[Morphia]

Well, I got back from seeing my internal medicine doctor (I've been sick for a very long time) and they found that I have a high testosterone level. So, she's going to refer me to an endocrinologist to check my ovaries and adrenals. I hope its not PCOS...

But even if I do have PCOS, it still doesn't explain all of these awful symptoms I've been having.

[CanCan]

Morphia -- do you have health insurance? Depending on what plan you have, you may not need a referral, and can just call them up and have them find you someone. The plan I have right now doesn't require physician referrals, which is nice. Be advised though that a lot of specialists will have long waiting lists. When I was first diagnosed with my thyroid problem, it probably took me three months to see an endocrinologist, so good luck!

I called up a hospital in my area, and they have a clinic that is affiliated with them - across the street from the hospital - and I was able to make an appointment to see an endocrine doctor there. I had to wait a long time though. Two months. And they didn't need a referral either. But they allowed me to pay cash, and I will pay cash as well for all the blood work they did for me.. when I get the bill in the mail. They're not charging me that much.

Will let everyone know what the lab results are later when I get them.

[arj75]

Speaking of PH, (I have many phobia's lol) My water at my apartment measures 7.7?? Maybe my ph strips are inaccurate.

[arj75]

[quote name='phobia' date='Jun 22 2007, 06:44 AM' post='158495']
Thanks for the info arj75! I'd just say that a pH of 7 isn't alkaline, it's neutral. The pH scale goes from 1 to 14, with acids below 7 and bases (alkalines) above 7. So your vagina is more alkaline than before, but it's not alkaline on an absolute scale.

Yes, you are right, (sorry I'm on day 5 without any sleep. lol) 7 is neutral. But hell, I don't even want to see seven..lol

Morphia, something else to consider when choosing a doctor...just an idea. You know "that practice makes perfect"...I kinda look at this the same way as to when choosing a doctor, I found out that the doctor that will be doing my colpo....graduated top of his class, and is old as hell. lol

Some women prefer to see females, I understand that, I doesn't make a difference to me.....

I pushed my colpo back for two weeks , afraid to get one done being that this is the first month, and record of consecutive days without bv returning. (Two years) I just really want to enjoy this for a couple more weeks. lol

[phobia]

Thanks for the info arj75! I'd just say that a pH of 7 isn't alkaline, it's neutral. The pH scale goes from 1 to 14, with acids below 7 and bases (alkalines) above 7. So your vagina is more alkaline than before, but it's not alkaline on an absolute scale.

I'm on day four of the Yeast Arrest, and I've already noticed a decrease in the external itchiness, especially when I'm trying to fall asleep. I don't know if it's psychosomatic or what, but I don't care -- any relief is good, right? I've also noticed, not to get too icky and TMI (but then, this is a thread about BV, so I'm sure this isn't the ickiest thing!), that when I insert the capsules, when I pull my finger out, it no longer looks like I've got cottage cheese on my finger. I view this as a positive step As far as odor goes, I've had so many weird ones it's a relief to just smell vaguely of herbs!! Although, I think the Yeast Arrest instructions could warn you that your discharge will be GREEN for a little while! Hahah....

Anyway, thanks sooooo much for the tip on Yeast Arrest again my darling Busties! I'm also going to steal anitsirhc's idea of using the Yeast Arrest after sex; I've defintitely noticed more itchiness after sex, so thanks for the idea.

Morphia -- do you have health insurance? Depending on what plan you have, you may not need a referral, and can just call them up and have them find you someone. The plan I have right now doesn't require physician referrals, which is nice. Be advised though that a lot of specialists will have long waiting lists. When I was first diagnosed with my thyroid problem, it probably took me three months to see an endocrinologist, so good luck!

[arj75]

Hello everyone,

I just wanted to list an article from the V-book (Dr. Elizabeth G. Stewart..she's talking about how are vagina's bacteria's are kept in check.... Maybe a lot of you already know this, but not all of us, and I think this will us help greatly for knowing when to prepare for the battle...

The yeast arrest sounds great by the way, I have ordered it for back-up plan 4,356 lol
(Elizabeth says......
"The type and number of bacteria that live in the vagina are governed by many different factors. These range from the presence of sperm or antibotics to such things as douching, immunosuppression caused by drugs to treat diseases, (and my logical assumption, street drugs, ciggs) surgery. Diseases such as HIV, diabetes, and cancer may influence vaginal bacteria.

