Vaginal atrophy diagnosis

[gillsky8]

I have seen my GP today and she is suggesting that I might try vagifem as pessary or Estriol cream due to very sore and dry vagina with symptoms of recurrent UTI's, periodically very small traces of blood in the urine.

I am also currently on fluconazole now a once a week dose and nitrofurantoin which is the antibiotic I take at night as recommended by the urologist I saw originally for the prevention of UTU returning.

All this alongside prednisone for PMR and I will be on a substantial cocktail of medicines and I have to ask are they ALL really necessary. She says the antibiotics low dose are to prevent the return of UTIs. She want me to take Fluconazole course complete and then a maintenance dose of one per week to keep the thrush at bay and she says that in the longer term the HRT will be beneficial for the overall vaginal health.

She has taken a swab sample this morning to check vaginal thrush, I had another OTC one at home which last week tested VERY MUCH positive, but having had 2 tablets of fluconazole it is today negative.

I am still pretty sore however and stinging when urinating, but my dilema is do I go with this HRT route or not ?

If so which is better advised for use, pessary vagifem or Estriol cream. As I understand from what I have read they are slightly different, but not sure how so, apart from their application. I think the pessary could be less messy, but sometimes a cream is a little gentler maybe ?

Having had an estoscopy (camera to investigate bladder and this being normal)

This has been a very much long on going situation and I am keen to treat the matter as soon as and get some closure on it.

Any experience or advice on this would as always be much appreciated.

thank you everyone

[Shoeysmum]

Hi gillsky8

My advice would be to opt for the Estriol and I speak from experience.

I was told I have cervical atrophy and my GP put me on the pessary. Some years later I suffered with UTIs for about 6 months with antibiotics doing nothing or very little at best. I was referred to my local Continence Advisory Service and the nurse I saw was extremely knowledgeable - she even runs courses for GPs! She switched me over to Estriol saying it was much better than the pessary.

Good luck.

[gillsky8 in reply to Shoeysmum]

OK thank you it's very early days for me, and I am more concerned regarding the cocktail of different meds I have been put on. I actually find the pessary easy to use and with less of a messy discharge than the Estriol. Will probably go with pessary for the time being and see how I get on.

[Matrix]

Hi there ,well I was getting UTI every few weeks ,last one I got a very severe kidney infection had to go to hospital with it .Then after I went to see a female dr and she examined me and put me on daily antibiotic after reading up I got a bit worried in case it made me resistant to them .Then saw another dr about two months and she gave me some hormone cream to apply every day for two weeks and then twice a week thereafter .I have not had a uti since .I wish they had thought of it sooner it’s called Ovesten . Hope you get it sorted soon .By the way I have 20 prescriptions a month and rising ,so your not alone sweetie .🤗🤗

[gillsky8 in reply to Matrix]

Thanks for your quick reply.

Phew re prescriptions !!! I thought I was on a lot . Yes I’m the same worrying if the daily nitrofurantoin albeit 50mg is a good thing or not . I guess if it prevents recurring UTI. S then maybe. However I really do not like the Vagifem . Thinking I may go with fluconazole once a week after initial dose of 75mg every 72 hrs for 3 days as initial doses.

[Matrix in reply to gillsky8]

I got to reading up on it and decided that initially I thought it was a great idea ,and as I went I thought maybe not .Its the long term use of it .This vaginal cream is amazing ,like a miracle for me ,but you will know what’s right for you .I found the Ovestin applicator easy to use and I have never been able to use tampax or anything similar .Hope some of that helps you .🤗🤗

[gillsky8 in reply to Matrix]

Just to let you know I have decided to go with Estriol cream and so far so very good. No mess after and easy to use. I can also use it topically which is very soothing. I don't know how quickly this HRT treatment works, but for the first time in the last month or so I have felt much more like my normal self.!!

[Matrix]

Hi ,I can honestly say when I used my cream it was like a miracle .Im so glad you have tried a cream .Hope it stops the UTIs .🤗🤗