chronic bacterial vaginosis

[arakknya]

Last year I had a serious allergic reaction on my chest and upper back, I was given an antibiotic and a steriod injection. My reaction cleared up, but to my surprise, so did the discharge and odor for three months (the longest I have ever gone) when I asked my gyno to prescribe the anitbiotic for me, he said that it couldn't have worked. A few months later I got another steriod shot for a latex reaction and the BV went away again. I told my gyno and he said that it was possible that my BV was an allergic reaction.

Proof that I'm NOT INSANE!

To make a long story short, in November 2006, I started suffering from BV and it didn't go away until March 2007. I thought I was out of the woods until November 2007, when almost to the day, the BV showed up again. I went through a plethora of medications, saw a specialist, started taking vitamins and acidophilus pills and eating yogurt ... No luck.

My fiance and I sat down and talked about what could possibly be causing it - it seemed to be seasonal. The only thing that I could come up with is that I suffer from seasonal allergies and asthma, which start in the spring and end in the late fall. Which means, I start taking medication in March and stop in about November. Hmmm.

I decided last week to go back on my seasonal allergy medicine and within one day, the BV symptoms lessened. They're on their way out the door.

I have yet to see my doctor about this, but it's very curious to me. I was actually doing a search to find if there's any correlation between allergies and BV - I have no other allergic/asthmatic symptoms at the moment. Or perhaps one of the medications fills in or blocks some component in my body that has to do with the BV.

I'm fairly certain that it's Singulair, which is an ASTHMA medication, and can sometimes be used to treat allergies. However, I'm also taking Asthmanex and Allegra-D. I'm ruling out the Allegra-D because I take it all the time and it's done nothing. I'm also ruling out the Asthmanex because I was taking it with the Allegra-D when I had a horrible cold/flu a couple weeks ago and the BV only worsened.

What allergies could cause it, I don't know, but does it matter if the medication gets rid of it? Perhaps that medication is something you could discuss with your doctor.

[alexa]

I've suffered with yeast/bv problems since puberty (am 30 now). I've taken year long cycles of weekly diflucan in the past. I wanted to post b/c I never linked a recently diagnosed problem of mine with the vaginal infections. I've been constipated since birth, but since it was "my normal," I never realized just how much of an issue it was. A colonoscopy in Oct revealed a redundant colon and previous surgeries on my ovary had scar tissue narrowing my colon that basically meant stuff was getting stuck. I would take laxatives a couple of times a month when things seemed especially bad, but bottom line is that my body was not passing things naturally. This resulted in a myriad of health problems (blurred vision, migraines, joint and muscle pain, extreme fatigue, eczema and diverticulosis) Bottom line, since I have started taking colace and fiber with every single meal...my vaginal problems have improved dramatically. Even when I didn't have yeast/bv, my discharge always seemed heavy and not quite right. I feel like I have gotten my life back. I feel like I wasted so much of my 20s by not knowing what was wrong with me. These problems have such an impact on relationships. I have not yet told my ob/gyn about these huge improvements. I do not know the medical link between the two. If you're having these issues and suffer from chronic constipation...you may want to investigate fixing the constipation issue and see if it improves the vaginal problems.

[Sammy123]

I've suffered from BV for 2 years now. I'm now 28. When I first got it, I was prescribed Metronozale (sp) like everyone else, but it did nothing for me. I got a repeat prescription and still the symptoms didn't go away. I started to think I'd have to live with it, so coped by wearing panty liners and changing them through the day. I hate this condition. It makes me feel dirty and embarrassed, and I'm sure other people can smell me. It is horrendous when I'm on my period. I'm much heavier, and on the worst days need to change a super plus tampon every 2 hours. Sometimes less. This wouldn't be so bad but the smell during this time is absolutely awful, so it's very embarrassing when I need to change my tampon in public. The smell lingers in the toilet afterwoods, and smells like someone has been for a poo.

As a result, I avoid having sex because I know the discharge would be worse that time, and even hate getting intimate with my partner at all in case I've had the discharge.

I went back to the Doctors this week, and have been given another bout of Metronozale, which I dread taking because it makes me feel so ill, even though I avoid alcohol. When I asked if there was anything else I could take, I was told there wasn't. The Doctor seemed very surprised that the stuff didn't work the other times. Was I maybe doing something wrong?

