Yeast infection?!!! - Question for the ladies - Really need help.

[[Ti...]]

I have been struggling with vaginal burning and itching (and is also bothering my bladder) for almost two weeks after taking an epsom

salt bath.   

 

I had two cultures done now, both of which are coming back negative for BV (Bacterial Vaginosis) and

a yeast infection.

 

I have been taking Metrogel 0.75% for a week now and it's not working...

 

I am wondering if I may have a yeast infection that just isn't showing up.

 

The doctor wants to prescribe Difulcan, but from what I have read it is a very bad idea.

 

I have also been feeling under the weather since this started.  Lethargic, tired, rundown, and is kicking up some

w/d sxs.  Tingling etc.

 

 

Has anyone else had these type of troubles with tests showing up normal but having a yeast infection anyways.

 

Do you think Difulcan is to worry some to try?  Perhaps I should try the over the counter Monistat 7.

 

And has anyone else felt kind of ill by having a yeast infection?

 

 

Any thoughts, advice would be greatly appreciated, I'm getting desperate!  I feel so uncomfortable and lowsy

[[pr...]]

Tink,

 

Have you tried yogurt? Just plain, nonfat yogurt straight from the grocery store.  Eat it and also put it in your vagina (just put some on your fingers) every few hours.  Don't use the sugary kind, eat it and apply it plain.

 

Candida is a normal thing to have in your vagina, but it's usually kept in check by the normal bacteria there, which are the same kind of bacteria as you find in yogurt.  Personally I find yogurt soothing when I get a yeast overgrowth and it's also really effective for me.  Of course, I am NOT YOU, I know that! and your mileage may vary.

 

I personally find that Monistat is irritating to my tissues.  And anything that you take by mouth can screw up your natural balance of organisms in your intestine, which can cause yeast overgrowth.

 

I work in a hospital lab and I think it's pretty unlikely that a yeast infection wouldn't show up on two cultures if there was one--it's not a delicate organism!--but I can't of course say for sure.  Usually yeast infections are really obvious just on a visual exam, let alone a culture.  But again, there's no way to say for sure, from here, on a forum.

[[Ti...]]

Hi prhiannon,

 

Thank you for responding. 

 

I unfortuntely cannot eat yogurt as I am allergic to dairy sadly.  I wish I wasn't, it would be a great fix.

 

I have gotten some advice on perhaps diluted apple cider vinegar as a topical.  So perhaps I will try that.

 

I sure hope this goes away soon, it's so uncomfortable.

 

*Hugs*

Tink

[[it...]]

A few weeks after my second child was born I complained of something like this, plus a discharge tinged with a little blood.  Cultures were normal, but doc could see cervix was inflamed.  Tried treating for a yeast infection.  Didn't work.  Tried metrogel, did work.  I think I had to do 2 rounds of the metrogel.  Did not feel ill, though.  And, this was well before benzos.

[[Pr...]]

Tink,

 

During my 4th or 5th month the same thing happened to me. I self-treated with monistat which made things WORSE. I took a Diflucan - worse! Then I went to the dr who said I had bubbles in my discharge which looked like bacterial infection. Cultures completely normal, wet mount normal. Tried metrogel, Flagyl - nothing.

 

Eventually I asked them to check for cytolytic vaginosis. They can't confirm it 100% but it seems to be that AND it seems to be brought on by the hormonal changes of w/d. ReadyToBeWell had the same thing and 6 weeks of estrogen replacement cleared it up for her. I am too young for that so I chose to wait it out and it has been steadily declining since my 9th month or so.

 

You should get a complete workup, then consider CV.

 

-P-

[[Ti...]]

Tink,

 

During my 4th or 5th month the same thing happened to me. I self-treated with monistat which made things WORSE. I took a Diflucan - worse! Then I went to the dr who said I had bubbles in my discharge which looked like bacterial infection. Cultures completely normal, wet mount normal. Tried metrogel, Flagyl - nothing.

 

Eventually I asked them to check for cytolytic vaginosis. They can't confirm it 100% but it seems to be that AND it seems to be brought on by the hormonal changes of w/d. ReadyToBeWell had the same thing and 6 weeks of estrogen replacement cleared it up for her. I am too young for that so I chose to wait it out and it has been steadily declining since my 9th month or so.

 

You should get a complete workup, then consider CV.

 

-P-

 

Oh boy,

 

That may be what is happening to me.....  sheesh.

 

It looks like all I can do is wait it out pretty much,

and stay away from sugar. 

 

This is not going to be fun.

 

Google search was pretty much,  baking soda paste.

