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[Ms_london76]

Hi day 9 of vagifem.

Now i have a burning sensation at all times. When i went for run i was fine, and worked out was fine. But i woke up at night due to the burning stinging sensation. Went to speak to male phamracists who were no help.

It is hard to live like this. I have read this is normal, it takes time….so is this normal and would a vaginal gel help at all with the constant burning. I used something just now, to see if this will make a difference. Will try to load up on water with electrolytes.

I do not have a uti never had one before. Just burns a little bit.

It is very uncomfortable, but if i stop the dryness woukd come back.

How long would it take? And is this burning normal?

[joziel]

It is very normal and a sign you are healing. Imagine having raw skin on your hand. When you first put any gel on it, it will sting - anything on that raw skin is going to sting.

But when the skin barrier heals, it will stop stinging. The estrogen will help the skin barrier to heal.

You might like to ask your doctor for some Ovestin as well. This is also local estrogen but it is a cream rather than a pessary, so it can be more soothing. It is perfectly safe to use both Vagifem and Ovestin at the same time but some doctors don't realise this. You can use Ovestin internally and externally. If you are feeling stinging, it might be more external and the Ovestin might reach the area better than Vagifem at the top of the vagina....

[Ayesha]

Exactly what Joziel has said. Yes it takes time, weeks, months even for the burning to stop, patience is a word we use a lot here.
But you have to use the treatment probably on a daily basis until things calm down then you can decide for yourself if you want to reduce. I would definitely ask for the Estriol cream, formally Ovestin, to use alongside the Vagifem, both perfectly safe to use together.

I will refer you to your previous thread, read the GSM position of statement, it contains invaluable information.
https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,70546.msg956013.html#msg956013

[CLKD]

Also : when do U insert the preparation? Some ladies occasionally put an extra pessary up in the evening or use 1 in the morning and 1 in the evening .  Also insertion may sting if 1 pushes it in too far the first week. 

Ovestin/estriol on the outer labia can help - I use that internally and a smear or a smear of KY Jelly to keep the out area from becoming dry and itchy.

Once U get a regime stick with it.  If a few times a week doesn't keep symptoms under control then use nightly when required.

Let us know how you get on.  Water with electrolytes won't replace the lost oestrogen which is the usual cause for vaginal atrophy.  Have a lookC at the several threads as well as 'bladder issues'.  Make notes ;-)

[Ms_london76]

I insert in the evening. Way up there. It is a bed time, when I am just lying down watching tv.

I lay down for quite awhile after the insertion.  More often than not, i end up going to the bathroom after. Even though i did before.

But i do try to lie down for at least 30 -40 min before i get up. I know it says before bed but my brain gets nervous anyways and i would have to pee.

Last night was slightly better sleep wise.

But sitting really annoys everything at the moment.
My dr is away so i will have to wait until she returns.

[Ayesha]

You don't need to insert the pessary way up there, just enough to be comfortable as you would if inserting a tampon.  The pessary needs to reach the outside too and when it doesn't that's where Estriol cream comes in, a smear on the outside is all that's needed.  There is also no need for you to lay down after insertion, the pessary clings to the vaginal walls and is going nowhere, you can also choose what time of day you prefer to use the treatment, my regime is a morning one with an extra smear of Estriol and moisturiser every evening.

It helps if you know more about the condition you are suffering from and I know I'm beginning to be a bore constantly posting links but the more information we know ourselves it will give us power when speaking to medics who most have no clue to the condition GSM.
https://bssm.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/GSM-BSSM.pdf

I have been through all what you are going through now and the ladies on here told me I will get there eventually, and they were right.

 

[Ms_london76]

Gosh this site has been so helplful.

The male pharmacists had no idea how to help.
One was suggesting i had a uti, i am like no i know i do not.

My friend circle all who are going thru peri and menu, none of this vaginal dryness like me.

I suspect once the temps got hot in the summer between not having good ac at home, and teaching both pilates and yoga in a hot room and also my own work outs, I have made my symptoms way worse. I pulled back from doing yoga myself in the hot room which has helped.

Though i am curious to see if they calm down in the fall.

I am fairly active in the morning (workouts) so i thought night time was better. But helpful to know it does not matter when. I will be done the two week load on thursday and only time will tell what will happen.


I have seen slight improvements here or there but minor ones. I will try to connect with my dr about getting this cream as well.

Please post way, since i really am the only one of my friends with dryness i have no idea what i am doing.

I was worried it would fall out if i got up too soon.

[CLKD]

VA treatment should be inserted regularly to keep the walls of the vagina soft and supple.  So a couple of times a week or every night, it's' a personal choice given on which symptoms are troublesome. 

There is a book: Me and My Menopausal Vagina: which is worth a read ;-).

[joziel]

You might want to try some non-prescription moisturisers in addition to the prescription stuff. Some lube can help the applicator and it also provides some moisture for the pessary to cling to up there...

The 2 brands which get recommended the most are YES VM, which is water-based, organic and totally natural and also Olive and Bee Intimate Cream, which is bees wax based (so - oil based) and again totally natural. Those can really help in between both local estriol cream and Vagifem pessaries. You can apply them as often as you like and as much as you like and you can coat the applicator with them...

Are you on systemic HRT or just local estrogen? I used to need all these local products, which is why I know about all this - but since getting my systemic estrogen HRT up, I no longer need to use anything locally.

[Ayesha]

Gosh this site has been so helplful.

My friend circle all who are going thru peri and menu, none of this vaginal dryness like me.
I will be done the two week load on thursday and only time will tell what will happen.
i really am the only one of my friends with dryness i have no idea what i am doing.

When you get on top of all this you will be in a unique position if and when your friends start to experience symptoms as a lot of women do and have no idea what is happening to them. You are a Yoga teacher, another unique position to be in helping other women who might just say something during sessions.

Here is another link with lots of real life stories about GSM (Vaginal Atrophy) that I know will help you further.
https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,64837.msg895647.html

[Ms_london76]

So at Day 13 of the loading phase. I have been on vacay so not
teaching hot yoga and the burning has even subsided. I have not had to use the vaginal moisturizer other than Sunday. 

I am worried what will happen when i go back to work and off the loading phase and down to two days a week.

Does anyone have suggestions on how to drop to twice a week, which days work best?

[CLKD]

Which moisturizer R U using and how often?

VA treatment needs to be regularly inserted. U may find that a few nights a week is sufficient, some need to use nightly. 

[Ayesha]

Does anyone have suggestions on how to drop to twice a week, which days work best?

There is no answer to that as there is no situation where one day is any better than another.
If you are still experiencing burning continue with the treatment as much as you need to relieve symptoms. This advice from my own experience, my Gynae GP and my practice nurse. Its up to you to do what's best and not some out of date information in the leaflet that comes in the box with the Vagifem.

[Ms_london76]

After my workout the burning is back. Subtle but it is there. Last two days nothing but today for some reason. I know i did not drink alot of water yesterday and i was a super hot day. Being dehydrated does play a role in being dry down there. At times when i load up with water, i do get some relief before i even started any creams or vagifem.

It is def the burn today that i feel though. More so when i sit or lie down.

I do hope the burning feeling will subside.

Just over the counter stuff that does not interact with vagifem. Phemme revive is one the other is Gynatrof.

I am not from the UK so some products may not be available here

[Ayesha]

Do bear in mind that its hormone treatment you need, moisturisers are there as an added extra to add lubrication. Replacing the lost oestrogen is what's important to relieve GSM (Vaginal Atrophy) symptoms. The burning feeling will only subside with constant hormone treatment and I would definitely say, you are not ready to go down to two days a week Vagifem.