[ItsASecret]

I still don't understand why I was denied health insurance over this stupid mystery infection either

Usually because they consider literally everything a pre-existing condition. If it is preventable in their eyes they see no reason to cover for it, and by preventable they will imply that you can control your immune system with diet in order to prevent 'bad' bacteria from infecting you. Insurance companies are complete morons.

They dont even check for cytolytic vaginosis!!! Half the doctors dont even know what it is..

Doctors are not microbiologists, they do not have a PhD in infectious disease so the chances of them knowing of a rare vaginal infection is pretty slim if it is not taught in med school. They go by the book, if symptoms lead to BV they treat for BV. If symptoms lead to a yeast infection they treat for a yeast infection. A rare condition is hardly considered because it is rare. Doctors may also be leery of a condition because they know a patient could go off the wall when they find out that there is no real cure, only micromanagement of their lifestyle. It is frustrating but nothing a doctor can do except treat in the way they are taught.

[missbutterfly]

Usually because they consider literally everything a pre-existing condition. If it is preventable in their eyes they see no reason to cover for it, and by preventable they will imply that you can control your immune system with diet in order to prevent 'bad' bacteria from infecting you. Insurance companies are complete morons.



Doctors are not microbiologists, they do not have a PhD in infectious disease so the chances of them knowing of a rare vaginal infection is pretty slim if it is not taught in med school. They go by the book, if symptoms lead to BV they treat for BV. If symptoms lead to a yeast infection they treat for a yeast infection. A rare condition is hardly considered because it is rare. Doctors may also be leery of a condition because they know a patient could go off the wall when they find out that there is no real cure, only micromanagement of their lifestyle. It is frustrating but nothing a doctor can do except treat in the way they are taught.

Yes they are only human, as I personal know. I had a case of TMJ and was told I had Tregeminal Neuralgia for over 6 years and given meds for that...finally saw a dentist who said sometimes its the most SIMPLE things, it was just TMJ. I am now with braces to fix that. So trust me I know how doctors work. I cried my heart out over having Tregeminal Neuralgia a facial condition with no cure to end up with just TMJ put my body through a lot of meds. You have to advocate for yourself! That is why I put the condition up there but also gave her some more SIMPLE ideas as a ph imbalance and normal hormonal vaginal secretions cause sometimes its not what you expect. I know doctors all too well!

[amelillo13]

Doctors are not microbiologists, they do not have a PhD in infectious disease so the chances of them knowing of a rare vaginal infection is pretty slim if it is not taught in med school

So, do you think it would be worth seeing an infectious disease specialist for, or would they not be able to help any more than the obgyns I've been seeing?

[Sarah001]

I don't know if I'm not understanding this or something but wouldn't a swab show an unusually high amount of good bacteria the same way they show higher than normal levels of bad bacteria? I don't know if it's just me being a bit dim but I'd have thought people who test these swabs on a regular basis would know what amount of each type of bacteria is ok regardless of whether it is good or bad? And surely excessive lactobacillus would be obvious from those guidelines? Maybe I'm just not getting it!

[ItsASecret]

Yes they are only human, as I personal know. I had a case of TMJ and was told I had Tregeminal Neuralgia for over 6 years and given meds for that...finally saw a dentist who said sometimes its the most SIMPLE things, it was just TMJ. I am now with braces to fix that. So trust me I know how doctors work.

It is not always the simplest things. Sometimes it is a rare uncommon diagnosis that has no real cure. Wherever the evidence leads is where the doctor goes.

So, do you think it would be worth seeing an infectious disease specialist for, or would they not be able to help any more than the obgyns I've been seeing?

You can ask your doctor if they know anyone who specializes in more infection related illnesses, its your money so if you think it would be worthwhile then there is no right or wrong choice. A specialist may look into more broad types of bacteria that could be causing problems but the thing with bacteria is there are two distinct types (Gram positive, and Gram negative) both are treated with certain types of antibiotics based on how the bacteria live. The drugs we have now are the only ones we have so even if you have a lesser common bacterial infection we can only treat with the antibiotics that you have likely been using the whole time. But it can be piece of mind to know that you are finally diagnosed with something according to what a specialist says.