Probably, the most important factor, however, is hormonal. Hormonal levels change throughout your menstrual cycle. The vaginal lining also varies considerably during the menstrual cycle. Cells lining the vagina multiply under the influence of estrogen but then become inactive at midcycle, when estrogen levels fall and progesterone dominates. At mid-cycle the lining is thick and rich in glycogen content; the top layers are shed during the second half of the cycle, resulting in a much thinner lining. Then the cycle begins again.
Vaginal ph varies a lot during the cycle too. At the start of menstrual flow, the ph is already increased, peaking at around 7 (alkaline). The ph then drops sharply to between 4.0 and 4.5 over the next three days and remains constant until day 21, although it may rise slightly with ovulation.


I also wanted to mention something in regards to how long our bodies can take to recover from illness (which effects everything in our bodies pretty much lol) It takes your body one full year (on average) to recover from mono. I'm not sure how long it takes for things such as colds, flu, and whatever else. It's just something to keep in mind when your getting discourged...

Things are looking up in here, that's for sure. Morphia-things will get better for you...just be patient..I know it's hard. Are you taking probotics?

[jewelscando]

I'm so glad the Yeast Arrest is working for you all!!! HOWEVER...I'M SO PISSED THAT I CAN'T USE IT!!! HAHAHA!!

Everyone keep in mind...if you get a rash on your forehead, arms, legs...after using the yeast arrest..you MIGHT be having an alergic reaction...... I did...

Flagyl vaginally is still working for me...Glad to see WE ARE FINALLY GETTING SOME RESULTS!!!! Morphia...I'm so sorry things suck for you!!! DON'T YOU WISH THERE WAS SOMETHING LIKE VAGINAL REPLACEMENT PLASTIC SURGERY!!! HAHAHAHAHAH!!!! If only we were so lucky!!!

[Morphia]

Does anyone here know how to go about finding specialists in your area? I'm asking just in case my doctor's don't know of anyone to refer me too. And I won't be surprised if they don't. :-\

[bvgirl]

hey ladies. i finished my last dose of yeast arrest monday night. the yeast arrest stopped coming out of me sometime on tuesday. it's now thursday and i have absolutely no discharge and no smell. i'm 100% dry, no need for a pantyliner!!! i feel great. i just have to hope it stays like this. this is what i did:

i used yeast arrest twice a day, every day for 4 weeks. (i just bought 4 jars of it and used all of them since 1 jar lasts 1 week.) i took fem-dophilus at the beginning of using the yeast arrest, i took 2 a day for about 2 weeks. when i ran out i didn't buy anymore but i think that i will now since i'm not taking yeast arrest anymore. now that i am done taking the yeast arrest every day i am going to be using it after sex and for 4 days every month when i have my period. (i'm not sure if it's twice a day or once a day, it's on the instructions though.) i will do that for 4 months. i don't know how long i'll use it after sex, right now i want to say forever because i don't want to take the chance of it coming back but maybe one day i won't have to do that. i hope i stay bv free!! i am right now and i feel so relieved.

i hope everyone keeps trying to find what works for them. just keep trying different things and eventually you will find what works for you. i know it's frustrating and discouraging, especially when something doesn't work, but you will find what works for you if you just don't give up. thanks bv girl for suggesting the yeast arrest.

Hello.I am so glad for you.. I am happy that you are responding great to the yeast arrest. I too am happy because I have been bv free since using the yeast arrest. I appreciate the thank you but actually if it were not for this board and all the valuable product and information from all of you on here I would not have known about the yeast arrest. For all who are trying to find a product to help them with bv.. Maybe yeast arrest may help...KEEP ON RESEARCHING(TRIAL AND ERROR) YOU WILL FIND SOME RELIEF..

[anitsirhc]

hey ladies. i finished my last dose of yeast arrest monday night. the yeast arrest stopped coming out of me sometime on tuesday. it's now thursday and i have absolutely no discharge and no smell. i'm 100% dry, no need for a pantyliner!!! i feel great. i just have to hope it stays like this. this is what i did:

i used yeast arrest twice a day, every day for 4 weeks. (i just bought 4 jars of it and used all of them since 1 jar lasts 1 week.) i took fem-dophilus at the beginning of using the yeast arrest, i took 2 a day for about 2 weeks. when i ran out i didn't buy anymore but i think that i will now since i'm not taking yeast arrest anymore. now that i am done taking the yeast arrest every day i am going to be using it after sex and for 4 days every month when i have my period. (i'm not sure if it's twice a day or once a day, it's on the instructions though.) i will do that for 4 months. i don't know how long i'll use it after sex, right now i want to say forever because i don't want to take the chance of it coming back but maybe one day i won't have to do that. i hope i stay bv free!! i am right now and i feel so relieved.

i hope everyone keeps trying to find what works for them. just keep trying different things and eventually you will find what works for you. i know it's frustrating and discouraging, especially when something doesn't work, but you will find what works for you if you just don't give up. thanks bv girl for suggesting the yeast arrest.

