[Sweaty in Social Studies]

Good blog! When did you write it? I don't ever remember that being there. LOL

Thanks, I'm glad you like it! I started it around the beginning of December. A majority of that information is about probiotics because I wanted to be sure whether they really could treat vaginal infections or not. And they do! ... depending on which variety. How are things going for you?

[Sweaty in Social Studies]

That is kind of interesting. Did you get any vaccinations?
Even though going on a vacation is relaxing,
I don't think we realize the kind of stress it
puts on our body. New environment, new people, etc.
Mebbe it messed with our immune system a bit??
Can't say i was vacationing in the most
sanitary of places either...kinda rustic.

I'm up to date with all of my vaccinations. I didn't get any vaccinations before I traveled. I didn't think that would matter, it possibly could have. It's kind of interesting that mfc10 said that she was vacationing in a "semi-rustic cabin vacation", and you said that you were also vacationing in a rustic environment. The ship I was on traveled to several islands. Hmmm ... maybe I encountered something rustic. I think it was probably the environmental change that caused it. Because with certain skin conditions a change in the climate or environment can cause flare ups, maybe the same could be said for this.

[mfc10]

Can't say i was vacationing in the most
sanitary of places either...kinda rustic.

My bout with BV started after returning home from a semi-rustic cabin vacation in Virginia! Could be the stress, though I thought I was relaxing!

Hugs,
Maggie

[ladylustlove]

Okay. I'm glad to hear stories like yours. It makes it seem like there is hope for others that have BV. You know what's odd, you got BV after vacationing in the tropics and I also got an infection after I came back from a cruise. Maybe it was the elements that triggered it, maybe it was just a coincidence.

That is kind of interesting. Did you get any vaccinations?
Even though going on a vacation is relaxing,
I don't think we realize the kind of stress it
puts on our body. New environment, new people, etc.
Mebbe it messed with our immune system a bit??
Can't say i was vacationing in the most
sanitary of places either...kinda rustic.

[neptune]

. sometimes i feel like commiting suicide because of this shit. i'm sooo sad and depressed right now. please help with any information, thanks in advance.

sooo sad

I know what you mean
Mine is back in full swing. It's gone from onions to fish overnight. It's in full, fishy, fucking swing.
Please don't give up on the thought that it could disappear just as quickly as it started. As bad as things are now, it's not necessarily going to be years and years.

[Sweaty in Social Studies]

Thanks everyone!
I can't really say how long it took the probiotics to work since
i can't even recognize my symptoms! I've been takin the fem
for about a year now, the fem and ultimate flora together
for o, about 4 months or so??

Also, forgot to mention, i stuck femD up the cooch for
about a week straight and O MY! I was so freakin
itchy and uncomfortable!! I think i may have stuck
a boric in to calm my little lady down. My bod was NOT likin
that at all, not sure what exactly provoked such a reaction.

On the other hand, i used some pros meant specifically
for the cooch....eh...i forgot the brand, but
the uncomfy reaction didn't happen.
i think its the HMF probiotics perhaps?

as for the alkaline...... mebbe i've been on it a month
or 2. can't say i notice any crazy differences in my bod,
but i do feel good eating the fruits n veggies and knowin
i'm doin good for my body.

Okay. I'm glad to hear stories like yours. It makes it seem like there is hope for others that have BV. You know what's odd, you got BV after vacationing in the tropics and I also got an infection after I came back from a cruise. Maybe it was the elements that triggered it, maybe it was just a coincidence.

[ladylustlove]

i feel so helpless and less of a women right now and i just shoved a boric acid up there cause i could feel it coming. sometimes i feel like commiting suicide because of this shit. i'm sooo sad and depressed right now. please help with any information, thanks in advance.

sooo sad

aw mama i hope you feel better.

[ladylustlove]

I'm really glad to here about your story! Because with all I've learned about probiotics, it seems like they would be a really good choice for self treating. How long were you doing this regimen before you noticed any results or were the results just gradual? Oh yeah, I've always wanted to know more about the effects of an alkaline diet. How long were you on it? I've been on an alkaline diet for about 3 weeks. I honestly feel different. Different in a good way.

Thanks everyone!
I can't really say how long it took the probiotics to work since
i can't even recognize my symptoms! I've been takin the fem
for about a year now, the fem and ultimate flora together
for o, about 4 months or so??

Also, forgot to mention, i stuck femD up the cooch for
about a week straight and O MY! I was so freakin
itchy and uncomfortable!! I think i may have stuck
a boric in to calm my little lady down. My bod was NOT likin
that at all, not sure what exactly provoked such a reaction.

