[Sarah001]

I tried tea tree oil but only once, be very careful with it because it frequently irritates skin especially mucous membranes. I only used it once because it really badly irritated my skin and made my symptoms even worse. I have used lavender oil in that area with less irritation but it didn't make any difference so I stopped.

[amelillo13]

I apologize for not remembering, but did anyone here say whether or not they've tried tea tree oil? It's about the one and only thing I've never tried, and I'm considering purchasing some suppositories and giving it a shot. As far as discharge goes, today is the WORST day I've ever had in nearly 3 years of this problem...it's got me on the edge of insanity and I don't know what else to do.

Sorry to hear that, Lafemelle. I've never tried tee tree oil. I have heard mixed reviews about it as far as helping with irritation and/or making it worse. Some people have experienced allergic reactions to it, which is the only reason I've never tried it, since I tend to be really sensitive to just about everything.

Kind of an off topic question, but I'm sure someone here can tell me. When figuring out one's cycle, do you count from day 1 of a period to day 1 of the next period? Or do you count from the last day of your first period to the first day of the next?

[Sarah001]

We always do 1st day to 1st day here in the UK so I assume it's the same elsewhere.

[lafemelle]

I've always thought it was first day of period to first day of the next. I could be wrong, but that's what I've always gone by.

Thanks for the feedback on the tea tree oil, ladies. I decided not to give it a go, especially since I'm going to call another office today and make an appointment with yet another doctor.

I did find this product at the store yesterday and (shoot!) I can't remember the name of it, but it was a douche specifically for "yeast" problems. It contained hydrogen peroxide, water, and live lactobacillus. While I know yeast isn't my problem (and most likely not any of ours), I kind of wondered if it's worth trying since it contains hydrogen peroxide AND good bacteria, just to see if it does any good at all. It was pretty cheap, so I'm considering it. I'll let you ladies know if I decide to test it out.

[Sarah001]

That sounds interesting lafemelle and certainly worth a shot, I hope if you do try it it works for you. I've bought some bio identical natural oestrogen cream to try, I know I tried the pessaries but I've since read up about them and I wasn't given anywhere near enough to do any good so I'm going to try a tiny bit of this cream each night for a while to see if it helps. The only problem with it is the cream base, I tend to find they burn really badly and we don't have compounding pharmacists here, if you can't use it in the base it's in then tough! If it doesn't work I might get some natural testosterone to add to it as the combination of the two has helped alot of women but I'm a bit worried about using testosterone, not sure how much to use etc so I'd have to look into it in depth first. After that I'm fresh out of ideas of things to heal my skin, so are all the doctors I've seen too.

[r3dh3ad]

Ok- I'm soooooooo excited! I went to my PCP and asked him about treatmant for PID or oophoritis because it only stands to reason that since this started with an infection that an infection higher up could possibly causing my symptoms, right? And he looked at one of my past ultrasounds and my left ovary appeared a little bigger than the right. ( i knew this already two years ago!) but anyway he treated me on an outpatient basis with an im shot of rocephin and floxin 400mg by mouth every twelve hours with clindamycin 450mg by mouth four times a day. It's working!!!!!! I started noticing a difference about two hours after the shot but a definite difference 24 housr later. No puffiness no redness and the discharge is minimal ( not normal yet by any means ) but almost gone! This is a 14 day treatment so I have a ways to yet but my hopes are way up! I think the biggest test will be come time for my period. But I had to share this because I think I have found my cure! My vulva looks normal for the first time in years and feels almost normal. I am keeping my fingers crossed that this sticks. But like I said the biggest test will be following my next period, then I will know for sure.

[lafemelle]

r3dh3ad, I'm so happy to hear that!!! I really hope it ends up working completely. If just ONE of us can find a cure then there will be hope for all of us! Please keep us updated on your progress! I have an appointment with a new doctor next week, and an ultrasound is the one thing I've never have done--soooo, I'm going to see if I can weasel that one out of her. My fingers are crossed for you!

[Sarah001]

r3dh3ad good luck and fingers crossed for you! Keep us updated.

[amelillo13]

That is awesome to hear r3dh3ad! I hope it works and you are rid of the infection for good! Keep us all updated

[r3dh3ad]

Well it doesn't surprise me too much I guess but it has been a full week and the discharge has yet to totally subside and it feels as though I'm getting that swollen feeling again. I don't think I mentioned it in my last post but I had to take a shot of benadryl along with the rocephin because of an allergy I have to penicillin. I'm wondering if that is what caused the swelling and redness to resolve so quickly even though i have taken benadryl by mouth before for my sinuses. I think I got too excited too quick. I'm going to finish the regimen but I have a feeling in my gut that by the end my symptoms will return as usual. It's got me down- I want to cry. I don't want to go back to the doctor anymore- I feel so foolish.