Hi, I'm looking for some help from anyone in dealing with my recurring vaginal yeast infections. I'm 23 years old and have been dealing with yeast infections for the past 15 months. I feel tender and pretty disgusting and my sex life has suffered a lot because of this. I've been to see a couple of doctors who have prescribed me a lot of drugs over the past year (diflucan, terazol, monostat, canesten, nystatin, sporanox, nidagel, caprilic acid, lactobaccilus) and have put me on special diets. The over the counter stuff would get rid of it when this all first started, but now even the prescription drugs don't do much. I'm going to see a new doc (gyno) in 4 months (the earliest I could get in!), but I'm wondering if anyone else has been dealing with this and what they might have taken to get rid of it? I need a solution now, this is driving me crazy!
First off be sure the docs are testing you for yeast as many infections can have similar symptoms. Next be sure they test you for diabetes since diabetics are more prone to yeast infections. Also remember to eat plenty of yogurt with live active cultures or take acidophillis capsules routinely. Be sure you wear only 100% cotton underwear and if possible leave your underwear off at night. Avoid tub baths, hot tubs and bath products like bubble bath. Do not sit around in a wet bathing suit. Do not use tampons until you are sure you are over your vaginal infections. Do not douche without a docs ok. Also if you sexually active be sure you partner gets treated too in case he is harboring the bacteria and passing it back to you. One thing that may help is to douche with tea tree oil but check with your doctor first before attempting this.
I don't think eating yogurt is really going to help or prevent a yeast infection. The bacteria in yogurt is killed by the stomach when it is digested, so it won't really do anything if you eat it.
But what you can do is buy normal plain yogurt and insert it into your vagina. Like the above poster mentioned the active cultures kill the yeast infection, and can help to prevent them from coming back. If you have a little vaginal cream insertion thing, that can be a really good way to insert the yogurt into your vagina. It's best to do it at night, right before you go to bed, and wear an old pair of underwear so that if it leaks out it won't go all over your cute underwear.
I feel your pain. I had recurring yeast infections for almost a year that just ended 3 months ago. I would get them at least once a month, and often bad enough that it hurt even to walk around. It put a huge damper on my sex life, made me feel like crap and was very very frustrating. Turns out, now that I'm off BC pills, that it was the pills causing them (or at least encouraging them).
Anyway, I started these steps about 6 months ago, and am still using them just in case. I don't wear underwear when I go to bed. I use unscented, soap-free body wash. I use unscented, clear laundry detergent. I don't go swimming, hot tubbing, or take baths. I switched to O'My lubricant (which has been shown to help prevent yeast infections) instead of other water-based lubes. And I stay away from oral sex. Some of this may seem over the top, but for anyone who's dealt with the discomfort and hopeless feeling of a recurring infection, these steps are totally worth it to me.
I hope your new gyno can figure something out for you. Have you tried boric acid suppositories? I got some at a compounding pharmacy, and anytime I even THINK I feel an infection coming on I use one. Messy, but any itching is gone and so far it's held off infection for me. Good luck, whatever you try!!
[This message has been edited by Joodles (edited 08-24-2003).]
okay,I delt with this for like 2 years. Im 27, and I thought my sex life was really over. So, I said screw the doctors, and I went to my vitamin store. First I started with a "yeast cleanse", b/c they said you have to get all of your impurities out that may be causing them. Then I read this article about this stuff called Grapefruit Seed Extract. From what they said Dr's in poor countries were giving this stuff to people with fungal problems from the water and such. I swear, I drink this stuff everyday and nothing, no yeast,no burn, nothing. ALSO, I take acidolophis EVERYDAY. B/c the good bacteria it gives you fights future bacteria from forming. Its also good for preventing UTI's. I know it all sounds too natural, but when doctors run out of answers you find answers for yourself. Why do you think theres vitamin and natural stores anyway? Dr's have mislead alot of folks.
