I'm not sure if that could be the reason. I only use gain for my laundry. and I wash my panties by hands...except for that last time before all of that problems. I used to think it must been because my panties wash in a public laundromat..but I don't know. but since then, I have done that..and still having it.

I am so pleased to share that I have found an answer!

Eat a raw food diet. Living foods have enzymes that break down the yeast and bacterial in our bodies to "reset" the bodies' system.

I feel incredibly empowered by this lifestyle.

I no longer depend on the medical profession who have no answers except prescriptions. I too tried multiple trials of Flagyl and all the other medications used for BV. They didn't work.

No more am I inserting Vitamin C, yogurt covered tampons, or hydrogen peroxide into my vagina. I also tried hundreds of dollars worth of supplements.

My vagina has finally stopped "crying"....to me, my experience with chronic BV left me feeling powerless and depressed. My vagina literally weeped all day and night.

I experienced the positive results of this way of living within 3 days!

My friends in the "raw world", who have overcome other types of physical health challenges from eating raw, tell me that individuals can "go back" to eating 50% raw meals and remain symptom free if they remain raw for 30 days.

Eating these healthy foods literally make me feel a happy natural high. I am more at peace, feel more connected to my body, others people and the Earth. I'm not going back.

There are lots of great books on the market that relate to raw food lifestyles. I highly recommend picking one up!

Thank you kindly for sharing this with us all!

It certainly makes sense. My doctor swears by the "caveman" diet, which i guess is very similar to your raw diet.

Im curious as to how you get your protein? Is this diet a vegetarian diet or do you eat red meat raw? In fact, im so interged that im going to go and google it!!

I have been reading all the information on this board and really do appreciate it. I have been trying different approaches to solve my problem also. It all began with my pap smear this year, was told abnormal just shows inflammation. I didn't feel any problems. Well that began the regim of creams etc. First vaginal gel didn't resolve it, went back told had bacterial infection and bladder infection, given 2 different antiobiotics. Didn't resolve anything but made me have more burning and irritation externally, very red. I went back, gyn examined me said I had discharge causing the irritation, gave me Boric acid suppositories. Started using them, seemed like stopped discharge but still having external burning, itching and redness. I then started reading and researching more. I have started with Apple cider vinegar sitz baths, they really feel good, taking a probiotic 3x day, garlic pills 2x day, apple cider with water 2x day. I started feeling better, had my cycle and then got back on boric acid, well I then began to notice more external symptoms. Went back to gyn this week as I am wondering if this is something serious...he said no. He gave me cream to apply externally 2x day, triamincole. Told him other things doing and he said that was fine, Also limiting sugar, white flour foods. Well I stopped the boric acid for a few days and I started to notice discharge again - not much. I normally do have that and I have always on and off had the odor, especially after exercising/playing tennis. I did the boric acid last night and today more burning. I tell you at this point I think I am just going to stick to the natural tx and the cream. I also at one point did tenactin and it helped.

My main question to everyone is - are your pap smears normal or abnormal as I see some have suffered with this for long time. That is what I am really worried about. I have a f/up appt at end of June for f/up pap smear and he told me if not clear may do biopsy..

I think I am also going to order the probiotic with the active Lactobacillus Reuteri and try it.

Again thanks for all the suggestions, they do help and it helps to know others unfortunately are battling these issues.

I have been having abnormal PAPs nearly as long as I've been battling with infections. It's a long story with me, involving not just BV and thrush but also STDs, oh joy. To give you some comfort, however, abnormal PAPs are very common. Most women will have at least one in their life. That is why we get PAPs, to keep an eye on things and make sure nothing is wrong.
If you do have another abnormal PAP you will probably get what is called a coposcopy (pardon me if I spelled that wrong, I always have trouble with that word). This is a scraping of the inner walls of your cervix. They will then analyze these cells and see if you have any serious abnormalities. If it does look like there is a problem, then further tests will be done, tests that yes, may include a biopsy. However, I am getting my second coposcopy in a few weeks and while it's not fun, it's not really something that you should be overly concerned about. Just make sure you get checked regularly and keep an open dialogue with your doctor, if you are lucky enough to have a good one, and odds are you'll probably find out that it was just an infection or "normal" abnormality that caused the alert in your PAP. Make sure you continue to get checked regularily, though!
And good luck treating your other problems. I, too, have ongoing infection issues (four years and counting) but I have faith that one day I will have a normal vag again!
Good luck

I totally agree with you about the raw food diet. All these things that have been processed even bread and pasta i could really feel the effect of when I got this. I've cut them out too.
The antibiotics my doctor gave me of coarse did not work and for three months I was in misery.
I came to my senses and stuck a raw cut clove of garlic into my vagina, which literally cured my PID in two hours. No more huge bloating, no more weird gurgling noises. No more pain in my belly.
But my vagina was still practically swollen shut from all the bacteria. I've been using the remedies from "natural healers" (patients just like you and me who have cured themselves.)
I started this Tuesday. It is now Saturday and my vaginal swelling has reduced by half.
-buttermilk, hydrogen peroxide, or vinegar douches
-the garlic thing
-this was the kicker; the plain yogurt "popsicle" frozen in the finger of a latex glove. I was practically crying it was burning so much (after it had melted) I was sweating profusely especially out of my armpits, and felt naucious. But when I woke up the next morning I was like a new woman.
Good luck everyone.

I just wanted to say one more thing about the raw foods (I realize I was talking about whole foods not raw with the bread and the pasta comment), but someone told me our vagina's environment mimics the environment of our mouths.

Makes total sense as when I would eat anything with a high glucose content my PID stomach would feel worse (the sugar breeding more bacteria). Even cooked onion and garlic which becomes "carmelized" would do it. I'm sure that diet is doing wonders for your body.