It is highly unlikely to get headaches from Vagifem because so little, if any, oestrogen is absorbed around the body.
The leaflets for Vagifem are the same as for systemic HRT so the side effects don't actually apply to Vagifem. I think you really need to do the 2 week load of Vagifem to get things back on track. The YES moisturiser did make me burn a bit, so perhaps try some Sylk instead.
Also, here is the section from the NICE guidelines about using alternative remedies :
Complementary therapies and unregulated preparations
1.4.15 Explain to women that the efficacy and safety of unregulated compounded bioidentical hormones are unknown.
1.4.16 Explain to women who wish to try complementary therapies that the quality, purity and constituents of products may be unknown.
1.4.17 Advise women with a history of, or at high risk of, breast cancer that, although there is some evidence that St John's wort may be of benefit in the relief of vasomotor symptoms, there is uncertainty about:
appropriate doses
persistence of effect
variation in the nature and potency of preparations
potential serious interactions with other drugs (including tamoxifen, anticoagulants and anticonvulsants).
In other words - be very careful about the so called natural remedies for meno symptoms. When I looked into St John's wort for treating meno symptoms, headaches was one of the side effects!!!
The horrible burning pain is typical of atrophy and I also find that sitting can make it worse - I think the urethra gets squashed and the whole area gets hotter and the combination results in more burning.
Do drink a glass of water with bicarb and put your feet up right now. Take paracetamol if need be and perhaps some frozen peas in a plastic bag, then wrapped with a tea towel and then placed on your ‘lady bit's may also help. Drink a glass of water with bicarb morning and evening till the burning stops and also drink small glasses of water regularly through the day - don't drink to much though - no more than 1.5 litres per day.
At one point a couple of years ago, I was peeing blood but when my urine was tested there was no infection - it was simply bleeding due to atrophy!!! Even now, whenever my urine is tested, there is blood present!!!
I wouldn't take ABs unless you are certain it's an infection - AB resistant UTI infections are on the rise and ABs unbalance the gut flora which in turn can give you thrush and this can then case another UTI infection. If you get a temperature or get lower abdominal pain then start the ABs.
Here is the section from the NICE guidelines about treating atrophy:
Urogenital atrophy
1.4.9 Offer vaginal oestrogen to women with urogenital atrophy (including those on systemic HRT) and continue treatment for as long as needed to relieve symptoms.
1.4.10 Consider vaginal oestrogen for women with urogenital atrophy in whom systemic HRT is contraindicated, after seeking advice from a healthcare professional with expertise in menopause.
1.4.11 If vaginal oestrogen does not relieve symptoms of urogenital atrophy, consider increasing the dose after seeking advice from a healthcare professional with expertise in menopause.
1.4.12 Explain to women with urogenital atrophy that:
symptoms often come back when treatment is stopped
adverse effects from vaginal oestrogen are very rare
they should report unscheduled vaginal bleeding to their GP.
1.4.13 Advise women with vaginal dryness that moisturisers and lubricants can be used alone or in addition to vaginal oestrogen.
1.4.14 Do not offer routine monitoring of endometrial thickness during treatment for urogenital atrophy.
I do hope you feel better tomorrow. DG x
