Atrophic Vaginitis - help and advice purrrleeeese

[KittyCuckoo]

Apart from the insomnia, the depression, the anxiety, the weight gain and the hot flushes, generally I've sailed through the menopause relatively unflustered.

Until now... I had a UTI a couple of months ago, then the UTi symptoms again more recently - but no infection found. My GP suggested last week that it could be atrophic vaginitis. Who the hell knew about this? A bit of googling reveals that up to 50% of women suffer, but many don't seek treatment.. Dear lord.

Anyway my symptoms are constant feeling of wanting to pee, but I only actually pee every few hours, so I'm not incontinent. (That's probably a joy awaiting me). I also have an achey, pressure feeling. Pretty horrible. I feel knackered too, or that could just be me.

GP prescribed Vagifem which I've been using for 2 nights only so far. How long does it take for these little darlings to work? GP said pretty quickly - but I'm feeling no better, darn it.

Also, is there anything else that can help? I've all but given up caffeine, eat pretty healthily, try and exercise. I do pelvic floor exercises. Another problem is that to stay relatively sane I ride (horses). Tight breeches + saddle + AV = utter misery.

Sorry - this is my first post on mumsnet and I've probably missed some intro etiquette thing but I'm in a bit of a state (though I probably sound flippant.) I'm really not coping well with getting on in years, although I really don't have much to worry about in the general scheme of things. I just need a bit of reassurance, I suppose.

I should add that the GP sent me for blood tests for just about everything, just to cancel them out I think. I'm also waiting for an pelvic scan. Again to cancel out any other issues. I think he's quite a good GP.

It can take a few weeks or even months to work fully but you ought to get some improvement in a fortnight or so.

If it doesn't work you may be one of the 1:4 women who also need full HRT to really sort out this issue (as well as using vaginal estrogen.)

If you dont' get on with Vagifem you could try Ovestin which is the same kind of stuff but a cream and it's useful for putting a small dollop on outside too.

There is a book by Jane Lewis- called My Menopausal Vagina which is her story of all of this. Her experience was quite extreme but it's maybe worth reading. She's just an 'ordinary woman' who posted on another meno forum and deiced to write the book to help other women. She's been on telly etc talking about it.

I loved Vagifem! It was amazing. I say it took less than 2 weeks to work for me.
Unfortunately after a few months it didn't work as well as it used to so I redid the loading dose.
I'm now going on to full HRT.

Give it time and hopefully it will be as brilliant for you as it was for me.

Had similar issues and brilliant advice from jingling helped massively. On hrt and cream now after months of infections etc.
Moisturiser helped too- “yes”

It will get better but keep going back to gp until it’s sorted.

Thank you so much
It's a huge relief to be able to get some support. I moved to the middle of nowhere a few years ago and do feel a bit marooned and devoid of female friends around here - not great at this glorious time of life!

You could be me. The last 3 years have been tough and it only really dawned on me 18 months ago that the fatigue, concentration issues, tearfulness, anxiety, dizziness etc etc could be menopause related.. I was in denial about my age .... I went on HRT patches and generally improved although needed a little tweaking earlier this year. I thought I was fortunate as I hadn’t experienced any vaginal atrophy which I kept reading about and thought the HRT patches were preventing that. Then in the last month things changed and I have had symptoms of UTI after UTI. The direct correlation with sex was quickly worked out so I am back to my GP tomorrow to discuss this. We really go through it in menopause - I never expected it to be so draining. I hope things improve for you.

Yours in solidarity, OP! I went through a stage with painful cystitis-like symptoms and found that taking a cranberry concentrate helped over time. In my case meno’ has been such a stroll in the park what with the random grief, random pains in various limbs and copious sweating.

I sympathise it’s miserable, I bought replens otc and it worked for a bit. Now on Ovestin as ended up having to see lovely female GP, my GP is great but he is a youngish man and I just couldn’t face talking to him about vaginal atrophy! Now on Ovestin and it’s been a game changer. I tried having a break from it but had to go back on it, I was in and out of the loo every 30 mins with no uti and this has sorted it.

Oh yes, the random pain and random grief. I've never wept so much - each squashed rabbit has me gulping with tears.
I do a pretty shitty day job in the NHS and told my manager that I'm menopausal and cant be expected to follow instructions- because I really can't! (Dont worry, NHS patients, I dont work on the clinical side)

I think this phase of life doesn’t half confront us with our unfinished business. Small wonder concentration can wobble at times!

There is an excellent FB group called 'vaginal atrophy' that you might find helpful. I have found it very informative.