[missbutterfly]

It is not always the simplest things. Sometimes it is a rare uncommon diagnosis that has no real cure. Wherever the evidence leads is where the doctor goes.



You can ask your doctor if they know anyone who specializes in more infection related illnesses, its your money so if you think it would be worthwhile then there is no right or wrong choice. A specialist may look into more broad types of bacteria that could be causing problems but the thing with bacteria is there are two distinct types (Gram positive, and Gram negative) both are treated with certain types of antibiotics based on how the bacteria live. The drugs we have now are the only ones we have so even if you have a lesser common bacterial infection we can only treat with the antibiotics that you have likely been using the whole time. But it can be piece of mind to know that you are finally diagnosed with something according to what a specialist says.

Lol.. okay that is why I put the RARE condition up as well put up some simple ideas. There are I'm sure other rare conditions I put up the one I knew so she can look into it, but rare conditions are also just that rare so it could also be something simple. I hope one day she finds an answer. Best of Luck!

[ItsASecret]

I don't know if I'm not understanding this or something but wouldn't a swab show an unusually high amount of good bacteria the same way they show higher than normal levels of bad bacteria?

Not necessarily. Good bacteria are expected to be there anyway, if they are in high numbers then great no reason to be alarmed because they are of benefit to the body. Bad bacteria are where the tests focus on, because they are the ones causing the trouble. If a bad bacterial species is not there according to the tests (which do pick up if they are present even in low numbers) then the tech writes it down as not present to an appreciable degree (a huge majority of the time the immune system gets rid of those low numbers). Good bacteria do not go in and storm bad bacteria, it is not a real war in that sense. Your immune system does the job of ridding of the bad bacteria whether that be in the form of B cells, T cells, pH changes, temperature changes, discharge amount etc.

[missbutterfly]

Hey guys here you go this is what should be found on the wet mount:


This is from Jade I called to ask her for you guys

cytolytic vaginosis

The pH will be low, measuring 3.5 to 4.5.
There will be evidence of cytolysis of epithelial cells
The cell borders are pale or bare nuclei.
There may be an increase of rod shaped lactobacilli present
WBC may be present or not present.
Absence of the pathogens associated with bacterial
vaginosis, trichomoniasis or vulvovaginal candidiasis

Treatment options:
Augmentin 500 mg orally three times a day for one week.
Some women continue to have the condition even after Augmentin and need to keep up with there ph levels via long term sitz baths not everyone will clear the condition but can keep it in control with the sitz baths.

[missbutterfly]

Hey guys here you go this is what should be found on the wet mount:


This is from Jade I called to ask her for you guys

cytolytic vaginosis

The pH will be low, measuring 3.5 to 4.5.
There will be evidence of cytolysis of epithelial cells
The cell borders are pale or bare nuclei.
There may be an increase of rod shaped lactobacilli present
WBC may be present or not present.
Absence of the pathogens associated with bacterial
vaginosis, trichomoniasis or vulvovaginal candidiasis

Treatment options:
Augmentin 500 mg orally three times a day for one week.
Some women continue to have the condition even after Augmentin and need to keep up with there ph levels via long term sitz baths not everyone will clear the condition but can keep it in control with the sitz baths.

Jade wanted me to share something with you all, that now that she has a diagnosis shes thankful and happy and with being off all the meds and creams its a relief. But knowing that all she can do is sitz bath is of course discouraging but she is learning to cope and get in routine of it. She also said that the hardest part of having CV is that now you don't know when you are having a real "yeast or BV infection" hah so what she does now is go in every 3 mths to her gyno so about 4 times a year and have them do a wet mount on her and they can say okay you have yeast or BV going on or they will say no its nothing and she knows then its just her CV. The sitz baths help over time and without all those other drugs and creams shes feeling better but the CV is there but maybe one day more research will be done for it shes just happy to be out the cycle she was in before without an answer. Wishing you well!

[amelillo13]

missbutterfly, did/does your friend with CV have any pain with intercourse or general insertion?