[damselindistress]

hey again!

I haven't been to the doctor in almost a year, but I have been diagnosed more than once with BV. Sometimes though he would say it looked like a yeast infection, but it never tested for one. Actually, when this first happened I thought it was a yeast infection (I think my BV was brought on by a long course of antibiotics). I took Diflucan a few times and did some Monistat as well. When it never went away and even got worse, this is when I went to the doctor and was diagnosed with BV.

I have had this problem (whatever it is, LOL) for a little over a year and a half. I am not sure exactly what caused it. It all started in the spring/summer 2006. I was taking antibiotics for an ear infection, and I got a classic yeast infection. This was my first infection ever. It went away fine, but several months later I got a pap test that came back positive for HPV. It was the cancerous strain so I had to do that thing where they freeze the cells, cryo something or other. Everything was fine for a few months until I got an infection again. I thought it was a yeast infection because I was on antibiotics again, but coincidentally I also had a new sex partner. We were both treated numerous times and both tested for STDs. I am no longer with that person and haven't had sex in 6 months so I am having a hard time narrowing down what the root problem is!!

How about yourself?

[CarrieBradshaw]

hey again all!

Well I am sure posting a lot here today

This is probably a stupid question but...soo sad...what do you mean when you say "feel better"..like do you still have discharge, just not as much?

has anyone used those vaginal ph testing kits? if so were the results accurate?

I feel like whatever I have is coming back...even after taking flagyl, femd, no sex or anything. There isn't itching, and no odor that I notice like through my clothes, no discharge on the underwear, but if I wipe the outer area with my finger there is discharge. Its not like gobs and gobs (which I have had before) - but it seems excessive..and not to be gross but I literally smell it obsessively..it does have a slight odor...but like I said last night I never did this before I had BV so maybe it is the normal smell??

I am just frustrated. I thought that the femd and flagyl would knock this thing out (esp since I haven't taken flagyl in so long) - but now I'm not so sure. I don't know what to try next. Like people have been saying boric acid/tto is not a cure, and what I want is to pinpoint this problem and get rid of it.

i am posting a lot too here lately.

this last time i was on flagyl was when i started the femD. To be quite honest, I did not feel 100% completely normal for like a month. The gyno I went to just told me it could take a long time to feel normal again. Sometimes I still don't feel normal. Sounds like a lot of the major symptoms are gone.....

btw, i think we sweat in the outer areas.....maybe that's it? i think we're almost supposed to be a little moist in that general region. what do i know though!

[mg86]

hey again all!

Well I am sure posting a lot here today

This is probably a stupid question but...soo sad...what do you mean when you say "feel better"..like do you still have discharge, just not as much?

has anyone used those vaginal ph testing kits? if so were the results accurate?

I feel like whatever I have is coming back...even after taking flagyl, femd, no sex or anything. There isn't itching, and no odor that I notice like through my clothes, no discharge on the underwear, but if I wipe the outer area with my finger there is discharge. Its not like gobs and gobs (which I have had before) - but it seems excessive..and not to be gross but I literally smell it obsessively..it does have a slight odor...but like I said last night I never did this before I had BV so maybe it is the normal smell??

I am just frustrated. I thought that the femd and flagyl would knock this thing out (esp since I haven't taken flagyl in so long) - but now I'm not so sure. I don't know what to try next. Like people have been saying boric acid/tto is not a cure, and what I want is to pinpoint this problem and get rid of it.

[sooo sad]

hi lori...
thanks for your reply! i do feel alot better with the fem d...just ordered 2 more from iherb, but i don't want to jinx myself!!! tooo early to tell, but again, i haven't felt this good in months. i will keep everyone updated on my condition while and after flagyl...
sooo sad

[sooo sad]

hey again carriebradshaw...

hahahaha...that's tooo funny!! humping your boyfriend's leg...lol. i hope this works for me too. and yeah...cheers to sex....wild sex! damn! you can tell i haven't had it for a long time...

sooo sad ( and sooo horny!)

[CarrieBradshaw]

carriebradshaw....

thanks for your advice hun...i will wait then ...but actually i can't wait cause it's been toooo long! i feel like a "bad girl" cause i want to have sex all the time. i guess when you can't have or do something you crave it more....lol!

sooo sad

You're telling me! I practically hump my BF's leg during infections/period. It sucks!!! I know what you mean!!! I don't even know how you have gone 10 months!!! That's crazy. I think the longest we ever went was 1 month and it was NOT good for our relationship.

