See your gynecologist, too! It might be a simple vag infection!

[Denise Belanger]

Hi, Gang, this is a wonderful network.

I'm a 53 year old post-menopausal female who recently developed what I thought were urogological symptoms of IC and consulted a urologist.

IC and other bladder conditions have still not been ruled out HOWEVER, I also consulted a gynecologist who did a vaginal bacterial culture and discovered an overgrowth of normal bacteria in the vagina which had been incubating for quite some time. We are treating this overgrowth of bacteria with Metronidozole gel and my "urinary" symptoms have nearly disappeared.

I am posting this because the vaginal problem mimicked the symptoms of IC, but the urologist was so focused on the bladder that he missed the "vagina connection". When I told the urologist of the finding of the bacteria, he also recommended a vaginal estrogen cream to help build up the cells of everything in that "neck of the woods" down below.

If this post can save anyone even a moment's grief, anxiety and pain, I would be very, very happy.

[Calli]

For me it seems that pill actually doesn't do that well to my bladder. Strange, I guess it depends on a person. I just went off of it.

[ICNDonna]

Vaginal infections can definitely effect IC symptoms. Thanks for posting your experience.

And..... :welcome: to the IC Network.

Warm hugs,
Donna

[Sarojini]

I agree... my IC always flares up if I have a yeast infection. There is definitely a connection between what goes on in the bladder and what goes on in the vagina!

[sleepyangel30]

Sarojini i believe so too. i wish doctors could do more testing to see is yeast over growth is the root of this disease. bacteria can be very tricky.

[Calli]

I was thinking about yeast infections a lot lately. I told to my Gyno that ever since I got on the pill (a year and a half ago, I never took it before), I had yeast infections all the time and before I never had not even one (I haven't even even been to gyno before I was 27).

And ever since I started taking the pill, I have had yeast infections and I went more and more on the toilet until it excalated into this

So yeast infections definately influence bladder problems.

I am going in about 2-3 weeks to my gyno again and I will ask her about this relating to my condition and if she could give me something that I could use at home when I think I might have a yeast infection.

Every time when I get that bad burning in my urethra, I put a little bit of the Canesten cream (its for infections) on my intimate parts and vagina entry and it somehow feels better. Interesting, isn't it?

I will do some reseach into it and have a long talk with her and tell you what she says. She is the head of the department at the best hospital here in Holland and has the title professor. I know that if anybody, she can help me.

If you can help me with any educational or other info, links or questions for my reserach or talk with her, please do so here or PM me, please? I can also PM you my home email if you want, no prob. I want to get to the bottow of this and I have perfect docors here, who are always willing to do it with me.

[sleepyangel30]

I remember reading what a woman said what her doctor told her. she said that her doctor told her once yeast get into the bladder your in big trouble. you know if you have a yeast infection and if it's left untreated it can cause pelvic imflammatory disease. that could be the problem in the bladder as welll.

[Calli]

Originally posted by sleepyangel30
I remember reading what a woman said what her doctor told her. she said that her doctor told her once yeast get into the bladder your in big trouble. you know if you have a yeast infection and if it's left untreated it can cause pelvic imflammatory disease. that could be the problem in the bladder as welll.

How can they derect yeast in bladder? With urine sample?

Educate me here, Im so ignorant about these things, its all new to me.

Could it be possible that yeast wouldn't be detected in bladder but you still have it?

[sleepyangel30]

no woman your not ignorant at all lol. some people don't know certain things. well my old doc found yeast in my bladder after he did a urine culuture and told me I had acute cystitis all at the same time. that was the first time i ever had yeast in my bladder it did not feel good either. i remember going to er twice finding out i had a uti and yeast infection at the same time.

[Denise Belanger]

Hi, again everybody.

If any of you have ever read "You Don't Have to Live With Cystitis" by Dr. Larrian Gillespie, you may recall that Dr. Gillespie said that "yeast in the urethra can be very irritating."

I don't know how yeast in the bladder is diagnosed or treated.

Calli, here in the States there is an over the counter medicine called "Monistat" for yeast infections. You can choose a 3 day course or a 7 day course. BUT do NOT assume that it's yeast! It might be bacteria, which needs a different medication, or something else entirely. You need a good urologist and a good gynecologist to help you sort these things out. (P.S. I love the Netherlands - visited Amsterdam and Haarlem a few years ago. Lovely places!)

It would be good if there were a field of medicine called "urogynecology" in which these 2 very intermingled disciplines could be handled by one doctor.