vaginal atrophy burning / ecoli UTI won't go away!

OMG I have the exact same problem, E-Coli infections and extreme burning, I am on a low dose of Macrobid for it but it keeps coming back, I can't ride my bike or go out in the hot weather cause my vagina burns so bad I can't stand it, I go to the gyno tomorrow cause I read about vaginal atrophy and I'm sure that is what I have, but I'm afraid the exam is gonna make me burn too, cause any kind of friction on my vagina makes it severely burn. I hope something will help me, and you too.

Wow, this has got to be one of the longest threads on this site.

Joanna, I will recount to you what I have written on other threads re my infections & atrophy.

My problems started around menopause. Had an "infection" : red, very sore, burning. Had a few similar problems in the past; was prescribed Flagyl by my wonderful, older male gyno (since retired). Therefore I requested it from new gyno, but she said she could not prescribe it as nothing was showing in tests that would warrant it. Instead I took everything possible and all did nothing. I was in agony for 5 years. When I told my GP he (without question) prescribed the Falgyl and the infection disappeared. Never forgave myself for listening to the gyno or her for her stubborness.

One thing she had me try was hormone cream but that made it worse. (She wanted me to go on HRT at menopause because she thought it was the answer to everything, but I did not agree.)

Was fine for many years, then AV issues started to increase (there were signs of thinning which is why the hormone cream was prescribed when I had the infection). Only problem was exams becoming more & more intolerable (no sexual partner). My latest gyno wanted me to use Premarin cream to prevent worse problems, but I now have cancer in my family & want to avoid hormones.

Since menopause began I have also had intestinal issues that I have tried to control with diet, enzymes, fiber, probiotics, herbs, etc. Am constantly readling and googling and came across kefir this year. Since drinking it, my intestines are the closest to normal that I ever remember. I am lactose intolerant, but kefir is 99% lactose free so I have no problem with it. I drink only a juice glass or less a day as I think more actually constipates me. I consider it a miracle. I got a friend with lifelong constipation to try it and he is cured! The point of this is I believe our guts can be tipped completely off balance by antibiotics (which we all have been given throughout our lives) and we then try curing those new problems with more antibiotics. It might be possible that if you balance your gut by drinking the kefir (tastes like yogurt but has more live cultures; you can get flavored or make your own) you may feel better. It is worth a try and can do no harm.

When I was in the throes of the infection I made an appointment with an out of state women's clinic. They were convinced my problem was an overgrowth of yeast which was probably coming from my intestines and affecting the vagina. They put me on a yeast free diet, supplements and anti-yeast meds. I had taken the Flagyl just prior to seeing them so it was impossible to tell if their treatments did anything, but it did have a short term effect on my intestines. Again, they felt what was in your gut can affect your vagina.

So you might want to try drinking kefir to see if helps at all. If not I think the Mona Lisa laser is absolutely worth looking into. I have been following those that have had it (mostly with success). If I start to have any problems beyond the slight burn that I get, I will have the ML.

I am also now using one Vit E capsule a night vaginally. Works well. Also use cocunut oil externally now & then. 

Best of luck. I have nothing but sympathy for all of you with these problems. I was so unhappy during the 5 years of the infection it's a wonder I did not end up on depression meds (it was suggested!).

Alternative medicine believes in balance and I think they are correct. Unfortunately western medicine seems to reject the idea. I was cured of a 12 year shoulder problem by acupuncture so I am definitely a believer in trying other forms of "medicine".

I have had this exact problem from 2015-2016. 2 bladder infections per month for a whole year. Also the severe dry and burning vagina. The urine for C & S was not ecoli but strep B. Common in pregnant women or seniors over 60. The antibiotiic for ecoli doesn't work. You need pen vk or levofloxacin, cephalex.

