[klee]

Wow, things got a bit touchy in here. I think people always get defensive when anyone suggests they might have a STD. Chacha, you have to realize that almost everyone here has had a speculum in their vag more often than they would like and every annual (which I usually get more than once a year) includes a swab test for most of the illnesses you listed.

I think the simple answer here is that like any other type of bacterial infection - there is no cure in the traditional sense. The antibiotics just kill off bacteria, it's not preventative. It seems unrealistic to basically ask someone to "fix it for me." The only preventative is what you do...and I thought that's what we were working for here anyway.

Although not everyone has had success w/HP, I'm STILL good!!! As I keep mentioning, I drink Emergen-C first thing in the morning and usually another one later on in the day. No yogurt still. More whole grains, raw garlic, and green veggies. And lots of water. I'm fully anticipating having to do the HP thing again after my period but for the long lasting results, I'm WAY okay with it.

[pianogirl]

Hello Ladies,

We I went to see a holistic doctor on Sunday. It was ok but very expensive.

She recommended that I eat meat LOL and I have been a veggie for like almost 14 years. I laughed when she said that...BV started for me one year and a half for me so its not diet related. She told me to lay off the sugar however I don’t consume much sugar. Anyway here is what she recommended:

HLC capsules intravaginally in the morning and boric acid at night for 7 days straight. After the 7 days have ended stop the boric acid and use the HLC intra vaginally and take one capsule by mouth daily (do this for 2 weeks).

Fembalance 2 capsules 2x a day for hormonal balance day 14 - 28 of your cycle.

Balanced omega 2 caps twice a day with food (I believe this is fish oil so I am a bit skeptical in taking this because I do not eat fish.

I am on my period so I plan on starting this when the bleeding has subsided.

[autumnbreeze]

No one implied that YOU are not working hard enough for your condition, but if you say everything you've tried hasn't worked, then guess what:
You've either been misdiagnosed, or whatever you've been given as a cure doesn't work and you have to look for something else or try another approach. It's clear that's all you've got to go on; ignore that reality at your own risk.

Either you use that information to take responsiblity for your own health, or don't and just keep doing what you're doing, keep getting the same outcome, and then have tantrums at anyone who says another approach is needed instead.

Good luck girls.

Whatever. I'm not throwing tantrums but I sure as hell don't need your judgement. Are you a doctor? Do you have a cure? Do you have BV? Do you know our treatment histories? Then you can't draw conclusions about our conditions. Period. Don't get bent out of shape with me because someone said your posts sound like bullshit and I laughed. Hey, go ahead...continue to add your super-sized, lengthy, know-it-all posts in here and the other Our Bodies threads...I don't care.

[jewelscando]

Like I said, I've been tested for everything. I don't live off of ordering things through the internet and picking them up at a p.o. box. I don't even own a p.o. box. I don't disagree with you that the doctors can mis diagnose, however, I read alot on B.V. and one of the main things they say, is they have NO IDEA why it comes back. We all aren't stupid, and we know there's a reason for it. We are ALL trying to figure out that reason, from quitting smoking, to changing our diets, to alternative medicines to antibiotics. NOTHING IS WORKING. And to ASSUME that we are all looking for a "Quick Fix" is bull shit. We WANT A CURE. And unfortunately, THERE IS NO CURE.

[chachaheels]

Your doctors gave your their quick fix cure: go use it. That's what they've got. Why not take up your complaints with them, to whom you've purportedly paid so much money?

If you think getting a second opinion, having other possible causes for your condition (which is chronic now, as you all say it is, and not acute, like BV is supposed to be--one big reason alone to suspect that you don't just have BV) ruled out is "mumbo jumbo", then, wow, go get some more metrogel, or some hormones sold out of some post office box operation, and use it again! Maybe this time it'll work. If not this time, then the next time. It's cheap, right? And you don't care, so...

No one implied that YOU are not working hard enough for your condition, but if you say everything you've tried hasn't worked, then guess what:

You've either been misdiagnosed, or whatever you've been given as a cure doesn't work and you have to look for something else or try another approach. It's clear that's all you've got to go on; ignore that reality at your own risk.

Either you use that information to take responsiblity for your own health, or don't and just keep doing what you're doing, keep getting the same outcome, and then have tantrums at anyone who says another approach is needed instead.

Good luck girls.

[jewelscando]

Well, I guess your idea of "Real Deep Interesting" stuff, is different then mine. Nobody's looking for a "Quick" fix, we ARE LOOKING FOR A CURE!! Plain and simple. B.V. sucks. Period. And although I'm all for a "Lifestyle" change, if that will CURE me, I'm not going to ASSUME, I have other issues, like cervical displasia, SINCE I DON'T HAVE A CERVIX. And.... I've had my doctor test me from Yeast, to STD's, to EVERYTHING else possible. I HAVE B.V. Period. And the mumble jumple that's been going on on this board, isn't helping anyone. The purpose of this board is to "Vent" and to help each other FIND A CURE. NOT A QUICK FIX. YEAH SASSY!!

[autumnbreeze]

Sassy: hahahahahah!! Too funny!

Hey guys, it's not that we're being resistant or that we're trying to offend anybody but come on! If you've never had (recurring) BV, you have NO IDEA what it's like to live with this on a daily basis. We don't want to hear people rambling on and on about nothing. Or trying to imply that we aren't trying hard enough to get rid of this.

[pepper]

funny girls. someone is actually offering some real, deep, useful information and you're still looking for a quick fix miracle cure. at this point you'd think you would Really be willing to try something different since all the multitude of drugs have failed you repeatedly. no offense AT all, i just think it's interesting how resistant people are to the suggestion that their lifestyle has caused their illness and a lifestyle change is neccessary to change it.

