[Aijarama]

Hi Ladies,

Been lurking and trying to find what works for me...suffering from BV for about 6 months. No discharge, but there's a slight odor when I get sweaty, and the itch (which causes the broken skin/irritation) is the worst part. Used Clindesse, Flagyl (yuck) and Tindamycin...all worked for a little while, then the symptoms came back. Haven't had too much luck with the probiotics, but gonna keep trying!

hugs and support to all.

[horror_movie]

THANKS FOR Y'ALL INFO(HELP) I REALLY APPRECIATE IT AND WILL DEFINALTELY
GO TO THE DOCTOR!!! YES I GOT TESTED FOR TRICH AND ALL OTHER STD'S
I EVEN GOT MY HUSBAND TESTED TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE EVERYTHING CAME OUT NEGATIVE.
THE SMELL IS OVER BEARING B4 I COULDN'T SMELL NOTHING NOW I CAN STRONG SPOIL FISH (GROSS)!!!GOD PLEASE HELP THROUGH THIS HORRIBLE BACTERIA VAGINOSIS!!!!! IMMA PRAY FOR EVERYONE WHO HAVE TO SUFFER WITH THIS STI.

[sassy]

Have anyone try this medication call celocin. This woman say
She been suffering from Bv for years.
She took www.celocin.com and it went away I just was wondering
Did anyone get prescribe that from their doctor.

I think you are referring to Cleocin, which is a vaginal suppository type medication. It is the antibiotic commonly known as Clindamycin. I found Cleocin to last longer than the oral antibiotics, but in the end, I still had my BV come back within a month. I also know that Clindamycin has been known to actually cause strep in the vagina, so for some people it can do more harm than good.

[nik7121]

Advice?

I went to the Dr today with my list (each time I smelled, peed, medications I took, etc). I had an appmt later this week but freaked caused I peed yesterday and saw blood.

They took a pap, and told me I looked irritated (which it shouldnt; I havent had sex in a month). Change my detergent, keep drinking water, and mosturize my vag. Theyll call when the results come back. But it still smells once a day and it still hurts sometimes like a mofo when i pee!

I hate self-diagnosing, and the Dr was nice, but not very helpful. So I've been looking online at UTIs (I had a UTI and BV at once...I asked the dr if i get a gold star for that), and you get lower back pain from that? I thought that was from my job, but I;ve been off the past few days & its still there.

I told my bf yesterday and felt like I dork b/c I started crying, admitting I was kinda scared. I still am; I just feel like something's not right, its not just my body "trying to get back to normal."

Any suggestions? And does anyone know what kind of body oil to use to moisturize? The Dr mentioned some kind of neutrogena.

[lori]

I have been suffering from BV for about 10 months. Through
thoses months it have been hell for me and my husband.
Sometimes I feel like I deserve this Bv why I feel that way
because b4 I had BV I cheated on my husband with two guys
(guess what I ended up with Bv)and I'm
Devasted and hurt by the things I did behind his back.
I guess this is my punishment.

Don't do that to yourself.

You messed up. You're not perfect. Nobody is. But don't spend too much time beating yourself up about it. Work on your marriage now - focus on the present and future.

Don't think that BV is punishment and get yourself down. Just deal with it constructively.

At work people talk about
Me saying I got gonnherra (however u spell it)and a lot more
STDs that causes the smell. Which I do not have because
I got tested for that 6 times already. People can be so mean
And say very hurtful things that might bother me for atleast
2mins then I'm good. Bv do make you a strong person
Everyday we take critisms and we take it anD brush that shit
Off. Sometimes it might even turn us into some mean bitch
And we take our anger out on the ones we love when this bv
Get too much. I even get hotflashes which makes the smell
Stronger. I don't know what to do anymore. I try everything
Femdo,estriol,rephresh, immune system vitamins, body cleanser
But nothing works or it takes too long to work. I don't know if I'm using it right. All I know
That I do have hemmorids with Bv LOL embrassing. There's something
Call rectocele that when the wall from your vagina and anal weaken
Causing the things in your butt to leak to the front(it could a lite leakage that can cause problems in vagina).
If I do have the Doctors will put a plastic ring up there to hold up the wall in place.
I know Im writing so much and some of y'all probably not going
Read all this but I had to get this off my chest I have No
One who understand me like y'all do. Im tired people telling me it's
All in my head.

