Hi (waving) I have been a wreck for the past three years. I was told it was in my head, I was given Lexapro and sent away from the doctors. Finally I have been back five times just this past year and changed doctors. The new female doctor took alot of time with me and did say I was in peri menopause. I am 38. My mom stopped her period totally at 41. I have all the symptoms. I was first put on Ortho Novum 777. I felt as if all my veins and muscles in my eyes legs and forearms were being squeezed...turns out I have high cholesterol and they changed my pill. I was then put on Lo Estrin 24 FE. I went nuts on that stuff...I couldn't drive, I was crying like crazy and felt as if the oxygen was being cut off in my brain. I guess that in peri menopause a person who has high cholesterol sometimes has high progesterone and that can happen when given too much. I called they told me to stop that. Now I am on Lo Ogestrel, for one week now. ANy one get relief with this? Also I have been having urinary tract infections like crazy. I had never had one and I thought I was losing my muscles down there...antibiotics help but then it comes right back again. Is this something others are experiencing? When I first started ortho novum all the urinary problems went away but are now back. Sorry if that is posted elsewhere but I am feeling like I am nut as family memebers have said that this is all in my head and I know it is very real. I am so glad I found this site. I better get reading.

It is not in your head.I am 32,I know your pain.First let me suggest drinking a lot of water and starting a cranberry supplement,or just drinking two glasses of plain cranberry juice a day.This should help your urinary tract to get better.I used to suffer with that a lot. i am now on my third birth control pill,and thankfully it is working-sometimes we just have to keep looking for the right one.i also take magnesium,which helps my muscles.I truly wish i could give you a big hug and just let you know that you are not alone.I suggest reading up on all the info here at power surge,it has helpedme so much.The ladies here are great,and any time you have a question they seem to have been there.GOD loves you,so do not give up-it will get better.GOD-bless

Lovelace,

First let me say WELCOME! PS saved me, and I am sure you will find it just as helpful!

Next, let me reassure you...it is NOT all in your head!! That comment makes me SO MAD!! I have had that directed at me before too. When hormones go wacky some people are affected differently that others. I, like you, had constant neverending UTIs. Sadly nothing will cure them but anti biotics...however there are a few steps you can take to prevent them.
1. Drink cranberry juice (not cocktail) OR take cranberry pills (which is the route I took).
2. Drink WATER WATER WATER.
3. Either eat yogurt with probiotics, or take Probiotic pills - to repopulate after all the anti biotics, or you will be dealing with a yeast infection next...grrrrr!!

Although "most" women first lose their progesterone, not everyone does, and apparently you are one of those. I don't really know for myself as I didn't do anything during peri, until I was 9 months without a period - at that point I was in desperate need of estrogen. I have had great success with it. Give your estrogen a few weeks and see if it offers you some relief. After about 3 weeks you should have a pretty good idea if it is helping or not, although it probably takes a few months to feel the full benefits.

Are you taking steps to lower your cholesterol? It is very dangerous to have high cholesterol, particularly when are estrogen goes down. You have to really watch your diet and definitely exercise. I have that TOO! And I am working on lowering it this way. I don't want to take statin drugs if I can avoid it.

Come here often, read lots, posts as much as you like. It is amazing how much I have learned, and the good friends I have made here.

Thanks ladies. I slept about two hours last night becasue of the UTI pain. I am almost tempted to take the Ortho novum to snap my muscles down there back into attention...until I can see the doctor again. If it gets that bad I will. It is just too coincidental that when I started the Ortho Novum my UTI was gone totally and my urine stream was so strong. I think I need a BC pill in between what I had and am having now. What a huge pain this is. I feel that I am damaging my urinary tract by not getting the proper estrogen. WHen I went from the higher estrogen to the lower I could actually feel myself loosing muscle control. I could not stop my flow midstream at all. The skin on my stomach is even looser and I get very deep wrinkles on my face along with terrible acne. On the ortho that was all gone. I am a stay at home mom of a three yr old so I am aware of things every second. I need to get this taken care of, my poor son needs his mother back. I can barely get off the couch some days. I would love t hear from anyone else. THis hormone stuff is horrible.

Lovelace,

If your bladder pain continues, ask your doctor if you can see a urologist to check your pelvic-floor muscles. Many women have pain from the muscles being out of whack, when there is no infection present. I almost never have a strong urine stream, and have struggled with Pelvic Floor Dysfunction for many years.

Also, you might initially be careful with cranberry juice or supplements. These are WONDERFUL when the bladder is healthy, but when it's inflamed, it will cause further pain, as it's very acidic. If you are in fact having UTI's, it's best to get the bladder under control before starting with cranberry products.

While in pain, you also might try eating a few TUMS and drinking a glass of water - this will quickly alkalinize your urine, so the inflamed tissue of your bladder gets a break. According to the manufacturer, you can safely take up to 12 TUMS a day.

Oh, and sitting on a hot-water bottle or taking a hot bath can help the muscles "down there" relax as well.

I have a chronic bladder condition called Interstitial Cystitis, and know the terrible pain... These are things that have helped me.

Physical therapy for the pelvic-floor muscles has helped a lot, too.

(((HUGS)))

JJ

Well, I learned something new today! Thanks JJ....I was not aware of the acid/alkaline thing. Wish I had known that back in the days I was suffering from UTIs constantly!! Could have saved myself some suffering. I will keep that info in the back of my mind and pass it on to others.

THE ACID/ALKALINE POST IS VERY TRUE. I HAD INTERSTITIAL CYSTITIS AT ONE TIME AND THOUGHT IT WAS RECURRING UTI'S, BUT WHEN THE DR RAN CULTURES, THEY WERE NEGATIVE. TUMS HELPS ALSO A TABLESPOON OF BAKING SODA IN WATER (TASTES YUC!). CRANBERRY JUICE AND PILLS ARE VERY BAD WITH THIS BLADDER PROBLEM. IT CAUSES MORE BURNING TO THE ACIDITY WITH CRANBERRY. IF YOU LOOK UP A WEBSITE FOR INTERSTITIAL CYSTITIS IT GIVE YOU A DIET TO FOLLOW, EVEN THOUGH ITS NOT VERY GOOD (NO COFFEE, POP, CAFFEINE, CHOCOLATE TOMATOES....). ANOTHER HELPFUL THING MY DR SAID IS BENADRYL BECAUSE OF THE HISTAMINE REACTION. I STILL TAKE IT EVERY NIGHT AND IT HELPS. IT DOES MAKE YOU SLEEPY, SO I TAKE IT AT NIGHT, BUT AT ONE TIME, I WAS IN SO MUCH MISERY I EVEN TOOK IT THROUGH THE DAY SOMETIMES. GOOD LUCK