Is this an outbreak?

[gray]

Hi all,

I've had burning pain down there for 3 weeks now. The first week was excruciating, and I also had a sore throat. Sometimes the pain subsides a bit, and sometimes it gets worse. Over the past few days when it gets worse I think I'm seeing tiny white bumps, but I'm not sure. It looks like it could just be my hair follicles, since I shave everything down there. Everything down there looks a little red, but not inflamed.

I've had 2 nurse practitioners tell me they thought it was an external yeast infection, and one thought there was a chance it could be herpes. I've been putting anti-fungal cream on it, but I'm not sure if its helping. It seemed better the first few days I was using it, but yesterday and the day before the burning was strong.

Any advice would be appreciated, I've never been so stressed and scared.

[bluefrog]

go to the doctor.....

you need to see a doctor.

[ouch]

yeah, they need to do a swab test on any sores or bumps in that area for HSV. It sounds like it can be herpes. Go to your local planned parenthood if you must.

I know years ago when I was younger I had some brutal yeast infections (usually after I took antibiotics) but none that made me hurt when I peed. Just super itchy and annoyings (and sometimes even gross...discharge...bleech, fun!) So that is why I say to get a second opinion. The antifungal cream is not going to help the herpes either it can AGGRAVATE it. So.........I would go asap.

Good luck. I hope all turns out well.

[gray]

I've already been to the local STD clinic, they also thought it was an external yeast infection. I didn't have any sores or bumps at the time. When I do get them, they come and go so fast, I wouldn't be able to schedule an appointment fast enough. The clinic only books appointments one week in advance. I've given up on the local PP, every time I call the line is busy. I currently do not have health insurance - the quality of care I'm receiving without it really ticks me off.

[Caliope]

If it actually is just a yeast infection - the cheapest thing I can recommend is going to your local grocery and if they have a health section getting an organic, fat free, sugar free, plain yogurt and applying it topically or even mixing it to make a douche. This method is certainly old fashioned but works incredibly fast and does not have negative side effects. usually can be purchased for around $1.

If you are prone to yeast infections please note that yeast (candida)feeds on sugar. Carbs, foods containing grains, alcoholic beverages, dessert items, pastas, vinegar, mushrooms all contain things that can aggrevate and cause yeast infections to become more severe. Consuming yogurts with live cultures or probiotics can help to keep candida in check.

It's tough when you don't have insurance and if that were the case for me and I was very physically uncomfortable I'd show up at the clinic, be willing to sit it out for a cancellation or no show and insist on them running the herpes specific bloodwork.

[gray]

I've been prone to frequent yeast infections throughout my life, but none of them have been like this. I've been taking my probiotics, but I think this afternoon I will go to the health food store and pick up some plain orgainic yogurt. I've actually never tried that!

I did finally go see an OB-GYN, and she didn't have any definitive answers for me. She asked me what I was worried about and what I had been reading about! As if my concerns were just something I made up? When I told her I was concerned about herpes, she said she wouldn't rule it out and gave me a supply of Famvir. She also prescribed a stronger anti-fungal cream. We both agreed it was too soon to run another herpes blood test. I had one done 2 weeks ago, which came back negative, but there hasn't been enough time since my last sexual encounter for antibodies to develop.

I took the Famvir 2 days ago, and haven't noticed any improvement. I just started the anti-fungal cream last night, and I'm still burning today. This makes one month of feeling miserable.

[Caliope]

The antivirals take several days to work. They work based upon the following process: they keep the virus from replicating or reproducing itself. When the virus isn't actively reproducing itself the ob should end. I have had internal ob symptoms that look exactly like a yeast infection but have a slightly different consistency to the discharge.

As for suffering from frequent yeast infections you should pay careful attention to limiting sources of sugar in your diet and also things that are fermented. Candida feeds on sugars. These include "carbs-foods" such as pasta, bread, pastries or baked items. sweetened food items and fermented include: soy sauce, mushrooms, beer, alcoholic beverages, soft-drinks, fruit, candy . . .

The probiotic I use is a capsule and it is made by a company called Jarrow. It is vegetarian.

I hope you get relief soon.

[gray]

For once I'm hoping medicine doesn't work! I wish my doctor could provide more insight, but without active sores to test, I just have to wait to have my next blood test done.

