Vag Yeast Infection - Interstitial Cystitis Network Support Forum

mela414 · 07-11-2005, 04:32 PM

After dealing with the flu and sinus infection I now have a yeast infection which is burning the heck out of me!
I've been taking acidophilus with the antibiiotcs but I got it anyway and now I am having terrible burning, lower back pain, low pelvic pain. I guess my bladder must be irritated from it because my urine is coming out so hot!
I remember my gyn telling me to soak with Epsom salt to soothe the irritation from the yeast. Has anyone ever done this? do you think it would be OK or does anyone have any other helpful ideas? I am so irritated (internal and external) that the Terazol (antiyeast cream) that I tried tonight is even burning. I've had bad experiences with burning and allergies to some of the over the counter things that I am afraid to try anything. Any ideas?
It just never ends!
thanks,

raynebow_jewell · 07-11-2005, 10:40 PM

I know this will sound strange, but I've had a doctor and a nurse tell me, douching with buttermilk will help with a yeast infection. I used to get them everytime I took antibiotics and finally asked the doc if there was anything "natural" I could do to prevent them. I've used buttermilk for years and it's been a lifesaver. Usually, when I start seeing the signs of one, I start using buttermilk (70% buttermilk/30% warm bottled water mix) one to two times a day and it's gone within 2-3 days. Hope this helps!

***Sarojini*** · 07-12-2005, 01:45 PM

You can also try to douche with a boric acid solution -- you can get boric acid at most drugstores, and Katrina on this site has the recipe for the solution. Also, if it's not too gross for you, you can put plain yogurt down there -- the acidophilus in the yogurt can help eliminate the yeast. If all else fails, you could try prescription Diflucan. This is a pill that eliminates yeast; usually one pill will eliminate it

kellyann · 07-12-2005, 01:50 PM

I was always told not to douche when an infection(yeast) was present. The reason being that it could enter into the uterus and tubes and cause even worse symptoms. Everyone is different though so whatever you're willing to try for relief. I have tried the yogurt though and it does relieve the pain and itching. Also if the cream is burning, I would definitely call your doc for Diflucan. Your symptoms will generally subside within 24 hours.
Good luck!
Kelly

kmmk · 07-12-2005, 03:28 PM

sometimes my urine feels like its hot when it comes out ..
what is that about?

kmmk · 07-12-2005, 03:29 PM

could it be the inflammation of the urethra causing the urine to feel hot?

mela414 · 07-12-2005, 03:32 PM

Thanks for all the suggestions. I once tried boric acid powder and put it in gelatin capsules. boy did I do a number on myself! It burned the heck out of me!
After going to a new GYN and telling him what I did he said that it was the worst thing to do in my situation because I had such bad atrophy (post-hysterctomy) from lack of estrogen. He said that my tissue was so thin that putting boric acid gave me a terrible acied burn! I had to heal myself first by going on estrogen. That was 9 months ago adn a lot of daily buring that I've had has subsided but I haven't ever dared to try the boric acid again. I haven't had a yeast infection either.
I tried Terazol last night and was able to tolerate it. .....unlike 9 months ago when everything burned me. This morning the pain was better but still has a way to go so I am going to use the little bit that is left in the tube and then get a refill. i found some diflucan in the medicine cabinet and if it doesn't get significantly better with the acidophilus and terazol I will give it a try.
Thanks for all your suggestions. I also tiried the yogurt thing and although it hlped it never really got rid of the infection and I always had to take something else.

***Katrina*** · 07-12-2005, 05:09 PM

Interesting...I will try to remember what your doc said there. (post hysterectomy myself...as are others here) Anyway, just want to let you know that many ICers have complained about reacting to yeast treating drug creams....you may want to avoid them if you can. Wanted to also add that yeast infections always make me burn...its usually my first sign...my IC flares and includes burning which isn't common for me. Hope you are feeling better!
Yeast treating ideas:
Boric Acid, Aci-gel (insert it at night, it maintains the ph of the vagina & yeast can't live when there's an acidic environment - or can use apple cider vinegar in water) and also washing externally with tea-tree oil diluted in water. \acidopholous tablets, a wet towel with s AZO yeast, http://www.ghtbiz.net/rescue/nocandida/lead.html, Any probotics, Flora-Q The Flora-Q is made by Kenwood Therapeutics. It contains Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus paracasel, and Streptococcus thermophilus -- these are all bacteria that normally live inside your digestive tract. What you do is take a capsule a day for a few days during antibiotic treatment and then a couple afterwards, and this replaces your normal flora, making it much less likely to to get yeast infections. http://www.ic-network.com/iclifestyles/july01.html list of ideas (Nystatin, Diflucan by prescription.)

