I have an awkward question... I have had vaginal itching and soreness since Saturday. I had started some antibiotics on Fridays, so I thought it was the normal yeast infection I get with them, so I took a Diflucan. But, but Monday, the symptoms had not decreased.
When I went to the doctor, there was no discharge like a normal yeast infection, there is no odor what-so-ever. Simply, there is redness, soreness, and itchiness.
So, the doctor said it looked like an irritant (like a fabric softner, detergent, soap, etc.) and told me to use my daughter's zinc oxide diaper rash cream (I use Triple Paste).
Well, as of today, almost two more days later (four days now with the symptoms), the cream soothes it, but when I go to the bathroom and wipe (or blot) the symptoms flare up again.
Does anyone have any idea what this might be? (FYI, no signs of an STD either, and I haven't had sex in two months... even with hubby :)
First, thank YOU to everyone who responded so kindly. Second, it turns out it was a yeast infection... when the did my exam today at the GYN they discovered the discharge, for whatever reason, is 'living' behind my cervix and is not draining... so that's why there is currently no discharge. So, I am on a second round of Diflucan and I am starting a 3-day cream this evening. Hopefully, with the combined treatments, I will have some relief soon!
Wash ALL underpants and pants in a gentle detergent and use vinegar in the wash too. I have had this before when I switched to cheaper detergent. As soon as I went back to the regular one I was fine. Using white distilled vinegar will help to remove all residue from the other detergent.
Good luck.
I've heard of people that are allergic to dry toilet paper and get the same type of symptoms you mentioned. They have to use flushable wet wipes instead.
Do you use shower gels or bubble baths? If you have any allergies to perfume and such that might very well be the culprit or as the doctor said something in the detergents...and again there it might be perfume in those products. Just a thought.
Check to see if you have started using anything new- wipes/ creams/lotions/soap/ shampoo/ detergent/ softener. Also get tested for yeast, may not be typical everytime. Dont use any fabric that is not cotton. good luck
Definitely get it check by the gyn. Sometimes even UTIs manifest symptoms similar to a yeast infection & can irritate the whole area down there. I realize you were just on antibiotics, but it could be a bacteria that is not responding to that specific antibiotic. That's just a thought. Perhaps the diflucan didn't do the trick...it's happened to me before. I say just get it checked out at the gyn for a definite answer. I sometimes think the detergent response is just a cop out.
Well that sucks!
I agree with adding the viniger to your wash & the Colloidal Silver may be of help too.
In addition, I would add some Probiotics to your diet immediately! It can only help! You can get them at your local health food store (the kind in the refrigerator will be of best quality & highest in count of live bacterium). You can also increase your consumption of yogurt & reduce your intake of sugar.
I hope that things improve soon! OUCH!!!!
Get a second opinion, there is some sort of cream you need. Meanwhile, try a non scented, totally hypoallergenic lotion or oil in case it's dryness causing irritation. Also, petroleum jelly may help block the wetness flare-ups when using the bathroom. If this isn't as good as the diaper cream, keep doing what you're doing. My son had a nasty red irritated spot in his diaper area, and I put corn starch on it to keep it dry...not sure if that would work for you, but his healed quickly. Good luck-as a different doctor!
Personally, I don't ever get the typical signs of a yeast infection. What you describe is what I get. If eating yogert for a week doesn't help, I see the gyno and they usually perscribe a pill that takes it away. I don't remember the name of it, however, I do know that it's a one time thing, you don't have to take it for a couple of days.
Good luck.
Try washing all your underwear in unscented detergent, with no fabric softener. Dry in dryer with no softener sheets. Make sure toilet paper is not dyed or scented. Make sure any feminine supplies (pads, tampons, etc) are all unscented, too.
See if the diaper cream lists 'fragrance' as an ingredient, and use only a fragrance free soap or body wash - even baby soaps are fragranced. Read all ingredient lists carefully.
Best wishes!
Hi N.,
Go to your local health food store. Look up your symptoms.
Hope this helps. D.
Have you changed your laundry detergent lately? If so, re-wash all of your undies in the stuff you now will NOT bother you. If the irritant is still on the fabrics, the cream really won't help. Sorry, that's all I can think of.
