Vag. and Bladder Problems

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-21-2004
Vag. and Bladder Problems
3
Fri, 11-11-2005 - 7:58pm

Hi everyone. I haven't been to this board before but I'm getting desperate and could use some feedback, so I thought I'd give it a try. I've been having chronic yeast infections and bladder problems since around May (before that, I had occasional bladder infections and yeast infections, but nothing like what I'm dealing with now), and it's driving me crazy. I've been to the doctor as well as to a urologist, and they basically don't know exactly what's causing my symptoms, but they think that because of repeated bladder infections my ureters "tightened up" and that is causing frequency. So, I am now on Sanctura for the frequency, but I am still having chronic yeast infections (I've been tested for every STD and infection and everything else is negative), and at this point I'm getting tired of feeling bad all of the time.

For my part, I've been cutting out sodas and most of the sugar I eat, washing "down there" only with warm water, no soaps; sleeping in nighties with no panties to let things air out, and trying to learn to wipe from front to back. Also, because of things always being uncomfortable in my vag. area, my husband and I have not been having intercourse for the past two months. Still, I'm having the yeast symptoms as well as urinary frequency and I wonder if these two problems will ever go away. :(

To add to my story I wanted to mention that I have been tested for interstitial cystitis and that was negative, plus I've had the doctor do blood work to see if I might be diabetic, and that too was negative. At this point I feel like I'm just biding my time, like nothing is really changing or getting better and like I don't really have any "real" answers, I'm just extending the trips to the bathroom from every 30 minutes to every 2 hours if I'm lucky, and using Diflucan and Monistat almost every week.

I feel like there's something more going on, something that the doctors aren't finding or can't explain, and so I thought if I posted what's going on maybe someone else that's going through something similar could share how they've dealt with these kind of problems. Right now I can use all the help I can get and would be grateful to hear from other women who have this "stuff" going on. :)

Thanks so much for listening,
Tracy

Avatar for bewildered05
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Sat, 11-12-2005 - 10:46am

You don't say how old you are but if you're in your late 30's or older, it could be signs of perimenopause. I went thru that for over a year!! It was caused by dropping estrogen levels and "down there" was just drying up, itching and I also had a discharge. The itching was driving me out of my mind. I went from my pcp to a gyn and even one night went to the ER. I hadn't slept for a few days and was at my wits end. First they said it was a yeast infection, then strep, then yeast again. What helped me was estrogen cream applied a couple of times a week either vaginally or just applied to the outside. When estrogen levels fall, it's not only the vagina that can be affected. The anus and the ureters can have problems as well.

Lynne

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Sat, 11-12-2005 - 12:02pm

Welcome, I am so glad that you have found us.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Sat, 11-12-2005 - 3:20pm

Greetings and Welcome Tracy!


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