If you're suffering from anal leakage problems, that will definitely affect your vaginal health. So I think that is probably the main source of your problems, and you need to deal with that. Hopefully, getting that taken care of is the key to your vaginal health, too.

It's a good thing you've been screened for STD's. (Did you get a test for Chlamydia and Trichomoniasis, as well? If not, make sure you do.)

[horror_movie]

Have anyone try this medication call celocin. This woman say
She been suffering from Bv for years.
She took www.celocin.com and it went away I just was wondering
Did anyone get prescribe that from their doctor.

[horror_movie]

I have been suffering from BV for about 10 months. Through
thoses months it have been hell for me and my husband.
Sometimes I feel like I deserve this Bv why I feel that way
because b4 I had BV I cheated on my husband with two guys
(guess what I ended up with Bv)and I'm
Devasted and hurt by the things I did behind his back.
I guess this is my punishment. At work people talk about
Me saying I got gonnherra (however u spell it)and a lot more
STDs that causes the smell. Which I do not have because
I got tested for that 6 times already. People can be so mean
And say very hurtful things that might bother me for atleast
2mins then I'm good. Bv do make you a strong person
Everyday we take critisms and we take it anD brush that shit
Off. Sometimes it might even turn us into some mean bitch
And we take our anger out on the ones we love when this bv
Get too much. I even get hotflashes which makes the smell
Stronger. I don't know what to do anymore. I try everything
Femdo,estriol,rephresh, immune system vitamins, body cleanser
But nothing works or it takes too long to work. I don't know if I'm using it right. All I know
That I do have hemmorids with Bv LOL embrassing. There's something
Call rectocele that when the wall from your vagina and anal weaken
Causing the things in your butt to leak to the front(it could a lite leakage that can cause problems in vagina).
If I do have the Doctors will put a plastic ring up there to hold up the wall in place.
I know Im writing so much and some of y'all probably not going
Read all this but I had to get this off my chest I have No
One who understand me like y'all do. Im tired people telling me it's
All in my head.

[Stone]

There's a study going on about a vaginal powder called (Lactin-V) "made of naturally occurring Lactobacilli that can prevent the occurrence of bacterial vaginosis (source) ." I read about it from the clinical trials website. If all goes well, this could be a whole new pharmaceutical drug that can help women with bacterial vaginosis.

Antibiotics are the mainstay of therapy for bacterial vaginosis (BV).


Metronidazole is the antibiotic of choice to treat T. vaginalis infections and bacterial vaginosis.


Studies of topically applied and orally administered yogurt/lactobacilli preparations, which supposedly used to reestablish the lactobacilli population in the vagina, have demonstrated poor and inconsistent results.


Kind Regards,
Stone

[Sweaty in Social Studies]

Hi Sweaty,

On your blog entry Jan 29th you say you just bought some Rephresh Pro B - just wondered why you if you don't have (and have never had) BV?

A while ago, I had a non-albican yeast infection. So now, I take probiotics regularly for maintenance.

[Grace08]

Nope, I never had Bacterial Vaginosis.

Hi Sweaty,

On your blog entry Jan 29th you say you just bought some Rephresh Pro B - just wondered why you if you don't have (and have never had) BV?

[ladylustlove]

Hey random question, but has anyone tried D-Mannose? Its supposed to be a great all-natural way to prevent UTIs, but when I looked up the dosage on ClearTract (one brand), it was recommended to take 3 capsules 5X a day for the first 4 days of usage (which seems a bit extreme, and actually ends up being the whole bottle), and then afterwards to take 3 a day. Has anyone tried it?

Hey girl
I for one am in loooove with d-mannose.
it is like my personal savior.
I was having UTI's like mad, maybe around 6
last year or something to that effect.
I tried D-mannose for my last UTI and
it didn't cure it, so i had to go on antiobiotics again (sigh)
Since then, though, i haven't had a UTI (knock on wood).
Mine were being caused by sex, so every time
i do it, i take a scoop of d-mannose (UT vibrance from
whole foods) in water.
and also clean my nether region thoroughly.
it has really, really helped me!

