i apologize if if this comes off as ignorant or rambling but it's from lack of sleep.I would like some clarification on what I am going through. I am 46years old and since June had been having burning pain in what I thought was my urethra. It wasn't. I never had a UTI in my life so questioned if it was exactly that. Anyway I was prescribed Bactrim and the pain went away. But I noticed the odd sensation came back. Went to a urologist and he did an ultrasound an cystoscope and a urinalysis. All came back normal. So they sent me to my gynecologist. My symptoms were sweating heavily, my periods are every 17 days, and my vaginal area feels numb at times with pressure and heaviness. Did a pelvic exam and no prolapse etc. they are sending me for a transvaginal ultrasound to rule out anything else. I know this is hormones and part of the change BUT what can I take to relieve this vaginal pain. They won't prescribe me any hormone treatment because my mother died when she was 35 from breast cancer. Is there anything I can do? I am raising my 9 year old son alone, after my divorce, and can't function due to lack of sleep.
This is how my peri started at 44.. started with burning in the vagina area and then eventually spread all over. It is a peri symptom though at the time neither me nor my doctor picked up on it. Its actually nerve related believe it or not and is caused by the lack of estragon effecting your nerve endings. Try a magnesium and B vit supplement ... this will help.. but if you are still not getting any relief you can try one of the old type antidepressants which are used or treating nerve apim/migraines etc. I use ametriptyline at a lose dose. Start with 5mg and take 1 hour before bed and it will also help will sleep. Its the only thing that works for me .. you may have to up the does to 10mg as you go on. Also try a good type of menopause supplement .. I use Menopace .. it also works great if you are having any mild incontinence issues that come with peri. If you need anymore advise please ask as i had no one when i went through it and someone to help and compare with would have made a huge difference.
So first off, I am not a doctor. However, this almost seems like a no brainer. At age 46 there are obviously changes to your hormones. One of the common issues with menopause is vaginal atrophy/dryness, and pain with sex. There can also be reoccuring UTIs and changes in urine output. (dribbling and urgency). While it makes good sense to have them look and rule out any other possible reasons, once that's complete, I can't see why in the world they wouldn't allow you a trial of vaginal estrogen.
Recently, vaginal Estrogen has even been approved for us by breast cancer survivors. And studies have shown that even low dose systemic estrogen does not raise the chances of getting breast cancer. So this completely rules out their rational for not allowing you to have any estrogen.
There are many approved products that are available to provide some estrogen to the vaginal area. Start low and go slow, but this may be creating your pain.
For me, when I go close to menopause, all my ligaments and muscles hurt like crazy. I was in chronic pain. It was so bad I couldn't even spoon with my husband to watch a movie. Within 10 minutes I'd be up and pacing from the pain. I did 4 years of constant chronic pain. Then the vaginal atrophy and dryness set in and I was given vaginal Estrace for that problem. Low and behold, with regular use, all my muscle and ligament pain went away in a very short time. It was the only thing I was doing differently, and ABSOLUTE HEAVEN.
So while I can't guarentee that lack of estrogen is creating your vaginal pain, it certainly seems logical and worth a try. If your physician won't give in to a trial, find a new physician. You desesrve to at least explore this option and possible answer to your pain.
Vaginal atrophy and dryness is not something to mess with. Left untreated, this area can actually web shut and some women can even have vaginal pain with walking. Not to mention additional uretha problems. A little vaginal estrogen may just be the answer.
Thank you so much for your kind reply. Yes it's odd it was the only symptom I had and it only occurs during my period. I don't have a sister and my friends seem not to have any menopausal issues yet...lucky them. The Urologist from the beginning said it wasn't a urinary or bladder issue, but sent me for the various test just to be certain. My gynecologist wasn't very helpful either because she said it would be odd for me to have "vaginal pressure and numbness along with burning" because I only had one child and he was born via c section so prolapse is unlikely. It can't be due to any possible std because I haven't been sexually active for 8 years. Anyway After she confirmed her thoughts during the pelvic she said it was hormonal. Since my mother died very young I had no reference of genetic factors such as when she would have gone through this change. Therefore I am at the mercy of you wonderfully kind souls. I will research those supplements and also the anti depressant you mentioned. My question re the anti depressant...does it make you very drowsy? I am raising my child alone (no other family) so want to be sure I am not too compromised by medicine in order to take care of him. Thank you again
It sounds like you are aready on top of your care by going to the obgyn and even the urologist!