 

 

Princezz, did you feel fatigued from it or anything.  Ever since this has happened, I haven't been feeling well. 

 

 

Thank you for the information, I really appreciate it princezz.

 

 

 

[[Pr...]]

Forgot to mention metrogel did not work for me either and I stopped after 5 days. Try a dose of the monistat 7. If it makes you feel WORSE, you NEEEEED to get the CV/LB workup done. The "worseness" from the monistat will fade quickly. I went through some horrible times thinking I'd permanently damaged myself.

 

Oh, something else that was confirmatory for me - I got an ear infection and took a round of Augmentin and was perfect for those 9 days. It was glorious but it came right back after which reminded me of this story: http://www.empowher.com/community/share/full-vulvodynia-journey-my-emotional-tracks-cure

 

this girl never knew she had CV specifically, but I'm oh so sure of it....

 

Notice that balancing her hormones got her on the right track. We can't do much with our hormones while in w/d but time helps and so does changing your diet (or they helped me that is)

 

The intensity of mine is far less now and as I mentioned by pm, I can control it somewhat by just drinking green smoothies.

[[su...]]

Very informative stuff here - thanks!!  I have an infection (I think) but I've changed my diet and am weaning off of progesterone.  After reading a little about CV I'm wondering if I too have this??  Lots to think about. 

 

Thanks again.  Good luck Tink.

[[Pr...]]

I think it may affect more of us in w/d than we think, but it is not well understood by most gynes. Even women not in w/d are often treated long term with antifungals for some kind of resistant, undetectable YI when antifungals actually make CV worse bc there is no yeast to compete with the lactobacilli. If your doc is treating you for a YI, he should be able to tell you why and what kind of yeast he's treating, e.g. the difficult strain candida glabrata.

[[Ti...]]

Princezz,

 

Thank you so much for the information.  I will take this information to my next doctors appointment.

 

I always wondered what this was. It's only happened a few times over the years, and thought it

was so strange.

 

Tink

[[Pr...]]

someone mentioned this on the other thread, was a bladder infection ruled out?

[[Ti...]]

Yeah no bladder infection.

[[Pr...]]

Okay I figured since that's the first thing they do

[[su...]]

I think it may affect more of us in w/d than we think, but it is not well understood by most gynes. Even women not in w/d are often treated long term with antifungals for some kind of resistant, undetectable YI when antifungals actually make CV worse bc there is no yeast to compete with the lactobacilli. If your doc is treating you for a YI, he should be able to tell you why and what kind of yeast he's treating, e.g. the difficult strain candida glabrata.

 

Princezz,

 

I was treated long term with antifungals (diflucan) even before w/d.  Now I know how bad that is.  Oh, if I only knew then...  It's hard to also have to be a doctor! 

 

Is it important to know what kind of yeast is found?  Does the strain affect treatment?  I like the yeast infection diet and the Candex for maintaining.  I started it yesterday and haven't noticed any significant flare from it.  Can you tell us what kind of Ph test strips to get?  Where we can learn how to use them?  I think you said on another thread they will only show BV, not yeast; is that correct? 

 

You also mentioned a hormone imbalance...I'm currently weaning off progesterone and testosterone.  Wonder if that may have also contributed to triggering this for me?  (That wasn't really a Q, just thinking out loud.)

 

Tink - have you gotten any relief or a diagnosis yet?

 

Thanks, kind of all over the place here...

[[Ti...]]

Well, finished the Metrogel, doesn't seem to be working.

 

Scared to try any Monistate as I'm afraid it will make it worse.

 

I think I might just leave things alone and try to see if it goes away with

just some  topical help.

 

I dunno, this just stinks.  Ever since this happened I have been feeling sicker and sicker.

It's scaring me.

 

Has anyone else felt a worsening of w/d sxs from a female issue? 

[[su...]]

Well, finished the Metrogel, doesn't seem to be working.

 

Scared to try any Monistate as I'm afraid it will make it worse.

 

I think I might just leave things alone and try to see if it goes away with

just some  topical help.

 

I dunno, this just stinks.  Ever since this happened I have been feeling sicker and sicker.

It's scaring me.

 

Has anyone else felt a worsening of w/d sxs from a female issue? 

 

I've been feeling worse but not sure if it's from the infection or if the infection came with feeling worse.  Or if it's a wave.  Or if it's from stopping the yeast infection diet, tapering my hormone therapy, or messing around with supps. 

