I feel like I'm losing my mind. Does anyone know if lyme can effect your woman parts somehow, like specifically your uterus and cervix.
I've been having awful internal irritation down there along with mild buring and slight itching.
I went to the gynecologist today and they tested me for bacteria and yeast and both were negative. They also tested my urine, which was negative. I feel like the discomfort is worse when I have to urinate (which is all the time).
Also, since I have pretty much no libido, my sex life is largely non-existent, so it's not irritation from that.
This is driving me insane. It just feels like this vague irritation/discomfort that makes no sense.
The only thing I can think of is some kind of die off effect going on. I have recently started taking teasel root, which was giving me my normal headache/toxic feeling die off.
I also started taking very low dose pregnenolone and olive leaf extract for a gut infection. Both of those tested according to my doctor who used electro-dermal titration.
Any thoughts would be much appreciated.
Posted by zil (Member # 12048) on :
I had a burning type discomfort and the gyno could find no problem so I just put it down to die off/herx stuff. It went away.
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
Did the gyn do a culture? If not, I would insist on one.
You could be suffering with a staph infection. Treatment is boric acid inserts.
When the immune system is not up to par, the staph that is normally in the vagina can get out of control and you will have what you are describing.
It's like yeast multiplying too much giving you a yeast infection. Except, the staph can be difficult to get rid of.
Posted by justchugginalong (Member # 23309) on :
I have had the same problems and have asked the same question in the past. Gyno tests check out fine and they see nothing. I believe it is lyme related pelvic floor dysfunction. It can cause the symptoms you are describing.
I am sorry you are going through this...it definately makes you feel more infected and yucky!
Take Care and check into the PFD>
Posted by justchugginalong (Member # 23309) on :
I have had the same problems and have asked the same question in the past. Gyno tests check out fine and they see nothing. I believe it is lyme related pelvic floor dysfunction. It can cause the symptoms you are describing.
I am sorry you are going through this...it definately makes you feel more infected and yucky!
Take Care and check into the PFD>
Posted by TerryK (Member # 8552) on :
As TF said, it's a good idea to get a culture.
You asked: Does anyone know if lyme can effect your woman parts somehow, like specifically your uterus and cervix.
Yes it can.
It is not unusual for lyme patients to get Interstitial Cystitis which can cause a feeling like you need to urinate constantly. Can also cause constant bladder pain which may feel like it is coming from the uterus. http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/interstitialcystitis/
I think lyme patients get these conditions due to infection with borrelia and/or possibly a co-infection. I've heard that borrelia loves the bladder. These infections aren't detected because they aren't tested for.
I've had IC (Interstitial Cystitis) since a teenager - for decades. Even with lyme treatment it hasn't gone away although it has gotten better. I've found one product that consistently helps but I can't stop taking it or the pain comes back and sometimes the pain flares even though I'm taking it. The pain is so uncomfortable that it is worth taking this for me. I take 15 drops 3X per day. Here is the product http://www.naturalhealinghouse.com/pekana_proscenat.htm
This is the description for one of the ingredients
Cantharis 3X is indicated for acute urethral tube and bladder inflammation, cystitis and nephritis. It treats the urological tract to relieve inflammation and pain, and also increases circulation to the organs without causing side-effects.
I've learned how to tune out the pain to some degree. I can forget the constant pain sometimes for a long time unless I think of it and then it can really make me feel crazy.
Any kind of yeast issue will exacerbate the pain so sometimes I treat for yeast even if it tests negative and the symptoms get better.
One other thing that I find can cause pain in that area is colon inflammation. I used to have this all the time but it is better with treatment for lyme and parasites and a product called Xymogen IgG 2000DF.
I have no idea if any of these contribute to anyone here's problems but I wanted to mention them in case.
Hope you get it figured out.
Terry I'm not a doctor
Posted by Tammy N. (Member # 26835) on :
I've had similar discomfort. I'm still not positive, but for me, I think it may have been a side effect of azithromycin. I had this discomfort last year and couldn't figure it out (doc was thorough and also did an internal ultrasound; you may want to do this for peace of mind also). My meds have been switched around several times this past year, and just about a month ago it started again (after a few weeks of being on zith). Stopped the meds 2 weeks ago and it seems to be getting better. Hope you find your answer, and some relief. Best to you.
Posted by kateaton (Member # 24871) on :
Thank you all so much for your responses.
The interstitial cystitis makes sense- today the discomfort definitely seems to be more related to my bladder. It's extremely uncomfortable when my bladder feels slightly full.
TF- what specifically is a culture? Is that when they send it to be tested longer than the 2 hour test they do in the office?
