So, what’s my Pauline been up to today?
- Thread starter Agzy
- Start date
That seems... unnecessarily difficult! There are many ways to administer oestrogen - have you asked the doc if there is an easier alternative?
I was prescribed some oestrogen pessaries a while back and gave up after the third day. What a faff! And a couple of hours later they have melted and re-appear as a slimy mess in your knickers. (TMI! Really sorry!)
But I also take oestrogen as part of my HRT. Over the years I have tried all different sorts - pills, patches and gel. The latter is definitely the best and easiest to use. It's a clear gel and you rub it... well, there are various places you can rub it! Thighs are good though and from what your GP (and mine) says, if he/she is prescribing the vaginal oestrogen to help prevent UTIs, i.e. for vaginal dryness, oestrogen rubbed on the thighs is as good as anything.
I didn't rate the pessaries at all, in any way and they did not prevent my persistent UTIs. I now have a prophylactic AB and fingers crossed, this is working. I realise my situation is a lot different to Pauline's, but you might want to ask the GP about the above as your current arrangements are not working to prevent UTIs.
Just a female point of view from a fellow sufferer...
My wife was on oral oestrogen as HRT.
She had an ultrasound looking for gallstones, technician said endometrium looked thicker than usual and not recording as not requested, wife asked for reading and told GP.
Oestrogen stopped, biopsy taken, all clear, and endometrium thinned.
She had an ultrasound looking for gallstones, technician said endometrium looked thicker than usual and not recording as not requested, wife asked for reading and told GP.
Oestrogen stopped, biopsy taken, all clear, and endometrium thinned.
Thank you @Jaded'n'faded, just the sort of reply I was hoping for so that when and if I get a response from message left with GP I can at least sound authoritative and hopefully get a positive response as up to now I am convinced the practice turn a blind eye to Dementia and some of the newer GPs/nurses just see us as “Old People” and sort of switch off at the list of ailments.
The message I have left for GP asks for oral alternative as the routine I have with Pauline has her taking her meds fairly well now.
i dont think its fair on either of you, there must be an alternative. how many men would do it?you take really good care of pauline that the doctor could have given you an easier method.
Endometrial hyperplasia @nitram
With HRT, you need to take progesterone as well as oestrogen. Unopposed oestrogen leads to endometrial hyperplasia (been there!)
However, I think Agzy's wife is being given oestrogen for vaginal atrophy which is slightly different. Basically, the theory is that as women get older and short of oestrogen, their tissues in that area can become very dry and thin which makes them more likely to suffer abrasions. This can lead to more UTIs as bacteria can enter more easily. Using vaginal pessaries (there's also a 'squirt-it-in' with a syringe version...) is supposed to increase natural moisture in the area - I don't think oral oestrogen would have quite the same effect. (And if that was given, she'd need to take progesterone too, to prevent EH.)
So post menopausal women may get this problem (frequent UTIs), especially if sexually active... (I am not gonna comment on that!)
We use the ‘squirty syringe’ (love that description) method and she always tries to do it herself but invariably presses the plunger while inserting it and so it gets everywhere.
As is getting to be usual on Thursday mornings Pauline stayed in bed and I carried on with my morning routine including getting her breakfast and meds ready and loading the washing machine ready for after her shower.
Again as usual, once I heard her in the bathroom at 7.30, I head up the stairs to see all is ok as she is in the bathroom and her answer to my query about needing help got the usual response, “I don’t need anyone for anything!”
Given this I went down and put my coat and hat on to get the bins in and she calls, “Where you going?” She was on the stairs in her nighty and shaking like a leaf. Back up stairs and got her to sit on a chair in the back room and noted she felt hot so took her temperature which was normal.
Back into bed and gave her her meds and a cup of tea then put her alarm button back on her wrist - not that she will use it!!
In the space of 20 minutes I had climbed the stairs 8 times and was out of puff!
Had she continued to be poorly and awake I would have contacted the surgery once they open at 8.30, although she has told me in no uncertain manner that she doesn’t want or need a doctor; but she still sleeps.
At first I suspected a Thursday Plan to keep me home looking after her but she really seems unwell.
As well as all this her son, who ‘Committed’ to taking her every Thursday instead of Daycare, has, for the second time in the 3 Thursdays since the promise, let me down as he has a crucial meeting mid afternoon.
I would say, “It never rains but it pours.” But given the recent weather that is a bit obvious 😝.
Again as usual, once I heard her in the bathroom at 7.30, I head up the stairs to see all is ok as she is in the bathroom and her answer to my query about needing help got the usual response, “I don’t need anyone for anything!”
Given this I went down and put my coat and hat on to get the bins in and she calls, “Where you going?” She was on the stairs in her nighty and shaking like a leaf. Back up stairs and got her to sit on a chair in the back room and noted she felt hot so took her temperature which was normal.
Back into bed and gave her her meds and a cup of tea then put her alarm button back on her wrist - not that she will use it!!
In the space of 20 minutes I had climbed the stairs 8 times and was out of puff!
Had she continued to be poorly and awake I would have contacted the surgery once they open at 8.30, although she has told me in no uncertain manner that she doesn’t want or need a doctor; but she still sleeps.
At first I suspected a Thursday Plan to keep me home looking after her but she really seems unwell.
As well as all this her son, who ‘Committed’ to taking her every Thursday instead of Daycare, has, for the second time in the 3 Thursdays since the promise, let me down as he has a crucial meeting mid afternoon.
I would say, “It never rains but it pours.” But given the recent weather that is a bit obvious 😝.
Very disappointing about her son. I have one like that, Mr Unreliable. Maybe Pauline is just having a ‘low energy day’, rather than unwell. Every few weeks my OH will suddenly have a day in which he does very little other than sleep. Then he’ll sleep all night and next day back to his normal (little cat naps during the day and evening but otherwise awake). Maybe it’s time to get in some more help Agzy, someone to help with morning routine. If Pauline won’t except the help then help for you with getting everything ready, the bed, washing, clearing up etc. Your health really does not sound like it’s up to this (8trips up and down stairs before 8 would be too much for most of us).
i agree, i would find half the trips a challenge. my husband can say some days he is feeling not well but cant work how or why. its usually tiredness and takes him a day or two to recover. ive just got a cleaner in after 4 years which has taken my husband to say yes. now hes like she can come again. it breaks the day up for me once a week and he sees someone different.
shame about her son, they are full of good intentions but its the carrying it out that gets stuck. mine are the same sometimes.
shame about her son, they are full of good intentions but its the carrying it out that gets stuck. mine are the same sometimes.
I too feared this would happen but if her son works then it was doomed to fail. I think it was a promise with good intent but impractical . Book the daycare and use the son as back up for another day is what I would do. With a bit of luck some weeks you'll get two days respite 🙂
@Agzy . The pessary releases small amounts of oestrogen for the whole time it's in with an option to insert another one if problem not completely resolved. NHS was useless diagnosing the problem despite GP & SPECIALIST being female. Went private and it was diagnosed in minutes. The private doctor said the pessary is available on NHS and suggested if another one was required, get it on the NHS and he would fit it if required. Hope this is of some help to you.
I suspect that at present she would have a meltdown if a stranger (carer) came near her, especially in the morning and future planning for it will take time but when it is right I will most certainly get help in. Thursday was the UTI I think as she picked up after lunch, thank you.
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