 

I changed back to the YI diet and I'm using nystatin (which I had) to control the external itching but may just bite the bullet and try Monistat if the Candex doesn't help.  Princezz said it only made things worse temporarily for her.  I know if it IS an infection, it has to be treated.

 

Our difference here is I am still pretty sure I have a YI, while you tested negatively for it.  Did you ask your doc to test you for CV, like Princezz talked about?  No idea what the treatment for that is.  Good luck!  Will keep you updated, let me know how you do. 

[[Pr...]]

 

Princezz,

Is it important to know what kind of yeast is found?  Does the strain affect treatment?  I like the yeast infection diet and the Candex for maintaining.  I started it yesterday and haven't noticed any significant flare from it.  Can you tell us what kind of Ph test strips to get?  Where we can learn how to use them?  I think you said on another thread they will only show BV, not yeast; is that correct? 

 

These are the strips I used: [nobbc]http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0045I6KES/ref=oh_o00_s00_i00_details[/nobbc]

The home testing strip you buy at the drugstore will tell you if your pH is high indicating BV. If it is less than 4.5 (I think) the strip will read normal. But a <4.5 ph can indicate yeast or cytolytic vaginosis. A low pH like 3.5 can be read by the test strips above but not by a home test and would indicate CV rather than yeast.

 

From Wikipedia:

 

A major phenotype and potential virulence factor that C. glabrata possesses is low-level intrinsic resistance to the azole drugs, which are the most commonly prescribed antifungal (antimycotic) drugs. These drugs, including fluconazole and ketoconazole, are "not effective in 15-20% of cases"[2] against C. glabrata. While some have said that the organism possesses an "innate" immunity to the drugs, it is more accurate to say that the organism possesses an evolved resistance to the drugs. It is still highly vulnerable to polyene drugs such as amphotericin B and nystatin, along with variable vulnerability to flucytosine and caspofungin. However doctors asked about amphotericin B indicate that this is a drug of last resort, in that this drug can often kill the patient while "curing" the fungal infection.

A first-line treatment for vaginal infections may be the use of Terconazole 7-day cream. Several courses may be needed. The cure-rate for this treatment is approximately 40%. Recurrences are common, causing chronic infections and spread to other areas such as skin and scalp. Blood infections might well be best assessed per symptoms if other areas are involved.

[[Pr...]]

I changed back to the YI diet and I'm using nystatin (which I had) to control the external itching but may just bite the bullet and try Monistat if the Candex doesn't help.  Princezz said it only made things worse temporarily for her.  I know if it IS an infection, it has to be treated.

 

Our difference here is I am still pretty sure I have a YI, while you tested negatively for it.  Did you ask your doc to test you for CV, like Princezz talked about?  No idea what the treatment for that is.  Good luck!  Will keep you updated, let me know how you do.

 

Sunnygirl, we are talking about two different things. I did not have a yeast infection, which is why monistat made it worse. If you are certain you have a YI, then treat accordingly.

 

Tink, yes, my anxiety went through the roof over this. It is all set out in my plog. Now I have a better understanding of it, it doesn't bother me. In fact it is going away. Green smoothies have helped me a great deal, and time of course.

 

For me, the Metrogel gave me stomach cramps and it did not work except that it coated the area so I could not feel the irritation of the discharge.

 

You can try this.  Order a bottle of something called Preseed lubricant. It is used by women trying to conceive to decrease the acidity of the environment for better chances of conception. It has a high pH and some women with CV have used it to counter low pH. See if this brings you any relief. If it does, then it probably is CV you're battling.

 

One way to know if it's CV is to try the monistat and if it makes things ten times worse for a week after, it's probably CV. But...that kind of hurts

[[je...]]

Im confused about this post? Is there a relation between being on benzos and getting yeast infections? If so that would explain alot.  I have gotten yeast infections more than ever before  now that im on xanax...I had a bad one a few months ago and had to take 3 doses of diflucan and use monostat....i didn't know diflucan was bad for you??? my gyno prescribes it for me to take every month to prevent them...is that bad?!

[[Ti...]]

Forgot to mention metrogel did not work for me either and I stopped after 5 days. Try a dose of the monistat 7. If it makes you feel WORSE, you NEEEEED to get the CV/LB workup done. The "worseness" from the monistat will fade quickly. I went through some horrible times thinking I'd permanently damaged myself.

 

Oh, something else that was confirmatory for me - I got an ear infection and took a round of Augmentin and was perfect for those 9 days. It was glorious but it came right back after which reminded me of this story: http://www.empowher.com/community/share/full-vulvodynia-journey-my-emotional-tracks-cure

 

this girl never knew she had CV specifically, but I'm oh so sure of it....

