Help! I need to know about menopause/IC

[liznazz]

I haven't gone through menopause yet, but my time is getting close!! I am so unfamiliar with what affects IC during menopause. Is HRT beneficial? I keep hearing the word "natural estrogen replacement" What is that? Is there anything that helps during menopause that doesn't cause a lot of added IC pain? If anyone who has gone (or is going through ) menopause have any helpful suggestions or comment, I would appreciate it. I am so in the dark on this topic. thanks liz

[Robin34]

Hello,
I went through menopause the hard way. I had to have a hysterectomy last year. I take 1.25mg of premarin everyday, and trust you don't want to miss them. Dealing with the pain of IC is bad enough but dealing with hotflashes and night sweats plus the pain is almost unbeariable. I have not seen any difference in my IC since I starting taking the hormones, so don't sweat it to much its not to bad as long as you take your hormones. Only one caution estrogen in known to cause uterin cancer as well as breats cancer so talk to your doc about it first before you decide what is best for you.
Robin:)

[mayray518]

I am coming close to menopause and have started to take remifemin (a herbal remedy) and progesterone cream. I was sick of talking pills after IC and didnt want the breast cancer risks. There are a lot of new thing out there to try. There is an excellent book out by Dr. Susan Love (you can get it in your library) about prescription drugs vs. herbal remedies.

[Kathi]

HRT bothered my IC. I suffered thru 9 months of it at my doctors insistance. I'll take the hot flashes (don't like them) but at least my bladder was ok. I did a lot of stripping:toosh: during the nite with the flashes. LOL I would try an herbal like MayRay. It's worth a shot. Hugs, Kathi