I'm new...

[prajnadeidre.livejournal.com]

Hey...I just joined b/c I've been having vagina issues since late April/early May. I got pneumonia in April and went on mega doses of antibiotics. Since then, I've had a yeast infection and constant, "external" irritation that won't go away. I've heard about the garlic thing, but I've been forbidden by my mother to try it. I really think my problem is more external. Mostly I having constant irritation/burning around the opening of the vagina. My ob/gyn can't really find anything wrong. My acid levels are perfect. There's yeast, but it's in the normal range. I've tried diflucan three times, monistat 3 twice, and terazol. I take salt baths, sleep without underwear on, dry really well after my showers, and use mild soap once a day. I can't understand why I've been having this problem for so many months. So, any help you can offer me would be great! The other factor is my medication. One of the side effects is dehydration. I drink plenty of water, but some days it feels like someone's dumped a salt packet in my mouth. I don't know if that has anything to do with anything, but whatever. If I could just get some sort of salve to coat the vulva...that could really make things better. Something other than vagisil!

I really don't want this for the rest of my life...

Comments

[jurisenpai.livejournal.com]

Well, I checked your user info, and since you're 19, I don't see why your mom wouldn't want to let you try garlic to cure your infection!

That aside, have you tried applying plain yogurt to your vulva and vagina? It will really help with the irritation and itch, plus the coolness feels great!

[dokuya.livejournal.com]

second the yoghurt.
just don't tell your mum.

[kaethe.livejournal.com]

You said you tried Monistat--did you try the external cream that comes in some packages? My usual first sign of yeast infection is external itching, and that seems to work as well as anything. Unfortunately, I think you have to buy the entire package to get the external cream.

[prajnadeidre.livejournal.com]

I have that cream, but I never tried it. Perhaps I shall if nothing else works out!

[deepbluemermaid.livejournal.com]

I don't want to make you depressed, but some women develop vulvodynia (which just means, pain in the vulva) from overuse of yeast medication. They may have not had a yeast infection in the first place, or had one but then the symptoms become chronic due to chemical imbalance being messed up.

Chronic burning pain is the most common symptom, but I think itching also fits the profile. What happens is that the nerve endings kinda get overstimulated, and think there's pain there when there shouldn't be (often there is nothing visible on examination, no sign of inflammation or yeast)

For more info, see www.vulvodynia.com .

(I personally don't have vulvodynia, I have a more specific kind of vulval pain called vulval vestibulitis - it only hurts around the back of the vaginal opening, and only when touched. But I've done a lot of reading about vulvodynia too)

By the way, try not to use any soap at all - warm water should be enough. Some suggest also using just hot water to clean your underwear, or gentle laundry detergent anyway. Try only wearing cotton underwear, or none at all.

I don't know about the medication having an impact - but consider that the vagina/vuval skin is mucous membrance / very similar to the mouth. So it could be that things down there have become more dry! Have you noticed that your discharge has changed at all?

In any case, the most frequently prescribed treatment for vestibulitis, and sometimes also for vulvodynia, is taking low doses of tricyclic antidepressants (it's for retraining the nerve endings & blocking the incorrect pain signals, is the simple way to describe it). And, about the most common side effect of these drugs, apart from drowsiness, is a dry mouth. I'm taking them, so I know what you mean about a dry mouth!

Salt baths may not be such a good idea, since salt has a drying effect on the skin. I've heard that oatmeal (in sachets called Aveeno or something) is great in baths.

You could very well *not* have this, and the problem might go away by itself if you just avoid inputting anything into the area, and apply some soothing measures. I'm just letting you know this problem exists. It's often mis/underdiagnosed by doctors, who seem to think that chronic pain or itching is perfectly OK. Things would be different if they had to suffer it...

Best of luck!

yeastie-beast

[jennifer0246.livejournal.com]

hi! welcome to vp. we're a friendly bunch here, and LOADS of people have yeastie experience to share.

i recommend yogurt (if you look back through archives, i always recommend yogurt. heh. plain, organic, full fat yogurt. slather it on the painful places, stay horizontal, and let it do its good stuff.

as for the rest - i think salt baths may exacerbate the problem. oatmeal baths might be good, as well as vinegar baths or tea tree oil (its an essential oil) baths. i'd also avoid the soap - if your mouth was unhappily infected, you wouldn't want to go scrubbing at it, right? the vagina has lots of mucus membranes that are self-cleaning - no soap required!

aside from all this, have you been to a PCP to see about bloodwork and such? i know of a vague connection between vaginal ailments like yeasties, and diabetes. worth following up on, 'specially with the thirst.

good luck, and let us know how it works out.

Re: yeastie-beast

[prajnadeidre.livejournal.com]

yeah, i've had the blood work done. No diabetes! Thank god! I'm actually hypoglycemic instead.

[punk-is-so-dead.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure how your mother would even know if you use garlic, but that's besides the point. I think everyone's advice here is good, but I'd also recommend seeing ANOTHER doctor who can further rule out any other problems. Not that I'm saying there's something wrong with your doctor, but sometimes a second opinion is worth it.

[prajnadeidre.livejournal.com]

I agree, that probably is a good idea.