[r3dh3ad]

I head back to the doctor on monday. I think i'm going to request the vaginal estrogen cream. From what I have read some women have had positive results with it for DIV and AV. Here's hoping!

[amelillo13]

Hey Ladies,

So I saw my specialist today. Felt like I was a side show attraction. There was the doctor, a nurse, a newer nurse which may have just been a student, and a med student all in the room when he did my papsmear and exam. Ugh. I should have said no to the med student I guess, especially since he was male, but I always feel so pressured to say it's fine if they watch because the doctors and nurses press it so much. Anyway, the doc did a pap smear, took a swab, sent it out for a culture, looked at it under the microscope, etc. etc.

My pH appeared to be a bit elevated. This is the first time it hasn't been normal, and I am actually excited about that, since high pH does indeed indicate BV. Also, the nurse and doctor both said my discharge seemed to be a lot less...could have fooled me with how bad it's been recently, but whatever they say. Under the microscope the doctor said usually he sees sheets and sheets of WBC with me, but that today, there still were some, but not nearly as many. Then he said there were lots and lots of clue cells. In the past, occasionally there would be a couple clue cells, but most of the time there were too many WBC to see anything, so this is good.

He is sending out another culture to see if anything grows, since we still don't know what the culprit is, but I finally feel comfortable with the diagnosis of mystery BV. For so long I thought maybe it was more than BV and would end up being cancer or something, but now we're sure. Clue cells and an elevated pH definitely mean there's a bacterial overgrowth. I expect everything to come back normal as it always does, though, but I'm crossing my fingers that something finally decides to grow out for once.

The doctor has prescribed me clindamycin cream for 1 year. Again, here come my flood works to have to come to terms with the fact that it will take this long, and put strain on my relationship for another entire year. As much as I love my boyfriend, and I live with him, I am strongly considering just moving back with my parents in another state until this resolves. I just feel so bad that he's already dealt with this for almost 2 years, I don't want to put him through another, ya know? But I also know that leaving him would make me absolutely miserable because I love him, so I really, really just don't know what to do. I mean, to be in a relationship for 2, going on 3 years, in your early twenties, and not being able to have a physical side to it at all aside from the first 3 months...pretty lame.

Sigh. I almost don't even want to bother with the Clindamycin. I've been on it probably 4 times previously and I don't think it'll suddenly work when it never has before. I'm considering trying my own things, like the peroxide/acidpholius douche I mentioned in previous posts, but I don't know.

Lots of mixed emotions right now

[Sarah001]

At least there was something going on for a change, hopefully this will give you some news. I too have a slightly high ph but no bv and when I look online there seems to be several reasons it can change even simple stress or foods we eat so I have no clue why mine is slightly alkaline. On the flip side my urine is a bit too acidic and again I don't know why because I'm careful not to overdo foods and drinks that cause that.

As for your partner, if he's stood by you for 2 years through this I really think you've got a good one there! It would be a shame to lose him after all you've been through together so I vote you stay put with him for now! Understanding men are hard to come by.

[Sarah001]

Did you ever try vinegar amelillo? I've seen alot about it and bv online and for some women it seems to work really well. They recommend apple cider vinegar but some say white vinegar works just as well because it's really just to acidify the vagina. Diluted of course!

[amelillo13]

Did you ever try vinegar amelillo? I've seen alot about it and bv online and for some women it seems to work really well. They recommend apple cider vinegar but some say white vinegar works just as well because it's really just to acidify the vagina. Diluted of course!

Hey Sarah, thanks for responding yesterday. I had a talk with the bf and he assured me that he'll stick around even though it sucks, but that there's nothing either of us can do, so I should stop worrying about it. I appreciate his understanding, but we are young, he's 24, and it's not like we're married or anything so I just don't want him to feel obligated to stay or anything like that. I just don't want more time to pass and then he decides not having a sex life is not ok or I don't get better after a year, and then he leaves or cheats or something like that. Guess I'll just have to take his word; as you said, it's already been two years.

As far as the vinegar goes, I just bought a pre-mixed douche from the store. It was extra mild vinegar+water. I believe it was just white vinegar, though online I have also read things about apple cider vinegar. I never tried that type, but the normal mild one burned so much that I couldn't even use the whole bottle.

Lots of different remedies seem to work for different women. Anything is worth a shot, imo.

[Sarah001]

I'm glad you had a chat with your bf, I'm not married to my partner either and he's had to put up with no sex at all (unless you count oral for him!) for the last 6 months and a very sparse sex life before that because of my other health problems so I know how you feel about it but it's worth persevering as your other half has stuck around this long. It's not worth worrying about the cheating aspect, lots of men cheat when they are getting it at home so there's no guarantees either way!

I used a very diluted vinegar and water solution in a syringe a few times and found it quite soothing oddly, I used about 3ml of white vinegar and 7ml of water and that didn't burn so if you don't get on with a pre-mixed version I'd say get some vinegar and mix your own as weak as you need it. They say the burning is tiny abrasions coming into contact with the vinegar and as you keep doing it they should heal (if it's working) so you can increase the strength of the mixture as you go along. Hope it helps you and let us know how you get on.

[vera]

Amelillo darlin, whatever you do don't break up or part from your bf. I am in the same boat with my fiance, I try and push him away bc I can't satisfy him, or I sometimes say maybe its a good idea to move back home and break up with him that way he can go have sex with someone else bc I cant provide for him or satisfy him. . .

But this doesnt make anything better. They stick around bc they love us and would give up so much for us. It has been really hard for me. . I've had vulvodynia for 7 months and often think about killing myself bc the pain just gets so freaking bad!! And I just had a doctor tell me (the 11th doctor I've seen) that the pain is all in my head!!! But no its not.

I am only 21. :/ so I can relate to you. It gets bad, but all we can do is hope. And there is someone out there who will find out whats wrong with us.

[Sarah001]

lafemelle how are you getting on? I think it must be two weeks now since you started your new treatment, has it worked?

[lafemelle]

Sarah--I'm a day away from finishing the two-week treatment. I can't say it's cured me, but I have noticed a slight decrease in both discharge and irritation, and sex is a lot more comfortable for me. I called in refills for both the antibiotic and the suppositories and I'm going to do another two weeks on them and see what happens. I'm trying to keep my chin up because my doctor specifically stated not to even judge how the treatment was working until the first two weeks were up, and since I feel I've seen improvement--although it is only a small improvement--that gives me a little hope.

[Sarah001]

I'm glad it's helped a bit lafemelle, perhaps another 2 weeks will bring about a drastic improvement. Fingers crossed for you.