Update

Thank you Chris. I am still scared of the severe V A symptoms returning and/or the UTI too. So I am just taking things one day at a time. :-)

I can so understand that Shirley - you just don't DARE assume it's all good yet, but I hope you'll soon be able to relax and know you've put that behind you:-)))))

I haven't tried Hydromol but have kept a note of it.  After a second attempt to fit a pessary last Tuesday I was left SO sore that I went back to the coconut oil and that helped hugely, to the point that I've now got another appointment next Tuesday, to have a third attempt.  But I have said I don't want a Gellhorn.  So you found the Hydromol really good?  I've actually got some sitting in a basket on a certain site:-)

Thanks Chris, That's right. I dont dare assume it's all good yet. Yes I hope I will soon be able to relax too.

Sorry to hear about your soreness after your second attempt to fit a pessary last Tuesday. Glad the coconut oil helped you a lot and I hope your third attempt goes well next Tuesday. I don't know what a gellhorn is.

Re the Hydromol, its a thick "Clear" ointment like Vaseline. You can also use it as a soap in the shower etc. I've used it around my vagina. I just get a bit in my hand and mix it with warm water. But I like to use it as an ointment at night too. It's a bit messy but I like it. To be honest it may be just a co-incidence that my VA and UTI's arent too bad at the moment but its worth a try anyway.

But yes, definitely one day at a time. Thanks Chris. :-) x

Gellhorn - think sink plunger LOL!  Thank you for the good wishes for Tuesday.  I've got three different Hydromol's in my basket.  So it's the ointment rather than the emolient for bath and shower, and it's not the intensive? 

You're such an encouragement to us all:-))))

Oh right I see now :-) Will be thinking of you on Tuesday. Yes its the ointment I am using. No it doesn't say anything about intensive on it . Would upload a picture if it were possible. It cost about £5 for a small tub but it does seem to be lasting quite a while.

Thank you Nancy. Yes its a real gift to get painfree or virtually pain free days. A really difficult condition for sure. It could return at any time. :-( But in the meantime I am enjoying the good days. :-)

Thanks Lee. I'm just taking it one day at a time. I know things can change dramatically over night. I report back here with any changes.

Thanks Beverly. No, no suggestions from the doctor. But I've got my tub of D Mannose just in case. Got up fine this morning too. Only "Blips" I've had this last week have been a couple of times for only a few seconds when I have felt like a "Air bubble" up inside me that was really sore. That's happened twice when I have been in certain positions like bending over for example. Other than this, no real soreness all week. Just a slight feeling of wanting to wee all the time. One day at a time I think.......

Shirley I'm just wondering if this feeling of wanting to wee all the time is from inflammation left over from when you had the infections?  Would anyone know if it could be or not?  I just so hope we watch your posts and see that you are fully 'normal' soon!  I'm fumbling in the dark here but wondering if it COULD be inflammation still causing this, whether it might be worth asking your doctor for anti-inflammatories, but see if anyone else thinks it could be that.  I'm just trying to come up with any ideas that might help, and might be completely on the wrong track.

Thanks Chris. I see what you are getting at. The sensation of wanting to wee all the time is only mild in comparison to some days when I have been really upset with it, not wanting to do anything or go anywhere. In fact its not there at all at the moment so its on and off. But its a good point re inflammation left over from the infections. I have got a docs appointment a week on Thursday so will mention it then. I've just used the Hydromol in the shower again. It says on the tub - 3 in 1 all purpose emollient, bath addiditive and soap substitute. Contains no fragrances, colourings, additives or preservatives. For eczema, psoriasis and other dry skin conditions. Made by Alliance pharmaceuticals. I'm using it every day at the moment.

Thanks for the info Shirley - I'm trying to order mine right now (having a bit of a computer problem, but will get there:-)  I looked up online and it says it can be used internally too, so I'm thinking that 'having an internal bit bulging slightly out' won't be a problem with it.  I'll use it every day too:-)  I'm still using the prohydrate in the shower and that seems good - it feels better as soon as I shower, but after the shower, since the experience of the pessary fitting, I'm smothering everything in coconut oil.  That's helped hugely as well but it is a bit messy because it goes SO liquidy with body heat, but I'm past caring about that aspect at the moment.  I think the Hydromol will be better and work at least as well.   I do hope that sensation of weeing either goes naturally soon or they can give you something to take it away.  Let us know, won't you.  My goodness what women go through!