For certain you are transtioning into menopause via Peri
As for the numbness and heaviness and pressure its s(q 17 days)The whole body gets tired you know?
The Bactrim helped so that was probably incidental minor uti, but this heaviness seems like it needs to run its course.
Could you possibly do an ice pac 10 min at a stretch. and possiby that would relieve the pressure and heaviness.
I would elevate legs as much as possible too, maybe do both.
Sleep is paramount as it is the most restorative thing we can do for our bodies PERIOD. Whatever ya gotta do, make sure you sleep and everything will begin to repair.
Hope you are better, keep us posted. i know how you feel.
Thank you gailannie, as I responded above I appreciate the replies. In addition to my answer above, I won't bore you with repeating myself. However can I ask you if you had a pulling feeling or pressure in the vaginal area that would come and go? I only have a burning sensation one day during my cycle (I get my period every 17 days and it last 3 days) and then it goes but the pressure and weighted feeling is on and off throughout the month. I have about 7-10 days where it's almost normal but i am always aware of it. I would love to use an estrogen cream and like you said I will have to look elsewhere for another gynecologist. I wish you well.
I really feel for you that have had this vaginal pain, im 49 and have recently been told my hormone levels were depleated, after many years begging the doctor to do this test, i never had this in particular, but did have sweats, i will not call them night sweats as they could be alday 365 days a year. I hope they sort this out for you as soon as they can.
Thank you again. Everyone responding has lifted my spirits. It's not fun and at times I feel very alone without any other family. I am trying to stay very positive and for the most part know I am blessed. I have always been proactive about any odd feelings health wise, since my mother died so young and my father died ten years after her. Therefore I knew something was happening but just wasn't sure. I realize my issues pale in comparison to many of the other posters here but again am grateful for the kind and speedy response from all of you.
Tara, I think it's telling that burning sensation just one day of your cycle. Can you tract the day? Is it regularly at a certain day of your cycle.
As far as a presure or pulling feeling in the vaginal area, my sensation was a severe strain and tightness of the ligaments at the top of my legs right by my vagina. It hurt so bad, it was like I wanted someone to pull them out! Oh my gosh did they hurt!
I think every woman does/can experience strange sensations a little differently. Many woman complain about pain in the vaginal vault. Lack of estrogen is the issue.
Possibly just a small amount of vaginal estrogen for several days right before your period might help. That is, of your periods are still pretty regular. But a shortened cycle of 17 days, with 3 days of bleeding is pretty telling.
Thank you, yes it's always the first day of the 3 day period...and then after that comes the numbness and pulling sensation. Will definitely look into a cream. My gynecologist kind of made me feel guilty bc of the history of BC with my mom and that my son has no other family. Made me think I was taking a risk for what she considered something that is tolerable. In the big picture yes it is..but as you said I am concerned at how much worse it may get. Thanks again.
Yes that type does make you drowsy thats why you take it at bedtime. Its such a low does it does not effect you in the morning. Its not a sedative in any way so it does not effect your ability to function.Try the suppliments first if you can.
Can I ask you what type of cream you found worked best? I am not familiar and I know it's all personal. I am going to ask my dr for some samples but is there one in particular for the burning? I am not sexually active so just want the odd sensation to lessen. Thank you
Tara, there are many options. I used vaginal Estrace. But again there are plenty of options available. Even Premarin makes a vaginally synthetic estrogen cream.
That is very telling. On the day your period starts, your hormones (estrogen/progesterone) are at their lows for the cycle. That's why your period begins. Your estrogen builds from that low point. This is why you'd feel better in a week or so.
Be sure to mention that to your physician, so he/she understands this is a patterned cyclical thing.
Hi again, really sorry to bother you but if you check this post again can you tell me if this sounds familiar. My period only lasted one day this month (yesterday). But the day after I get a cut like feeling in the inside of my vaginal wall. It feels like it's right at the opening but inside up about an inch. It burns but I assume that's from the urine. Is that a sign of estrogen issues?