Hallo KittyCuckoo. I can really sympathise. Following my menopause I was getting 2 or 3 UTIs each year and then had 4 in the space of a couple of months. I have been using Vagifem since April and have not had a UTI since. I am a also cyclist and have found it much more comfortable! I hope you will find the Vagifem works for you too.

Thank you for all your messages. I've generally been feeling better, but still had a few uti symptoms during the last month, which I learnt to live with.

Last week I had been 100% fine for a few days, then a call from my GP informed me that a mid stream urine sample showed e.coli, so I was prescribed trimethoprim. After one dose I was floored with terrible exhaustion, headaches and a rash. Another GP prescribed Cefalexin - this was the same day I'd had the trimethoprim. A single Cefalexin tablet caused worse headaches, rash, fever. The following morning yet another GP told me that e.coli was nothing to worry about and to stop the ABs. Aaargh.

That was last Friday and actually I've been feeling quite normal, so I dont know if the 2 antibiotics worked or what.. (but I'd been feeling ok anyway).

I had an appt booked with GP no1 today so I thought I'd go and discuss options. I'm now a bit despondent.

I asked if i could go on HRT if the Vagifem doesn't work by itself. His response was that at 59, I'm too old. I mentioned that I still had other menopausal symptoms- insomnia, low moods, huge aches, thin skin etc. He latched onto the insomnia and suggested amitriptyline at night. Aaargh.

So this GP will not give me HRT. Because of the risks. (No cancer in my family, my parents lived to 80/93). He told me that if I get another proper UTI the only antibiotics I can use are amoxicillin and another - both of which are mainly used for chest infections. I'm scared by this.

So what are my options?

I'm on repeat prescription for Vagifem. I hope it works. But if not..?

I am tempted to go private. There's a good woman GP at the local BMI hospital. Probably worth a hundred quid?

Oh, and after at least 8 visits to various GPs in this practice, today I was handed a card and told to read the web page. So I did. I am so insulted. It's basically uti for Janet and John. Drink lots. Cranberry juice.
Google West Sufgolk recurrent uti and feel my pain. 🥵

Book an appointment with a different GP. They have no right to not allow you the medication you need because you are 'too old'. Our bodies age differently, just as children develop differently. You should be treated for your individual health and condition not denied effective medicine because you are a bit older than others who have the same symptoms

Yeah that’s bullshit. My mum was prescribed HRT at 59 and has had massive improvement in symptoms. Bet if he had penis atrophy he’d feel differently!!!
I agree, see someone else, same as you would for any other health problem that had not been resolved.

Yes, I need to see someone else. The problem is it takes 2 weeks to get an appointment, I'm off on holiday on friday for 10 days and I'm sure I can feel the uti symptoms starting again. I want to cry.

Oh kitty I am so sorry! Having been through this - and I’m 60 now, I’m on hrt and occasional estrogen cream which transformed things for me.
Do insist on another appointment/ gp. Have you tried moisturiser? ‘Yes ‘ helped me at my sorest. Available from chemists I also took probiotics after 5 lots of antibiotics.
jinglinghellsbells has brilliant advice.

Go private if you can!
Life is to short to be miserable.
If it works it's money well spent,
The British Menopause Society has a list of specialists and also look at Menopause Matters talk forum. Lots of women on there with experience.

Thanks, I have been taking prebiotics for a few months (and D-mannose, which is supposed to help). I'll have to try and see someone else tomorrow, but what can they do about this current infection if I can't take any antibiotics? I am desperate.

Vagifem takes at least 12 weeks for full effects. If 2 x week doesn't work ask to be put onto intrarosa which is a new treatment which also has testosterone in it. This is used every day

You can buy some antibiotics for UTIs from online pharmacies.
(It's not cheap ( £25 ish for Nitrofurantoin if IRC), next day delivery as well.

I've got an appointment for Thursday with a private GP. Fingers crossed this is the beginning of the end of all this. Thanks for all your support and suggestions. I'll let you know how I get on.

You are not too old .
@JinglingHellsBells has great advice. Print off the stuff from the websites .
VA is awful.

@Kittycuckoo To get the best outcome, start learning about meno and you will be empowered to deal with drs if they are arsey. I've spent 11 years becoming a bit of a meno nerd, partly for my own benefit but also because I'm a health writer.
There is masses of info out there- if you know where to look. The British Menopause Society website , and websites of drs- Menopause Matters and My Menopause Dr. are good.

HRT is given to women over 60. You would have a low dose of transdermal to start with . There is no limit to how long you use it.

Having said that, you may need to give vaginal estrogen up to 6 months to see an effect. There is also a device called an Estring which is a small 'cone' inserted into the vagina for up to 3 months which releases estrogen. Ask about that maybe? Might not suit but always worth asking.

I'll look at those websites. Many thanks @jinglinghellsbells