Vagifem prescribed for dryness and itching, how long before I'll get some relief?

[auntpoll]

Hi, I've had various Peri-menopausal symptoms for the last three and a half years including vaginal dryness. The dryness reached a new peak last week and since last Saturday I've been dreadfully itchy as if I have thrush but without any discharge. I tried Canesten thrush cream, Canestina Intimate Moisturiser, Vagisil and finally Canesten internal and external creams, all to no avail. I finally saw a nurse practitioner on Thursday who didn't examine me but listened to my list of Peri symptoms and prescribed Vagifem.

I started using it Thursday night and so have only used two doses so far. I assume that since I have to use it every day for the first 14 days that it'll take a while to get into my system but the itching just isn't subsiding at all.

I've tried bathing with a cold flannel when it gets really intense e.g. waking me up at night and then applying Vagisil which burns initially but then soothes it. But a few hours later it flares up again.
I'm doing all I can think of not to exacerbate it such as cotton knickers or no knickers and wearing dresses rather than trousers but still it persists. Has anyone got any recommendations/advice on what I can do to get rid of this itch?

There are two kinds of treatment for this- cream (Ovestin) and Vagifem. I've used Ovestin for ages. The good thing is you can smear a bit on your outside bits as well as using it internally. Might be worth asking the nurse for some or there is another even weaker cream Gynest . You can smear that outside too. Don't let her say you can only have one or the other.
Something like Sudacrem (for nappy rash and other rashes ) might work meantime but it's quite thick and gunky!

Thanks @LovesMaltesers that's really helpful, I'll give them a ring in the morning. In the meantime, I've started taking Piriton to see if it helps which I think it did have a little effect overnight.

Rightly or wrongly I have been using medipure medicated body powder. It's basically looks like talcum powder but says it doesn't have talc in it.

Instant relief

Sudacreme helps massively with this - slather on, wipe the excess off (so not totally squelching but still a decent layer on) and a pair of comfy loose knickers. Ignore the weird feeling of having cream there (you soon forget about it as it warms up to your body temperature) and it will settle it down. You can buy big pots of it. I find if I miss putting it on for a day or two then I start to get sore/itchy again. It’s not in any way glamorous (and it does get me down that this is what it has come too!) but it does work!

I think I saw improvement after several days of using ovestin, I now use Vagifem and ovestin for the outer bits.
Wash with plain warm water and nothing else and don’t wash your hair in the shower, I found shampoo irritating!
I would be tempted to use an oral thrush treatment.
I so remember those burny days, hope you get sorted soon.

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate all the advice from people who know exactly what I'm talking about . With all the Peri symptoms I've had the last few years I thought it was tolerable. This last week however I've been beside myself at times all because of this itch! I'm going to search through the cupboard and see if I've got a stray pot of Sudocrem. Otherwise will buy some tomorrow.

Op if you don't get relief do go to the gp and if no joy get a referral. After years of being treated for thrush I was diagnosed with psoriasis (and years later with lichen planus). There are other things that can cause itching besides the usual stuff. It can be such a misery, you have all my sympathy.