On the other hand, i used some pros meant specifically
for the cooch....eh...i forgot the brand, but
the uncomfy reaction didn't happen.
i think its the HMF probiotics perhaps?

as for the alkaline...... mebbe i've been on it a month
or 2. can't say i notice any crazy differences in my bod,
but i do feel good eating the fruits n veggies and knowin
i'm doin good for my body.

[yme30]

sassy, hon!

i was wondering, how long have you used boric acid in all? i've talked to my doctor about it and she doesn't have any clue about side effects, etc. i don't have insurance so i can't really find another dr cause of financial situation. i read in a post that you only use it about once a month now. how much did you use it in the begining? like everyday or 3-5 times a week? it seems like this is the only thing that helps me too. i used it for about 1.5-2 months straight, then i used femd vaginally for about 2-3weeks and then i didn't use anything for 2 days to see if it has gone away and i could feel it coming back. i feel so helpless and less of a women right now and i just shoved a boric acid up there cause i could feel it coming. sometimes i feel like commiting suicide because of this shit. i'm sooo sad and depressed right now. please help with any information, thanks in advance.

sooo sad

So Sad I know how you feel I just finish a 10 day course of the metro pills and it didn't do NOTHING!!!!!!! I get so depressed and angry at my body and what I am going through hurts so much I cry at night and I pray like crazy. I have had BV for years and years I just want my life back .........................so now I go to the doc AGAIN for another script. Pray for me everyone and stay positive so sad we will all get through this together.

[neverending]

I'm really glad to here about your story! Because with all I've learned about probiotics, it seems like they would be a really good choice for self treating. How long were you doing this regimen before you noticed any results or were the results just gradual? Oh yeah, I've always wanted to know more about the effects of an alkaline diet. How long were you on it? I've been on an alkaline diet for about 3 weeks. I honestly feel different. Different in a good way.

Good blog! When did you write it? I don't ever remember that being there. LOL

[Sweaty in Social Studies]

Hey ladies-
I've been lurking on this thread for a while, as so
many of us do.
I got tested for bv last week and for the first time in nearly a year
and a half it came up negative.
I am a very very happy woman right now, and
I wish to share my experience with you.

I'm really glad to here about your story! Because with all I've learned about probiotics, it seems like they would be a really good choice for self treating. How long were you doing this regimen before you noticed any results or were the results just gradual? Oh yeah, I've always wanted to know more about the effects of an alkaline diet. How long were you on it? I've been on an alkaline diet for about 3 weeks. I honestly feel different. Different in a good way.

[sooo sad]

sassy, hon!

i was wondering, how long have you used boric acid in all? i've talked to my doctor about it and she doesn't have any clue about side effects, etc. i don't have insurance so i can't really find another dr cause of financial situation. i read in a post that you only use it about once a month now. how much did you use it in the begining? like everyday or 3-5 times a week? it seems like this is the only thing that helps me too. i used it for about 1.5-2 months straight, then i used femd vaginally for about 2-3weeks and then i didn't use anything for 2 days to see if it has gone away and i could feel it coming back. i feel so helpless and less of a women right now and i just shoved a boric acid up there cause i could feel it coming. sometimes i feel like commiting suicide because of this shit. i'm sooo sad and depressed right now. please help with any information, thanks in advance.

sooo sad

[neverending]

Hey ladies-
I've been lurking on this thread for a while, as so
many of us do.
I got tested for bv last week and for the first time in nearly a year
and a half it came up negative.
I am a very very happy woman right now, and
I wish to share my experience with you.

THe first time I encountered bv was in the spring of 2007
after I took a month long vacation to the tropics.
I couldn't tell anything was wrong, but my bf
stated something just smelled awry.
So i got tested, and as you might've guessed, there was the bv.

There were 3 factors that may have contributed to this occurence:
1. I had a non-hormonal iud inserted 2 months prior.
2. I had just started having unprotected sex with my bf.
3. Had just finished up probably my 5th treatment of
antibiotics for UTIs due to sex. Thankfully, I have discovered D-mannose
since then and take it b4 and after I have sex now. Knock on wood,
I have not had a UTI since i started taking mannose as a preventative.
So i got a round of antibiotics thinking little of it.
the bv went away.
took some probiotics too, some weak brand.
I was BV free for about 4 months.
I then read some
mumbo in a mag about how probiotics on a reg basis may not
be great for you (screw you whoever wrote that!!!)
and stopped taking them.
about a couple of weeks later, the smell was back.
I was a little freaked out but kinda like whatever. So i took
more antibiotics. Which worked for the week, but
the smell came back quickly after.

