Menopause Support Group
Menopause is the physiological cessation of menstrual cycles associated with advancing age. It normally occurs in women between the ages of 45 and 55, when the body begins to slow and stop the production of eggs, estrogen and progesterone production decreases, and menstruation diminishes, eventually stopping altogether.
Hi All,
It is so comforting to have found this site. I feel like I have been living a nightmare for the last two months.
I had a total hysterectomy 4 years ago and was taking Estradiol 2 mg daily by mouth since the surgery. Everything was fine until early September when a general practitioner told me I should get off the Estradiol and she cut back my prescription to only 1 mg (half my dose). Within a week, I felt like I had a bad urinary tract infection with frequency, urgency, pain, etc. I went to Urgent Care and received a prescription for an antibiotic, although the doctor looked at my urine results and wasn't impressed that I had an infection, but decided to treat me because I had "the symptoms" of a UTI. After about 10 days and finishing the antibiotic, I still had no relief. I began to think it was the decrease in my estrogen that caused the symptoms. I quickly increased my Estradiol back to 2mg again and within a few days felt better. The urinary symptoms resolved.
Then in October, I decided to have the bioidentical hormone pellets placed because I have heard such great things about it. Aside from sleeping better, I have seen no other positive effects. In fact, after about 1 week, I was desperate for some relief from intense vaginal pain and dryness and UTI-like symptoms again. This time, I was not only having intense pain and burning when I urinated, there were times I could only pee a few drops and then other times when I would suddenly get the urge to pee and within less than a moment I was unable to hold my urine and would wet my pants. I am only 54 years old and still work and have an 18 year old and an 11 year old. I cannot be stuck at home within seconds of my bathroom. My doctor did a vaginal exam and a urine sample which showed no infection. She gave me samples of Imvexxy (vaginal suppositories) and some pyridium for the urinary pain. Both seemed to help for a bit.
Fast forward another month to today.... I am now on an Estradiol vaginal cream because the Imvexxy was just too expensive and I still take the pyridium as needed for urinary symptoms. There are some days I seem to be fine and other days like today when I feel burning discomfort and can't make it to the bathroom in time. This is miserable. It seems to come in episodes.
I just had my hormone levels drawn the other day and am waiting for the results. I would not be surprised if my estrogen is too low. I was really hoping these pellets would work, but I'm losing patience and am so tempted to start taking my 2mg pills of Estradiol again and forget all this bioidentical implant method. So far it has been nothing but a nightmare.
Has any one been through anything similar to what I'm going through? Any advice or thoughts from anyone? My doctor has not been much help.
Welcome to the site. I read through your post and understand a lot of what you are experiencing. I am on year seven? nine? of this odyssey and have had a lot of the symptoms you described and had to find my own relief as I took care of my ailing parent. I found herbs, phytoestrogen cream, and natural healers like cranberry extract and Azo treatments for UTI. I also used an herbal infection fighter and candida treatment for yeast. most external treatments or suppositories did nothing to help.
I hope you are able to get yoru meds rebalanced so this misery stops. It's not fun going through this particular physical change as it is. Keep your faith firmly in place and make the most of every day. Prayer helps.
The Manjakani gel. Will you post the name or the brand you use. I was searching for it on Amazon but did not know where to start.
Thank you!!