No probs Chris. I hope you have managed to order your Hydromol by now. I know what a nuisance computers can be when they are playing up. I have surprised myself computer wise in as much that if someone had told me 30 years ago I would use one every day and enjoy them the way I do, I would have said they were bonkers! That's interesting that the Hydromol can be used internally too. I've missed that somewhere. Not heard of prohydrate but it must be good stuff if it feels good as soon as you shower. Where do you get your coconut oil from? I'm not bothered about things being messy either. It sounds like its really good stuff to use down below. I got an email reply from the people at Waterfall D Mannose recently after I queried their product and another thing she said that's meant to be good is Omega 7 capsules taken orally. Re the wanting to wee all the time sensation, I'm just wondering if its tailing off. You know I said it wasn't as severe? Well maybe that's its, the feelings are getting less because whatever caused them in the first place is gradually healing. I don't know really. That's just a guess. But I can live in hope. Yes us women go through a lot don't we. But this Vaginal Atrophy has been a shock I can tell you, and a real downer at times. Things seemed to go wrong after I was turned 50. But having said that, I had a breast lump removed before I was 40 and a cone biopsy too because bad cells were found after my smear test . I needed glasses, for close up stuff by the time I was 50 and then my knees (At least I thought it was my knees) started getting extremely painful, so much so that I had to stop working because of them. But in the end it was referred pain from my hips - my knees were in fact fine! First hip replacement almost a year ago. Am on waiting list for 2nd one but I've got my doubts about getting it done. Also suffered from anxiety for 3.5 years during my early 50s but that wasn't my first breakdown.

But really things could be a lot worse. I am just nervous of my new hip ( There is so much that can go wrong) and scared of the VA and UTI's coming back. And I don't want any more OMs either, Ocular Migraines!! Sorry Chris. I do ramble on when I start.

Yep, order done, thank you:-))))  I started with a liquid coconut oil but then because it was so messy, abandoned that and tried other products, but in desperation after the pessary fitting I raided my kitchen cupboard where I had some organic coconut oil I'd got from an upmarket supermarket.  But you can buy it online too.   I fridged it for a bit so it went more solid and am sort of 'grabbing a chunk' and using that.  I've not even heard of Omega 7!  Will have to look that up.  I do take Krill oil - Omega 3 though.  Oh I'll be SO pleased if your urge to wee is tailing off!:-)))))  You've had a real basin full too then!  I've been on anti depressants most of my life but have got them down to the minimum now, and that's OK.  Pretty everything that's happened to me seems to track back to the Ehlers Danlos though, including anxiety/depression.  But I think problems like the ones we all have on here ARE depressing, especially when we can't see an end to it, but I think that's where 'having a plan' comes in, so if one thing doesn't work, we know there are alternatives, because that feeling of being in control makes so much difference.

I can absolutely understand you worrying about infection going to your hip.  I didn't realise that could happen until you mentioned it, but I SO SO hope you've found the answer long term now.  If you have, do stay on the group - don't disappear, because we need encouragement from people who have found answers:-)))))

Glad you got your order sorted. Glad also the hardened coconut oil works well for you too. I will remember that for future reference. I had not heard of Omega 7 either! I used to take Omega 3 though. It was good for anxiety, amongst other things. I am living in hope that my urge to wee so often is tailing off too. Yes a basin full. Glad your antidepressants are down to a minimum now. I took Prozac for three years for post natal depression and they really helped me at that time. Sorry, not heard of Ehlers Danlos. Yes I agree the problems we all have on here are depressing. And its the fact that we can't see an end to them that makes it so much worse. I agree completely about the feeling of being in control. It makes a huge difference.

Yes there is all sorts that can go wrong with false hips. As well as stopping any infection as quickly as possible other issues include dislocation - which I understand is one of the most painful things ever, and just like getting an infection in the hip, it would mean another hip replacement!! Also the new joint can come loose! Scary stuff.

I'm just wondering Chris, if by any chance my AV symptoms are tailing off, if it was AV after all. Doctors have got things wrong before today haven't they. Time will tell.

But I will hang around and keep posting updates. I am sending messages from my mobile phone as we disconnected the WiFi here because son is addicted to online gaming and he was ignoring his college work because of it. So no WiFi here. Just my mobile phone with its mobile data allowance. Oh and I use free wifi in town too. I'm missing the Internet connection at home if I'm honest but as things stand with son, I'm not giving in. Told him as soon as he has got a job he can have the Internet back but he is paying for it.

Getting dark now. Just had brother on the phone from Spain. Wish I was in Spain :-)

Oh you had no choice but to stop the WiFi!  Yes, the fact that a bacterial infection could affect a hip replacement is horrific!  Too right doctors have been wrong before LOL!  I won't go into the list of disasters I've had with GP's or my post will be moderated and removed LOL!  But you do have to take responsibility for your own health to a great degree, learning as much as you can about problems.  Ehlers Danlos is a connective tissue problem and the cause of everything going south in my pelvis.

But yes, if your symptoms are tailing off, then it's highly unlikely it was AV, isn't it!  There could be lots of women up the wrong creek because it's been easy to assume that's the problem!

That was it Chris, no choice. Re infections, nobody wants one, new implant or not, but certainly its made me a lot more scared than I would be without my titanium/ceramic hip! I would be horrified if any infection went to it! The Doctors have made many mistakes haven't they. Sorry to hear of your disasters with doctors over the years. It's a fact isn't it, we have to take responsibility for our own health to a great degree. No not heard of the Ehlers Danlos before. There are so many ailments aren't there. It's a wonder we are ever healthy isn't it. I am hoping to god the doc diagnosed my "AV" wrong and that the symptoms will continue to tail off. I will let you know if there is any change.

Absolutely Shirley.  I am looking forward to updates from you:-)))))

Ok, Speak soon. :-)