Yeast Infections and Acidophilus

[ex-quenya292.livejournal.com]

Hi all - new to the community! Yay vaginas!

Okay, onto the good stuff ... yeast infections!

Last year, I had 4 yeast infections in as many months. I got really sick with strep throat, tonsilitis, bronchitis, and this ghastly stomach illness, so I was off and on antibiotics for about 2 months. So I got my first yeast infection in March, then it went away and returned ... went away and returned ... went away and returned ... then finally went away.

Needless to say, I've been quite paranoid about getting a yeast infection ever again. I'm to the point where Im nearly obsessive about not getting one. I eat yogurt like mad and drink tons of acidophilus milk. I almost always wash twice a day, making sure to scrub the naughty bits and rinse off with ice cold water.

Even though I'm sure I'm yeast-free, I still scratch myself. This sounds so bizarre and Im quite embarrassed to share. Its not all the time, but just when I think about it. If I even think about getting a yeast infection, I make myself think Im itchy and scratch. I guess its kind of like a psychosymatic thing (where you convince yourself you have something and actually have physical symptomes). Its driving me mad. I don't know how to make it stop.

I'm not sure if its in my head or if I really do itch. I'm too embarrassed to bring this up with my gyno (the guy's an ass - I need a new one), so I thought I'd check here. Anyone else have this problem? I doubt I actually have a yeast infection, as it only happens like once in a great while and almost always at night (for example, tonight ... I started scratching, didn't stop and now I'm sore).

And any other advice to prevent a yeast infection? I'm scared shitless of getting one again. I'm sure its because I associate it with a real shitty time in my life (my parents announced they were getting a divorce the same month I got sick and had all the yeast infections), but I really just don't want to have another one ever again. My gyno said acidophlius pills are useless because the cultures aren't live. And then he warned me to NEVER stick yogurt up my vagina (or any other food product) or to douche.

Also, for general itching ... is there any kind of topical solution I can put on my vagina? Preferably one that doesn't sting or smell funny.

I know I sound crazy, but I just have this crazy fear of ever having a yeast infection. I'm too embarrassed to tell my doctor or girlfriends, so I thought I'd try here. ANY advice would be VERY appreciated.

Comments

[danskpige.livejournal.com]

i've had frequent yeast infections too and often find myself paranoid that i'm starting to get itchy....

but i have to wonder about your doctor's admonishment regarding yogurt. my best preventative measure against yeast has been to douche with plain water and a little bit of apple cider vinegar mixed in... then follow it up the next day with a douche mixed of warm water with some plain yogurt. i can see why flavored yogurts with sweeteners wouldn't be good but don't see what's wrong with plain yogurt and have heard it recommended in many places. doctors are so conservative sometimes and will say DO NOT do something without giving any good reasons to back it up! maybe it's all just a conspiracy with the pharmacutical companies.

anyway... i've used the vinegar/yogurt solution a few times throughout my pregnancy and haven't had too much of a problem with yeast, which is amazing since pregnant women are supposed to be even more prone to yeast infections.

i've also used some plain yogurt on the outside to get rid of external itching. otherwise, i look forward to seeing what other people write you with advice for that!

oh now that i think of it - yeast could be just on the outside, in which case using a bit of monistat or whatever other over-the-counter yeast creme just on the itching part can help.

[bonniebon.livejournal.com]

I too bet that the pharmacutical companies are conspiring with doctors to stop people using natural remedies, with so many women getting yeast infections all the time the anti-yeast remedy business must be a lucritive one!
BTW I like your user pic, is that you?

[danskpige.livejournal.com]

thanks!! yes, it's me last week :)

[serrano.livejournal.com]

Re: the yogurt, I think he must be nuts. I know it's definitely bad to use yogurt with corn syrup or any kind of sugar in it (which is what the bacteria feeds off of). But every homeopathic remedy I have ever read about yeast infections suggests yogurt!

