Hi, thank you everyone for you replies.... i had tried to reduce the vagifem, as i seem to be having a lot of palpitations, and i wondered if it was due to the vagifem, also i had a very bad negative gyne last year, who ranted on, her very words, why were other gynes trying to kill me, keeping me on vagifem, and it had niggled on the back of my mind.. i had felt really well on the reduced dose, and had felt i had achieved something.. then bang, acute pain... this is the worse i have ever had.. whether it was due to a moisturizer and vagifem, that didnt agree, or the canasten pessary, or a infection of some sort.. , maybe even my natural hrt had dropped even further, i notice even my skin on my calfs can hurt at times lol x i did try during the whole period, multi gyn actigel, for a couple of days, as i had tried to use a vagifem and it had felt like hot gravel., and it was very soothing.. . and although it didnt treat this dry skin i could feel high inside of me, it did reduce the heat and the swelling, it gave wonderful relief.. then the gynest originally felt ok, but then i swelled inside, so much so, that even the bottom of my stomach hurt. the swelling went down when i stopped using the gynest, and after two days i went back on the vagifem. it burned and i was careful not to put in the same place twice if i could move the pessary.. and im gradually getting better.. and im relieved.. i havent used the amitriplyline, as i put up with the pain.. i found even ky eased, when i first used the vagifem.. i have lost half a stone in weight, but i feel on the mend now.. i have no idea what i had, or what went wrong. but i spent 5 weeks hardly walking, and when i did, sometimes like i had just got of my horse lol.. i would never wish it on anyone, and i would rather take vagifem every day, if thats what worked.. so i will never worry about the vagifem again.. not sure why i have never been offered a patch as wel, but its a good idea, i wil ask, if things dont settle all together.. the most annoying thing is.. i feel that i have been worried about taking hrt over the years, due to bad things said about hrt. . then my hubby goes to the docs, and they suggest progesterone injections for him, as he told them he is tired all.the time. what is that all about.. no suggestion as it could be bad for him lol xxx thank you ladies for your replies, it has been a huge comfort xxxx