That ClearTract dosage does sound like alot,
but from what i recall you have to take
alot if you're trying to get rid
of an infection. I just take mine for maintainance.
xo

[mfc10]

Hey random question, but has anyone tried D-Mannose? Its supposed to be a great all-natural way to prevent UTIs, but when I looked up the dosage on ClearTract (one brand), it was recommended to take 3 capsules 5X a day for the first 4 days of usage (which seems a bit extreme, and actually ends up being the whole bottle), and then afterwards to take 3 a day. Has anyone tried it?

I'm pretty sure that level of dosing is for an active infection(rather than as a preventive). I wasn't impressed with it. It's really only effective against certain strains of UTI-causing bacteria, and didn't help my mother or me when we tried it this past summer. She had a klebsiella sp. infection & mine was due to enterococcus faecalis. We both had to go the antibiotics route to get better.

Maggie C.

[Sweaty in Social Studies]

Sweaty: You've never had BV? I was under the impression you had BV and were trying different methods on here. I thought you were trying the Fem-D. I'm confused.

Nope, I never had Bacterial Vaginosis. How are things going for you? I haven't heard from you in a long time.

[nik7121]

Hey random question, but has anyone tried D-Mannose? Its supposed to be a great all-natural way to prevent UTIs, but when I looked up the dosage on ClearTract (one brand), it was recommended to take 3 capsules 5X a day for the first 4 days of usage (which seems a bit extreme, and actually ends up being the whole bottle), and then afterwards to take 3 a day. Has anyone tried it?

[lori]

When I read statements like this one,"But you've been saying a lot of stuff that's just plain wrong or misleading.", I can't help but feel irate on a personal level. I may never have had Bacterial Vaginosis, but I know enough to write a publication on it.

And I'm telling you, you don't. You very obviously don't.

Think about it. You claim expertise on BV. But someone who's had BV is telling you: NO, YOU AREN'T. Credibility is something that is earned. You don't get it by declaring you're an expert.

Let's take your 1st statement: "It seems like you may have resistant strains of bacteria." As I pointed out, that is pretty far off the mark. MOST (if not ALL) of us are here because we've had recurrences after prescription treatment. For some of us, the cycle went on for years. Antibiotic resistance is definitely a concern, but there's a more plausible reason for our suffering, and knowing that is a big part of tackling the problem.

I think this is just one example of how you're talking out of your butt. You just don't have the perspective of someone who's been through it.

As I said, just because you haven't had BV doesn't mean you can't contribute. Doctors don't have to suffer every disease in order to treat it effectively. Men can become great OB/GYN doctors despite the fact that they do not have vaginas.

But your latest set of comments are just really off the mark. And some of it is just plain wrong. (She's spotting because her period is coming? Come on. You just pulled that one straight out of your ass, and you know it.)

Another thing is: You repeat a lot of stuff that's already been discussed to death, and you keep bringing it up like it's something we've never heard of before. I'm not saying that anyone needs to be an expert to offer suggestions. But you claim to speak with authority ("I know enough to write a publication on it") and I'm telling you, you really don't. Your understanding of this topic is very shallow.

It's like you went to a Star Trek convention, and you're telling people, "Hey, did you know Capt. Kirk's middle name is Tyberius?" (Or whatever, I don't watch that show.) And everyone else will roll their eyes and say, "Yeah, we know." Well, that's ... you.

I mean, what do you expect? This is a thread for people who've had, or have, ongoing problems with BV. It's like ... having kids. If you've never raised kids, you don't really know what it's like. And even though you may have some good suggestions about raising kids, ultimately, your advice is kind of useless because your perspective is limited. And you can't blame mothers for not wanting your advice when you've never been one.

And some of the things you say are just insulting and ignorant. At some point you said, "I heard that [BV is] mainly caused by unhealthy eating habits, drinking/smoking, several sex partners, poor immune system, pollution and so on."

