Gsm diagnosis

[Pixie1771]

So after thinking I had another bout of thrush I realised it wasn't as nothing helped.
Just been given a diagnosis of gsm atrophy.
Been dry sore, itchy feel like I have something up there, very uncomfortable.
I guess I just want some positive vibes. Feeling very old and wrinkled. Been prescribed some cream, unsure what as yet as it won't be ready till later.. with hormones which you insert.
Will this really help....im worried the cream won't agree with me as I cant take canesten pesssries as rhey kill me.But I cant carry on like this. Been using some can meno cream but hadn't really helped.
Im going away next week and could really do without this. Does it help straight away or take time. Feeling anxious about it all.
Thanks x

try vaginal oestrogen tablets. they only work in the relevant area not the whole body. Miraculous.

Hugs 💐 you're really not alone x many of us posting here have it too. Hopefully you've been prescribed oestrogen cream which
should really help - it may itch a little to start with but that's usually a sign of it working.

you could also get some yes VM moisturiser - I find that very helpful as well

Hopefully you'll feel a lot better soon

Thanks ive been given estriiol but after reading all the side effects im really worried. Also im super sensitive to creams and pills anyway.
Last night I just put a bit around nd the area to make sure it wasn't going to be an awful reaction. Doesn't seem to have been so will probably try it properly tonight.
Im praying it all goes well as heading on holiday Monday.
What a pa8n it all is. Literally x

Just so you know the list of side effects shouldn't be in the pack. It's really for women on systemic (full) HRT. In the UK, consultants have been trying for years to get the leaflet changed. There is a lot of frustration by doctors on this.

Please don't worry about side effects. They don't apply to vaginal creams.

What you are using is a version of your own natural hormones. You're replacing what you had.

Have you been given Vagifem and a cream, or just one of those?

Also don't expect miracles with the cream too soon. It can take several weeks to reverse the changes but you have to keep going with it.

Good luck!

Thank you that's good to know. I have estriol percent cream and applicator. I was worried about all the side effects but im not on hrt so hopefully will be fine.
I only put it on the outside ladt night but not enjoying rhe horrible wet crawly feeling that cream brings.im wondering if a pessary is better but I don't usually get along with them.
How long will it be before I should see a difference. Its really a horrible thing. I actually feel a pretty low with it. You cant get away from it.
Thanks again for response. X

You can't compare a pessary for thrush and Vagifem.
The Vagifem pessary is tiny-nothing like Canestan.

See how you go with the cream first.

I’m not exaggerating when I say estriol cream saved/changed my life. Go for it! x

Thanks. Catpiece ....how long did it take to work and has it got rid of all your symptoms?
Will see how I go with it....yet to insert it as I said and maybe change to the pessary if necessary.
What an awful condition. Feel so uncomfortable. X

@Pixie1771 It’s utterly awful. I was weeing every ten minutes. Felt like a permanent UTI. Was given lots of courses of antibiotics even though there was no infection. Finally did some research and asked the GP for estriol cream. I smear it on my urethra and poke a bit inside so it helps my bladder. Felt better after the first few times. Now I use it every two days. I had an odd reaction to the Vagifem pessaries. They are estradiol which didn’t agree with me but the estriol is like a miracle.

Thanks. Catpiece ....how long did it take to work and has it got rid of all your symptoms?
Will see how I go with it....yet to insert it as I said and maybe change to the pessary if necessary.
What an awful condition. Feel so uncomfortable. X

Didn’t take long at all. About 4 weeks. Yes it’s got rid of all my symptoms. It’s like being reborn.

Im not suffering too much with the wee part. Just low abdominal pain and bladder pain. Its more the sore and itch for me. Im worried about doing it before hols and starting to stress that its best to start after.
But I will try and give it a go tonight.
Im glad it worked so quick for you. Praying the same!

You have the Vagifem pessaries? I have estriol cream. I think it’s easier to put exactly where you need it but you might find the Vagifem works well for you. Fingers crossed x

Can I also ask do you use the applicator and how high up erc....sorry its all a bit vague

Can I also ask do you use the applicator and how high up erc....sorry its all a bit vague

Hi OP. Use estriol cream daily and then as often as you think you need. Don't mind the twice a week thing. You can use ir more frequently.

I shoved a large grape size blob in me tonight and the sake amount on the outside. I just use my fingers as I have prolapses and it feels weird when the applicator touches my cervix! . It's miraculous stuff. I really notice if I forget for a few days.

My gynae told me to use it daily and liberally. I like to feel fully plumped these days!

OP i sometimes put it on before work too in the mornings if I feel a bit tight, think of it like a moisturiser.

Wow what a day. So put some cream in last night but have been crippled with low abdominal pain today. Really bad.
This is so typical im off on holiday Monday! One of my main symptoms has been low abdominal pain but this took it to whole new level. It has to be the cream, has anyone else had this? So now have terrible pain there and down below.
Really stressing about it all now.
Sorry for moaning. X

Sometimes it can cause slight 'period pains' at first but they should be slight twinges rather than anything more painful.( It may not be the cream and could be the symptoms you had already flaring up.)

Have you tried taking something like paracetamol?

To put it into context, if you used the cream 2 x a week for one year, that's the same amount of estrogen as one day on systemic HRT- it's really a minute amount and shouldn't give you abdominal pain.

If you're using it to help your bladder, it can take several weeks to help so it's a case of keeping going. It won't help overnight because the estrogen has to repair and rebuild the vaginal lining and the bladder lining.

Maybe take some pain killers to take the edge of the discomfort?

@Pixie1771 I had pains like Labour pains with the Vagifem inserts. I carried on with the full 14 day loading. It was so bad I thought I’d have to go to the hospital. The pain carried on for weeks after I stopped using. You must be having a reaction to the estradiol. That’s why I swapped to the estriol cream x

Im taking the cream not the inserts. Im in a whole world of hurt and been looking forward to holiday for so long. On the verge of tears. Nor saying much to hubby as we were so excuted for our first Xmas away.
I haven't done anymore for fear that ut is the cream so have only done one night.
I had slight period pains prior to using ...im guessing that's part of gsm anyway but this is horrendous. I cant help thinking im having a reaction to it. But if so how long will it take ro stop?
No doctors as weekend.. rhen away for a week which im now quietly dreading. So cant see anyone for ages, just praying it goes off. X

What’s the name of the cream?

Im sorry OP, the problem with GSM is that by the time you get the diagnosis its usually really then hold and it will take a few weeks at least to get under control. There are some doctors who've suggested it should be prescribed preventatively. Yes VM is a very good moisturiser which I've found very helpful

It’s a good product but most of the time the loss of estrogen needs replacing by HRT cream x

Have you been checked by your GP to see if anything else is going on? You shouldn't be getting period type pain with GSM. Do you think it's bladder pain perhaps?

The pain with vaginal atrophy / gsm is not usually like you are describing.
Most women describe it as soreness externally, feeling dry , painful sex, weeing more, urgency etc.

Are you trying paracetamol for the pain?

The cream won't be causing the pain you're having, not after 1 application.
If you can, keep going with it and if you're worried, use half the amount not the full one. So don't fill the applicator right to the red line.