Yeast infection???

Hi all...

Ok, so this is pretty "personal", but I'm not sure what's going on....

For the past 2 days I've been itching pretty badly "down there" -externally.  No odor, no abnormal discharge, etc... Maybe some bumps, but I'm not sure if that's what it normally looks like.

It was so bad that I woke up in the middle of the night and had trouble sleeping.

So I called my Dr.'s office- my last Pap (~2 weeks ago) was normal.. They said it "might" be the beginnings of a yeast infection, or the itching could just be caused by pg itself... hmmmm... I've never had a yeast infection so I don't know what they're like.

Any ideas?  Is there anything I can do in the meantime for the itch?

Thanks- and sorry so frank.

-Heather

[summerofedens]

Just read your postand I can tell you what i experienced with my yeast infection....It was so long ago but I will tell you I remember the itch and redness down there, and some disharge, but nothing too bad....it wasn't that bad, but I remember being sooooo itchy  that part of it was awful...
For now until you go to the doctor, keep a cold cloth down there, it will help.(hahasounds funny.)..and you can get a vaginal cream from the pharmacy,,,,i forget what its called monistat cream i think,,,not too sure, but you can do that until you see the doctor so you can sleep. umm i think its yogurt that is good during a yeast infection, well i think to prevent yeast infections soemhting ot do with the bacteria inn it......yours doesn't sound like it's that bad for now,,,although i would be concerned with the itching...i had a prescription with mine,,,,these little egg like things to put inside and they dissolve inside and after taking the third one,,,its all  over and done with.... you know now at the pharmacy they have alot of stuff you may be able to handle it on your own with over the counter cream,,,but if you get the discharge, i would make an appt...
hope i was some help,,,and get better soom!!

[ildike]

Heather, to me it sounds like yeast infection.  I had it once, the itchiness was unbearable, and it spread onto my inner thighs.(Also it was red.) Not too much discharge, but very uncomfortable.  You can soothe it with ice wrapped in towel and just keep it there for a few minutes.  Try not to screatch it, that makes it worse.  My yeast infection was cured by one single tablet, but I don't know what they give you when you're pregnant.

[Still_AndiJ]

Unfortunately while pf or breastfeeding you can't use diflucan, but you can use an OTC cream. I have only had one and it was while I was bf and it actually resolved on its own (not before a week of agony, I was't quite sure what it was or what I could take at that point)

As this may be your first, I would wait for the doctor to actually diagnose, just to make sure that is what it is. You don't want to take meds if they aren't needed : )

Good luck
Andrea

[Toonie]

I had one awhile ago and as I live out in the boonies and work from my home it is really hard to get in to a doctor.  So I went online and found that douching with water and vinegar is a home remedy.  I did it a couple times a day for a couple days and it was over.  Just a weak solution.  Mostly water, little vinegar.

Now if you are pregnant, I am not sure if you can do this so I would find that out first.  If you are breast feeding, I can't see how this could hurt anyone but the yeast, but again, check with the doctor first.  Hope that helps.

[nurse12hr]

No douching while pregnant unless ok'd by your doctor or midwife.

Monistat should be fine to try, but if this is your first yeast infection (or suspected one) it is recommended to go to the doc and see for sure.

[Chloe2003]

Hi Heather,
            OOOOoohhhhhh Yeah i know about getting those while pregnant.. There wasnt hardly any discharge but it itched like crazy.. I cried because i couldnt sleep.. So i called my fiance from work and made him go get me somethng because i was to uncomfy to go anywhere.. But i found that using the Vagisil Anti-Itch cream helped so so good.. You can also get Monostat anti itch cream but it only comes in the packages of the regualar monstat 3 day treatment and i dont think i would use that while pregnant..Also a few friends told me to try plain yogurt.. i tried it and it helped cool it down i suppose but the itch came back after awhile.. also i wouldnt shave down there for a few days to a few weeks if i were you.. doesnt help.. i found that out the hard way also.. but if you need anything else just let me know!! **Huggss

~*Chloe*~

[Still_AndiJ]

You can also get some yogurt and acidophilus milk. Both of those contain active cultures that will kill the yeast from the inside. Everything i have every read and learned said NO to douching while pg and a significant portion said NO even when not pg.

I would get into the doctor so they can actually give you an accurate dx and offer some suggestions as to what to use. Seems like everytime you turn around they find out smething isn't as safe as they thought, so it is better to double check.