I am taking olive leaf extract, which is supposed to be a potent anti-bacterial and anti-fungal supplement. It's hard to imagine that it really is some kind of infection.
The inflammation theory makes sense, but I do still have some itching. So I don't know.
Terry- what do you use to treat the yeast? Just a monistat type of cream?
Posted by karenl (Member # 17753) on :
I never had any problems in this area. But you could get tested for chlamydia pneumonia, please read cpnhelp.org or even the STD transmitted chlamydia trach...
It comes very often together with lyme.
Posted by jwall (Member # 22999) on :
I had the same thing a few weeks ago. It was awful. Turns out I did have a "raging" bladder infection and was put on septra for 7 days. The full bladder is SOO uncomfortable. I did have some mild itching as well and took diflucan before I went to the Dr. about it. It didn't help the full feeling, but septra got rid of it. Hope you can find answers soon because it really is an awful feeling!!!
Posted by Marrit (Member # 25454) on :
Itching can be due to inflammation. Years ago my gyn said "some women have a trio of problems: interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, and IBS." At the time, I had some minor problems. Little did I know I would later become one of those lucky women!!! What I have found, though, in my case, is that irritation and/or inflammation in the colon will irritate nerves, and the pain will be felt in the bladder and urethra and vulva.
I would suggest keeping a food and beverage diary and see if you notice a pattern as food sensitivities can be a trigger. Also, acidic foods are a no-no for IC.
I am much improved on a gluten-free, yeast-free diet, but I still need to be careful with acidic things like citrus and vinegar. (There is an IC diet online you could try.)
If yeast testing was negative, it could be more harmful to use the anti-fungals. (Could make things worse.) Might be better to use an applicator and put plain yogurt into it and put it up there.
Also, change your probiotics (might need to have a different mix) and drink some plain kefir if you aren't already.
Posted by Tracy9 (Member # 7521) on :
For additional resources, we have a group on www.lymefriends.org for ladie's issues! It's called "Girl Talk." It never hurts to have more resources! There are lots of good discussions in there on these types of topics.
Posted by Consuelachacha (Member # 26538) on :
Hi Kateaton;
Recently I have had pain that was similar to the pain I had when I had to self-cath because of a "neurogenic bladder". I was told it was uretheral spasms, or as TerryK mentioned "interstitial cystitis". I tried just about every NSAID (non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug) but they all make me sick to my stomach.
I no longer have to self-cath after years and years of doing so. Another medical phenomenon. After years of testing they concluded I had a neurogenic bladder and it was because of a severed nerve between my brain and my bladder.
If I recall my urologist gave me a gel to put down there. The pain was actually my urethera "spasms". It felt better if I layed down and just held myself. Walking was out of the question.
I feel very sorry for you. There is no pain to compare.
I would ask about the gel, it just kind of numbs it. I put it on my catheter but you may benefit from just applying to that area.
I hope this helped.
Posted by TerryK (Member # 8552) on :
kate wrote: - today the discomfort definitely seems to be more related to my bladder. It's extremely uncomfortable when my bladder feels slightly full.
Yes, that's the way mine feels too. I would have a full work up with a urologist because it's possible that you have something that can be treated. You don't want to suffer for a long time with something that might be treatable.
Kate wrote: Terry- what do you use to treat the yeast? Just a monistat type of cream?
I don't treat locally. I treat systemically for yeast because if you have it locally, you have it systemically. At least that has been my experience.
I use muscle testing so it depends of what tests well but I don't usually use creams. I use systemic treatments. One of the main ones that I use is caprylic acid. You can also use pau d'arco, garlic, oregano oil etc.. There are some pretty good OTC anti-fungal supplements. I've recently started using Young Living Inner Defense which has thieves oil, thyme oil and oregano oil. It seems to be very effective.
A warning for anyone who has never treated for candida - BE CAREFUL! You can get really sick if you've never been treated for it. When I was first muscle tested for it by an herbalist (20+ years ago) I didn't believe in muscle testing and I thought candida was just the new buzzword. Out of desperation I decided to try treatment and boy was I surprised! The die-off made me soooo sick.
My experience has been that tests for vaginal yeast are not helpful for this issue. Tests for systemic candida aren't very reliable - or at least that was the case when I was getting tested years ago. Perhaps that has changed.
I've never caused myself more problems by treating for a fungal infection nor do I know of anyone who has had problems but then everyone is different.
Terry I'm not a doctor
Posted by BackinStOlaf (Member # 23725) on :
Boric acid suppositories are great for vaginal health