Then I was stumped. So like many of us, i researched on line a
bunch. Tried ACV. Tried inserting pros in the vag.
tried tea tree oil.

Went back to the doc, still had it. so i thought i'd give it one
final try with the antibiotics. i took a double whammy, using the
cream and the pills.
Then i got a yeast infection. i used boric acid for that and the yeast was
gone, but the smell lingered (according to the bf).

I was sick of going to the doc, and sick of taking antibiotics.
I felt like at this rate i'd be going every month. and going to
the doc isn't especially my fave activity. so
i decided to just take it easy.Focus on me. On new years i did a week long
raw food cleanse. Shortly after, I saw (don't laugh)
an energy healer, which was an amazing experience. he
had me go on a cleanse and insert vaginal vitamin c

After this, My bf ate me out a couple of times, during which he said it
tasted sweet. So I was like good!! then a couple of other times
he said it didn't taste/smell as great. So I was like damn.

But like i said, i chilled out. Tried not to stress. Bc this bv thing
brought me some serious fucking tears.

After 6 months or so of not seeing doctors, and kinda on a whim,
I went back last week to get tested. I was curious about my status.
and my tests came out negative.

I'm not sure what exactly did it, but like
the cause of my bv, maybe the elimination of it
has to do with multiple factors.

This is what I have done in my life to try to
get my body back to normal:

**alkalizing my body. I dunno if this is just some new fad, but
whatever. I eat as many fruits n veggies as possible.
I still drink alcohol and coffee, but drink enormous
quantities of lemon water to make up for it. I still have a minimal
amount of processed sugar (i work in a cafe for christ's sake!)
but i try to keep my diet at a 80%healthy/20%not so great ratio.

**taking probiotics. I take daily, one femdophilus and one ultimate
Vaginal flora, in the morning after breakfast. I've read the bacteria
thrive better if you take them with some food. this has been one
hell of an expensive habit (~$50 a month) but fuck it.

**taking vitamins. I take one woman's health daily (trader joe brand).
these multis have some extra womanly herbs in them.
One calcium/magnesium/green food tablet (also trader joe).
One omega 3/6/9. one vitamin c, and one folic acid.

**yoga. Nothing intense, just a few minutes in the morning.

**positive thinking and affirmations. Not just
about the bv, but life in general. Some people think this
is mega cheesy, but it has really helped me.
"I release any disease or negativity from my body
and welcome health and positivity"

Also, as you might have thought strange, I cannot tell when
i have the bv. Just can't. My bf can via the smell, but
i think he has a strong nose. I notice nothing particularly
strange about the discharge. I dunno. Also,
like i said, there has been times that he has said i didn't smell
that great but now...i am wondering if these are just
at particular points of my cycle. We smell sweeter when
we ovulate and when we are horny, so
maybe this explains why I smelled so sweet to him
in the beginning (i was a lot hornier in the beginning
of the relationship. New things are always exciting).

I was talking to my doc about this, and she
said sometimes the bv just goes away. I think, in my particular
case, taking all of those antibiotics for the UTIs really fucked me
up. It took over a year for my flora to get back into balance.
also, the iud prob didn't help (forgot to mention
i had that removed). now on the pill which i'm
not too thrilled about.
I think my bod was just
outta wack and needed some time to readjust.
Also, I believe the energy healing/positive thinking/non-stressing
may have had a part in
all of this. never hurts to try.

I will think twice b4 ever taking antibiotics again.
It is a shame that docs were giving them
to me like nothing instead of informing me about
wonderful things like d-mannose. Then again, they
prob didn't even know.

Sorry about the long post guys. just wanted to
share my story. Feel free to ask me any questions.
good luck!

Yes, positive thinking helps a lot! Get rid of any negativity in your life. You don't need that. As far as the IUD I hear it causes BV in a lot of women. Look at other boards as wel as this one and you will see that a lot of women who got IUDS also got BV. Very odd but it was something that I noticed! Anyway, welcome to the board. The info you have contributed is great!

[lori]

Sorry about the long post guys. just wanted to
share my story. Feel free to ask me any questions.
good luck!

No, thanks for sharing. That was great.

[ladylustlove]

Hey ladies-
I've been lurking on this thread for a while, as so
many of us do.
I got tested for bv last week and for the first time in nearly a year
and a half it came up negative.
I am a very very happy woman right now, and
I wish to share my experience with you.