[jewelscando]

YEAH SASSY!! I've been thinking the same thing. No offense to anyone. I don't want to start a Fish Fry here. LOL. But I agree. We need answers. That's all we want. And all of our patience is RUNNING REALLY THIN!!!! YEAH SASSY!!

[chachaheels]

Well, no offense, sassy, but I'm laughing at the offensive way you said that.

Hey, just sharing what I know, and you can use it or not. If you find what you're doing works well for you, stick with it, no one's forcing you to pay attention to me

[sassy]

I agree with you guys too! I just had cervical dysplasia the past couple of months so what is accounting for the BV the other 7 years??

No offense chaha, but I think a lot of the stuff you say is kind of bullshit.

[jewelscando]

I AGREE AUTUMNBREEZE!! I too have been diagnosed OVER AND OVER again with B.V. AND I don't have a CERVIX People so, what do you say about that??

I agree Autumn. We all have been suffering from this for years. We want fricken answers guys. Not another "Maybe it's this" or "Maybe it's that". This is B.V. Plain and simple. Now find us a damn cure DAMMIT!!!!

[autumnbreeze]

Why is everyone trying to make this something other than BV? For me, it's bacterial vaginosis, period. Not an STD, not HPV, not cervical cancer. I had never even heard of BV until I was diagnosed. Most of us have been diagnosed many times over. Oh well, I don't mean to rant but this is a frustrating issue, especially when you're living it everyday. It seems people are doing a lot of talking but not actually saying anything.
Who has had recurring BV and gotten rid of it FOR GOOD? Please tell us exactly what you did

[neverending]

Update on estroil: I'm still using the estroil and it's been about 12 days.I had sex and no smell or discharge afterward.I think this might actually be working but the downside is that it takes very long to get the full benefit.Getting Estroil from the doctor probably would have delieverd a quicker response but who cares as long as I get rid of this crap for good.Anyway, all is well on this end.

[chachaheels]

Well, all I can do is keep suggesting you go until you get a proper diagnosis; if you've got BV and you've had it since you were 14, that's a third of your life that you've had this condition that is supposed to be an infection (that is, an acute ailment!). So, to me, that indicates that something else is going on.

Maybe the gynecologist is the wrong person to see. Maybe you need an endocrinologist, as I said below.

"Probably" got all the cervical dysplasia is not exactly "absolutely sure" all the cervical dysplasia's been removed--and we don't know if "removing" it is the way to make sure it doesn't continue to take place or recur.
I know you have all kinds of resistance to finding out what is actually wrong with you--all I'm saying is if you're just going to treat with stuff that's over the counter and you don't actually know what is wrong with you, you could be wasting your time or worse. What you do with that information is completely up to you.

[sassy]

I am definately in the same boat as Eralc Alegna! I've been to the vagina doctor more times the past couple years than most people may go in their whole lives. And it's not cheap...I'm a student and I have a stupid $30 co-pay everytime. "Some people just get BV very easily. I can give you some flagyl or metro-gel or you can just live with it"---usually the response. I did recently have mild cervical dysplasia, but it was not caused by HPV. And my doctor says it was so mild that she probably got it all when she did a biopsy on it. So yeah, I don't think that has anything to do with my BV since I've had BV since I was at least 14 and now I'm 21.

[Eralc Alegna]

I've gotten multiple opionions from multiple doctors for that same reason - maybe they're missing something. But every doc says and does the same thing and when it doesn't work, like I said it doesn't, they're all just like ," that darn BV, sometimes it just wont go away. Heres some more metrogel."

[chachaheels]

Eralc alegna, I'd have them retest for gonorrhea, test for trichomoniasis, and test for chlamydia on that one symptom alone. I'd also ask for an internal exam and a pap smear if it's at all possible to rule out cervical dysplasia. I know you're in and out of the doc's like nobody's business, but if your symptoms are returning, there's a misdiagnosis or a missed diagnosis. It is time for a second opinion. It's your health , after all.

Finally, you may need to do something other than just manage your symptoms with self-treating. Once you have a clear diagnosis, do consider alternative, holistic treatments. So many women benefit from them, and so many who don't know they can pursue these options suffer needlessly.

[Eralc Alegna]

I too have been tested for STDs repeatedly by doctors when I first go to them, after their perscriptions don't help... I'm tested like three times a year. Whether or not they're looking for cervical dysplasia or trich i don't know for sure I guess. Point is I just had a culture done about a month ago and was told nothing was wrong. not even BV.

Cha Cha I was the one who mentioned the discharge is now a pale green/yellow, but it usually is when I've been diagnosed before.

Make no mistake everyone- I'm in and out of the doctor like nobodys business. I self treat in between appointments because I'm frustrated that they continue to fail, or I don't want to pay another co pay or lab fee to be told the exact same thing for the 500th time. I'm not taking this lightly by any means

[chachaheels]

Okay: no STDs. How about: cervical dysplasia/cancer? No?
How about: HPV? Anyone done an internal exam to see if you have that? That's not strictly sexually transmitted, and if you've ever used the pill you're in a high risk category.
How about your hormones--thyroid okay? Pituitary okay? Adrenals okay? Any one of these that's slightly off will lead to the symptoms you're getting that you think are BV.
Iron levels--had those tested? These affect glandular function directly.
How often do you test for STDs? Is it very often, like twice a year? If you're sexually active, then you should be testing about this frequently. Some STDs are asymptomatic for a long time--you'd never know you had them until you tested positive for them.

Testing for STDs is just a small part of the diagnostic process. Great that you don't have any: but what about the other possible causes/diseases?

The point is: you know what you don't have, to a very limited extent. Now go find out what you DO have, before you decide to start treating it in any way. To just be content that you don't seem to test positive for an STD is a start, but it is not the same thing as an actual diagnosis for BV.