[lafemelle]

I find it hard to believe you're all having so many problems with getting a doctor to issue hormone tests! I had two doctors agree that it's worthwhile to have mine checked (which I'm having done tomorrow), yet you ladies all have similar problems and your doctors are all deadset on being against it. That really confuses me, given what we're all going through. I think it's ridiculous that a doctor wouldn't even consider it.

[amelillo13]

Thanks for mentioning the home test kits, Sarah. I've never seen anything like that in any store over here in the U.S., or even heard about it before, but I did a Google search. They are super expensive. Unless you know what specifically you want to look at, the whole 5-8 hormone test kit costs between $170-$260 bucks and that's without shipping and tax. I suppose it may end up being less than a doctor's visit though, as I was told that unless the doctor has good reason to check it (and these mystery BV cases do not qualify) then it won't be covered by the insurance companies. That was just comparing two random websites though. There might be cheaper options out there on some other sites.

[r3dh3ad]

Well this friend I work with does some part time work at a hospital in a larger town about an hours drive away from here. She knows a couple endocrinologists down there so she's going to find out for me if they take my insurance. She won't find out until Saturday but I think it's worth a try. I could go to endocrinologist in town here but I just get the feeling that I would be wasting my time. I'm feeling hopeful about this. Maybe, just maybe I can get someone that won't blow me off and make me feel like a silly little numb skull.

[Sarah001]

That's the only problem with the home tests, you have to know what it is you're looking for. If all else fails though it's nice to know the option exists. At least if none of us can get hormones tested at any point there are tests available online. I go back to see my Women's Health Physio early next week and I'm really hoping I haven't let all the stress go to my pelvic floor, I want to drop my resting tone a bit again so I'm at least heading in the right direction. Fingers crossed.

[Sarah001]

My appointment went well this time, I have managed to get my resting tone down to 12-14 which is where most other people with tight pelvic floors/vulvar issues start from! My therapist said I'm now "normal high as opposed to astoundingly high!!" so at least that's heading in the right direction. I'm very surprised after all the stress I've had recently too. My symptoms are still there but as I'm still way too tight in the pelvic floor they will be. The problem I'm having now is each time I try to release it further my SI joint flares up and that makes the pelvic floor spasm again so a bit of a catch 22 situation. Still at least I've actually managed to get it down a bit this time around and it's not spiking so much on the machine anymore. Fingers crossed I can get it down further and start to feel some improvements.

How's everyone else doing?

[lafemelle]

Sarah, I'm glad to hear you're at least on the right track! Any little bit of good news helps in our situations, doesn't it?

As for me, I'm still continuing on my immunity vitamin supplement and my probiotics...not sure if it's doing any good, but it sure as heck isn't making it worse so I'm going to keep it up. I do have a question, not sure if any of you ladies would happen to know anything about it: could a high oxalate diet cause discharge and irritation? I've read about how it causes the pain associated with vulvodynia, which I don't have; but I've been really focusing on what I eat lately and (this may be a coincidence) it seems like I have less discharge and irritation on the days when I eat low-oxalate foods. But in all my research on the internet, I can't find anything that makes a link between infection-like symptoms and oxalates in the diet, so I'm wondering if anyone here has happened to see something like that? Either way, I've been trying to keep my diet as low-oxalate as possible and I'll continue to do so for awhile and see how things go.

I never did hear back about my hormone test, so I'm assuming it was normal? But I still haven't had a period in 4 months so I'm likely to call the lab and ask for the exact results.

[ItsASecret]

it seems like I have less discharge and irritation on the days when I eat low-oxalate foods. But in all my research on the internet, I can't find anything that makes a link between infection-like symptoms and oxalates in the diet, so I'm wondering if anyone here has happened to see something like that?

Oxalate is more associated with vulvar pain like vulvodynia...well thought to be, it is not exactly an accepted theory but it is a theory nonetheless. A persons diet is only a portion of oxalates in the blood, the other part comes from how oxalate is broken down in the intestines. You can have a urine oxalate test done just to see if your are high or low. Some people do it just fine and have no issues with breakdown of oxalate, some have a lesser effectiveness with breaking it down leading to calcium oxalate crystals in the urine causing the pain and some people have a certain type of oxalate bacteria that help with the breakdown-using antibiotics could actually cause pain in this case if the bacteria are playing a major role (this is an unconfirmed theory though). So really it does not hurt to change up your diet because it is really a simple fix if it is to work, you can also try calcium citrate to block the formation of oxalate but that is not a guarantee to lower oxalate levels. You can check with your doctor to see if oxalate levels it is an option for treatment though.

[Sarah001]

Like you lafamelle I haven't heard of oxalates causing excess discharge, only suspected of causing vulvar pain, but perhaps you have a sensitivity to something that's high in oxalates? I'm pretty sure I've read somewhere that food intolerances can cause excess discharge so it might be worth a shot eliminating suspect foods one by one to see if you can pinpoint it? I tried the low oxalate diet and found it didn't suit my low blood sugar one bit and it made no difference to my vulvar issues either despite taking calcium citrate as well. In the U.S I think you have a product called Ox Absorb which is supposed to be more effective than calcium citrate, we don't have it here in the U.K as I looked into getting some, but maybe that's worth a shot?

[amelillo13]

Hey ladies, just wanted to check in. I did the hydrogen peroxide douche for the first time tonight. Much better experience than what I had with the vinegar. It didn't burn at all, it just made things really slimy (tmi, sorry). Hopefully after I do this a bit more, it'll start to help. I think I'm going to do it once a night for a few days, take a break, and then do a few more. I'm not entirely certain how often I'm supposed to do it, but gosh, I hope it does SOMETHING good.

[lafemelle]

Amelillo, that is one of the few things I found actually provided me relief from my symptoms...only thing is, I did it every 1-2 days for about a week and it started to leave my vagina constantly dried and burning, and over time the more I did it the less it relieved my symptoms. I would suggest doing it for a few days and then seeing what happens if you do it every few days, or even once a week, because it really can damage your skin if you do it too much.