I swear I have a yeast infection. I can't stop itching myself and my skin around vagina is all red i irritated and puffy. I don't have anything coming out of me, no discharge but my gynecologist did a culture and found nothing. Could I have a strain of yeast that is not showing up? If so, is there a certain type of probiotic or prescription drug that targets non typical yeast?
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Yeast is in every woman's vagina. It is supposed to be there. But, if you get too much yeast (an overgrowth), then you are said to have a yeast infection.
The gyn looks at your vaginal secretions under a microscope while you are in the office and can see if there is too much yeast in the vagina.
So, as long as he did this, you can rest assured that it is not a yeast overgrowth.
Many other things can cause vaginal itching. I suffered with it from various causes. One cause is vaginal strep which is becoming more and more common. However, if you had this, it should have shown up on the culture.
Another common cause is vaginal dryness. There are various home remedies that can be used for this: place a bag of frozen peas or corn on the area, place a wet tea bag on the area, etc,
Another cause is vaginal atrophy (where the lining of the vagina doesn't have enough estrogen anymore). This causes EXTREME vaginal dryness. Lyme caused this in me. I was given Vagifem tablets to insert in the vagina to put estrogen directly on these tissues.
Your gyn can tell just by looking at your vagina if you have vaginal atrophy.
For irritation without a cause, I have often found relief by using a Domeboro's solution. You buy the Domeboro powder packets at a drugstore. (Probably in the first aid section. The pharmacist will know.) You put one packet of powder in water. Then, soak a piece of gauze in the solution and place it on the vulva, inside as much as possible, and outside also since you are irritated there too.
This solution is for irritation from insect bites, poison ivy, allergic reactions, etc. It is very, very soothing.
You can keep reapplying the solution to the gauze while you lie down. I believe it will give you some relief.
Save the solution and use it a few times per day, every day for maybe 20 minutes.
I hope this helps you. I think it will.
Posted by TerryK (Member # 8552) on :
You may want to consider the possibility of vulvodynia
The main vulvodynia symptom is pain in your genital area, which can be characterized by: Burning Soreness Stinging Rawness Painful intercourse (dyspareunia) Throbbing Itching
Terry
Posted by Jamers (Member # 28016) on :
I have heard that you can douche with apple cider vinegar to make the PH more acidic (haven't tried it). Don't do the yogurt preparation that is all over the internet. Milk sugar feeds yeast, I learned the hard way. Also, at the pharmacy by the prescription yeast creams they have homeopathic ones, I've tried homeopathic vaginal wash and suppositories that worked very well.
Posted by katrinab (Member # 30330) on :
Look, I know it's yeast because this happens all the time and when I take extra diflucan or up my probiotics it goes away, plus the area is red, the tissue around the area becomes very thin to the point of getting little paper cuts in the area. I tried estrogen cream for six months and it did nothing so as far having low estrogen, I don't think so. Soi don't know what to do, taking more diflucan consistently would probably cause resistance as I take it four times a week to prevent resistance instead of seven days a week. I already take 400 billion cfu's daiy too to prevent this from happening. As far as the domeboro solution, it sounds nice but I think that will probably be a bandaid solution. I've taken herbals too, garlic, oregano oil etc. I have tried sopranox too, diflucan seems to work the best. Isn't diflucan stronger anyways?
Posted by katrinab (Member # 30330) on :
Is there a deficiency or some kind of imbalance in the body that can cause someone's body t o be more prone to yeast overgrowth? Maybe that's the direction I should be headed towards, as nothing has helped too much. I thought I read somewhere something about copper?
Posted by Razzle (Member # 30398) on :
If I were you, I'd assume it's yeast that just didn't happen to show up on the culture...
Yes, metals can encourage infections such as candida/yeast. Zinc & molybdenum supplements can help with copper excess - best to get a hair analysis done to see if you need to deal with copper, though...
Might try applying coconut oil topically to the irritated area. Coconut oil contains substances that kill yeast/candida, and does not contain sugars that would feed the yeast.
Also might want to wear loosely fitting cotton underpants in the daytime, and if you can, don't wear any pajama bottoms, underpants or other similar clothes at night for sleeping.
Posted by surprise (Member # 34987) on :
Just trying to help:
You and a partner could be passing it back and forth.
And, the suggestion we don't like, how's your diet?
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
You can try putting a probiotic capsule in the vagina at night.
This has helped me.
Posted by linky123 (Member # 19974) on :
Olive leaf extract, Country Life brand, helps me.
I've also read that tumeric is a good anti-fungal.
Posted by Nancy-OH (Member # 3567) on :
Tried taking garlic? It is anti-bacterial and anti-yeast. Works for me within 20 min. Just an over-the-counter garlic supplement like Garlinase.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Having Lyme lowers the immune system and allows the yeast to take over.
and yes, DIET is HUGE
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
fungal defense helps also.
Posted by Ellen101 (Member # 35432) on :
Otherwise have you tried vaginal prescription suppositories? Not the OTC ones.
After I had a hysterectomy I had horrible symptoms of a yeast infection but yet nobody diagnosed it. I went to the ER because the pain was so severe. I finally found my way to a new gun who could barely do an exam due to the severity of my symptoms. He called a few days later to say the testing for yeast was off the charts. Not sure why no new else's testing picked this up. Due to how bad it was I was put on daily diflucan as well as several rounds of vaginal supps. Also some estrogen to help my hormone levels which were causing the yeast. This article explains some of the causes and treatments of recurrent yeast infections. http://www.uptodate.com/contents/vaginal-yeast-infection-beyond-the-basics?source=outline_link&view=text&anchor=H12#H12 I hope it helps.
Posted by Carmen (Member # 42391) on :
I used gential violet for yeast vaginally. Its an old time remedy that really works. soak a tampon in it and insert or do a flush with a 3 cc syringe. It stains clothing and possibly plastics (like found on counters or showers) so wear a pad. For a very few people it may irritate the skin. A 0.5 cortizone cream applied a couple of time if this happens takes care of it.
Posted by RZR (Member # 20953) on :
katrinab....I am the same as you. I have had some kind of vaginal infection for over 2 years. I switch gyno's but that has been no help either. Last week, I started trying my best to treat myself. I started diflucan 6 days ago, but infection still is not gone.