Cheers to s e x!

Good luck. I hope the flagyl + FemD works for you.....it has worked for me.

[lori]

hi Lori and Carriebradshaw!

was wondering....after your treatment (while taking fem d, of course) how long did you wait to have sex again? it's been 10 months and it's pretty bad when you can't even have sex with your boyfriend!!! a little update on me...gonna start flagyl today, been taking fem d for about over a week. discharge is less and i haven't worn a pantyliner since day 2 of fem d. CAN'T BELIEVE IT...i always had to wear one. i hope this is the way to go. i'm keeping my fingers crossed...

sooo sad

Hi sad. I think I only waited to have sex until I was done with the flagyl.

Anyway, I think at this point, it's fair to say that most everyone in here who's had the best long-term results have used Fem-d as part of their regimen.

So now, finally, I think it's okay to say, Fem-d is definitely the right product. It's safe (when used as directed!), and looks like it's done more for ladies in here than any other product. (I do wish it was cheaper, though.) I think it is, as close as anything can be, The Answer. (But yes, fingers crossed, still, for everyone.)

I've been very careful, probably too careful, to never shove any theory or method down anyone's throat - all under that hoary theory that we all have different bodies. But I think this is really, just basically, it.

I've been talking about the importance of fem-d and probiotics in here for over a year. It took a lot of fighting to get myself heard. *sigh* I guess it was worth it.

[sooo sad]

carriebradshaw....

thanks for your advice hun...i will wait then ...but actually i can't wait cause it's been toooo long! i feel like a "bad girl" cause i want to have sex all the time. i guess when you can't have or do something you crave it more....lol!

sooo sad

[sooo sad]

mg86...

well, i've had this bv for about 10 months. i started femd about a little over a week ago, gonna start flagyl today. hopefully it works...so tired of not having a sex life with my boyfriend. but since the fem d, my discharge is less...but it's still there. i hope we can bet this....actually ALL of us! keep me updated!!

sooo sad

[lori]

Hi Lori, how are you. Yes, atrophic vaginitis, not what I was referring to.

May I ask - what are you referring to?

When women have adequate and healthy colonies of Reuteri and Rhamnosis and other beneficial bacteria in their vagina, their skin is thicker and healthier. And the inverse. If for whatever reason your beneficial bacterial levels drop - whether from hormone changes, rough sex, too much friction, spermicide use, antibiotics, etc. - your vaginal skin will get thinner. And this starts a cascading effect which can lead to a BV recurrence.

So the decrease in good bacteria is what causes --> the thinning of the vaginal skin --> which leads to BV?

That's definitely new. May I ask - where do you get that info?

It's my understanding that:

the decrease in good bacteria is what causes --> BV

As far as I know, BV is about bacterial imbalance. I'm not sure what the thinning of the vaginal skin has to do with it.

I thought that the thinning of the vaginal skin/walls can happen because of estrogen-loss (leading to atrophic vaginitis). I've never heard of the thinning happening because of the decrease in good bacteria. How does that happen? I also don't understand how the thinner walls cause BV.

[CarrieBradshaw]

hi Lori and Carriebradshaw!

was wondering....after your treatment (while taking fem d, of course) how long did you wait to have sex again? it's been 10 months and it's pretty bad when you can't even have sex with your boyfriend!!! a little update on me...gonna start flagyl today, been taking fem d for about over a week. discharge is less and i haven't worn a pantyliner since day 2 of fem d. CAN'T BELIEVE IT...i always had to wear one. i hope this is the way to go. i'm keeping my fingers crossed...

sooo sad

Ohhhh.....I'm impatient and waited maybe 2 weeks after flagyl..... Probably should have waited longer. It took me awhile to start to be able to really enjoy it again -- ya know, not worry that it's causing an infection, worrying that i already have an infection, yada yada....ick. i'd just say go with your gut as to when your body feels ready. I think your gut sometimes knows more than any doctor does. But, that's just me.

btw, one time after a course of flagyl and diflucan, we tried like my last day of flagyl. BAD IDEA!!! All the meds must have REALLY dried me up or something because I thought I was ready and as soon as we started, I felt some 'ripping' and I started bleeding profusely. So, that set us back another 3 weeks or so. So sad...... So make sure you're either really ready or lubricated....with some Sylk or something....

