[Sweaty in Social Studies]

Let me clarify myself:

1. "It seems like you may have resistant strains of bacteria."

Bacteria, yeasts can build resistancy to certain drugs.

2. "Your spotting is probably caused by that fact that your period is coming some time soon".

This can actually be a result of many different things. It is probably because of her reoccurring Bacterial Infections.

3. "This could be an infection linked to your menstrual cycle."

Infections may be more common around the time of a menstruation. In a normal menstrual cycle, estrogen deposits glycogen (a form of sugar) in the cells that are found in the lining of the vagina. The release of progesterone causes the cells to shed into the vagina, so the sugar becomes available for yeast and bacteria to feed on, multiply and grow. Estrogen and sugar production peak at the midpoint between periods, and then progesterone begins to build and sugar is released. Yeast infection symptoms can follow the hormonal pattern of this cycle. Usually, the most severe symptoms occur before the onset of a woman's period when more sugar is available. During and after the flow, symptoms are likely to subside. Additionally, changes in the vaginal pH can disrupt the immune system or destroy the so-called friendly bacteria that populate the vaginal canal and keep the yeast fungus/bacteria in check.

[lori]

It seems like you may have resistant strains of bacteria,

??

Your spotting is probably caused by that fact that your period is coming some time soon.

???

This could be an infection linked to your menstrual cycle.

????

You're just making stuff up at this point. Please stop.

Sweaty, you do contribute some great research from time to time. But about 80% of the time, you have no idea what you're talking about.

If you don't know the answer, it's okay to just be quiet. It really is.

It's definitely better than muddy-ing the waters with stab-in-the-dark suggestions.

[Sweaty in Social Studies]

ok so can anyone help me out on this? Last Tuesday I went for my yearly exam. Had a pap and I spotted all of the next day. 2 days after is when I noticed the BV. I never had the fishy smell. I always get this sour kinda odor. I did 3 nights of the metrogel and it won't go away. Does my period coming any day now have anything to do with it? I was fine up until the pap.

It seems like you may have resistant strains of bacteria, which could be why the metrogel isn't working for you anymore. Your spotting is probably caused by that fact that your period is coming some time soon. This could be an infection linked to your menstrual cycle. Does your bacterial vaginosis infection get worse before or after your period? And is the odor present during your period?

[nik7121]

I'm sure this has been repeated but anyway I went to the Dr a few weeks ago knowing something was wrong...I havent had BV in approx 6 yrs, but back then it took a few months to clear up (it was discharge with no smell). This time It came on suddenly, one of those mornings I woke up and knew it (haha 'cept this time it was the strong fishy smell, no discharge!!). Doc said I had an infection and a UTI, and gave me CIPRO (2x a day for 5 days), Fluco, and Vandazole. After a week, all my symptoms were gone, and I went back for another pee test and everything came up normal! Exactly a week after that, within 3 hours of waking up and going to work, it all came back with a vengeance! Doc said it my balance is out of whack, and it might keep happening with the prescriptions. But now Im on oral metronidazole and a double dose of fluco. Argh!

Ive been taking one acidophillus pill a day, but I kept reading about Fem-D on this site, so I ordered it from iherb for next day delivery; any dosage suggestions? Im determined to regain my balance!

This is driving me crazy!

[neptune]

Not great, unfortunately. Discharge is watery, almost a chemical smell - I've noticed that before though, a bit like the smell of perming solution that hairdressers use.

I'm taking an acidophillus with rhamnosus in, which I bought because it's the closest thing to FemD in terms of acidophilus strains I've found. But it doesn't have the reuteri strain that FemD has, you just can't get that strain in the UK.

So, I'm disheartened about the Balance Activ not working beyond using it. It definitely worked during that week but for some reason my body couldn't sustain it. I'm very healthy in every other way, eat loads of raw veg and fruits, not much sugar.

I have another week's worth of Balance Activ in my cupboard, and plan to use it when my period has been and gone (should be here now actually), but I'm going to alternate using that one night, then inserting a pro biotic yoghurt with the acidophilus capsule sprinkled in the next night, so it'll be a two week treatment. Then maybe a Balance Activ 1-2 times a week as maintainance, if it goes okay.

I plan to order FemD fro ebay too, just need to work out pricing.

If none of that works - then to the doctors.
How about you, Neptune, are you still using Balance Activ to maintain?

Oh that is a shame. I'm also finding that the results don't last long. When I was first on it it kept the symptoms away for sometimes up to 5 days, but a couple of times recently the discharge and smell have come back after 24 hours of using the gel.

I'm still using 2 tubes a week for maintenance though. It's an improvement if nothing else.

[Grace08]

Grace, can I ask how your symptoms are after your course of Balance Activ?

Not great, unfortunately. Discharge is watery, almost a chemical smell - I've noticed that before though, a bit like the smell of perming solution that hairdressers use.

