Strep B Infection - Women's Health Message Board

amber81472 · 08-03-2007, 08:46 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!!!!

marymk · 08-03-2007, 10:22 AM

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

BeckyfromOTown · 08-06-2007, 03:44 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!

ebon_aurora · 08-07-2007, 01:40 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, 02:49 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.