All I can do is hope the medication works this time. BV is hindering my life, and I can't stand the thought of feeling ill when it probably won't even work. Being in the UK means that a lot of the options mentioned here aren;t available to me either. I'm already thinking that this is just going to be part of my life now.

[d4111]

OMG !! a site where there are sooo many other women suffering from this !! apologies in advance for my rant.... but here goes..

I have had BV for over fifteen years and have ONLY just found out that this isn't normal... I have spent years not only using panty liners but on really bad days, I have to use a sanitary towel because the discharge is that excessive, some days it even goes through my clothes and on to chairs and trust me, it has often causes masses of embarassment where I have had to say that I am sweating :/ and what's worse is that I only found out I had BV by doing a home test... and only because my partner and I have been trying for a baby for two years and it doesnt seem to be happening for us, so after having routine STD tests (twice!!) and getting the all clear I spoke to an old friend who mentioned BV and trichomoniasis to me (which also has the same symptoms) and it made me wonder, my doctor prescribed me with 2g of metronidazole (after I took the home test) in a single dosage, unfortunately I had to wait to get my period (to ensure I wasnt pregnant) so I only took it a couple of days ago and so far there has been absolutely no improvement except I only needed to use one panty liner today :/

I really hope that this isn't the reason that I can't fall pregnant (but I guess I will know as I have a fertility appt at the end of March), although I have had a few abnormal smear tests and even had a copolscopy where everything was normal and no one mentioned BV or anything similar.

I have lived with this for so many years, its like second nature. I dont have any pain or itching, merely overly excessive discharge and the fishy smell after sex

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I too am in the UK :-)

D4111

[hernan22]

I am 24 years old and have been dealing with BV and yeast infections for the past 2 years. But as of December of 2007 I have been able to manage the symptoms and almost totally eliminate the problem. I want to share my story in hopes that this will help others stop this horrible cycle.

My symptoms: milky, thick and heavy discharge all the time, itching and a constant odor. All of this started off with an episode of BV and yeast infections followed.

I went to the doctors several times. I was prescribed antibiotics which only cured me for a couple of weeks. I took two STD tests and was completely clean. I saw a gyno and he gave me more antibiotics, after the symptoms returned he gave me the iodine treatment. (He put iodine in my vagina to clean out the yeast.This is what they give babies when they get yeast infections). This eliminated my symptoms the longest, I thought I was cured....but then the symptoms came back
After all this I got extremely frustrated and decided to do my own research and figure this out on my own.

I do not use protection when sleeping with my boyfriend. Despite my doctors telling me that I could not get BV from my boyfriend I thought that his sperm caused the BV and yeast infections. So I stopped having sex with him and still experienced the symptoms. I stopped taking my birth control and still had symptoms. Through the advice of my gyno I switched to cotton underwear (and stopped wearing g-strings), switched to perfume/dye free laundry detergent and body soap (Ivory perfume free). Although doing that didn't stop my symptoms completely it did help a little. After pretty much playing detective I figured out that it was my period that was causing the symptoms. My gyno said that the blood can throw off the pH balance in your vagina.

So now that I narrowed it down to that I have been able to control this problem. Through the advice that I found on this board I bought a bottle of Nature's Way Primadophilus Reuteri. This helped stop the discharge and eliminated the smell. A lot of women in this forum said that it cleared up the symptoms within hours but for me I took a couple days. I think these pills helped a lot. If your doctors keep giving you the run around I would definitely invest in these pills. They are designed for digestive and vaginal health. I began taking these pills everyday with a multivitamin. Now that I have gotten the problem under control I do not need to take the pills everyday.

However, still to this day about a week before my period I experience a very small amount discharge and slight smell. During this time I take the pills and use pantyliners. As soon as I am done with my period I use the RepHresh applicators to help balance my pH balance after my period.

So all in all, in my case I believe it was the blood of my period that caused the symptoms. I suggest purchasing the Nature's Way Primadophilus Reuteri Primadophilus Reuteri by Nature's Way - VitaminShoppe.com and RepHresh applicators Vaginal Gel | RepHresh | Walgreens
RepHresh is a fairly new product and is the only one of its kind (as far as I know).

The triggers for BV and yeast infections are different for every woman. So it takes time to figure out what triggers it and what doesn't. I know that it is soooo frustrating and even more embarrassing to deal with this. But don't give up hope. I hope this helps!