In the meantime, eat the yogurt, drink the milk, and keep the cool cloth down there for some relief.

Andrea

[skd7474]

I just had a yeast infection that I could not get rid of with the OTC creams so the doctor gave me a diflucan to take along with the creams and it finally went away.  I am 34 weeks, I think that if the doctor gives you a diflucan then it is safe to take while you are pegnant.

[Still_AndiJ]

I would definitely try the OTC creams first. I pulled this from the Diflucan website (diflucan.com)

While the doses given in here are higher than the human dose, it still makes me nervous to see there is the potential for any of these effects on the baby. My guess is that it should only be used as a last resort : ) I really hope you can get rid of it soon, they are no fun. I have had only the one and I remember it well!

"Pregnancy
Teratogenic Effects. Pregnancy Category C: Fluconazole was administered orally to pregnant rabbits during organogenesis in two studies, at 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg and at 5, 25, and 75 mg/kg, respectively. Maternal weight gain was impaired at all dose levels, and abortions occurred at 75 mg/kg (approximately 20-60x the recommended human dose); no adverse fetal effects were detected. In several studies in which pregnant rats were treated orally with fluconazole during organogenesis, maternal weight gain was impaired and placental weights were increased at 25 mg/kg. There were no fetal effects at 5 or 10 mg/kg; increases in fetal anatomical variants (supernumerary ribs, renal pelvis dilation) and delays in ossification were observed at 25 and 50 mg/kg and higher doses. At doses ranging from 80 mg/kg (approximately 20-60x the recommended human dose) to 320 mg/kg embryolethality in rats was increased and fetal abnormalities included wavy ribs, cleft palate and abnormal cranio-facial ossification. These effects are consistent with the inhibition of estrogen synthesis in rats and may be a result of known effects of lowered estrogen on pregnancy, organogenesis and parturition.

There are no adequate and well controlled studies in pregnant women. There have been reports of multiple congenital abnormalities in infants whose mothers were being treated for 3 or more months with high dose (400-800 mg/day) fluconazole therapy for coccidioidomycosis (an unindicated use). The relationship between fluconazole use and these events is unclear. DIFLUCAN should be used in pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the possible risk to the fetus."

If attempts at creams, yogurt, acidopholis milk or time fail to treat the yeast infection, Diflucan may be the answer.

Andrea

[skd7474]

The only reason my doctor gave my Diflucan is because I had been through 3 treatment of monistat in 4 weeks.  Nothing else was helping.  I was eating yogert and drinking water like it was going out of style.  I always wear white underwear and right now with my clothes they are loose too.

[aishah]

AOA   I had a yeast infection with my last pg.  The best thing was to cool it down with a cold flannel and dont wat the yoghurt but put natural yoghurt 'down there'  as the bacteria in the yoghurt kills the yeast.  Sorry to be so crude but this is the best thing to do with the yoghurt.   Good luck

[skd7474]

If you have been scratching any the medicine will burn alitte.  Just reassure you hubby that he can not catch it from you and it is not sexually transmitted.

[Still_AndiJ]

I felt the same way!!! What freaked me out is it was about the same time my son had what we thought was a yeast infection from an anitbiotic (turns out it was actually an allergic reaction to the antibiotics and the diapers!!) but it freaked me out none the less. I have always be copious about handwashing before and after changing diapers and after using the restroom (comes from the nursing field, minimum 10 second scrum followed by Purel,lol)

Poor girl,I hope it clears up soon!

Andrea

[heather2003]

Thank you all...

The doc called back and said it probably is a yeast infection and to use Monistat-7 cream (only inserted halfway).

So, I did that... Is it normal for it (the Monistat) to burn?

I feel a little better this morning, but last night was still no fun at all...

.. I'm eating as much yogurt as I can handle too... I just get leary about medications- the doctor is just making an educated guess too...

By the way- Hubby's reaction: Ewwww! How'd you get that!?  (Goodness, I feel better!)  :)

-Heather

[Still_AndiJ]

"Inserting yogurt in the vagina, in effect, puts it at the front line of the yeast infection -- yogurt and its good ba cteria are now in the trenches warding off further expansion of yeast colonies. However, yogurt contains lactose (milk sugar), and yeast thrives on sugar. In reality, yogurt may be joining the ranks of the enemy!"

So basically not a good idea!