I also had a problem with my thyroid . I was at the Dr. at least 3 x week crying in vag pain, and UTI and they treated me like I had nothing wrong because test were not blood in urine. They did not take the strep B serious as every one has it. But my immune system was gone due to personal stress and my thyroid medication was too low. I kept telling them how fatigued I was. I would pass out on my lunch hour for 20 mn. into the depest sleep. not normal. Finally my thyroid med was increased and I started getting better. I went to a menopausal gyne and a urologist and a gyne-urologist. I was so sick I am finally not getting urethreral burning afer having it for a year. Today I went to my uro-gynecologist and she wants me to take vagi fem, forever.

That doesn't sit well with me I was suppsed to be taking it but I didn't for 6 months. She said I have vag atrohy. I can't justify taking a dangerous hormone for what I think is a natural process in woman . My burning is non existant . Very rare. I would like to know how many woman take these vaginal suppository for ever?

 

Your story is my story I suffered for over five years UTIs treatment for interaistal cystitis which I didn't have. I had the Premarin cream I did absolutely everything I must've been to six different doctors in the end the only thing that helped me was the Mona Lisa treatment which is a laser done on the vagina and inside and since that time I have not had a UTI I think the vagina and the your wreaths are so close together … Anyway nothing else worked I had to pay for the Monalisa out of my own funds I had researched it and then talk to my gynecologist urologist and she thought it was an excellent treatment but it was not covered by insurance I am in the US in California can't say enough about this treatment and it should be covered

Hi Joanna, what a nightmare! First, I would suggest you stop going to different doctors. If you feel comfortable and that the urogynecologist is good, I would suggest sticking with that one. The old two birds with one stone thing. Also, I would suggest seeing a gastroenterologist, just in case. Like you said, things are close together down there. esp with the e coli. I went thru this in 2000-2001. My gyn assured me everything would be fine after my hysto, not. I took oxybutinin for how many years? It was finally so bad, the pain was throbbing thru the entire vulvar area. Stopped that and magic, pain gone. It worked for a long time tho. 

Are they giving you any pain meds? If not, i would suggest, if you have this chronic pain, requesting one. (no it does not make you a drug addict, not if you hurt). You could become physically dependant, and they do cause constipation. Hopefully, you wouldn't have to take them that long. 

Now, when you stick with this urogyn, insist on appts. INSIST. It is your body and your pain, your illness. There are lots of bacteria that are now resistant to antibiotics that in past they were not. I do not know about e coli. Instead of diagnosing yourself, when the doc prescribes an abx, ask to see the c&s. (culture and sensitivity). Go home, get online and look up the abx (antibiotic). If the premarin cream is not working, will the doc switch to oral? And if no, why not? 

It's a good idea to write your questions/concerns down before you go in. Can't remember everything esp when nervous or uncomfortable. Ice is good, just put some cloth between you and it to not irritate the tissues.

Good luck, keep us informed.

With Vaginal Atrophy can you get vaginal pain with that or is it just buring?

Omg this is like exactly what I have been living with and I am so frustrated. I do have interstitial cystitis. But my bladder feels bruised all the time I can't get over uti's get on antibiotics then I get yeast under breasts and under abdomen. I burn constantly in my urethra and I'm sick of it! I need help!!! My urologist tells me to eat right are u kidding me ....

Hi joanna, i am sixty too and have gone through the same thing my doctor diagnosed me with a immune disorder after rulling out cancer. She put me on a stetiod cream amd after about 3 months it got better and just went away. I too went through early menopause and dried up down there. I finally found a harmone doctor that has put me harmone pellets for the last 5 years. Myself and my husband has been quite happy with the results. This year I did have to have kidney surgery and had a stint for 30 days. Have not been normal since, continuous uti that just wont stay away. Doc is considering a continuous antibodic for a year. Not happy. Good luck, hope it is better. I wish I could remember the name of the desease but it caused horrible itching, burning, and sex was off the table.

Google Mona Lisa laser treatment. I went thru The things you were talking about for a five-year period E. coli UTI is diagnosed with intersytal cystitis and then found out that wasn't it. Was vagunal atrophy and nothing worked not the Premarin not anything for a long period of time I discovered the Mona Lisa laser treatment and talk to my uro gynecologist you was for famiar with it but did not have access to it and it is not covered by insurance she referred me to a private doctor and I paid to have it done it changed my life nothing else ever did