[neverending]

Ilovehim: I don't wear tampons. When I had BV I stopped using tampons and started using the divacup. I've read that tampons have too much crap in them unless they are organic.

[arj75]

Yes you do Morphia! Good Luck in finding a doctor who can in fact spell. I do realize that yeast is not difficult to diagnose according to doctor Elizabeth G Stewart...but I have also read contradicting information to that as well. Also, it's possible that with your skin rash infection that you have recently suffered from has some kind of factor in this as well? You may have BV, but possibly other issues on top of this. There is no reason that you should be suffering from this 24/7. If you are, doctors need to realize this. It's good that you are a smart gal,, and have been noting these strange symtoms. Tell your doctor, demand resolution. Did you see the article in the V-book about getting skin samples for biopsy? Don't remember where it was at...but it's in there.

Hope you get some relief!!!!!!!

P.S. Make sure you remember to mention that you have bladder/urinary problems. And mention your work environment as well.

[arj75]

Alright. Tonight I got intimate with the bf (no penetration of course. That would be painful) and I took great care in noting any odor/odors that might be present. I've detected three. Pizza (while its still on me), chemical/urine smell (when its on my undies) and a sweet urine smell (after it has dried). I've also been keeping up with the consistency of my discharge. The stuff that actually comes out is clear and sometimes so bubbly that it looks like spit. (Ew). But when I stick my finger in there and pull it out under my nails is THICK, creamy, white stuff. This stuff is clinging for dear life to the walls of my vag. I'm also more red down there than I've ever been. As far as sensations are concerned, I burn on the inside when I'm not sexually aroused. But when I get aroused and the juices start flowing, my symptoms get 10 times better....and then I start to itch on the inside! This is all so damn WEIRD! I'm going to ask my internal medicine doctor (appointment on friday) and my gynecologist (appointment on monday) if they know of any specialists I can see. I need to get this shit figured out ASAP.

Yes you do Morphia! Good Luck in finding a doctor who can in fact spell. I do realize that yeast is not difficult to diagnose according to doctor Elizabeth G Stewart...but I have also read contradicting information to that as well. Also, it's possible that with your skin rash infection that you have recently suffered from has some kind of factor in this as well? You may have BV, but possibly other issues on top of this. There is no reason that you should be suffering from this 24/7. If you are, doctors need to realize this. It's good that you are a smart gal,, and have been noting these strange symtoms. Tell your doctor, demand resolution. Did you see the article in the V-book about getting skin samples for biopsy? Don't remember where it was at...but it's in there.

Hope you get some relief!!!!!!!

[Morphia]

Alright. Tonight I got intimate with the bf (no penetration of course. That would be painful) and I took great care in noting any odor/odors that might be present. I've detected three. Pizza (while its still on me), chemical/urine smell (when its on my undies) and a sweet urine smell (after it has dried). I've also been keeping up with the consistency of my discharge. The stuff that actually comes out is clear and sometimes so bubbly that it looks like spit. (Ew). But when I stick my finger in there and pull it out under my nails is THICK, creamy, white stuff. This stuff is clinging for dear life to the walls of my vag. I'm also more red down there than I've ever been. As far as sensations are concerned, I burn on the inside when I'm not sexually aroused. But when I get aroused and the juices start flowing, my symptoms get 10 times better....and then I start to itch on the inside! This is all so damn WEIRD! I'm going to ask my internal medicine doctor (appointment on friday) and my gynecologist (appointment on monday) if they know of any specialists I can see. I need to get this shit figured out ASAP.

[Italianwife88]

I wear tampons, 'i love him' why are you asking?

My mom didn't want me to wear them when I first started, my mom had TSS at the age of 19 and got deathly ill and hasent worn them since...she is 47 now.

[CanCan]

Do they have a pill for caffeine addicts? lol. Just joking, I have quit drinking coffee and soda, but it is/was not easy. OK so I did sneak and have soda the other day, but I couldn't even drink it, it was so sweet that it made me feel sick.
I drink only water through the week now, then have a few cocktails on weekends....

Thanks CanCan. A lot of things are overlooked in this board, I missed that.

I have coffee everyday, and what I am doing to try to break the habit is change it up a little. Some days I have my morning cappuccino, and on other days, I have something different - like a chai latte. Or my new thing: Yerba Matte Latte. I love it! I found this amazing tea brand called Republic. And really I bought it because the tin was so gorgeous. But it is delicious. It still has caffeine, but not as much. So now I am not addicted to coffee. I still have my cappuccinos, but not as often.

