@naturegirl5 @kisu Thanks for the suggestions and support.
So I had fibroids which fused to my uterus and upon surgery I was diagnosed with endometrioid carcinoma which resulted in the need for a hysterectomy. Luckily they left my ovaries (fwiw.)
I didn’t have any uti issues for a while, up until about a year in. Then I had my first UTI ever. I didn’t know what it was at first because I never had one so I had nothing to compare it to for reference.
Then I went back to my oncologist, thinking it was something related to my surgery such as a cuff issue.
However, it wasn’t and they ran a urine culture to find Ecoli and I was put on Macrobid which cleared it.
I’ve been taking cranberry supplements and D-mannose and using a sterile lubricant during sex called slippery stuff, which is sterile water-based lubricant. In addition to doing pelvic floor physical therapy.
Things seemed to be going all right until about February of last year 2025, when I developed another UTI out of nowhere.
After that was cleared up, I tried estradiol cream. I felt like that was helping my symptoms a little in terms of dryness and pain, but then unfortunately for me 2 weeks or so into using that I developed a yeast infection and then subsequent UTI. I’m not sure if they’re related to the cream use or not.
Now that I moved to Minnesota I’m in the process of finding all new doctors. I did already meet with a menopause specialist, and I’m hoping that will be a good fit.
She recommended trying an extremely low dose of estrogen via vaginal tablet method, which I have not done before.
I’m willing to give this a try but I’m still extremely nervous that I’ll develop a yeast infection or uti.
I also have to be very careful with any hormone therapy— even a low dose because I suffer from epilepsy and my seizures are triggered by hormones. So a urogynecologist has to work in tandem with my neurologist to try to create a treatment plan that works well for me, which is not easy.
To add insult to injury, I’m also progesterone sensitive. So in theory progesterone HRT can actually help reduce some seizures; as it’s usually estrogen that triggers seizures. That’s really my main hurdle rn.
It’s incredibly emotionally and physically stressful. 😥
@chigal10 Thank you for explaining what prompted you to write your initial post. I can only imagine what a frustrating and painful these past 12 months have been for you. Yes, emotional stress and physical pain. I'm relieved to know that you've connected with a menopause specialist. I hope, too, that this will be a good fit for you.
Your post reminds me of the often inaccurate and unhelpful advice and recommendations I received from providers who were not specialists with menopause. After my hysterectomy at Mayo in Rochester I received a referral to their Menopause and Women's Sexual Health Clinic.
-- https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/menopause-womens-sexual-health/overview/ovc-20487915
This is where I met with very helpful providers including a nurse educator, who made recommendations not only on products, but how they worked and how to use them.
I hope that the most recent recommendation of the low dose vaginal tablet will work for you.