Vaginal/Bladder discomfort during chemo?

[kat98116]

Hello lovely ladies,

I'm hoping you can help me with this "delicate" inquiry. I've been having UTI type symptoms; some burning, rawness, urgency, frequency etc. But all of my tests for UTI are negative, although a small amount of blood was detected in my urine. I was even given the yeast pill, Diflucan, but the symptoms are still there. The only thing that seems to help is Azo (Pyridium) for bladder soothing. I'm currently on Doxil/Avastin for my first recurrence. It also happened once while I was on carbo/taxol during frontline. Can anyone relate to this? If so, did anything help? I'm 64 and not sexually active, so it's definitely not from that!!! The discomfort is maddening! Thanks. Kathy in Seattle

[Lily-Anne]

It sounds like thrush to me. I have had similar problems. I use canesten cream twice a day which helped. I have also been tested for UTI recently came up negative but being tested again. Oncologist said it isn’t unusual to show as no infection even if there is one that’s localised

LA xx

[kat98116 in reply to Lily-Anne]

Thanks LA. Maybe that's why the difflucan pill I took seemed to help temporarily. I also had a feeling the mouth sores had something to do with fungal despite the fact that they didn't look "thrushy." At least it's not just me! Hope you are well. I know it's been a rough go for you lately.

[Lily-Anne in reply to kat98116]

Fluconazole was the over the counter thrush tablet I was told to take. Don’t know if it is the same ingredients. I do know I’m just keeping it at bay even though the antibiotics finished two weeks ago. Are you on steroids? As this can make both flare up

I’m ok just got miseritis this week lol

Xx

[kat98116 in reply to Lily-Anne]

Me too (the miseritus). Here in the US Fluconozole is a prescription and it is the one I took. I'm def. going to need more. No, not on steroids, just Doxil/Avastin and after just one dose my neutrophils are way too low at .5. Now they want me to do the daily shot of Gralix or some such thing to bring them up. My insurance won't cover Neulasta until I've tried the first. Hang in there LA. I will too...by the fingernails some days.

[Flamingobeef18]

Hi Kathy

I do sympathise. Those sort of symptoms are awful and make you very low.

I too wonder if it could be thrush . I had similar mouth and nether regions problems and the only thing that helped were the Diflucan tablets. I needed a course of tablets rather than a one off and even then it would eventually come back. Also my mouth did not look thrushy but it obviously was.

Hope you get it sorted soon.

Juliax

[kat98116 in reply to Flamingobeef18]

Thanks Julia. I will definitely be speaking to my doctor about this in a couple of days.

[27-359]

Yes, this made my life a misery. I eventually was diagnosed with atrophy of the vagina, which occurs after meñopause, due to oestrogen reduction, but seems to get much worse after chemo. I tried various vaginal lubricants from Boots, but found some caused irritation. On the advice of a gynae nurse, I tried Yes vaginal lubricants, which is organic and available on prescription. As long as I use this every few days, I am now ok. A regular sex life helps as well, but I couldn't get that on prescription! If you read my past posts, you will find that I was coming a bit obcessed with the bladder, as if we don't have enough to worry about.

Jenny

[kat98116 in reply to 27-359]

Jenny! Thank you for reminding me! I also have vaginal atrophy and was diagnosed with it a few years ago when I thought I had a UTI! I use a very small amount of natural estrogen cream and it helps. I didn't realize that chemo/hysterectomy could make it worse. Perhaps I just need to use a bit more. I'll check with my onc tomorrow. I don't believe my cancer is estrogen driven. I'm so glad you found a solution. Yes, it's total misery isn't it!

[JayGeeCee]

It's been a year since my operation and subsequent diagnosis of stage 4 OC and since then I've had persistent burning, which is present all of the time.

For the last three weeks I've also passed quite a lot of blood in my urine. I was due to have Avastin yesterday but it was cancelled due to the blood. I've just had a course of antibiotics which haven't changed anything. I have had a catheter in my left kidney since the op and this is being changed next month, hopefully this will help.

I completely sympathise with you, it is so debilitating the constant desire to pee makes going anywhere tricky at times.

I hope your doctor can sort it for you, stay strong.

[kat98116 in reply to JayGeeCee]

JayGeeCee I am so sorry to hear that! My recent discomfort is nothing compared to what you have been going through. I hope the change of catheter does the trick for you....what a way to live. Wishing you comfort and strength.