Depression,anxiety and confusion

Hi:  I am like your husband, go go go, but when I am having an "episode", uti and pain, it knocks me down so I know what you are talking about.  Also the depression is real, when I feel good I know how bad I feel when the pain starts.  I am taking the HRT cream, after 4 years I would take poison if it helped,, but even the HRT doesn't work all the time.  Also took 3 doctors to get a diagnosis but no answers.  good luck, this is a good place to talk to others

Lee, I'm so sorry this is getting to you so much.  Just try and look on it as a blip that once it's sorted out, you can go on to thoroughly enjoy your life again.  And it WILL be sorted out.  I didn't know I had atrophy until very recently, purely because no-one had told me!  I understand where you're coming from.  My husband braked sharply a couple of times within two days and that made me sore, and he really didn't appreciate the problem, but there are so many solutions and it's just a case of finding the right one for you.  It might be trial and error, but each time you try something that doesn't work, look on it as a positive - that's one thing that you can rule out, but there are SO many other options to try!   I think doctors will be like midwives - when you have your children each midwife tells you to do a different thing and it gets confusing until you work out what's best for you.  So get as much advice as you can, write down your options and research them all online and then work through them, so you have a plan.  That will make you feel in control of the situation and also help:-)  I hope this might have lifted your spirits a bit:-)))))

Hi Chris,, your positive message to Lee made me realize it could be worse.  Its like entering a dark cave and when it subsides the light comes in.  We all need to keep up the hope

Hi Lee, I had never heard of Vaginal Atrophy till I got it a year ago either. No mention of it in women's magazines or anything. I told Doc I had never heard of it and asked how come there was never any mention of it. She said because its embarrassing. But its no more embarrassing than periods etc are. Anyway it was a big shock to me, I can tell you.

I will try and cut this short. Since a year ago, without seeing the side effects listed, I was first on GYNEST (HRT) and then Vagifem (HRT). Neither sorts of HRT did much to help my symptoms. Soreness and wanting to wee all the time. But looking back, they probably stopped any UTI's. I stopped using the HRT early August and wasn't too bad till about 3 weeks ago. Since then I've had 4 UTI's one after the other so 4 lots of antibiotics. I take my last capsule at 8pm tonight. Scared that by tomorrow the infection will have returned. So I've got 2 choices. A) Start using the Ovestin HRT but that's got strokes listed in the side effects and mum recently died of a severe stroke so obviously I'm scared of that option.

And

B) D Mannose. This is a natural option that is meant to be great for UTI'S, either preventing them or getting rid of the UTI'S if you have already got one. Only problem is its really expensive.

I am going to try the D Mannose before I look at HRT again, even if it is expensive. If it works I will be able to ditch both the antibiotics and the HRT and that will be great. Then I would just have to use Replens up inside to keep me lubricated and help with the soreness.

And yes I am depressed and utterly fed up of it. Like you I wake up wondering how I will feel and will I be able to cope, will I be able to do this, that and the other. It's costing a load of money too like you say. Really really sick of it. So you are definitely not on your own with all this. At least by coming here we know we are not alone with all this.

Dear lee12629,

Try not to get too down and miserable-but it isn't easy. It is  a horrible thing. My sex life is no more-I have no supportive doctor, "he " still believe its just nature and I must accept it-of course thats a mans point of view.I don't think he would accept it so easily.HRT does have bad side effects. You don't want to ditch one set of problems and get another. I can only suggest you get onto using topical HRT , and pessaries to prevent the atrophy getting worse. It will help, and isn't  absorbed systemically like the other HRT. I do not know if you are in U.K or U.S.A, Please don't feel sad all alone-we are all here to help each other through lifes bad patches and we all understand xxxxx

Hi Lee, and ladies , I can empathize with your pligh , I too have had a weekend of pain and discomfort ,the dreaded stinging and general awfulness associated with this condition. I am on Vagifem which is working ok 'up there' it's just 'down there' that's the problem now , my doctor has advised  Ovestin for two weeks to use externally , I'm now nearing my first week and I'm praying it will work , I'm finding sitting and walking quite uncomfortable.

I' m wondering if all else fails would oral Hrt be the answer ? Has anyone got any comments , has anyone experience of this form of Hrt for tackling  this particular problem ?  it seems a last resort but I would like to have an emergency plan