Major Vaginal Issues

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-19-2006
Major Vaginal Issues
6
Sat, 09-23-2006 - 7:59pm

Hello Everyone. Long time no post...

I posted this over on the Gyno board, but didn't know if you all might be able to shed some light on the situation... (Warning, lengthy post ahead)...

I am confused and would appreciate any help / advice...

A little over a month ago I started having vaginal itchiness, dryness, irritation, burning and milky-white discharge. I went to my doctor, was examined and told I had BV. I was given Clindamycin to take for 7 days. A couple days after finishing my prescription my symptoms came back. I called my doctor & he gave me Flagyl to take for 10 days. About 6 days later I experienced MAJOR itchiness, dryness, irritation (almost rash-like)and burning. There was also a disharge, but not foul-smelling (like before), and a white coating on my tongue. I went back to the doctor & he told me I was most likely ping-ponging between BV and a yeast infection. This time he gave me Clindamycin to take for 5 days and Flucanizole to take once a day later. My infections seemed to clear up & I finished my prescriptions. 1.5 days later the itchiness returned and the white coating on my tongue intensified. I called my doctor again & he gave me another one dose Flucanizole. I took it over 24 hours ago, and I feel like I'm getting worse. What could be causing this??

I haven't had sex since this whole thing started. I am currently in my 6th month on Nortrel 1/35 (BCP), and can't think of anything that has changed in my life ( I did lose my job about 2 months ago, but don't think that I am super duper stressed enough to cause a major bodily disruption). Might there be anything I can do to prevent this vicious cycle??

I've tried eating yogurt, taking vitamins and drinking cranberry juice.

Has anyone ever experienced this?? Could it be indicative of something more?? Just because he was already taking other samples, the doctor took samples to test for various STD's (though he told me my symptoms were not consistent with any, and neither does my sexual history).

This is getting so frustrating and painful. I feel like my life currently revolves around how my vagina feels everyday. Up until this all started, I've never experienced anything like this.

Sorry for this lengthy post. I would appreciate any ideas people can throw my way. Thanks in advance.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-04-2005
Sat, 09-23-2006 - 9:07pm
Hello gustergirl! I am sorry to say I do not have advice from experience, but the best thing I can tell you- GET A SECOND OPINION! It will never hurt you. I am not sure if this is a family doc, your gyno, or what, but obviously this doctor doesnt know what it is, or why it is happening. I wish you luck!
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Sat, 09-23-2006 - 11:06pm

Hi

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Mon, 09-25-2006 - 7:45am

I agree, a second opinion might be a good idea.

Judie Cl for Birth Control 
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-19-2006
Mon, 09-25-2006 - 10:25am

Thanks for the responses. I have been thinking about starting myself on probiotics for a while now, but keep forgetting to ask my doctor when I go (which has lately been every 2 weeks). I think I might run out & get some today.

I was very uncomfortable all weekend long because I had a lot of itching in the pubic region. It has slowly went away, to be replaced by semi-uncomfortable urination and constant "odd" feeling down there. I am in my last week of hormone pills before going on placebos on Sunday. I am trying to decide if I want to try and wait this out (my period will be coming next Tuesday). I figure if I can try and wait it out a couple days and see if symptoms go away on their own with probiotic treatment & yogurt consumption. I took a Fluconazole on Friday, and am trying to give it the 3-5 days before calling my doctor again.

I've been on my current BCP for 5 cycles, and am wondering if I could be getting this as a side effect - I thought those only appeared in the first 3 months. I swear I have never had anything like this before & it really came out of nowhere.

I googled the "geographic tongue" as suggested & that is definately not what I have. My tongue just pretty much has a white coating & looks a tad hairy. It's actually starting to go away, so I guess the antibiotic is working. I'm not usually a fan of antibiotics, but I've just been so miserable for the past 2 months that I take them. The doctor who has been diagnosing me is my General / Family Practicioner. I was thinking about possibly seeing someone else in his office (there is a nurse practicioner and another doctor), going to my old doctor (who works at a clinic where there is a gyno specialist - though also an NP), or sucking it up and going to see a OBGYN - though usually appointments with them are harder to come by.

I've been trying to be good about cutting out simple starches and other carbs (though this is a brand new thing - this past weekend). I'm hoping that with a balanced diet, exercise, and use of probiotics I can get this to go away.

Thanks again for your responses...Keep 'em coming if anyone has something.

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-22-2006
Sat, 09-30-2006 - 11:41am
Ugh, I hear ya. I am kind of dealing with the same thing, off and on since Nov. of last year. yeast infection after yeast infection...i feel like it is controlling my life. I went to a doctor in April who told me about a book called "The Yeast Connection"....so finally last weekend I bought it. After reading it, it makes a lot of sense. It sounds like you need to rid your bodyof yeast through a total diet change (I started it, it sucks, can hardly eat anything, but it will be good for 5 lbs!)....it says that if you were on the pill (which you are) or antibiotics in the past for a period of time (I was for acne in college) it can mess up your system for a while. You need to rebalance the yeast in your body...don't eat ANY sugar...no honey, soda, flavored yogurt, juice, fruit, nothing....yeast feeds on sugar. Also stay away from baked goods, mushrooms, cheese (i know, how?), they all contain bacteria and yeast. See if it helps...I reccomend getting the book. Wear somewhat loose cotton undies (not thong); I also suggest you go off the pill, it could be causing this. I am currently undergoing some tests myself next week to figure out what the hell is going on...I am a total hypochondriac so I have been a mess about it...I started reading that reccurring vaginal infections could be a sign of HIV so I flipped out (got tested, am now waiting), but I am sure I'm fine there. Hang in there...get the book, it cant hurt. Sounds like you need to clean out your system. Good luck!
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-19-2006
Mon, 10-02-2006 - 12:43pm

Thanks for the tip on the book. I've been taking acidophilus supplements for the last week & feel like I am improving slightly. I've been watching what I eat - trying to cut out or down on carbs and sugar, taking vitamins and eating a bunch of foods with probiotics.

I really hope that when my period comes (tomorrow), that it'll flush out my whole system and get rid of this entire problem.

I'll keep you guys posted. Thanks again for all the hints and tips.