I'm taking an acidophillus with rhamnosus in, which I bought because it's the closest thing to FemD in terms of acidophilus strains I've found. But it doesn't have the reuteri strain that FemD has, you just can't get that strain in the UK.

So, I'm disheartened about the Balance Activ not working beyond using it. It definitely worked during that week but for some reason my body couldn't sustain it. I'm very healthy in every other way, eat loads of raw veg and fruits, not much sugar.

I have another week's worth of Balance Activ in my cupboard, and plan to use it when my period has been and gone (should be here now actually), but I'm going to alternate using that one night, then inserting a pro biotic yoghurt with the acidophilus capsule sprinkled in the next night, so it'll be a two week treatment. Then maybe a Balance Activ 1-2 times a week as maintainance, if it goes okay.

I plan to order FemD fro ebay too, just need to work out pricing.

If none of that works - then to the doctors.


How about you, Neptune, are you still using Balance Activ to maintain?

[wannaBfree]

I'm assuming your Doctor will give you good advice on whether to put it in or not.

ok so can anyone help me out on this? Last Tuesday I went for my yearly exam. Had a pap and I spotted all of the next day. 2 days after is when I noticed the BV. I never had the fishy smell. I always get this sour kinda odor. I did 3 nights of the metrogel and it won't go away. Does my period coming any day now have anything to do with it? I was fine up until the pap.

[neptune]

Yeah for me BA is Balance Activ, not Boric Acid - should have clarified that. I've never tried Boric Acid, scares me a bit. And I don't think you can get in the UK (like so many bloddy things - I think there must be tighter regulations on chemicals and supplements here).

Lori - yeah, I did look into mfc10's tip-off about OMBE but there's nothing at all online about it.

Grace, can I ask how your symptoms are after your course of Balance Activ?

[mfc10]

Culturelle GG will not help BV.

It is a very good probiotic product for your intestines. It's not designed specifically for urogenital use. (Also, its use has already been covered in this thread.)

It won't hurt to try it, but considering how much it costs, I think that money is better put towards proven products like Fem-D or the new RePhresh Pro-B.

Unless you are having intestinal problems, I think this is yet another wild goose chase. One that people have already been through in this thread, and shared their experiences for the benefit of others.

What she said.
Maggie C.

[Sweaty in Social Studies]

Culturelle sounds really good it won't hurt to give it a try. i'm buying one today!!!

Your right. It won't hurt to give it a try. Tell me how it goes!

[lori]

Culturelle sounds really good it won't hurt to give it a try. i'm buying one today!!!

Culturelle GG will not help BV.

It is a very good probiotic product for your intestines. It's not designed specifically for urogenital use. (Also, its use has already been covered in this thread.)

It won't hurt to try it, but considering how much it costs, I think that money is better put towards proven products like Fem-D or the new RePhresh Pro-B.

Unless you are having intestinal problems, I think this is yet another wild goose chase. One that people have already been through in this thread, and shared their experiences for the benefit of others.

[Sweaty in Social Studies]

Yes, I have heard that too about tampons. I am trying to stay away from them. I am supposed to start the Nuvaring today and I am hesitating to put it in. I hope it's not going to be a nightmare for me. I just don't think frequent vaginal infections and putting something up there for 3 weeks at a time is going to work out for me. I guess I'll give it a shot.

I'm assuming your Doctor will give you good advice on whether to put it in or not.

[horror_movie]

Oh yeah, I emailed Culturelle about their product containing Lactobacillius GG on whether it would help urogenital infections and this was the response:
"01/22/2009
On 01/21/2009 you wrote:
Is Culterelle good for urogenital health in women? Meaning preventing urinary
tract infections and yeast infections.

Dear Ms. Desruisseaux,

Thank you for your inquiry. Culturelle, containing Lactobacillus GG, is the most
clinically studied probiotic available. It will help regulate digestion, promote
proper absorption of nutrients, as well as strengthen the bodies defenses
against bad bacteria and allergens. Most find Culturelle very effective in
regard to urogenital health and infection prevention. The Lactobacillus GG is
good intestinal flora that will take over the space where bad bacteria and yeast
like to populate. If you have any further questions, please feel free to call us
at 1-800-722-3476 .

Sincerely,

Angela
Consumer Resource Team
Amerifit Brands"

What do you think?

Culturelle sounds really good it won't hurt to give it a try. i'm buying one today!!!

[wannaBfree]

Your so right! I guess Doctor's think finding a cure for more dire illness' are more paramount compared to vaginal infections. More research is being done on bacterial vaginosis. Research studies are decently expensive and very time consuming, which is why most of it isn't being done. Maybe if there was a Vaginal Health Organization set up maybe there would be more answers. After all, most women will experience at least one vaginal infection throughout their lifetime.
--I always heard it was bad to wear tampons when you have an active vaginal infection.