Hi N....I know your pain!! One thing that helps me with that problem is DermaE Tea Tree & E Antiseptic Creme. Sometimes health food stores carry it. Not sure where you live but The Health Food Center at the West Shore Farmers Market in Lemoyne probably has it or could order it for you. Take care and I hope this clears up for you!!
Try lotrimin af...that happened to me and this helped
This may sound crazy, but are you using the concentrated laundry detergents. The 2x All or Tide or even 3X. I found that I was going through something similar, and then one day I was doing laundry and happened to look at the bottle. I was using TOOO much detergent. Now that I am using the right amount, things are alot better.
Sometimes after a period I get irritated and I sit in a bath with bicarbonate of soda in. This has always worked for me, if you think irritation is the issue.
Are you drinking enough was another thought that came to me. Could your urine be irritating you?
I have also used a diaper rash powder in the baby section on my kids when they have really bad diaper rash and it works like magic. Its the gold bond baby powder. Its in a little cream tub with a red lid but I haven't had to buy it in a while so don't know if packaging has changed.
I had a time when I seemed to be very sensitive and always irritated. One thing that helped was washing all of my underclothes in very hot water with no soap or fabric softner. You could even do the extra rinse cycle to just really rinse any irritants out. Make sure you are wearing cotton undies. The other thing that seems to help me and (my kids when they get diaper rash)is some open air time. Try sleeping without underwear. Even if you wear PJ pants to sleep, they aren't close up against your skin and leave the area breathe which helps the skin repair itself. A lotion we love for diaper rash and really any other skin irritation is Aquaphor. It's like fancy Vasoline. But extra refined - for whatever reason it would clear my son's sensitive skin between diapers nearly instantly, but nothing else even began to help after days. Weird, but it was different for some reason.
Are you using a new toilet paper? Are you wearing cotton underware? Sometimes if you switch to polyester or silk underware it can irritate. I am sure the Dr. talked these things over with you. I would ask to see the dr again, maybe the antibiotic and the diflucan disturbed the normal flora down their and now you have a bacterial infection? Best of luck, It is misserable to have these issues.
N.,
Call your specialist, your OB/GYN and go see what this really is instead of trying to treat it over the counter. Let them take a swab and see what it really is (if anything). That is what I'd do. Nothing like an irratated vagina....makes for discomfort no matter what you do.
Good luck
Christina
okay here is something else to ponder that most women don't think about. Around mestrual time it gets messy. As we all love it when Aunt Flo comes around. Sometimes when cleaning yourself we accidently clean part of the behind and it gets to the front. Though we all (should) know that you clean the front then back. In the mist of this, we have the tampon which is a easy carrier of everything inbetween. Could it be possible that there could be some residue from menstrual mess?
What ever the matter- What to do---soak your self insome epsom salt then afterward for about a few days use some vaginal cream maximum strength. ( I have used Vagisil) I know this sounds crazy but it can and has happened from time to time.
Best of luck.
M.
I would go back to the doctor - I had a yeast infection once that didn't clear up with the normal medication - the doctor had to prescribe something different and stronger. The doctor can culture it and see if it is a yeast infection or something different - I'm surprised he/she didn't do that the first time you went in. Hope you feel better soon.
How about trying a natural remedy like a salt water sitz bath? Disolve a 1/2 cup of table salt ito a shallow bath of warm water.
I had the same problem 11 years ago, went to my doctor to find out I was a diabetic and with high sugars I was developing yeast infections.
I wish you well on finding a cure to this problem.
Sounds like an external yeast infection. There is a cream that your doctor can prescribe. I can't remeber the name but it works almost immediately. It is also effective on diaper rash.
This is just a shot in the dark, but try plain old corn starch (not baby powder). This works A LOT better than any diaper rash stuff. My 4 yr old daughter gets irritation sometimes from the bath, etc and the corn starch works like a charm!!! It was the only thing that worked on diaper rash when she and her brother were babies! Give it a shot... it's a cheap fix for under $2 at the grocery store.
Hi N.,
I would go to a health food store and get some good probiotics. My guess is it is a result of the antibiotics. You could even put some of the probiotics in that area if you could a powder or capsules that open. I hope it helps.
Good luck,
Jenn
N.,
I occasionally suffered the same symptoms and realized they were related to my period. Perhaps this is the same in your case. I just used an anti-itch cream and tried to deal with it until it went away. It usually lasted a couple days and went away when my period came. Thankfully I haven't had to deal with it lately.
