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Bacterial Vaginosis......so Frustrated

I have been diagnosed with Bacterial Vaginosis I was put on Antibiotics and it worked for about a week....then came back!!! I went to the doctor again and they perscribed Metro gel this time.  Well I did everything I was supposed to but it didn't seem to get better.  I had some gel left so  I took a couple more doses hoping it would get better.  Well that was last week thursday (the last dose I took) My vagina was still dry and kinda itchy.  Also thursday I noticed that it was red and irritated on my labia's.  Well since then I got my period on friday and I dont know if it is the tampons or what but It is so sore now and burns.  Its such an annoyance and I dont know whats going on.  I am so frustrated with Bacterial vaginosis, and doctor visits. Has anyone else experienced the same thing. I am frustrated and kind of scared. I want to go back to being happy in my relationship, this takes up so much of my time with worrying.
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Avatar universal
I tried the doctor-prescribed medication to no avail. I tried the boric acid up my hoo-ha. The only thing that worked was D-Mannose, a natural supplement. I used it for 5 days straight, took 1 by mouth every 2 hours. It cleared up. Wanted to post this to help others who may not have had success using different routes. I also take it as directed once in the a.m. and once in the p.m. as a preventative measure.
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Avatar universal
I get this as a recurring issue when my body products contain propylene glycol, glycerine, and glyceryl stearate. Just in case, I don't use anything that uses any chemicals that have the word glycol in them. This seriously limits the products I can use, but I feel so much better. I've tried going back because I love all the heavily scented, million ingredient products, but the BV comes back every time, like clockwork. Find an organic grocery store, make a beeline for the body section and get yourself some nice hippy products. I used Dove Sensitive, but everything else is basic, natural stuff.
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1 Comments
For the three ingredients I listed, I meant to say and/or. They don't have to be in combination.
Avatar universal
Thanks for the suggestion; sounds like something I should try.
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5973125 tn?1378575863
Boric acid is where it's at! I've suffered from bv for 8 years and I haven't been using the acid long but it's worked far better then anything I've used!  I believe I Will always get bv bc I have unprotected sex and bc of periods. Pre *** is alkaline and your period made your vagina alkaline.  Yay for things that are part of life that screws up our vags! Not! Vags should be acidic to kill bacteria.  So I plan to make boric acid capsules to insert after periods and once a week. If I can't have find something that will cure it forever then well this is the next best thing!
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Avatar universal
hi! I have the same problem. I have bv every month after ovulation. Did you find out what you had? Thank you in advance.
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Avatar universal
Please go buy AZO yeast pills at your pharmacy or online. Take one everyday and never have another yeast infection. They also make a UTI prevention one. I had uncureable chronic yeast infections for years until I found this pill! It's under $8 a month. Walgreen has it but its cheaper like on Amazon in bulk 3 packs.
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Avatar universal
I sympathize. I have always had problems with yeast infections. I spent a lot of money on clotrimazole. It gave temporary relief. This time, I realized that it wasn't yeast. I took the test from the pharmacy (CVS) and found out it was a bacterial infection. I googled it to find out that doctors will give antibiotics, but the infection would just return in 2 wks in 40% of the cases. I didn't bother.

90% of Americans are iodine deficient. Try douching with iodine. Add kelp and foods with seaweed it to your diet. Aim for 12-13 grams per day. This will improve your entire immune health.
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Avatar universal
I heard about RePhresh (as well as being Dr. recommened). I think it's time I try it.  I am so sick and tired of going back and forth to the Dr. between a Bacterial Infection and Yeast Infection.  I hope this helps.
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Avatar universal
I went to see a naturapathic dr. who explained that BV happens when your vagina becomes more base, less acidic. When it's a first time thing there's loads of things that can set it off. You don't have to be 'dirty' etc. You can have a baby and throw off your PH. You can use a weird soap. You can use a different condom. Anyway if it's a one time occurrence than you have to reset. She gave me boric acid tablets and if that isn't enough we're going to try antibiotics.

For folks that have a re-occurring case they have something more systemic that's going on and may need supplements or something to figure out why there vagina isn't staying acidic.

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3725806 tn?1347977739
I have a bacterial vaginousis and only have two days left on antibiotics and it still itches and burn sometimes it feels like a third degree burn why is this I'm tired of it cause I've been on antibiotics for eight times this month for various reasons
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Avatar universal
Natural remedies are always best as your system is inclined to not reject them. I followed the common advice I saw on 10 different forums on this of hydrogen peroxide application and acidophilus (found in probiotic yogurts or pills). This is day 2 and am amazed the smell is totally gone. Still a bit of discharge but I read that's normal and will go away.

