chronic bacterial vaginosis

[maggiedee]

Hi from someone else in the UK. I'm struggling to find a decent remedy currently. I was using RePHresh gel, which was brilliant for the BV, but gives me thrush. I wrote the other day about a study which actually vindicates this - ie that it acts as a disinfectant and allows candida to flourish. If this isn't likely to be a problem for you, you could try that. The other one is Balance Activ, which is similar. I quite like the Femmesil cream (Google it - you have to buy online), which I use out of desperation around my period, but it is very messy (dark grey cream!)

Some people on this thread have had good results with inserting whey/lactose. Personally I bought some lactose tablets especially designed for this sort of thing, only to have it emerge whole the following day! Others are finding that sorting out their PH internally is helping. Other things mentioned throughout thread are things like folic acid supplementation.Hope this helps a little.

Thanks Sarah. I have seen the Rephresh in Boots but as you need a weeks applications to treat BV and the pack holds just 4 applications at nearly £15 a pack this is going to be costly. As a pensioner I am not sure that I can go down that road unless I know it is definately going to work and of course no one can tell me that.
I just feel a bit sick at the moment to find that the antibiotic gel did not work and after reading so many of these posts I am starting to feel scared that I will be stuck with a chronic problem. At least I am not in any sort of sexual relationship so I dont have that to worry about thank god. I dont know how some of you manage in those circumstances. It is such an awful thing to have. Thanks for taking the trouble to answer. Maggie

[Another Sarah]

Yes, RePHresh is very expensive. You might find you don't need to insert a new one every day though. I never have - when I've used it I use one every 4 days. Balance Activ is a bit cheaper. I liked that one at first, but then I developed a sensitivity to it. I actually have an unopened box in my cupboard if you want me to send it to you!!!

[maggiedee]

Thanks Sarah
I will see what the doc says first and if I will be put on any other antibiotic. I will come back to you on that one as it probably is a good idea to keep something as a backup Maggie

[Another Sarah]

No problem - just let me know if you want it. Good luck at the docs.

[x.st.angel.x]

RePhresh is starting to work for me actually, but it is really expensive, dont think i could buy it all the time!

[S1x0FHEART5]

Ok so ofcourse I am in the same darn boat as everyone else in here. I won't bbother to give you the details of how it's panned out, let's just say you've already read it in previosu posts. We all have the same problems, have been given the same things and to no avail..that why we are here.

I have read though almost all of the 61 pages you lovely people have posted on, I have been racking my brain and I have come up with one thing to ask.

I have noticed a couple people say that they had their partner treated and it never came back.

The other ladies, that post it's gone after trying different methods, vitamins, supplements, garlic, rose hips, yogurt, etc etc, are usually back on stating that it didn't work after all.

So my question is, those who have been trying everything yet to no avail, have you actually tried having your partners treated?

Please let us know, if you have had your man treated as well as yourself at the same time, and yet still continue to suffer from BV. I am curious to know this!!I am trying to talk my bf into getting treated for this, but they have to swab and his doc is gay so he wont do it. If I had some proof it will work, maybe he would be more apt to go. :P He was already treated for yeast, but waste of time because it wasn't yeast at all, it was BV all along. My useless doctors mistake for not swabbing me in the first place when initially started to be bothersome.

The only thing with that theory is, that still leaves the virgins and sexually inactive people. How would they be re-infecting themselves if that is in fact what is happenning? Or maybe it is just the treatments that are not working, therefor allowing the bacteria to grow again.

I am at a loss, this is sooo frustrating!!.

I just don't know where to turn anymore. We have a doc shortage up here in NB Canada, and I am getting no help, no matter where I turn. My options have run dry!!

We could try something, since the doctors don't seem to wanna get to a conclusion on the topic, maybe we can. Maybe if we tried listing everything we can think of about ourselves that may have to do with the resons why we are having these problems to try and find a common ground.

Like for example, we know age isn't a factor and we know being a virgin or being sexually active doesn't matter in the case of BV. But, what about smokers, Does everyone on here smoke? Do you smoke drugs or take any drugs (as in weed, or heroine, or oxycotton, meth, etc etc), What about birth control? Are you all alcolhol drinkers. How often do we use these things. Do we all seem to keep heat down there for whatever reason.