*My doctor said that women with diabetes experience frequent yeast infections, so that may be the cause for some women

[spohl]

Look into Boric acid pills that you insert vaginally after sex. It's kinda a pain but it keeps the BV away. Your doctor will prescribe boric acid powder and plain gelatin caplets and you make them yourself. You poke a hole in each end and insert one after sex. Sounds crazy but that's the only thing that has worked for me! And it's worth it to not have to deal with an infection!

[Bleyes123]

I had a spell of these too. I got off the pill and and am now on the ring and have not had one since! The doctor said it was my body's reaction to the pill I was on....the hormone does in that pill were throwing off my pH and stuff.

[d4111]

Having scoped out this site and also various other forums (after having taken the 2g dosage of metronidazole) I went straight to the health shop and bought some tea tree oil, some tea tree pessaries and some probiotic vitamins. The tea tree pessaries are amazing, not only has all the odour gone (even after intercourse) but the discharge is limited, I only have to wear a pantyliner if at all ! its only been a few days but it seems to be working for me. Also a pantyliner with a few drops of tea tree oil seems to keep things in check also. I am going to start taking the probiotic vitamins tomorrow but they should hopefully help.

I hope this helps you guys !!

[sarahg]

first of all I wish all ladies battling this awful monster success and I hope we all get rid of it. I'd be so thankful if anyone can advice or help in any way, thank you already for trying to help others I have read alot of things.

I have been suffering from this as well for 9 years, it has been awful, humiliating and has ruined much of my life to be honest. I am willing to try almost anything but i feel so suicidal at the same time.

last month I went on flagyl for the first time, I took it on the last day of my period, the watery whitish yellow discharge and itchiness went away on the 3rd/4th day of the 7 day treatment. after that I felt normal for a few days for the 1st time in my life and then I had a off-white thick discharge but no odour. I dont know what is normal anymore so I was terrified this was BV coming back - do you think it is bv again?

anyway a week later I got itchiness and what seemed like was a yeast infection. I took canestan oral and used the cream which helped. after a few more days and continuing to have this off-white thick discharge monitored all the time and realised I did not have as much heavy discharge but sure enough there for me to feel it 'leak' even when I sat down sometimes. I dreaded my period as I heard many of you say it comes right back. I have just had my period which finished 3 days ago. during the period I felt like I had menstruated properly for the first time in my life, even the color was different though I had a dark brown discharge on last day - is this normal as I’ve never had this. anyway I am on day 3 after having my period and I have the white thick but shiny off-white discharge coming back and a slight itch - I dont know what’s normal anymore and is the itch due to BV coming back or a yeast infection hanging in borderline trying to pave its way through?

during this time I have taken folic acid, vitamins, garlic, acidophilus and continue to do so thinking this may help. But I have read that lactobacilli acidophilus does not pass the gut barrier to get to the vaginal region, and it is not the strain that actual inhabits the vagina nor would it be able to sustain itself long enough to re-colonize the vagina (there are 2 humans strains available that have been taken from healthy vaginas but I have heard these are only available in Austria.)

my doctor does not help and shoves me away with my questions I’m so upset - worst is I was due to marry next month, I have called that off too as I was hoping to get some cure by then, BV has stopped me from being myself and I feel so lost, I want the old me back but its not happening, I have not been intimate with anyone for last 9 years not even my fiance and I dread the intimacy part and feel BV will ruin my relationship before it has even begun. I just can’t live with this anymore.

I just cant.

[LadyLane]

I have a question. I see a familiar symptom in all these posts... an odor, which I read is a symptom of BV. My doctor treated me with Flagyl 2x a day for seven days because I went to him with a mild itch but moreso a burning feeling when I urinated. There never was an odor. The discharge was thin and whitish. He said he thought it was BV. I wasn't reasurred by the fact that he didn't KNOW. By day three of the meds the itch was so bad I was sure he was wrong and it was yeast, not BV. I called and he said it would take time. But then it eventually went away, and before I could finish the pills, I got my period.

Now I'm seeing a pattern... a yeast infection almost exactly seven days before my period, not every month, but almost every other or so. And now this "supposed" BV.

I'm wondering if my hormones are messing me up? I had been on the pill on and off for many years, but now I've been off for a good year. Should I go back on?