 

Notice that balancing her hormones got her on the right track. We can't do much with our hormones while in w/d but time helps and so does changing your diet (or they helped me that is)

 

The intensity of mine is far less now and as I mentioned by pm, I can control it somewhat by just drinking green smoothies.

 

 

I wasn't sure where to look as to how she cured the problem.  Do you know how she did so Princezz?

 

Ar the Ph strips for urine or vaginal discharge? 

 

 

Thanks,

Tink

[[su...]]

I changed back to the YI diet and I'm using nystatin (which I had) to control the external itching but may just bite the bullet and try Monistat if the Candex doesn't help.  Princezz said it only made things worse temporarily for her.  I know if it IS an infection, it has to be treated.

 

Our difference here is I am still pretty sure I have a YI, while you tested negatively for it.  Did you ask your doc to test you for CV, like Princezz talked about?  No idea what the treatment for that is.  Good luck!  Will keep you updated, let me know how you do.

 

Sunnygirl, we are talking about two different things. I did not have a yeast infection, which is why monistat made it worse. If you are certain you have a YI, then treat accordingly.

 

Tink, yes, my anxiety went through the roof over this. It is all set out in my plog. Now I have a better understanding of it, it doesn't bother me. In fact it is going away. Green smoothies have helped me a great deal, and time of course.

 

For me, the Metrogel gave me stomach cramps and it did not work except that it coated the area so I could not feel the irritation of the discharge.

 

You can try this.  Order a bottle of something called Preseed lubricant. It is used by women trying to conceive to decrease the acidity of the environment for better chances of conception. It has a high pH and some women with CV have used it to counter low pH. See if this brings you any relief. If it does, then it probably is CV you're battling.

 

One way to know if it's CV is to try the monistat and if it makes things ten times worse for a week after, it's probably CV. But...that kind of hurts

 

My head is spinning.  Okay.  I understand what you were saying about the Monistat now.  I thought you meant your other symptoms generally got worse after using it, not that the vaginal issues specifically got severely worse because you didn't have a YI.  I am maybe 95% certain my problem is yeast.  Unfortunately I am unable for many reasons to get to the doc right now like you said you would do if you were me.  There are too many symptoms to go into here but I CANNOT, not right now.  I am not weak or afraid, it just is the way it is. 

 

What are "green smoothies"?  I will check your blog to see if you talk about them there. Will the Preseed lubricant not help yeast?  Is that how she will know that it is CV? 

 

Thank you for the other info!  About the test strips and from Wikipedia.  What was the wikipedia topic, btw?  The antifungal issues are why I decided to try the Candex first.  But am not sure yet if it will kill all the yeast.  What do you think is the best way to kill the yeast (when it IS yeast and not CV)?  I feel like you're saying antifungals are bad (which they are) but what are my other options??   

 

Thanks again for your time and helping with this!!     

[[je...]]

I have multiple chemical/med sensitivities and had 100% success with garlic cloves. Please google 'home remedies for yeast infections' for instructions. I got a bit of anxiety from using a little too much, so follow the instructions. Hope it works for you!

Jeanie

[[la...]]

Hi Ladies,

 

I was being treated for an UTI but the culture came back negative for bacteria. So now I'm waiting for another test and doc will see if I have a urethra irritation or a bladder problem. My doctor did say anything about fungal infections and I see this very interesting after somebody called my attention to that matter.  I think I may have at least oral thrush because my tongue is always coated so maybe I have this problem in my blood.

 

In case of fungal infection have any of you tried itracanazole?

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itraconazole.

 

I have some bacillus pills. I'll give them a go as I don't eat much yogurt. I just finishes last night a round of unnecessary bactrim and obviously the burning still there. I remember a few years ago I tried the AZO yeast infections ad it was great, that was the only thing that cured the yeast infection after trying all kind of medications and creams. Monistate was a waste of money.  AZO yeast treatment is only acibobacilius and other bacillus.

Laura

[[su...]]

Thanks!  I'm actually feeling better today...I think the Candex is working (??) and it hasn't revved any symptoms. 

 

Will keep the other things mentioned in mind...just in case. 

 

Good luck ladies! 

[[Pr...]]

Okay let me clarify. Antifungals are not bad if you have a fungal infection. Antifungals are bad if you are mistakenly using them thinking you have a fungal infection when you don't.

 

I'm actually not an expert on yeast, sunny. I usually jump in when someone thinks they have yeast but the tests say no because I tell them about my experience with CV, thinking I had yeast and overusing antifungals which made my underlying problem worse.