There are all kinds of things we could learn from each other than may help us to find a common ground. I'll do it to myself....

I am 31. I have been sexually active since I was 14. The only surgery or hospitalization I have ever had was a c-section for the birth of my daughter. I have only one daughter, and she is the only child. I have been with the same man for 16 years. We do NOT use protection. I am normally a healthy individul, and do not get sick often. I am a smoker. I have smokes for 16 years. I smoke a weed joint nightly (only been doing that for the past 7 years), but take no other types of drugs. I rarely take any IBUprofen/tylenol etc. I do not like to pop pills unless I absoluetly cannot tolerate pain. I have had cancerous cells found during paps. I had a lession removed from up inside my vagina area using the calposcophy(prob not spelled right) I typically wear jeans and t-shits/sweat shirts. I wear cotton under wear. I do not douche. I live in a place where we have 4 seasons. Chilly, Warm, chilly and freezing cold!! lol Spring summer fall and winter. I drink alcohol on weekends, and not always, but very little when I do. I'm not much for drinking. I suffer from bouts of depression, and have for many years. I keep a clean home. I have 3 cats and a fish. I do not exercise properly and my diet is very poor. I eat maybe once a day and have been like that for the last 16 years. I started that habit in grade 9 of junior high. What I do eat isn't always the best. I lost 40 pounds 3 years ago, and have gained back almost 20...which makes me almost 40 lbs overweight as I type this.


I can't think of anything else to list. If anyone sees a common denominator for themselves, please post. Maybe we can figure this out ourselves Ladies!!!

[S1x0FHEART5]

Oh and I forgot to mention I have been on birthcontrol for 10 years since the birth of my daughter. I take no other perscribed or un perscibed medications. Thought I had better add that one, it could be crucial. :P

[Another Sarah]

I applaud your efforts, but I think the only thing I can find in common is that I wear jeans a lot of the time. I shouldn't do that really, as I'm prone to both BV and yeast infections.

For me I strongly disagree that BV is sexually transmitted. I believe it is an imbalance inside us that just gets out of control, like candida.

[S1x0FHEART5]

I applaud your efforts, but I think the only thing I can find in common is that I wear jeans a lot of the time. I shouldn't do that really, as I'm prone to both BV and yeast infections.

For me I strongly disagree that BV is sexually transmitted. I believe it is an imbalance inside us that just gets out of control, like candida.

Oh I agree that it is not a sexually transmitted thing.. That is why I said I started to think it was the guy and girl passing it back and forth thing, but when I thought of the women on here who said they have never been sexually active and the ladies who said it's been awhile.... I thought well....that's obviously not it!

But I am still wondering, all the women on here who have tried vitamins, and all this other stuff, the ones who have a steady sexual partner, I wonder have they actually had their men tested? Treated themselves and their man? and if it still came back?

I just want to know, because this is my next step and last step to try that I can think of. I have already done the metrazole or whatever 2 times now, and about to try the clamycin or whatever (sorry I don't have the spellings infront of me), and after this, there are no other options for me. These are the only two things my doctor says is available for us to be perscribed. I copied the names of a few things listed on here to read off to my doc, but I was warned against online and I was also told one of the perscribed meds, can help with our problem but can cause very serious internal problems. I said no thanks I'd rather have an itchy burning crotch!! lol How bad is that!! hahaha

Anyways, So by you answering to what I've written we already know we have nothing in common that we can say, "Oh, it could be that." So really no one else need reply to it, because with just one person we've already figured out it's none of those things. I dunno. Just grabbing at anything at this point I guess. It's very frustrating as we all know, and like I said our doctor issues up here make it even more difficult to get anywhere with this. Not that I would, because I have also noticed women stating they have spent thousands on specialists and nothing..sochances are if you can't get help in the States, we won't get it up here!!!

[Another Sarah]

I'm in the UK.

I personally just think it's the restrictive nature of what's available to doctors that prevents them from moving forward on proper management of BV. It's a bacteria, so antibiotics are the way forward. Except, when it keeps coming back, we can't overuse antibiotics anymore, due to the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and other side effects, so... well, where does that leave them? Scratching their heads, I'd imagine!

Sorry, I'm quite biased and anti doctors when it comes to chronic conditions like this.