Can't get rid of this damn yeast!!!!

[mela414]

OK....here I go again! This is just crazy. I had a yeast infection about 2 weeks ago and diflucan did not help it. I had taken it 3 times in 1 week. I finally got in to see the gyn who put me on Nystatin Vag Tablets as I cannot take any of the creams. They make me worse by irritating me and causing more of a burn!
I did the vag tablets for one weeks as the dr prescribed and I began to feel better. I then had my cysto/hydro. So I guess it's been about 6 days without using a nystatin vag tab. I felt the pain creep back but at first I thought it was still pain from the hydro. The pain got worse and I felt some burning. I went to check and there was discharge! I was supposed to wait a week before starting on Diflucan weekly as a preventive measure but in light of the pain and how it really didn't help me 2 weeks ago I went immediately back to the Nystatin Vag tabs and will continue for another week. (the dr had said I might have to do the tabs for 2 weeks....especially if it came back). I am certain this is yeast. It's the same symptoms as 2 weeks ago!
This is crazy! I keep getting it!....sometimes it stays away for a while and at other times it comes back with such a vengeance that it is so difficult to get it to subside. Last year it took me about 3 months to get it into remission.
The dr said that I might be one of those people that has to always be on something to keep it at bay. I've tried probiotics and last week I had plain yogurt every day......neither helped as it is back. I don't eat breads, pasta, potatoes or cakes. I do have a little bit of sugar in my decaf espresso....but am NOT a candy freak! so what the heck is going on with me? OK...back to basics...probiotics, yogurt.....easy on the sugars and starches( which is the norm for me). What else can I do? I am afraid to try any of the antifungal teas like pau d'arco....will it irritate my IC bladder?
Oh.... I can try adding the silverbiotics back in. I slacked off since the hydro. Just thinking out loud here. anyone else have problems ridding themselves of this monster?????

[MD79]

Wow, I'm sorry for all you've been through! It seems you've done almost everything in your power to keep these darn things at bay! It really does get very frustrating. I'm currently on 1 Diflucan a week as well. I just wanted to let you know what my Dr. said re: sugar, yogurt...it's all a myth! He said eating dessert/sugar should not affect a single thing. (nor does yogurt make anything better) You should perhaps go back to your Dr. for some additional treatment? I know...all of this is just so tough.

Hang in there!
MD

[ICNDonna]

I know more than one person who finds that sugar is a huge problem with yeast.

Are you taking tub baths? If so, it would be a good idea to clean your tub with something like clorine bleach (be sure to rinse it thoroughly) to be certain you aren't reinfecting yourself every time you get in the tub. And if you're wearing cotton underpants, you might also try putting a tiny bit of clorox in when you wash them.

I read somewhere in one of the natural remedy books that plain yogurt can be soothing if put directly on the irritated area.

Hope you get rid of this one very soon.

Donna

[vm]

I used to battle yeast a lot, too. One other thing you might try is going without underwear as often as you can. Yeast like warm, moist places and undies tend to help create that kind of environment. You also might try blow drying that area when you get out of the shower.

[MD79]

I forgot to mention the blowdryer...obviously put it on cool setting. Also, don't use harsh soaps and/or detergents. The clorox in the undies is a good idea...but very little! Avoid using fabric softener on your undies as well.

Get well soon!

[Sarojini]

I fight frequent yeast too... I do all of the things everyone suggested above and they really do help. Good luck trying them and I hope you feel better soon. I know how much it stinks to have a yeast infection!!!!!!!

[Janie Miranda]

If you put clorax in with your undies I would triple rinse them afterwards. If you have any vulvar pain with your IC the tiniest bit of clorax residue will HURT (from personal experience! :-)

[mela414]

Thanks for all the advise. As for the chlorox...I use it in my white wash but make sure that my clothes rinse well. I do NOT use it in the tub ( i rinse it really well after a tub scrubbing!) and I rarely ever take a bath because bath water causes me to flare! I am very sensitive to the chlorine and other added minerals which is why I am going to get a filter.
I woke with horrible pelvic pain but I think it is getting a litte better as the day goes on and the Nystatin tabs work their magic. I also started acidophilus caps last night along with plain yogurt today. What else....oh .....silverbiotics and am waiting for the MSM that I ordered form Jacob Labs. I'll try the diflucan again at the end of this week and start the weekly treatment....(if I can tolerate the side effects) So, with all of these things I am hoping that it gets under control fast!
I am realizing more and more that Candida is playing a big part in my pelvic pain scenario! Any thoughts on the Pau D'arco tea? do you think it's IC friendly? I am afraid to try it!
thanks again,
mel

[Katrina]

You know I never noticed any flare from a bath when my IC was really bad and we lived in the old house....since the move my IC is improved but I can't handle baths...maybe it is the water. (I always clean the bathtub before a bath)

Anyway, hope you feel better soon. Let us know if you need more help. One thing I didn't see mentioned in this thread that I find helpful is AZO Yeast....Good luck!

[mela414]

I noticed that when I lived in Florida I was able to take a bath with nothing in it and had no problem. It was actually soothing at the end of a day. If I put something in it I was in trouble.....(I learned the hard way)
Since moving back to NJ......I noticed that the bath water even smells more chlorinated when I run it. Each time I've attmepted a bath it causes the worst flare. I started using baking soda in the water and I make sure I rinse the tub really well to make sure all the cleaning stuff is out. Then....I only limit my bath to 5-6 minutes! Anything longer.....I am in pain and it will last for days! It's really not worth it and the 5 minutes is really a tease so...I just don't do baths any longer! I'm convinced it's the water as I had the same problem when I lived in this area 3-4 years ago and was first diagnosed with IC.

[Katrina]

I am confinced it is the water since I always have to pee even after a shower....not sure what I can do about it. When we first moved here we had the water tested and it was high in nitrates....but otherwise good. I have learned that nitrates get worse with wormth but as of yet don't know if that would effect my IC?? Crazzy?!?!? The struggles we live with

[mela414]

I'm sure the nitrates are affecting you. IC bladders are so sensitive! But....I don't think you can get the nitrates out of the bath water.
I just contracted a water filtering company to come and install a reverse osmosis in my kitchen so I will be drinking pure filtered clean water. I am also having them install a charcoal filtering system in my laundry room for all the other tap water in the house. It will remove all the chlorine out of my water but won't be able to eliminate the other minerals. The only way they can do that is with this reverse osmosis technique and it would be too exspensive and take too long as it only filters a little bit of drinking water at a time!
Well..at least I won't have to buy Fiji water anymore.....and maybe I'll even be able to take a bath. I hope that I am not reacting to any of the other minerals in the bath water. Either way....the chlorine had to come out because my dr did some allergy testing and guess what?????...... I'm allergic to PCP which is a type of chlorine! The test I had done actually recomending getting the water filtered! and to only drink pure filtered water.....so.....at least I am going in the right direction with water now!
I would try to keep my showers short if I were you...so that you do't further irritate yourself. As for taking a bath....you might want to try what I do....add some bicarb to the water and take a short 5 minute bath and see how you handle it. If it goes OK...then add a minute each time. I know the thought is scary and you really can't relax..l.but at least it will give you a starting to point.

[Katrina]

Oh....well thank goodness you found out you are allergic to PCP and something is being done to help you...that may end up being a huge improvement for you. Let us know how it goes!

[mela414]

Thanks Katrina,
I will keep you posted. Hope you are doing better too!