Bladder and vaginal related issues questions please ?

[gillsky8]

Phone call from GP today to say that a further prescription of Estriol cream has been issued.

It looks as though this is the way forward for me so will now be using every night, it seems on the issue that this needs to be for four weeks and then dropping back to twice weekly,

with an 80g tube I find it quite hard to believe that this will last for 4 weeks but will have to see. I am happier with this although the vagifem is less messy, I haven't read good reports of it for long term use. ?

the good thing is I can also use Estriol topically every so often which I hope will help. Urine sample came back clear today and no infection so that's a good sign hopefully.

I am also going to continue with the nightly dose of nitrofurantoin antibiotic at the dose 50mg as this has been suggested to use to help prevent the UTI's returning.

Couple of questions please ?

Anyone who has been on Estriol cream with vaginal atrophy, when should I start to feel some comfort from this ? I take it that I do need to complete the whole dose ?

Nitrofurantoin ? does it need to be taken at night only, or can it be taken with food during the day,? I have it in the back of my mind that I read somewhere last thing at night works more effectively on the water works, but might be wrong. It's just that I do find it upsets my stomach a bit last thing.

thanks as always to all lovely people on here who help with their responses.

its much appreciated.

[bantam12]

As to feeling effects of the cream it depends how bad the atrophy is, I found it relieved things pretty quickly but obviously takes a little while for the tissue to repair itself and it’s ongoing treatment rather than a fix it then stop using it.

I was on long term Trimethoprim and took it at night without any problems, if the Nitro isn’t agreeing with you maybe ask to change, I can’t take Nitro anyway, horrible stuff.

[gillsky8 in reply to bantam12]

thankyou for your reply, day 4 of application and I have to say this is the first morning after that I have felt a little more comfortable, so fingers crossed the cream is doing it's job. !

I'm going to stick with the nitro for the time being , last 2 urine tests have been negative and also no infection.

[Shoeysmum]

Hi.

I'm on Estriol cream for cervical atrophy. I was totally unaware that there was an issue and the atrophy was diagnosed by a gynae doctor who was treating me for abnormal cervical cells. That being said - are you aware of the vaginal atrophy?

[gillsky8 in reply to Shoeysmum]

Hi, very good question and the answer is really, yes and no.

I am pretty convinced that the issue along with many others associated with dryness of skin arose when I started on steroids prednisone for PMR, which is why I am so keen to reduce and get off of them. However I had been aware of discomfort, certainly dryness and irritation, itching definitely seems I had a few UTI's several actually, some I think were detected others I just got on with. The need to go to the loo much much more often, during the night but lots of this just put down to age as I am 71 .

In anycase it was the microscopic traces of blood in the urine which prompted the GP to send me to have an ultra sound scan and then camera in bladder to investigate. All was well thank goodness except that time and time again during pre exam and exam the comment was "you are extremely dry down there" In anycase it was the urologist who suggested at the examination that I might be suffering from vaginal atrophy in his report and it was he who at first prescribed the vagifem pessaries. I suspect that had I not had that urine test and had it not thrown up the issue of dryness I would have likely gone on just moisturising below with canestan etc. I actually do find canescool very good.

However, now on the Estriol cream as I am guessing all the OTC products will not help in the long term. I am very interested as to how in the long term, if it works what difference it will make a. to the frequency of the UTI's b. to the frequency of needing the loo and c. the soreness and stinging sensation.

So back to your question, I would say I was probably not aware of the vaginal atrophy, certainly thinking how long I have felt that mild discomfort which was really more or less liveable with

Sorry for the long reply, hope it makes sense.