THe first time I encountered bv was in the spring of 2007
after I took a month long vacation to the tropics.
I couldn't tell anything was wrong, but my bf
stated something just smelled awry.
So i got tested, and as you might've guessed, there was the bv.

There were 3 factors that may have contributed to this occurence:
1. I had a non-hormonal iud inserted 2 months prior.
2. I had just started having unprotected sex with my bf.
3. Had just finished up probably my 5th treatment of
antibiotics for UTIs due to sex. Thankfully, I have discovered D-mannose
since then and take it b4 and after I have sex now. Knock on wood,
I have not had a UTI since i started taking mannose as a preventative.


So i got a round of antibiotics thinking little of it.
the bv went away.
took some probiotics too, some weak brand.
I was BV free for about 4 months.
I then read some
mumbo in a mag about how probiotics on a reg basis may not
be great for you (screw you whoever wrote that!!!)
and stopped taking them.
about a couple of weeks later, the smell was back.
I was a little freaked out but kinda like whatever. So i took
more antibiotics. Which worked for the week, but
the smell came back quickly after.

Then I was stumped. So like many of us, i researched on line a
bunch. Tried ACV. Tried inserting pros in the vag.
tried tea tree oil.

Went back to the doc, still had it. so i thought i'd give it one
final try with the antibiotics. i took a double whammy, using the
cream and the pills.
Then i got a yeast infection. i used boric acid for that and the yeast was
gone, but the smell lingered (according to the bf).

I was sick of going to the doc, and sick of taking antibiotics.
I felt like at this rate i'd be going every month. and going to
the doc isn't especially my fave activity. so
i decided to just take it easy.Focus on me. On new years i did a week long
raw food cleanse. Shortly after, I saw (don't laugh)
an energy healer, which was an amazing experience. he
had me go on a cleanse and insert vaginal vitamin c

After this, My bf ate me out a couple of times, during which he said it
tasted sweet. So I was like good!! then a couple of other times
he said it didn't taste/smell as great. So I was like damn.

But like i said, i chilled out. Tried not to stress. Bc this bv thing
brought me some serious fucking tears.

After 6 months or so of not seeing doctors, and kinda on a whim,
I went back last week to get tested. I was curious about my status.
and my tests came out negative.

I'm not sure what exactly did it, but like
the cause of my bv, maybe the elimination of it
has to do with multiple factors.

This is what I have done in my life to try to
get my body back to normal:

**alkalizing my body. I dunno if this is just some new fad, but
whatever. I eat as many fruits n veggies as possible.
I still drink alcohol and coffee, but drink enormous
quantities of lemon water to make up for it. I still have a minimal
amount of processed sugar (i work in a cafe for christ's sake!)
but i try to keep my diet at a 80%healthy/20%not so great ratio.

**taking probiotics. I take daily, one femdophilus and one ultimate
Vaginal flora, in the morning after breakfast. I've read the bacteria
thrive better if you take them with some food. this has been one
hell of an expensive habit (~$50 a month) but fuck it.

**taking vitamins. I take one woman's health daily (trader joe brand).
these multis have some extra womanly herbs in them.
One calcium/magnesium/green food tablet (also trader joe).
One omega 3/6/9. one vitamin c, and one folic acid.

**yoga. Nothing intense, just a few minutes in the morning.

**positive thinking and affirmations. Not just
about the bv, but life in general. Some people think this
is mega cheesy, but it has really helped me.
"I release any disease or negativity from my body
and welcome health and positivity"

Also, as you might have thought strange, I cannot tell when
i have the bv. Just can't. My bf can via the smell, but
i think he has a strong nose. I notice nothing particularly
strange about the discharge. I dunno. Also,
like i said, there has been times that he has said i didn't smell
that great but now...i am wondering if these are just
at particular points of my cycle. We smell sweeter when
we ovulate and when we are horny, so
maybe this explains why I smelled so sweet to him
in the beginning (i was a lot hornier in the beginning
of the relationship. New things are always exciting).

I was talking to my doc about this, and she
said sometimes the bv just goes away. I think, in my particular
case, taking all of those antibiotics for the UTIs really fucked me
up. It took over a year for my flora to get back into balance.
also, the iud prob didn't help (forgot to mention
i had that removed). now on the pill which i'm
not too thrilled about.
I think my bod was just
outta wack and needed some time to readjust.
Also, I believe the energy healing/positive thinking/non-stressing
may have had a part in
all of this. never hurts to try.

I will think twice b4 ever taking antibiotics again.
It is a shame that docs were giving them
to me like nothing instead of informing me about
wonderful things like d-mannose. Then again, they
prob didn't even know.