totheloo · 07-12-2005, 07:31 PM

This page is the bomb when it comes to info on treating yeast infections:
http://www.msu.edu/user/eisthen/yeast/yourself.html

mela414 · 07-13-2005, 01:34 AM

My nurse practitioner told me tht the urine is hot because the bladder is so inflamed. she even went on to tell me that at times when she is doing an internal exam with the dr....she can actually feel the heat come out of ICers that are in a flare!

Katrina, as for my yeast infection....I too get burning as the first sign. Then it just keep escalating to pain in the entire pelvic area with swelling and then the pain goes to the lower back.
This morning I am actually feeling worse because I know that I am reacting to the Terazol cream! I am going to try soaking with Epsom salt to get the rest of that cream out and hopefully relieve some of the irritation and pain. That and an ultracet might help!! What a nightmare this turned into. I can't believe I gave in to the drs and took the antibiotics!

Thanks for all your suggestions. I really apprecitate it and am reading through all the info.

***ICNDonna*** · 07-13-2005, 02:55 AM

My best suggestion this morning is to telephone your doctor. Many of the self help techniques may help to prevent yeast infection, but once you have one, the quickest way to get rid of it is prescription medication.

I hope you feel better very soon.

Donna

mela414 · 07-14-2005, 04:45 AM

Thanks guys.
I wound up having such burning and pain that I decided to go to a new GYN.
being that I have not yet gotten a gyn since moving here I called my PCP and he sent me to a gyn who was able to take me yesterday. I actually saw the PA who was wonderful.
even after 2 days of the Terazol I still had some yeast...so that was causing some irritation but she said that the cream itself probably irritated me as I have become so sensitive to the various creams. she also said NOT to soak with the Epsom salt or to put any type of cream on there as it was inflaming it more. she advised plain A & D oinment so that my tissue would be protected when I urinated and wouldn't allow further irritation to the area. she also recommended ice to the area which I did last night and it helped.
this morning although the pain was less......the entire pelvic are is still sooooooo sore and swollen and tender.( the lowere back is better thought). she said it would take some time to calm down. She gave me an rx for diflucan.
I had left a mesage with the uro's office yesterday and no one called back. I guess they are too busy and this didn't seem like an emergency to them. I am looking for a uro that is closer to me as that office is 1 and half hours away.
I will think twice before I even dare to take an antibiotic for anything that could possibly be viral! what a nightmare this turned out to be!
thanks for all your help,

Cheries · 07-18-2005, 08:39 PM

I was told by a well known expert that many creams for yeast etc have propelyn glycol in them and this is what people are sensitive to. Geez, this could have helped me when I was putting cream after cream on forever!! I also found out, by reading the ingredients, that vagifem contains propelyn glycol. Once I stopped that i did a lot better. I am so afraid to put anything in there anymore!

mela414 · 07-19-2005, 01:15 AM

Hi Cheries,

Wow!...Vagifem doesn't seem to bother me. I have been on it since november and have not noticed a problem from it. I use that and Vivelle dot .0375 and finally got my sledge hammer migraines to go away. It has also helped the atrophy tremendously....with no irritation.
I have developed a sensitivity to most of the creams though. I didn't figure it out at first until the gyn put me on a new cream and it made me worse. I then stopped most creams about a year ago and did fine in that department. I haven had a yeast infection in about a year so I did not need to use the creams. When a yest infection crept up on me this time I thought I was safe because I no longer had the atrophy adn thought I would be able to tolerate it. Boy was I wrong. It is now finally calming down ( a week later)! I had an instillation last week and it helped somewhat as they used lidocaine.
Take care and thanks for your help,

emilyrose197377 · 07-19-2005, 01:23 AM

Hi Mela, sorry to hear about the yeasts infection they can really be irritatting. Have you tried diflucan it's a pill you can take for yeast infections your dr. can prescribe it. I hope you feel better soon.

Kim