Recipe to fight and possibly terminate BV:

-Eat 2 capsules of acidophilus (make sure it has alot of strains and Esp. "L.  Casei"
- take about 1/3 cup of boiled water and cool it off (just put it in fridge for 15 mins) and add 1/3 cup hydrogen peroxide. Now what I did because I didn't have an applicator was I soaked a tampon in the solution and inserted that in my vagina. What this will dooms create an acidic environment for the good bacteria (the ones in your probiotic capsules meaning the acidophilus ) to grow the bad bacteria which is causing the smells don't survive in acidic environment they need alkaline environments.
- I also took one of the acidophilus capsules and opened it and after removing the tampon inserted the capsule just a little and contorted my body so the powder would go into my vaginal cavity. This will cause good bacteria growth in there. Remember these capsules have live bacteria so they multiply and don't be scared those bacteria already exist in you even in your digestive tract but it's just a matter if having enough of them. Some people just put plain yogurt up there but make sure it's probiotic yogurt. Not all yogurt has live cultures. But I think it's enough to eat the capsules and to apply a bit of the powder slight in the vaginal cavity

So I have only did all the above once and noticed a significant difference. I don't know how I got BV. I'm not sexually active and extremely clean. I even wash with water after I go to the washroom. Im very particular about smells and never had any smells down there so I instantly noticed the change and started researching. Ladies the above remedy worked for me and a lot of women so try it before harsh pharmaceuticals. BV is not very risky and can really happen to anyone do don't worry you are not alone.
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Avatar universal
Hello,
I just want to start by saying how sorry I am for everyone who has encountered this awful problem, but with a lot of prayer I believe I have found a solution.  Many women believe that this infection is being sexually transmitted which I am sure is true in some cases but I am not sexually active and had not been for the past 10 months and was still having the same issue as you all.  First I want to tell you ladies please, please stop stressing and worrying.  I truly believe that this was the start of the problem.  I know that this is easier said than done but once you have BV alot of times it is down hill from their.  I want to express how little faith I have in MD's! my issues with so called medical proffesionals began long before i had this problem but this was definetely the straw that  broke the camels back after many trips to the dr. office  and the dr began to indicate that they did not know the reason this BV was reoccuring instead of telling the truth that this is a large problem among women and helping me find a solution they sent me home with another prescription of the same mess that they had given me previously that did not work, in fact furthered the problem by messing my ph balance up a little more each time I took it.  Finally I gave up going to the dr and took the suggestions of some women who offered natural remedies.  I really wanted to trust God to lead me to the CURE so I prayed, I waited patiently and listened to what he had to say.  I first saw a very good suggestion of a natural Probiotic by Natures's Way found in Whole Foods called Primadophilus Reuteri.  Coincidentely, well not really as much coincidence as GOD, around the same time actually the same exact time I had to have my wisdom teeth out.  The oral surgeon prescribed me antibiotic I believe it was Amoxicillin that I had to take 2 for 10 days and Thank God it left never to return and that was in November.  Please ladies stress to your dr. if you insist on visiting him for this problem that everything that they have tried has not worked so I would pray that they would consider taking your suggestion and prescribe the Amoxicillin since it is your body and they are not helping anything.  I do not know if it was the Primadophilus Reuteri that cured the BV or the Amoxicillin or a comination of the two.  But it is defienetly worth trying.  I still take the Primadophilus Reuteri every now and then, but not regularly like I did in November. Please pass this information on!!! I believe this cure came to me to help others that had this same awful affliction in their life.  Good luck and God bless!
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Avatar universal
Antibiotics are known to only kill the problem for a couple of weeks and then it returns! Putting suppositories in your V may work, but do you really want to do that for the rest of your life? Supplements, herbal pills, boric acid, and tampons soaked in hydrogen peroxide may do the trick momentarily, but do they target the root cause? No!

Many diseases begin in the psyche. Bacterial vaginosis is a disease directly related to improper immune system function. Your immune system is directly connected to your psyche. Think about it: when people are mentally stressed, they get sick, zits, infections, tired, heartburn, ulcers, etc.

In some way or another, your immune system is being assaulted by stress whether it be from overuse of antibiotics OR (more likely) mental stress. I urge you ALL to look at your relationships with your spouses, boyfriends, close friends, and work and ask yourself: am I regularly stressed out by one or more of these relationships?

If you are, you must take the steps to reduce stress in that area of your life, because believe it or not it is adversely affecting your health. You should NEVER settle for a stress-filled environment. Why? Because if you get used to chronic low levels of stress, you are setting your body up for serious trouble.

I was in an a verbally abusive relationship with a controlling man for three years. The third year, I moved in with him. Every month, I would get a yeast infection. My body was in a state of constant stress. I could feel in my gut something was very wrong, but ignored it because I wanted so desperately for things to work between us. A few months later, my monthly yeast infection was replaced by something a lot more menacing and foul: Bacterial Vaginosis.

I looked back at my life and wondered why I had this awful infection. I had never had these problems before. Then, I began to make the connection. Ignoring my gut feeling for so long resulted in a nasty infection that has taken 3 months to go away.

But it has gone away. There is no more smell, itching, or irritation. Why? He has gone away too. Or, rather, I have left. I haven't spoken to him in 2 weeks. In that two weeks, I noticed a drastic reduction in stress, a gradual disappearance of my symptoms, and a rise in my general health and well being.