Sorry about the long post guys. just wanted to
share my story. Feel free to ask me any questions.
good luck!

[lori]

Hey everyone,

If you've checked out my blog lately, you might have noticed that I moved it to a different URL:

http://allaboutbv.blogspot.com/

The blog on the Bust site has been outdated, and I've been meaning to update it forever. But it felt daunting, and I've put it off for a long time.

The new format is easier for me to address individual topics more in-depth. It's still in the beginning stages. And I'm new to blogging, so I'm learning as I go!

These are my posts so far. Not comprehensive, yet. But check them out if you need any info. on these topics. I'll update you guys on my progress.

Thanks ...

--

Introduction

What Is BV?

Doctors Don't Know Everything (And Sometimes, They're Jerks)

Doctor Can Be Jerks - You're Still Going to Need One

Your Gynecologist Appointment

Prescription Medication #1: Metronidazole

Prescription Medication #2: Clindamycin

BV: The Vicious Cycle

[neptune]

thats interesting that your tests have been coming back negative lately, perhaps its trich?? have you been tested for absolutely everything else??? i remember you saying something about it starting after you took antidepressents... my first case of Bv started when i started prozac and birth control!!!! like freshnfree im also allergic to latex, and believe this aggravated my situation, but my first case DEFINITELY came directly after starting the meds i mentioned. i decided to postpone my gyno appt because i got my period early, but when i go i am going to ask to be tested for stds A-Z as well as strepB, BV, AND i want to be referred to an endocrinologist for hormone testing. my mother has always said that she believes my hormones are totally out of whack(i have some of the illest modd swings known to man), and given the fact that my depression, stress, and birth control meds brought on my first case i am going to test that little theory.

i havent tried any other probiotics, but femd is wonderful and if i know there are some UK ladies who post here that have gotten a hold of some.

good luck girls

I was tested for trich and it came back negative. My theory is that it's "lurking" bv, and not quite bad enough to show up on tests. Not sure if that's possible though. When I have it badly the smell is definite fish, but I've tested positive when it's just been the onion smell before. Mystery. I think I might pay privately to see a gyne as the nhs over here can be pretty crap.

Did you start birth control and prozac at exactly the same time? I suppose it could have been triggered by either? I had unprotected sex and that's when I first got it, but I'd been on the antids for a few months, and it didn't clear up (without treatment) until I came off the meds about 9 months later. So the meds were definitely aggravating the problem at the very least. I asked my mum's friends who used to be a doctor and she said that bv can often be triggered/caused by medication. I know that in some cases people suspect it's an allergy so maybe that's why. Are you still taking the prozac and birth control?

Seeing an endo would be a good plan. If it's hormonal it might respond to some sort of hormone treatment. I personally have PCOS and take dianette and have recently started spironolactone (anti androgen). These meds are helping my pcos symptoms, but haven't made a change to my "bv" or whatever the hell it is! Over on Soulcysters someone did say recently that their bv cleared up when they started taking metformin (a treatment used in PCOS which balances insulin) and their doctor said that having insulin levels out of the normal range could possibly prevent the body from fighting infections properly.

[lori]

THANKS! And even better, when you check out, put in the code LAZ615 for a referral coupon and you get another $5 off!

WOW!!!! For $21 including shipping I got the 60 caps bottle! Holy crap!!!

Thank you for sharing this! (So glad they come in 60-caps now. Cool.)

[Sweaty in Social Studies]

hey im a newbie here............... newho im 21 years old and i have been living with bv for the longest time... im soo embarassed to even go socialize in fear of someone smelling me..... i recently quit my job because i felt everyong was looking at me and hearing lil whispers here and there while i enter a room... i just feel soo alone ... i barely go out.. i stop going to school... this disease as taken over my life i just dont know what to do with myself...and is it common with people with bv to be dealing with halitosis (bad breath) ............sad to say i stopped communicating to the people i love in fear of them putting their hands on their nose...........ahhhhhhh soo much goes through my day please help me find a cure for this disease..

What have you tried treating your B.V. with? Don't give in so soon, you may just find something that works for you. I can't help but think that way. I'm an optimist.

[catwalk]

Ladies, Iherb has the Fem D (60 capsules) for $23.77 and the 30 capsules for 17.47 -
Linky: Fem Dophilus - iHerb.com

THANKS! And even better, when you check out, put in the code LAZ615 for a referral coupon and you get another $5 off!

WOW!!!! For $21 including shipping I got the 60 caps bottle! Holy crap!!!