issues. Look p your local private hospital(s) and look at who they have (on their website) do some digging into their experience and ask for a referral. (I've had private care for over 30 yrs and choose my specialist depending on their expertise.)

I've had prolapse repairs. Don't take the word of a nurse - saying you have or have not got a prolapse. It took 2 drs and 2 gynaes with me before the 2nd one said I had. In your case, it might be something quite mild like your urethra being out of position so the urine drains out more easily.

Uros are not the best for spotting this kind of thing- you need a gynaecologist.

You could also have a mild UTI, and overactive bladder, all adding to the issues, as well as needing HRT which would help support your pelvic floor and take away the urge incontinence (you need vaginal estrogen cream for this.)

You've not said whether you feel the urge to go and wet yourself, or if it's a constant slow dribble, or it only happens under pressure (weak pelvic floor muscles.)

If it's all of them, each needs a different treatment.

On top of that, your aches and pains, sweats, etc etc sound like hormonal peri issues.

You have to push for the right support from the right drs- don't accept one opinion or be palmed off. No need to live like this and be housebound due to it.

Thanks Polly. I've just phoned 111 and have a doctor calling me back though would probably be better in person but it's a start.

I think I'm going to try the private route too on Monday, see if I can get further with that. I love wfh, hate commuting an hour each way, but there's only so long you can do that for and my contracts due for renewal end March.

It doesn't appear worsened by coughing etc, its more a constant thing though do get breaks of around an hour sometimes. I do get the urge to go but that can be constant so doesn't really help. It does tend to leak when I sit up it just floods out. Lying down much less leakage.

The urodynamics did pick up constant leakage which started almost straight away but not from where. I drink about 1.6 litres a day and probably leak around 0.5 litres at a guess.

Think I just need to get more tests done and see what they show.

Doctor called back but apparently have to call again tomorrow as no car today. She suggested STD testing but I can't have an STD. Most of it they can't help with but maybe able to get antibiotics tomorrow. I'm going to try private.

Been trying Tampax all day no leaking apart from soaked tampons, I never have no leaking. I'm scared though as fistulas seemed to be linked to cancer when there's no obvious other cause which in my case there isn't, childbirth over 10 years ago, did have operation then but surely can't be that. Retroverted uterus.

I'm sorry op.

I'd definitely get gp to check vit d and thyroid on top of any menopausal things. 3 years is an age in thyroid terms.

I think the reason you have no leaking is that the tampon is acting as a prop and pushing your bladder neck back into the right position. Wearing a tampon is something that is sometimes advised for women with a slight prolapse of the bladder- not all day as it's drying but for exercise etc.

This is why you need an examination by a gynae. Google Q-tip investigation- they put a small cotton bud in and see what the angle is. This would show if your bladder neck is drooping = leakage.

here www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12681867

Treatment can be TVT (but no mesh) or bulking up the urethra with a gel.

ps you should still be checked for a fistula but bit odd if no one has found it yet.

Thanks very much. Yes I think any tests would help even if it just eliminates things. Just hoping to find a way to do it without living at the doctors as I've got a lot of work on.

I'm going to ask specifically about a fistula next appointment but its not to end Jan. Will try to get referred to a gynae one way or another.

Chased physio and appointment is still lost but have at least managed to get hold of someone at the one hospital who says they will fax it to the other one today.

Tried to do private but I need an app and can't download it without a password and I don't know what that is so tried the GPs. GP is referring me to gynaecology again for bleeding and urinary issues and seems to think the local private hospital can see me quite quickly on the NHS.

Suspect I have an infection but still at least I'm making slow progress. Been taking about 5 vitamin D tablets a day for a week now and the aches are getting much less though won't do this longer term without taking advice though 5 is 25ug a day which appears safe, also have calcium in them 5 is 90% of daily requirement (140mgx5), they are children's vitamins but all DH could find.

Doctor also put in about a fistula so at least that should be tested properly now and I want it ruled in or out really.

Good, it all sounds very proactive OP

Sounds on its way to being sorted

Thanks very much DanTDM Just booked gynae appointment for 2nd Jan .

D-lux 3000 from Halland & Barratt is about £8 - a spray so easily absorbed & it's a safe dose

You can over dose but you have to take 10,000 everyday (long term) for it to happen really - there is lots of info on it

Thanks very much, I will get some!

Definitely get the spray, Ive got it on amazon too before.

Hope you get some answers OP. I am also 44 and have noticed periods are heavy and bright red to start then watery after a couple of days. My tampons are soaked with watery clear fluid that doesn't smell like urine I've had this for a year or so. My tampon seems to be pushed down more than it used to be and quite uncomfortable. I should probably get checked out too.

Thanks very much for the replies. That's exactly what I had but recently turned yellow but in my case I'm fairly sure its urine and think its yellow now as I've got a uti. I just got some antibiotics from an online doctors Push Doctors never used it before but seems genuine and easier than going to our doctors. £28 including prescription fee and doctor seemed to be asking all the right questions. Obviously can't do a test with this but I'm sure I've got some kind of infection needing antibiotics so will take these 3 day ones and if that doesn't work see the GP. It might be worth you raising with the GP Annie though periods are supposed to go strange before menopause, when I mentioned this symptom all I got was strange looks and like I was imagining it.

You could have a vaginal infection (like BV) which has worked its way to your bladder. I am sure that unless you had a very difficult delivery, you will not have a fistula. But you do need it all checking out.

I did have a very difficult labour with my first child which was induced early over 3 days and nearly went to C-section - I had an operation immediately after that with emergency doctor as I was going unconscious I think D&C to remove placenta. But it was a long time ago - over 10 years ago so would seem odd to cause an issue now. Had a second child since much easier though anterior placenta. Urine issues started 1.5 years ago. Period around 4 years ago irregular bleeding then watery discharge noticed first around September though changed to tampax then so could have been earlier as harder to see on pads. Tampax getting totally soaked in 10 minutes few times in a row with no period so seems too much for discharge but I'm guessing but at least I'll have tests now. Thanks for your help.

I'm hoping the antibiotics will work whatever the infection is - feels like a uti to me as pain when urinating for 2 weeks but can't be certain. Got gynae on 2nd Jan so hopefully they will run some tests there.

It'd also be worth asking the gynae for a dexa scan while you're at the appt as that will check the risk of osteoporosis. Good luck

The bone aching can be a sign of low oestrogen. With that in mind I'd also ask for a dexa scan to see what your bone mineral density is looking like as too low orstrogen for too long can lead to osteoporosis as it affects calcium binding on the bones.

Thanks very much. I will ask for that.