Once again, from the perspective of people who have been struggling with BV for years, this is just plain insulting. Some of us have tried EVERYTHING we can think of, including drastically modifying our diets and lifestyles, and going without sex for a long time even when we're in relationships. So for you to come in here and say shit like that is very upsetting. And if you had been through what most of us here have, you would know why that is upsetting.

Sorry to pimp out Personal Messages that I get, but a few posters are upset about this dynamic. Personally, I do not care what you say. I don't have the time to deal with bullshit. But your ignorant comments are pissing people off, and for some reason people are writing me about it, and I thought you should know.

Like I said, you have contributed some useful research in this group. And I'm happy to give you credit when it's due. But as I said, about 80% of the time, what you say is at the very least pointless, and at worst, insensitive and upsetting.

Also - "... irate on a personal level?" That's just hilarious. Look, this isn't about you. Instead of choosing to be personally "irate" by my comments, I think you should reflect on why I'm saying these things. Maybe, just maybe, there's some truth to it?

No one has to listen to me. But as always, I call it as I see it, and you can take that for what it's worth.

[sassy]

Sweaty: You've never had BV? I was under the impression you had BV and were trying different methods on here. I thought you were trying the Fem-D. I'm confused.

[Sweaty in Social Studies]

To whom it may concern:

I've come across a statement that says I am propagating false information on this forum. At times, what I say may come across as delusive because it isn't worded properly or I haven't sited my sources, but I have no reason to say something untrue because I wouldn't gain anything from it. There will be times when I may have personal suggestions such as trying something natural, but I always research a method before I suggest it.

I've read medical texts that explain the whole science behind vaginal diseases and I've taken my curiosity to the next level by attending elective courses on Gynecology and Obstetrics where I learn countless things as to what causes vaginal diseases and how they can be treated and so on. I have no problem going into detail. When I read statements like this one,"But you've been saying a lot of stuff that's just plain wrong or misleading.", I can't help but feel irate on a personal level. I may never have had Bacterial Vaginosis, but I know enough to write a publication on it.

Yours Truly,
Sweaty in Social Studies

[lori]

Let me clarify myself:

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

Bacteria, yeasts can build resistancy to certain drugs.

Yes, we know this. But do you have any evidence that this is the case here?

When you say "It seems like you may have resistant strains of bacteria," you should have more evidence than the fact that it's just one possibility of many. It's like, "Oh, do you have a headache? It seems like a brain tumor." Sure, it COULD be a brain tumor. Regardless, that's a dumbass thing to say.

(My suggestion to the original writer is: using only 3 days of metrogel may have been the problem. You should always take the full course of antibiotics and not just stop when the symptoms subside.)

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.

You're exactly right, it probably is. Therefore, the fact that her period is coming probably has NOTHING to do with it.

So your original statement is just plain wrong.

(My suggestion to the original writer is: since the spotting occurred right after the pap, your cervix is probably inflamed [cervicitis] which is something that can be caused by BV, and has become friable [easily bleeds].)

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.

BV symptoms are frequently stronger after your period. This is also something that is well-known. (And the rest of your blather is about yeast. I don't know why.)

But your original sentence was: "This could be an infection linked to your menstrual cycle." Huh? How is this related to what you're trying to say? That's just another outright false statement that doesn't make any sense. And I think you realize that, so you're just trying to cover up that fact with a bunch of irrelevant blah-blah about yeast again.

Please reflect on your original words, and figure out why they do not apply here.

I hope you don't think I'm just picking on you. But you've been saying a lot of stuff that's just plain wrong or misleading. And I think you should stop. I don't know why you're doing this, I think you just don't know what you're talking about. And I think it has a lot to do with the fact that you've never had BV, and your perspective is limited.

This doesn't mean you should stop contributing. But you should think before you speak. Obviously, you thought about your original statements, and you realize that they were wrong. So instead of "clarifying" yourself, you just change what you said. Nice trick. I'm calling you on it.

There's nothing wrong with making mistakes or just not knowing something. But you just say whatever pops into your head. So please stop pulling things out of thin air just to answer every question.

[wannaBfree]

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?

Thank you for the info. The smell seems to be worse before my period. No smell during it. Then it lingers as my period is finishing and a week after. I'm usually in the clear for a week or two - then it starts up again.

[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.