As for the yeast infections, I had spent a full year of my life with no sugar, no flour products, no caffeine, no alcohol, and no dairy in my diet, with minimal cheating. Even with all that effort, I still got recurrent yeast infections. (It did wonders for my allergies though!) I sort of learned to live with them, being that conventional medicines like Diflucan don't work, and alternative therapies only provided minimal relief. Thankfully my yeast infections are mild, they just last quite a long time.

Grapefruit seed extract (GSE) and caprylic acid works best to help control my yeast infections. When they get bothersome, I take 15 drops of liquid GSE three times a day (by far the most bitter substance I've ever tasted), and 2000 mg caprylic acid in divided doses.

BTW, I just tried the plain yogurt douche, and now I'm feeling sort of itchy on the inside. Is that normal?

[Caliope]

It did not do that to me it made me feel lots better. I did it at night and made my own with bottled water and then I wore a pad so it wouldn't make a mess so I could just go to sleep. I also added the yogurt to a cool bath and just soaked.

I am curious do they know for certain that this is candida? Did your health practitioner ever do any cultures to verify this?

From your own admission it sounds like you have done everything you should to get this little fungus under control.

[gray]

Eventually the itching subsided, but now the area that itched is red and irritated. I think it has to do with the douching attachment I used, the irritation is just on the outside of my vaginal opening. (Or maybe it's herpes after all.)

When I was at the GYN on Wednesday, she took a sample to culture. I haven't heard back from the office just yet. I'll have to call them on Monday.

Thanks for all your help and advice thus far!

[ALONE-N-TULSA]

Whats the deal?

I don't understand....some doc's just blow ya off (which I think is totaly unprofesinal) while others treat you as though you are there only paitent.If we have any doc's in our midst please fell free to expand on this.

[Caliope]

I'm not a dr but had one a few years ago that was a complete piece of work. I just didn't understand her attitude until later.

My dr, whom I loved, moved to another town and referred me to a colleage (the piece). I'd been trying to lose weight and had a regime of diet and exercise and kept a diary. I came in for a consult and follow up on my progress and this new dr got completely defensive about my situation. She criticized me, told me I was short and ate too much and that I needed to go to weight watchers. She refused to look at my diary and sent me away without one tidbit of constructive advice. I had the misfortune to see her later after a minor accident for suture removal and again she twisted the situation got defensive and called me a liar. I was dumbfounded.

Several months later I was reading a book on "co-dependency" and it hit me that she resented helping her patients. She was simply in the wrong field. I surmised that she probably had low self esteem, went into medicine to try to help people but in the end fell into a habit of trying to control her patients instead of listening to our needs. Her reaction was then to be angry at us for needing attention.

That's just my thought on one dr. There are some very good dr's out there but they usually have no room for new patients.

[uk girl]

Did you ever report her or put a complaint in about her???

[Shayna]

I think it's so important to feel comfortable with our doctors. If one doesn't fit, ask to see another. We can actually set up an appointment to interview with a doc to see if it's feels like a good match.

The doc I had for years retired. After he left I saw a NP who was a Nut!

When I had to get in to be seen for an injury I happened to be seen by a new doc. He was wonderful, patient, articulate, and very kind. I asked him if he would take me as his regular patient? He said yes. So, now I feel dialed in with the right doc., It makes me feel good to have someone I trust.

Don't stay with a doc who gives you the Bums Rush, Or who makes you feel bad about yourself. There are others out there. Find one that makes you feel like they really care.

[Caliope]

Not exactly. I requested a new dr and explained that I couldn't get along with her. I have a new dr who I like much better.

These are my opinions

Our medical system in the US is complicated and unwieldy. My employer pays my monthly premiums and I go to a provider who is more like a big group. I pay a co-pay and I get marginal or mediocre care. They generally want to deal with patients quickly and cheaply. I have found that if I am lucky enough to get a young dr who is fresh out of med school and still has a passion for medicine I'll get good care but once they've been there for many years and have patient burn-out they are a waste of my time. There seems to be no reward for them to provide good care or to help patients do preventative things. It is very sad.

[uk girl]

That sounds really complicated!!

Here we register with a local doctor in the surrounding are, usually there are 4-5 doctors in the practice, so even if you are registered with a certain one you can see whatever one you want or is available.

I did wonder if they start out with such a bad attitude, or was it that they have lost their compassionate gene over the years???

It must feel like a lottery draw for you, which one is going to give you a compassionate ear!!!

Glad you have found one that treats you how you deserve to be treated!