amber81472
08-03-2007, 11:46 AM
I need some advise soon! About three months ago, I started to get what felt like a typical yeast infection. So I decided to self treat it with OTC medicine (Monistat). What I found intriguing was that when I inserted the medicine, it did not give me the normal itchy, slightly irritated feeling whenever I use Monistat. It feel like nothing. However after 3-4 days the symptoms got worse so I made an appointment with my PCP. He simply looked at it and said it smelled and looked like yeast and prescribed me Diflucan. I took it immediately and 3-4 days, symptoms still here. Mind you, during this time between, I had gotten my period and the symptoms magically disappeared during this. Finally, I made an appointment with the gyno and they did several cultures. Two days later they said that I had a Strep B Infection and then prescribed me a week's worth of penicillin. Thankfully, after 4 days taking this, the symptoms FINALLY went away. Well, that only lasted a week and a half because I had gotten my period again and then right after in ended, the symptoms came back in full force. Again, I made an appt with the gyno, (they seemed unsympathic to see me again), they did a culture and said, again, I have a Strep B Infection and prescribed me another week's worth of penicillin. I finished the week, felt fine for a couple of days and right NOW the symptoms are slowly coming back. HELP!!!! :mad:
Sponsor
marymk
08-03-2007, 01:22 PM
Hi amber,
Thsi sounds so frustrating for you. Seems to me that antibiotic's can cause yeast infections. Since you have the strep infection, you need to clear it up, but your getting the yeast infection from it - sounds like a vicious circle. I got a yeast infection from antibiotics once, but monistat cleared it up. You could try that again. Also, my Dr told me that there is a medicine you can take at the same time as the antibiotic to keep from getting the yeast - I didn't get it, so I don't know what it is.
You could also try eating yogurt with live cultures, or to get a stronger dose - healthfood stores sell probiotics - the 'good' bacteria that's in yogurt that the antibiotic is killiing. I take one daily, as I am prone to yeast infections.
Good luck.
Mary
Thsi sounds so frustrating for you. Seems to me that antibiotic's can cause yeast infections. Since you have the strep infection, you need to clear it up, but your getting the yeast infection from it - sounds like a vicious circle. I got a yeast infection from antibiotics once, but monistat cleared it up. You could try that again. Also, my Dr told me that there is a medicine you can take at the same time as the antibiotic to keep from getting the yeast - I didn't get it, so I don't know what it is.
You could also try eating yogurt with live cultures, or to get a stronger dose - healthfood stores sell probiotics - the 'good' bacteria that's in yogurt that the antibiotic is killiing. I take one daily, as I am prone to yeast infections.
Good luck.
Mary
BeckyfromOTown
08-06-2007, 06:44 PM
Amber, I totally understand what you are dealing with! I just found out today from my dr's office that I also have Group B Strep infection and she is prescribing me penicillin, as well. I have been battling BV off and on and when I went back last week for a culture to see why my symptoms of burning have not gone away, I also told my dr. that I have intermittent feelings of chills (without fever) at times, in addition to discomfort in the pelvic area and the vaginal burning.
I posted a response to my previous thread about recurrent BV just now. You can read more about my situation on that thread. But, I wanted to reply to your post about Group B Strep. I wonder how we can deal with recurrent Group B strep infections if my symptoms return once my 7 seven days of penicillin is over? Such a vicious cycle is right! I feel your pain!
I posted a response to my previous thread about recurrent BV just now. You can read more about my situation on that thread. But, I wanted to reply to your post about Group B Strep. I wonder how we can deal with recurrent Group B strep infections if my symptoms return once my 7 seven days of penicillin is over? Such a vicious cycle is right! I feel your pain!
ebon_aurora
08-07-2007, 04:40 AM
I'm battling a strep B infection right now (as well as gardnerella). So far I've only been given one treatment for it which was 2 weeks worth of Cleocin cream. Of course, it did nothing for the strep. I think it helped the gardnerella then I got my period and noticed that I started to smell like pizza again. Yes, my bv smells like pizza toppings. Its ANNOYING.
ebon_aurora
08-07-2007, 05:49 AM
I was wondering here if you ladies have had abnormal paps and/or genital warts. I've had VIN and CIN both caused by the cancerous forms of HPV as well as genital warts and I'm beginning to wonder if these bacterial infections are a direct result of the HPV.
amber81472
08-07-2007, 10:27 AM
When did you found this correlation?
ebon_aurora
08-07-2007, 03:46 PM
It would make sense. I've read that HPV can upset the ph down there. I'm going to my doctor for this thing today and I'll come back and let you know what she says. Amber, do you find sex to be very painful and dry feeling? I haven't been able to have sex since this started months ago.
BeckyfromOTown
08-09-2007, 06:51 PM
I was wondering here if you ladies have had abnormal paps and/or genital warts. I've had VIN and CIN both caused by the cancerous forms of HPV as well as genital warts and I'm beginning to wonder if these bacterial infections are a direct result of the HPV.
Ebon Aurora, no I have not had genital warts or HPV. I only had one abnormal pap years ago, but after a repeat exam with more definitive results, it was normal. I think this was before they did the Wet Prep tests.
Ebon Aurora, no I have not had genital warts or HPV. I only had one abnormal pap years ago, but after a repeat exam with more definitive results, it was normal. I think this was before they did the Wet Prep tests.
desperate1
08-10-2007, 11:42 AM
Hi,
I posted a question about DIV (Desquamative Inflammatory Vaginitis) because I desperately need insight. When I saw this I had to chime in. In my research strep B has been noted as a possible cause or somehow related to DIV. (It's also thought that lichen planus can be either the cause of or result from DIV).