Stick to the OTC cream. You can add an acidophilus tablet or milk with acidophilus if you fear the cream itself isn't working on its own.

[Still_AndiJ]

And one other thing, it can be passed to your dh and he can keep passing it back to you. Take a look at this:


"Yes, this is something worth your attention. For one, as far as your girlfriend's health and well-being are affected, a yeast infection, while a relatively benign problem, can be uncomfortable. Yeast, most commonly of the candida albicans species, reside naturally in warm, moist areas, like the vagina. When conditions allow, for example, when the body's natural pH balance is upset, yeast can begin to grow profusely, thus causing a yeast infection.

It is possible to transfer yeast to a sexual partner. Until the yeast are gone, they can take up residence in your urethra and/or mouth and throat (in a healthy adult, oral yeast is very rare). You could then, in turn, pass the yeast back to your girlfriend. An oral yeast infection is called thrush. It typically causes creamy colored sore patches in the mouth. You may also have a sore throat. Genitally, a male yeast infection may cause itching, dry skin, and burning when you pee.

Yeast infections usually clear up with topical antifungal treatment. You may think that using condoms or dams for sex can prevent sharing a yeast infection with your partner. However, it's best to delay sex until after treatment has been completed. For one thing, antifungal medications have been known to destroy latex condoms, and, likely, polyurethane ones as well. Sex also makes the inflammation worse. Of course, you may feel too sore from your infection to have sex anyway."


Andrea

[heather2003]

Thanks for the info, all..

Whew... I feel sorry for women who get this alot! I always just thought it was a minor discomfort.

Last night when I used the Monistat, it burned so bad I wanted to cut off my bottom half- My body was doing involuntary kegels- seriously.

So I called my doctor and I have an appt. tomorrow to find out what this really is...

I'll post the results here too in case anyone has a similar problem.

Thank you again... The moral support is certainly healing. :)

-Heather

[heather2003]

Hi again all...

Well, I went to the doctor, and she found nothing- no yeast, no infections, nothing! She said that's probably why the Monistat burned so terribly.

I guess pregnancy itself can be a cause of itching... And she told me to try a milder soap.

Hmm....

Glad I went in.... Those gut feelings are pretty neat.

Thanks again,
-Heather

[Siren]

Another yeast infection question for the ladies:

I got pg in May and had sort of itching but mainly just irritation 'down there' - I went to see the doc to get a firm diagnosis, but his 'substitute' said they don't examine first - it sounds like a yeast infection.  I didn't take the cream b/c I was too worried if it would be bad for the pg.  I did the natural remedies i.e. eating tons of yogurt, taking lots of baths, ironing all my undies etc... Ended up I miscarried anyway... so that was all over and done with a couple of months ago.

So anyway, last month I had the same symptoms... not really much itching or discharge - mainly just redness and irritation every time I wiped... and sex was very uncomfortable.  Went to my regular doc and he told me it's likely yeast... he examined me and said it was red and irritated and to use Monistat 3 - ovules and cream... I did that and it burned a bit but I persevered.

This month it CAME BACK again!!  So now I'm thinking maybe it's not yeast, but all the docs seem to just use that as their standard answer... esp. if you haven't changed sexual partners etc... I seem to have a small amount of discharge but it's not itchy at all... doesn't seem to fit the 'yeast' parameters... but is uncomfortable nonetheless.  Sex is out of the question.

I have read that a 'recurrent' yeast problem means four times per year... it can't possibly be common to have this EVERY MONTH, can it???  I don't think I can live like this (and hubby certainly can't!)  It just seems ridiculous... I NEVER had a yeast infection until I got pregnant, and now it's been every month for 3 months following.

Has anyone else had this experience?  Do you have any ideas of another 'infection' it could possibly be??

Thank you in advance for your help!

[heather2003]

Hi there Siren..

I'm so sorry to hear about your troubles.

For me, all they had to do was take a sample (like a pap-smear), and they could tell for sure if there was an infection.

I've read that during pregnancy, pH changes and that can cause itching.....

But I would have them do a pap-smear and test for any STD's or yeast infections.  If they find nothing, ask about the pH.

Take care,
-Heather

[mb5]

hello
i am a 16 year old male
and i think i have a yeast infection..coudl someone tell me the signs of one?
thanks
matt

[mb5]

hello
i am a 16 year old male
and i think i have a yeast infection..coudl someone tell me the signs of one?
thanks
matt