[ilovehim]

ILOVEHIM, My issues are in fact that I was very concerned that your female health problems had you on the verge of suicide. THATS MY ISSUE. Not to mention that proper treatment of vaginal infections are very important being that yes, in fact, it can fuck up your liver!!!!
Also, if you want to go BACK AND READ WHEN I FIRST JOINED THIS FORUM AND TOLD YOU TO GO READ A SEGMENT [b](from the V book)[/b] tHIS IS THE SAME BOOK i SUGGESTED to you that now LORI is telling everyone to get, and she jumped my ass for getting excited about information that could HELP US.


ILOVEHIM, did you really want to be pregnant? (Your 16?)

Of course I did not want to be a pregnant 17 year old, I'm o.k. with one . lol That's crazy!



.*.*. Who here wears tampons?.*.*.

[arj75]

Yes, there is a connection between caffeine and hormone imbalance. Caffeine like all stimulants, if taken in excess, causes your adrenal glands to overwork. (I talk about this in a previous post.) Caffeine for most people is a pick-me-up. It gives you that 'feeling' of having more energy. And afterward, when the feeling wears off, you experience a crash. Well. Unless you are a chain coffee drinker, in which case you would just grab your next cup of coffee! Your adrenal glands have to adjust to stimulants, and tell the rest of your glands how to function. if you are always feeling 'up' and hyper with caffeine, then your adrenals are working hard to produce cortisol and adrenaline, and you throw off all your other hormones levels. In extreme cases it can cause adrenal exhaustion.

[ http://www.diagnose-me.com/cond/C17669.html ]

Do they have a pill for caffeine addicts? lol. Just joking, I have quit drinking coffee and soda, but it is/was not easy. OK so I did sneak and have soda the other day, but I couldn't even drink it, it was so sweet that it made me feel sick.
I drink only water through the week now, then have a few cocktails on weekends....

Thanks CanCan. A lot of things are overlooked in this board, I missed that.

[CanCan]

Actually, oddly enough fibroadenomas are affected.. or caused by hormones..ahhh lol estrogen and progesterone. About 1 out of six women have these. The condition strangely enough improves after hormones E & P drop from menapause. Researchers are on different sides of the fence when discussing if diets high in saturated fats and high caffeine intake have a factor in this as well. (I'm on the caffeine side of the fence, I love caffiene. lol And red meat. lol.

Speaking of which..has anyone found any information with the links between caffeine and hormone imbalance? Just curious.

Most are shaped round, but mine is about an inch and n half in size and oddly shaped. I'm not really concerned about it though. I have kept my eye on it..hasn't changed much...it's not bothersome either.

But, if they do become uncomfortable, or you have several..your doctor might consider treating you with danazol. It's a fake testosterone hormone. But I really don't want a beard or acne. lol.

Yes, there is a connection between caffeine and hormone imbalance. Caffeine like all stimulants, if taken in excess, causes your adrenal glands to overwork. (I talk about this in a previous post.) Caffeine for most people is a pick-me-up. It gives you that 'feeling' of having more energy. And afterward, when the feeling wears off, you experience a crash. Well. Unless you are a chain coffee drinker, in which case you would just grab your next cup of coffee! Your adrenal glands have to adjust to stimulants, and tell the rest of your glands how to function. if you are always feeling 'up' and hyper with caffeine, then your adrenals are working hard to produce cortisol and adrenaline, and you throw off all your other hormones levels. In extreme cases it can cause adrenal exhaustion.

[ http://www.diagnose-me.com/cond/C17669.html ]

[arj75]

Well, I'm all for that. I hope they do more research on this! But I also don't think we should hold off on probiotics until those particular strains are available commercially.

Actually, I think HLC Candaclear is a product that claims to have replicated healthy human lactobacillus. And I don't feel like going back to verifying this but ... I think their tests involved putting the lactobacillus from one vagina to another.

(Ewwwww.)

Interesting study, but, umm yes ewwww. But I guess some people have to receive blood donations to survive..maybe our vagina's need lactobacillus transfusions. lol Honestly, I don't see this working though. (I think our bodies are killing them off.) who knows. (If it works though...maybe I could humble myself to stoop that low. lol


Question for you: have you been taking the Ultimate Flora?

Yes, I have been taking ultimate flora faithfully, except when I was out of town for 4 days.. and I then took Kyo-Dophilus, because they don't need to be kept in the cooler.