I started with what I thought was just a yeast infection that wouldn't fully clear up. Eventually it accelerated into redness, rawness, itching, burning, painful intercourse, constant discharge and pain that feels as though it goes all the way up to my uterus. DIV is NO fun, and apparently a lot of experienced gyns still miss the diagnosis. I would definitely suggest you look into it. Most people respond to a course of hydrocortisone suppositories and a steriod cream. I have been treated for about four years and very rarely experience any true "clear up," and I think that's because my gyn missed it for so long. When I showed up at her office so red and inflamed that the nurse actually gasped and said she's never seen anything like it, I was finally referred to a specialist who caught it, but by then it had been untreated so long that I think it is now something I will probably have to deal with for the rest of my life. I'd hate to see anyone else have to go through this, especially since there is so little info that I have posted nearly 15 questions all over the Internet and can't get a single response.
I truly hope you respond to your current treatment and that what you have does not progress, but I had to mention this to you as something to look into.
Good luck!
I posted a question about DIV (Desquamative Inflammatory Vaginitis) because I desperately need insight. When I saw this I had to chime in. In my research strep B has been noted as a possible cause or somehow related to DIV. (It's also thought that lichen planus can be either the cause of or result from DIV).
I started with what I thought was just a yeast infection that wouldn't fully clear up. Eventually it accelerated into redness, rawness, itching, burning, painful intercourse, constant discharge and pain that feels as though it goes all the way up to my uterus. DIV is NO fun, and apparently a lot of experienced gyns still miss the diagnosis. I would definitely suggest you look into it. Most people respond to a course of hydrocortisone suppositories and a steriod cream. I have been treated for about four years and very rarely experience any true "clear up," and I think that's because my gyn missed it for so long. When I showed up at her office so red and inflamed that the nurse actually gasped and said she's never seen anything like it, I was finally referred to a specialist who caught it, but by then it had been untreated so long that I think it is now something I will probably have to deal with for the rest of my life. I'd hate to see anyone else have to go through this, especially since there is so little info that I have posted nearly 15 questions all over the Internet and can't get a single response.
I truly hope you respond to your current treatment and that what you have does not progress, but I had to mention this to you as something to look into.
Good luck!
ebon_aurora
08-10-2007, 05:09 PM
I was treated for DIV with Cleocin cream for 2 weeks followed by estrogen cream. It didn't work. That's why I'm on the levaquin right now. They're thinking that DIV is an immune response to the toxins released by the Strep bacteria. Which is why we're trying to kill the strep.
desperate1
08-10-2007, 05:22 PM
I was told my DIV was chronic and pretty much untreatable as it's an autoimmune disorder of unknown origin. I would love to hear how the levaquin works for you, because I will demand it if I have to!
ebon_aurora
08-10-2007, 05:33 PM
I can already tell that the levaquin is helping. I was put on 500mg for 7 days. I just took my fourth pill about an hour ago. The only thing is, its only helping. I feel that I'm going to need a longer course than just 7 days. I only have 3 days left and I know that once I stop the antibiotic my symptoms are going to return full force.
BeckyfromOTown
08-11-2007, 09:03 PM
Hmm...this makes me stop and think. I am currently on penicillin for 7 days for the strep B. The first day or two, I felt a definite improvement in my symptoms. But, now on the 5th day, I feel like I am backsliding. I feel slight intermittent chills still (no fever) and the burning sensation is back. I keep feeling something like a fuzzy feeling in my right side of my abdomen (like I did before I was diagnosed with Strep B). I can't tell if it's my descending colon area on that side or possibly my ovary area. Anyway, it's not painful, but I associate with some kind of infection. My upper back is sore again as if it signifies radiating pain. It's really weird, but whenever I am free from BV or any kind of female infection, I don't have the upper back pain, so I know it is somehow indicative of whatever chronic thing I am fighting off. It subsided and almost completely went away the first day or so on penicillin, but now it has come back, along with my other symptoms, so I am now assuming that my treatment must be a failure. This is so annoying and frustrating! I don't know why I can't just be normal again in that area. I mean, my husband and I aren't even intimate together more than 2-3 times a month. Why do I have to suffer something that won't go away just because I've been intimate with my husband? It's so stupid.
I don't know about the DIV syndrome, that could be a possibility. I will have to see what happens next once I am done with the penicillin. Is the Levaquin an antibiotic, as well? Maybe I will need to try that. But, my GYN won't prescribe me anything if she can't see evidence or clinical diagnosis of anything. She always says my cervix area looks normal upon exam, even when I am feeling burning, so what the heck is up with that? You'd think she'd see some kind of inflammation or something.
I don't know about the DIV syndrome, that could be a possibility. I will have to see what happens next once I am done with the penicillin. Is the Levaquin an antibiotic, as well? Maybe I will need to try that. But, my GYN won't prescribe me anything if she can't see evidence or clinical diagnosis of anything. She always says my cervix area looks normal upon exam, even when I am feeling burning, so what the heck is up with that? You'd think she'd see some kind of inflammation or something.
ebon_aurora
08-13-2007, 08:25 PM
Yes. I am exactly on the same page as you. Its as if in the beginning it worked and then the bacteria began to adapt to the antibiotic. Not only did my burning start getting bad on the 4th day (it never fully went away, just got better) but my smell started coming back. And I really realized it wasn't gone when I went out in the heat and the burning got REALLY, REALLY bad. The heat always makes it flare up. I'm beginning to think I'm going to need IV antibiotics to even phase this stuff.