Yes, I have heard that too about tampons. I am trying to stay away from them. I am supposed to start the Nuvaring today and I am hesitating to put it in. I hope it's not going to be a nightmare for me. I just don't think frequent vaginal infections and putting something up there for 3 weeks at a time is going to work out for me. I guess I'll give it a shot.

[Sweaty in Social Studies]

Oh yeah, I emailed Culturelle about their product containing Lactobacillius GG on whether it would help urogenital infections and this was the response:
"01/22/2009
On 01/21/2009 you wrote:
Is Culterelle good for urogenital health in women? Meaning preventing urinary
tract infections and yeast infections.

Dear Ms. Desruisseaux,

Thank you for your inquiry. Culturelle, containing Lactobacillus GG, is the most
clinically studied probiotic available. It will help regulate digestion, promote
proper absorption of nutrients, as well as strengthen the bodies defenses
against bad bacteria and allergens. Most find Culturelle very effective in
regard to urogenital health and infection prevention. The Lactobacillus GG is
good intestinal flora that will take over the space where bad bacteria and yeast
like to populate. If you have any further questions, please feel free to call us
at 1-800-722-3476 .

Sincerely,

Angela
Consumer Resource Team
Amerifit Brands"

What do you think?

[Sweaty in Social Studies]

Hello All,

As I sit here reading for hours (with my metrogel inserted), it saddens me to know that Dr's have figured out cures to many diseases, deadly diseases, but no one can figure out how to keep a healthy balance in the vagina? I feel like all these medicines do is mask the problem for a while and in most cases, it just comes back anyway.

I had a case of BV about 4 years ago - one and only one case. All of a sudden out of no where, December of 2007, I noticed a very pungent, almost sour odor when removing my tampon on the last day of my period. I went to the Dr. a month later because it wouldnt go away and I had a case of BV. He prescribed Vandazole. It masked the problem for a few months then again it was back. I have been trying to be very consistent with Acidophlus which does seem to help the odor. I notice the smell mostly a week before my period and right after it. Sometimes I have discharge, sometimes I dont. And this past weekend was the first time I smelled it after sex and was absolutely mortified

Your so right! I guess Doctor's think finding a cure for more dire illness' are more paramount compared to vaginal infections. More research is being done on bacterial vaginosis. Research studies are decently expensive and very time consuming, which is why most of it isn't being done. Maybe if there was a Vaginal Health Organization set up maybe there would be more answers. After all, most women will experience at least one vaginal infection throughout their lifetime.
--I always heard it was bad to wear tampons when you have an active vaginal infection.

[wannaBfree]

The best place to order metronidazole (generic flagyl) to treat vaginal fishy odor & gray discharge of bacterial vaginosis (BV) is here: buy metronidazole!

I have been using them multiple times and have been very satisfied with excellent service and prompt (you can even get it overnight but 2-3 days is the best) delivery.

Hello All,

As I sit here reading for hours (with my metrogel inserted), it saddens me to know that Dr's have figured out cures to many diseases, deadly diseases, but no one can figure out how to keep a healthy balance in the vagina? I feel like all these medicines do is mask the problem for a while and in most cases, it just comes back anyway.

I had a case of BV about 4 years ago - one and only one case. All of a sudden out of no where, December of 2007, I noticed a very pungent, almost sour odor when removing my tampon on the last day of my period. I went to the Dr. a month later because it wouldnt go away and I had a case of BV. He prescribed Vandazole. It masked the problem for a few months then again it was back. I have been trying to be very consistent with Acidophlus which does seem to help the odor. I notice the smell mostly a week before my period and right after it. Sometimes I have discharge, sometimes I dont. And this past weekend was the first time I smelled it after sex and was absolutely mortified

[mfc10]

Yeah for me BA is Balance Activ, not Boric Acid - should have clarified that. I've never tried Boric Acid, scares me a bit. And I don't think you can get in the UK (like so many bloddy things - I think there must be tighter regulations on chemicals and supplements here).

Lori - yeah, I did look into mfc10's tip-off about OMBE but there's nothing at all online about it.

Hi, Grace 08: I had a friend in Austria get it for me--it was available over-the-counter at pharmacies there. Perhaps if you go to an area pharmacy/chemist's and ask about it, they might know how to obtain it if they don't have it. I, too, tried to find something about it online a few days ago, and couldn't. I wonder if it's under a different tradename now?

Maggie C.

[Grace08]

Yeah for me BA is Balance Activ, not Boric Acid - should have clarified that. I've never tried Boric Acid, scares me a bit. And I don't think you can get in the UK (like so many bloddy things - I think there must be tighter regulations on chemicals and supplements here).

Lori - yeah, I did look into mfc10's tip-off about OMBE but there's nothing at all online about it.

[neptune]

Ah yes. BA and BA. I'd forgotten about boric acid. Yep, I was talking about Balance Activ

Good link thanks Lori.