[CarrieBradshaw]

sooo sad and carrie -

thanks for your replies. Carrie - I know you are taking FemD, how many do you take a day, one or 2? I would really prefer to take one a day because it gets expensive. Should you be able to see normal discharge coming out though, or no? I think what I saw last night may have been normal. It didn't have a strong odor and I read somewhere that thick white discharge is common at the beginning and end of your cycle. Actually after doing a lot of research last night I started to question if I had a yeast infection, not BV. there is no fishy odor...but then again the itching is minimal. I was tempted last night to run up and buy one of those ph test kits...but I figured I'd hold off a few more days.

I too am getting kind of irritated with the tone this board is taking, but, I just try to ignore it. Thanks again soo sad and carrie!:)

I normally take one/day. However, I felt a little off last week and upped it to 2/day. I'm feeling more normal again (might have been pre-period weirdness or something), but I'm still taking 2/day until I'm 100% sure I'm cool. But I took 1/day for a couple months and it worked well.

My discharge changes everyday....it's usually white or clear. Gets thicker and thinner throughout the month. I think the lowest amount of discharge is supposed to be right after your period or right before. Can't remember!!!

It is very hard to tell the difference sometimes.....but I think after a couple episodes of BV, I can tell which is BV and which is normal now. BV is VERY thick and white and gooey for me......

vaginas - can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em!!

Hope this helps!

[CanCan]

sooo sad and carrie -

thanks for your replies. Carrie - I know you are taking FemD, how many do you take a day, one or 2? I would really prefer to take one a day because it gets expensive. Should you be able to see normal discharge coming out though, or no? I think what I saw last night may have been normal. It didn't have a strong odor and I read somewhere that thick white discharge is common at the beginning and end of your cycle. Actually after doing a lot of research last night I started to question if I had a yeast infection, not BV. there is no fishy odor...but then again the itching is minimal. I was tempted last night to run up and buy one of those ph test kits...but I figured I'd hold off a few more days.

I too am getting kind of irritated with the tone this board is taking, but, I just try to ignore it. Thanks again soo sad and carrie!:)

I know these pills are expensive, and it sucks, but I spoke to a naturopath, and he told me in the beginning to take two per day. One in the morning at the crack of dawn, an hour or more before eating; and one pill in the evening at least one hour after your dinner, so they have no interference getting down there into your digestive system!

And also, even if you do have a BV infection and a yeast infection at the same time, which can happen - the probiotic is still important to take for both conditions. And just incase you have a yeast infection too.... the best thing and the first thing to do to kill it is to stop eating all forms of sugar. (At least for the short term.) It sucks, but it works. I did that, and I got rid of my yeast infection. Good luck with everything..

[CanCan]

What you've described is called "atrophic vaginitis." It's not BV caused by a hormonal imbalance, it's just another type of vaginitis. CanCan, I'm not saying YOU didn't have BV triggered by your hormones. But what you've described isn't BV at all.

I think this distinction needs to be made. I think there are too many women in here who self-diagnose a hormonal imbalance, and even self-treat, and others who jump on the bandwagon, thinking, "gosh, maybe I have a hormone problem too."

I think if anyone suspects a hormone problem, they should be examined by an endocrinologist.

I think it's useful to discuss hormonal imbalance, just for knowledge's sake, but it's really a different topic altogether. I think we should at least make a distinction.

Hi Lori, how are you. Yes, atrophic vaginitis, not what I was referring to. But good point, it is a condition women can have, and should read about it just to rule it out. Or in. However you can have it at any age. Of course it is more prevalent as a women get older, when their estrogen levels drop. Or at young ages because your estrogen is lower. But you can also have a case of atrophic vaginitis just by not having sex for a long time! So if you went to see an endocrinologist, he may test you, and find that your levels are fine. A young woman who is celibate, who doesn't have sex for a few years, can have shrinkage or her vaginal walls. And because of this shrinkage can develop infections easier. But once in a longterm sexual relationship again will come back into a healthy zone - vaginally speaking. But until adjusting to her new sexlife, she may be unfortunate enough to suffer from BV, or urinary tract infections!