I totally feel your pain. I've had mine on and off for 2 years or more, but pretty much straight since this past February. It's sad to say, but some days I think about jumping off a bridge. I feel frustrated and very very sad. I have tried everything that you have mentioned and the other posters mentioned (except the last poster's suggestions which I will try!!). I feel like a failure as a wife and I really really miss my sex life. I am not on any kind of birth control, so I guess it's just my hormone's that are naturally out of whack. Geeez, just writing this post is making me cry...
You can get it from any heath food store...The name of the company is GSE, I guess for grapefruit seed extract. It comes in pills, but get the liquid. I swear by this stuff. I drink it...like 15-20 drops in water or juice. And it really tastes terrible, but if you drink a cup of it, go to the bathroom, you can immediately tell the difference from the outside. Eventhough, its not good to douche, you can even douche with this stuff. If I have full fledge yeast, I wont douche b/c I dont want to push the yeast any further, but if on the onset of irritation, douche away. See, my thing was is I got one every month after my period. So, if yours is like clock-work you know when to start drinkin up. My doctor was no help through my crisis. I finnally told him about this stuff,he said "if it works" but Doctors never know about "alternative medicine". They just give medicine, and dont care about the emotional effects. When you do go to the vitamin store, ask if they have any brochures on it. Dont go to GNC though,they dont carry it. You know, if your gonna do the natural approach, Garlic is a really good antifungal and natural antibiotic. I used it for a while, but then I just stuck with the GSE.
Thanks!! I am going to buy some on Pay day tomorrow
I am currently on my 11th day of the Terazol creme, but sitting here at work I still feel a bit irritated. Although it might be from the light days pads I wear to catch the cream. I am also taking AZO Yeast tablets, and of course Acidophilus. I am feeling VERY depressed. Like I'll never be cured. Our cruise leaves in 17 days and I am so scared I'll get a reoccurence then, especially since I'll be getting my period during the cruise. I am SO SICK of dealing with this EVERY MONTH. I don't understand why some doctor can't find a magical cure even to just get rich........
I want you all to know I empathize with you. I seem to get a yeast infection every time after my period (which usually lasts about 10 days by itself) so I know how this can make you sad and depressed and ruin your sex life. I got married 2 months ago and had YI my wedding night.
Anyways, thanks for the GSE tip, I will go buy some tomorrow!
Joodles, I was wondering where you get the O'My lubricant. I am really sensitive to the other kinds and would love to try it. Thanks to all for such great tips!
Hey, I looked at my bottle of GSE, the company is NutriBiotic. It should be like 10 bucks at the store. Good luck. I hope it'll work for you, like it did for me.
hey, theres really good stuff on the web about GSE, one of the sites is *** Make sure you buy Nutribiotic brand, thats the one I have, all the websites say that their the pioneers of GSE. Good luck
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[This message has been edited by bfl (edited 08-30-2003).]
Originally posted by strand3d: I don't think eating yogurt is really going to help or prevent a yeast infection. The bacteria in yogurt is killed by the stomach when it is digested, so it won't really do anything if you eat it.
Everything you eat affects your entire body. It's like eating citrus fruits to make yourself "taste better."
I had CONSTANT YI, until I found a GENIOUS doctor who tested me for PID (Pelvic Inflamitory Disease) and treated it. POOF! They were gone! I didnt know I had it, as I never had an STD before. DO NOT BE AFRAID TO GET TESTED FOR THIS. . . its not only caused by STD but is a leading cause of YI, only no one really knows about it!
Your partner could be giving it to you as well, so he can get tested and put on Diflucan (among others). Get to the doctor again, but go informed and ASK for tests. Good luck!
I am so glad that I finally met other women who have the same problem as me. I have also been having recurring yeast infections for the past year or two and it always happens right after my period. I have also been having recurring cases of bacterial vaginosis. i ahve been prescribed metronidazole, canesten (6-7 day treatments) and many other medications, those are the two most common ones.I have been tested numerously for gonorrhea and chlamydia because my doctor was not convinced the first time that i tested negative for them. been to many doctors and gyno's and no one has a cure for me. They all tell me that I will have to live like this for the rest of my life. Sex life has been affected by this very badly... let's just say there is no sex life. Just wondering if anyone can help me out here. Also wondering if anyone knows what guys can do to cure themselves from reinfecting their girlfriends.
