Reocurring yeast infections - help?!

Mazlynn · 12-30-2002, 05:58 PM

I've been having reocurring yeast infections since I was diagnosed with my first one in August. I've tried Diflucan, Monistat-3, Monistat-1, and two weeks back to back of Terazol-3, which my Dr said was good at getting rid of reoccuring infections, and now I think it's coming back again! Anyone have any advice on how to make it go away and stay away this time? I'm going to go nuts if I have to deal with this much longer!

Thanks!

Pattyannruss · 12-30-2002, 06:19 PM

I hate to be the one to tell you this but it is a side effect of insulin resistanceand/or diabieties. So if you have not been tested, please do so.

As how to treat yourself.
You MUST cut out as much sugar as possible.
This is one of the top causes of reacurring infections.

Also, make sure you and your spouse are very clean before having sex. Then clean yourself very well after.

Have you noticed it starts showing after AF?
My mother keeps a suppy of the terazol on hand and she treats weekly whether she needs it or not.(She is a diabetic)

I too thought I was dealing with that. Then I thought it was cronic bacterial infections.
After several months of this and the fact I told the Dr I need to pee at least every hr. She finally did a urine test. It had blood chuncks in it!(sorry) So all that time we thought it was one thing turned out to be a severe urinary track infection and I didn't know because I had never had one and my symptoms are didferent from the "normal" people.

So because of all this fun stuff, I have been peeing blood for at least 6 months off and on. Another fine side effect of endometreosis.(also cancer, but they say I don't fit the profile for that yet)I go the 21st for surgery and to find out what to do next.

So try the terazol weekly and see if that clears you up.
Cut back on your sugars.
Keep clean as possible.

Good luck,
Patty

Mazlynn · 12-30-2002, 07:01 PM

Thanks for the info! I talked to the RN during my last visit about getting tested for IR, and she referred me to the dr to see about getting tested, but couldn't get an appointment till late January, about a month after I went in! Sigh. Its frustrating dealing with university health care.

Mine tend to happen late cycle - I think it's cause I get midcycle spotting lately, so using the liners probably cuts down air flow, but I can't think of any way to get around that. Oh well - guess it's more nasty creams for me.

southernangel · 12-30-2002, 08:52 PM

I was having 3 or 4 yest infections a mont.. thats howi foung oout i was IR... so it's best to go to the doctor and be safe..hope everything is fine

katiwren · 12-31-2002, 12:05 AM

I used to have a problem with this. I don't know if you are with anyone, but getting DH treated pretty much fixed mine. I also upped my yogurt intake (live yogurt) and I haven't had one in years now.

Hope that helps.

--KT

Mazlynn · 12-31-2002, 11:59 AM

Katiwren - I've thought of that, but my partner was without insurance for a while and we haven't found him a dr yet now that he has it - did you have to do a prescription treatment, or is there some kind of over the counter treatment you can have the guy do?

katiwren · 12-31-2002, 05:53 PM

Well, my DH has a really hard time getting time off to go to the doc (docs over here are rarely open late). So I just got some over the counter cream for women and, um, rubbed it in every night for a week. We also abatained while we were doing the treatment. (I made sure to treat myself at the same time.)

It really seemed to work.

--KT

nmricci · 12-31-2002, 06:18 PM

I don't know if this will work for you but, it is worth a shot.... I eat a yogurt everyday. I have been on Antibotics several times and i would always get them for sure. But since i have been eating a yogurt everyday I haven't had one in years

JessicaE · 01-01-2003, 11:45 AM

I've suffered with recurring yeast infections on and off for 10 years. (UGH! That makes me feel old)

Here are some ideas:

* take acidopholus supplements (available at healthfood store)

* try a dose of Diflucan at the same time as Terazol

* Trim your pubic hair very short and use the Diflucan 3 externally and spread it EVERYWHERE twice a day for 3 days (in case the yeast is hiding out externally)

* Eat yogurt but also consider using plain yogurt vaginally -- you can insert it with a cream applicator. My nurse practitioner recommended this, and no, I'm not confused about how she said to use it. Make sure you get the plain stuff, with live active cultures. I prefer to buy the organic kind.

* Use the Terazol as a preventative around the time in your cycle that you seem to get the infections. You may only need one-days worth. It doesn't sound like you're TTC, but you might want to start charting your cycle to see exactly when it's popping up in relation to ovulation.

* You can treat your DH just to be sure, but from what you have said, yours seems more hormonally related. My NP said that it is unlikely that it's being spread by your partner if it recurs around the same time each cycle (unless, of course, you only have sex at that time in the cycle). The key to a DH-connection would be if your symptoms show up within 3 days of having sex, every time you have sex.

* Keep your vagina as dry as possible. Use the blowdryer on it on cool setting after a shower, change out of sweaty exercise clothes immediately, keep a spare pair of underwear on hand at work or in the car in case you get sweaty during the day.

* Wear only cotton underwear. No pantyhose! (Kneehighs have become my friends...)

* Control your sugar intake and definitely get tested for diabetes and HIV. Those were the first tests they ran on me, even though those conditions seemed unlikely at the time. It's important just to rule them out.

My experience has been that I will struggle with yeast infections for 3-6 months until we find the right combination that will really knock it out. Then it might disappear for a year or more. Knock on wood, I haven't had a serious problem with it since last May.

Hang in there, I know how frustrating it can be. Hopefully you'll get it under control soon.

Eva35 · 01-03-2003, 11:32 AM

Hi

I had constant yi in my mouth for 15 months!!! Then my Endo started me on Met. It's much better. Only started Met Sept 2002.

Only had one yi in my arm pits since.

btw - I try to eat hardly any sugar/ bread which seems to help.

Eva

Tametha · 01-03-2003, 12:31 PM

I get frequent yeast infections as well. Mine is contributed to hypothyroid...

My doctor has me on diflucon with lots of refills for when ever needed... I have yet to find anything that helps with it...

SammyJo · 01-08-2003, 05:32 PM

I get a yeast infection every couple of weeks. I hadn't had on for a while there but just before xmas I got one and have had one every other week since. Going from whts been said here I think it will be to do with all the sugary things I ate over xmas.

I get it in my mouth too which is horrible. DH affectionatly calls me a yeast monster!

Mazlynn · 01-08-2003, 10:27 PM

Haven't tried the yogurt direct application yet, but I have been forcing myself to eat at least one a day in the hopes it will ward them off.. I don't particuarly like it either, but I went and bought a 15 pack at Sam's club, that way I _have_ to eat it every day if I don't want it to go bad!

When I called my RN this time, she said the recurring yeast infections might be a problem, and that I should probably get my blood sugar levels checked. Which is _exactly_ what I told her the month before, and why I already had an appointment set up with one of the "real" drs. for the end of January. Sigh... I get so frustrated with university health care some days! But at least I'm getting through eventually!

Thanks for all the advice! If nothing else, it's good to know I'm not alone in struggling with this.

Maz

Mathisk · 01-09-2003, 11:14 AM

I too have this problem and recently tried something that seems to be helping. At night when I sleep now I put a small pillow between my knees. This seems to help keep the air flowing so to speak and so far I think Im getting a positive result.

Linnyhb · 01-09-2003, 02:54 PM

If you keep getting recurrent yeast infections boil your undies or buy new cotton ones. The yeast can live in the panties even with regular washings.

Also soaking in a sitz bath (available at the pharmacy) before applying a treatment can help relieve some discomfort.