Getting back to my previous post, I was saying that sometimes for different reasons women can have thinning of the vaginal walls. When this happens, it's easier to get bacterial infections. When women have adequate and healthy colonies of Reuteri and Rhamnosis and other beneficial bacteria in their vagina, their skin is thicker and healthier. And the inverse. If for whatever reason your beneficial bacterial levels drop - whether from hormone changes, rough sex, too much friction, spermicide use, antibiotics, etc. - your vaginal skin will get thinner. And this starts a cascading effect which can lead to a BV recurrence.

[mg86]

hi again mg86...

you're very welcome. if you think that you might have yeast instead of bv you should go to the dr and get it check out. my dr keep treating me for yeast for 4-5 months and never did test, just treated me and came to find out i never had yeast and i was taking all kinds of meds and putting all kinds of creams in my vagina. my opinion, it's better to have a diagnosis so you know what you have. my dr does a "affirm" test...it checks for bv, yeast, and trich...all in one test!

btw, how long have you had bv or yeast?

sooo sad

hey again!

I haven't been to the doctor in almost a year, but I have been diagnosed more than once with BV. Sometimes though he would say it looked like a yeast infection, but it never tested for one. Actually, when this first happened I thought it was a yeast infection (I think my BV was brought on by a long course of antibiotics). I took Diflucan a few times and did some Monistat as well. When it never went away and even got worse, this is when I went to the doctor and was diagnosed with BV.

I have had this problem (whatever it is, LOL) for a little over a year and a half. I am not sure exactly what caused it. It all started in the spring/summer 2006. I was taking antibiotics for an ear infection, and I got a classic yeast infection. This was my first infection ever. It went away fine, but several months later I got a pap test that came back positive for HPV. It was the cancerous strain so I had to do that thing where they freeze the cells, cryo something or other. Everything was fine for a few months until I got an infection again. I thought it was a yeast infection because I was on antibiotics again, but coincidentally I also had a new sex partner. We were both treated numerous times and both tested for STDs. I am no longer with that person and haven't had sex in 6 months so I am having a hard time narrowing down what the root problem is!!

How about yourself?

[sooo sad]

hi again mg86...

you're very welcome. if you think that you might have yeast instead of bv you should go to the dr and get it check out. my dr keep treating me for yeast for 4-5 months and never did test, just treated me and came to find out i never had yeast and i was taking all kinds of meds and putting all kinds of creams in my vagina. my opinion, it's better to have a diagnosis so you know what you have. my dr does a "affirm" test...it checks for bv, yeast, and trich...all in one test!

btw, how long have you had bv or yeast?

sooo sad

[mg86]

sooo sad and carrie -

thanks for your replies. Carrie - I know you are taking FemD, how many do you take a day, one or 2? I would really prefer to take one a day because it gets expensive. Should you be able to see normal discharge coming out though, or no? I think what I saw last night may have been normal. It didn't have a strong odor and I read somewhere that thick white discharge is common at the beginning and end of your cycle. Actually after doing a lot of research last night I started to question if I had a yeast infection, not BV. there is no fishy odor...but then again the itching is minimal. I was tempted last night to run up and buy one of those ph test kits...but I figured I'd hold off a few more days.

I too am getting kind of irritated with the tone this board is taking, but, I just try to ignore it. Thanks again soo sad and carrie!:)

[sooo sad]

hi mg86...

are you taking fem d while you're taking flagyl? if you are you should take it after also...it puts the good bacteria back into the vagina...it might make your discharge less. just a suggestion . hopefully we can beat this thing and help other ladies in this forum... good luck to you.... and me too!!!

sooo sad

[sooo sad]

hi Lori and Carriebradshaw!

was wondering....after your treatment (while taking fem d, of course) how long did you wait to have sex again? it's been 10 months and it's pretty bad when you can't even have sex with your boyfriend!!! a little update on me...gonna start flagyl today, been taking fem d for about over a week. discharge is less and i haven't worn a pantyliner since day 2 of fem d. CAN'T BELIEVE IT...i always had to wear one. i hope this is the way to go. i'm keeping my fingers crossed...

sooo sad

[sooo sad]

hi carriebradshaw.....
i'm fairly new and just wondering if you have to do maintanence or do something after your period or sex. i'm so happy for ya that you're bv free...hopefully i can be too.how long did you have bv before being bv free? i'm currently taking fem d ..(thanks to lori's suggestion!!) i've had this bv for 10months and i'm afraid it would come back again after i take flagyl. i wish i could be like lori and not do nothing but i'm too scared to not "maintain"
thanks...sooo sad