Thanks so much!
I could only find the Grape Fruit Seed Extract in pill form , I also bought Oil of Oregano and Olive Leaf Extract, so I take all three, three times a day. I also take Acidophilus, Garlique, Vitamin C (4 pills), and AZO yeast pills. All of this were recommended by people on the women's health board. I also eat lots of yogurt. I even quit wearing pants for the last month! I feel much better right now.....BUT I am expecting my period next week and I am also going on a cruise which means swimming . I am sooooooooo worried about getting it back.
Don't you usually get tested for PID at your annual exam? I hope so, I just had mine. MY DOCTOR said that most likely my husband is NOT infected. So I made my Hubby go to his doctor and he said the same thing. They kind of laughed at the notion. They said he'd have some sort of symptoms. I make him take Acidophilus every day and eat lots of yogurt.
Hopefull with ALL these darn pills I am taking, it will keep yeast infections away FOREVER. I am so sick of them.
Oh yeah, I also use O'My lubricant now. I bought it off the internet.
Is it just me or is anybody else outraged that we are all suffering with these problems and there's not more info/help/guidance out there. Oh well, outrage is only useful if we use it to make change and sharing info as we are is a start to making change.
I too suffered from really brutal yeast infections on and off for about 10 years (whenever I was the least bit sexually active and sometimes just out of no where). As so many other women have written, it was really getting in the way of my intimacy with my husband. We tried everything. Acidophilous, not eating any wheat or dairy, chinese medicine, diflucan and just about every other med, no baths, yogurt douches, cotton underwear etc. etc. Finally, it occurred to us that perhaps the glycerin in the lubricant we were using was implicate. So, we tried a couple of non-glycerin lubes and the problem diminished but didn't go away. Then my beautiful husband found O'My (the lubricant several other women on the thread were talking about) and it has literally changed my life. My infections are virtually gone. I've gotten two minor infections in over a year! And everything else has stayed the same or gotten worse (more stress, sugar etc.) I swear by the stuff. For what it's worth I got it online too, Omyonline? or something like that. I started with a pack of samples and soon became hooked on the stuff. I gave some to my mom who was experiencing menopausal dryness and now she swears by it and has given it to all her friends.
I've researched it a fair amount and it seems that the key ingredient is the hemp seed oil. It also has grapefruit seed extract (which I started using regularly and douching with occassionally as recommended above) but I did some research on gse and came up with some disturbing info. It turns out that most gse is in a chemical base which contains benzethonium chloride and methylparaben, a preservative that discourages fungus (yeast), but is also linked to breast cancer. Go to this gov site for a recent report on GSE and benzethonium chloride: [url="http://www.nal.usda.gov/ttic/tektran/data/000011/78/0000117803.html"]http://www.nal.usda.gov/ttic/tektran/data/000011/78/0000117803.html[/url]
There were also studies done showing that the only gse products that effected candida were those that had the methylparaben. **
So...I'm left at a bit of a loss about what to think about gse. I did contact the O'My manufacturer and they assured me that the gse in their product was pure, without any chemicals. I don't know about nutribiotic brand (I think that's what I had too,before I stopped using it).
Anyway, rahh rahh for women sharing information about this and go O'My lubricant!
may we all be candida-problem-free,
lily
{** posting of commercial websites is in violation of posting guidelines, bfl}
[This message has been edited by bfl (edited 09-05-2003).]
HELP: Chronic/Recurring Yeast Infections 
tomorrow 
, I also bought Oil of Oregano and Olive Leaf Extract, so I take all three, three times a day. I also take Acidophilus, Garlique, Vitamin C (4 pills), and AZO yeast pills. All of this were recommended by people on the women's health board. I also eat lots of yogurt. I even quit wearing pants for the last month! I feel much better right now.....BUT I am expecting my period next week and I am also going on a cruise which means swimming 