[lasttraintocool.livejournal.com]

i agree about your gyno. he sounds like an asshead.

i know someone who cured a chronic yeast infection with a clove of garlic up there when none of the conventional methods [i.e. drugstore ones] would work. it just kept coming back.

i know someone else who cured one with yogurt.

i know someone else who cured theirs with acidophillus...and i prevented one for MONTHS by taking tablets orally when on an extended course of antibiotics for acne [i was warned i was going to get a yeast infection while on it].

i've also read about all these methods working in a zine produced out of santa cruz, i think: 'wives tales.' d.i.y., underground...western medicine doesn't always know what's best...or what natural methods are all about.

and most especially, neither do male doctors. sorry if that sounds a *tad* bitter or whatnot, but it is my opinion. heh. it's just too bad that female gynies can be hard to find...and when you *do* find one, hard to book with. eep.

[bonniebon.livejournal.com]

I had a yeastie recently and wanted to try the garlic thing, but I was worried that my vag would smell like garlic! I've found a mixture of tea tree oil and lavender to be quite good, of course you go round with a vag that smells like lavender but I didn't mind.

[bonniebon.livejournal.com]

about your itcing, could it be that your washing too much? that can cause irritation and itching. I went through a phase of washing too much out of fear of getting a yeastie but I found that I got kind of dry and irritated so I cut back to using a little unsented soap or just plain water which felt much better.
Also, a dab of neat lavender oil (or lavender mixed with tea tree oil) can help tremendously with itching whatever the cause.

[danskpige.livejournal.com]

good point about the washing - i was told to never use soap on my vagina. it's a self-cleaning mechanism.

[velmaodella.livejournal.com]

1. GET A NEW GYNO. Period. Find yourself a woman. That is a command.

2. PLAIN YOGURT! Sleeping with a plain yogurt soaked tampon reduced my itching away immediately. He's bullshit saying not to put food up there. I mean you want to make sure you're not adding sugar to yeast infection and whatnot, and I'm not a fan of putting food in my cunt, but he shouldn't tell you not to.

3. When I was in 7-8th grade I had that itching thing going on. I was mad itchy for maybe even 2 years. I was too terrifed to say anything. Thinking about it, I always have a spot on my body that's mega itchy. Right now it's my elbow pits. The more you scratch, the more dry it is, the more it itches. Washing probably doesn't help, though if it's raw seems like a good idea. A friend of mine uses "feminine wash," not because she thinks her cunt is dirty or smells bad, but because it's gentle and doesn't dry her out. That may help you?

4. Putting yogurt on the outside may help (use a pantiliner or something). One time I bought Vagisil, and that helped. I just don't like the idea of supporting some drug company and giving my money over to some man. I'm sure there are other solutions you can find on the internet for natural remedies.

5. If you do get another yeast infection, I swear by boric acid and plain yogurt. For more details, just ask me.

[urania.livejournal.com]

about the recurrence--not to be nosey, but if you're sleeping with someone... a guy can get an asymptomatic yeast infection from you, and then pass it back to you once you stop whatever treatment you're on. If that's a possibility you might want to check into it.. I've heard that putting one of the lotions usually applied to the vagina onto his genitalia works, but I would ask a doctor. Hopefully, one who isn't quite so narrowminded... although frankly, doctors right now I can't blame for trying to be super-careful with all the potential for lawsuits at every turn.
Anyhow, good luck with all of it... with the itching, yes, think about the possibilities from washing... and have you changed even something like your laundry detergent? I have really dry and sensitive skin, specially in the winter, but I know that something like that can do unpleasant things to my skin... just a change in what soap or laundry soap I use!

[ex-quenya292.livejournal.com]

Well, I haven't had a yeast infection in over a year, so Im not too worried.

My gyno said that my fiance can get candida from me through sex, but that its very unlikely b/c the yeast likes wet, warm places (like a vagina) and the head of the penis is not very conducive to providing yeast with a happy home. Unless, however, the guy is uncircumcised ... then the yeast likes to grow under the foreskin. Luckily, my man is cut, so no worries.

I began using downy liquid softener a couple of weeks ago ... that may have caused the itchiness now that I think about it. Thanks!