I have done some research and found that your "gut" is intimately intertwined with your immune system AND healthy vaginal flora. After ignoring my gut feelings for so long, it was no small wonder that I was sick and stressed. My gut needed rehabilitation for all that I put it through.

All the stress I had been through had caused toxicity in my system! The normal, healthy, good bacteria were completely overtaken by unhealthy, sick-making bacteria and my body was feeling the strain. I began taking Femdophilus bacterial supplements (orally) twice a day for several weeks. These supplements contain two types of bacteria that help to re-establish healthy gut flora and, by proxy, healthy vaginal flora. They were all I needed to put me back in good health.

So there you have it: Bacterial Vaginosis is a whole-body disease with its beginnings in the mind. NEVER, EVER ignore your gut feelings! The body knows so much more than the mind. It is not irrational: in fact, the mind will lead you down pathways of irrationality and sickness! Overemphasis of the mind's power has led our civilization to the brink of disaster- why would our personal lives unfold differently?

Trust your gut. Nourish it. Feed it good food. Take care of it and it will take care of you and your entire body. Don't let anybody tell you it is wrong, because it is never wrong. You and your mind may be wrong, but it isn't. Foster a healthy mind-gut connection. Let your gut speak first and your mind translate.

Get rid of the stress in your life! Stressful people, stressful situations, and stressful thoughts. If you can't escape a stressful environment, make it priority #1 every single day to create a mental and or physical space where you can unwind and de-stress.

You must do this: it is the key to your health and the elimination of BV!
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Avatar universal
And I also tried boric acid. It is rat poison. It didn't work.
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Avatar universal
Hi there, I've beaten BV and felt like I owe it to other women to come back and share how bc I remember how AWFUL it was. I tried it all girls, I'll go into that. But finally, it was RePhresh the vaginal gel that comes in tubes, not the douche. It won't cure you right away (like the 1st month of use). You have to get your vagina used to he Rephresh helping to balance you back out, and it WILL happen. You'll just go about your business one day and realize, Hey, I haven't been itching for a week! This is great! And the opened box of rephresh with 2 unused tubes will sit in your closet, kind of like a trophy! Read the directions to when you should insert regarding your vaginal cycle too. And also NOT washing any part of your vagina with ANY soap or anything, just using water from the shower to clean the external of your vagina as best you can (I still do this, I'm scared to put any soap near my vagina, I just carefully wash my butt with the soap). I know if you're used to washing your vagina daily with soap you'll think omg that's so unclean, but it actually gets clean with jus the water, that's all it needs. Think about it, the biology and history, women foreverago didn't have Dove. The vagina can actually take care of itself; the water just gets it a sufficient daily clean. Also, buying 100% cotton full underwear, not thongs, bc the string can move along from the anus to the vaginal area. Also, do drink unflavored, plain Kefir as often as you can. Very healthy bacteria in this. I battled BV for a year. It was awful. I think I was on antibiotics 3 or 4 times, metronidazole and clindamycin, oral and vaginal. Results were temporary, it always came back. Wish I could have a refund. And it ruined a vacation with my husband, I couldn't take alcohol with the antibiotics. Tried douching with water and vinger combined, temporary relief. Tried inserting a plain yogurt douche. Tried buying dairy tablets from overseas to insert vaginally which claimed those women became cured. Tried inserting acidophilis (sp?) tablets vaginally. Tried dipping a tampon in tea tree oil. Tried inserting a garlic clove vaginally. Tried dipping a tampon in Liquid silver. Spent $30 on an ebook promising a cure. Pretty much, I figured out you can't douche bc the liquid can grab the bad bacteria to further parts of the vagina you don't want affected. I think my BV started from someone's sperm having a complete opposite ph from my vagina, or when I was washing with soap, it getting to far internally in my vagina, the soap can kill the good bacteria upsetting the ph. Also, I think it's unproven, but speculated, that men can carry BV from another woman and pass it to you. GOOD LUCK! Hope you beat it.
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Avatar universal
I have been experiencing BV since I was 15. I'll never forget when I went to the doctor for this the very first time and the nurse walked in and said "what is that smell, smells like something has died in here". I was so embarrassed, but what could I do? I am over 40 now and I am still experiencing this problem and I have been back and forth to different doctors who just don't seem to have a clue about how to cure this, but they have no problem taking my money and sending me out with costly prescriptions. I was also told that me and my boyfriends sperm didn't match as well as when I got married I was told that me and my husbands sperm did not match. This is a lame excuse from doctors because if this was true, then ladies I guess we should just give up on sex because I guarantee u we'll be allergic to every man we come in sexual contact with. After my divorce, I went a year and half without sex and I have to admit I had no problems during that time but soon as I got to know someone and we had all STD testing done twice before we started being sexually active and boom, there it was after our second encounter the bad odor the signs of BV. I was determined that I was not going to give another doctor another penny, so I did some research and I used the boric acid somthing a doctor has never mentioned before and have not had any problems so far but I will continue to research this to see if there is anything else and if I find anything I will be glad to share it. I'm tired of avoiding sex with my partner because of this, ladies we got to make a stand together and help each other find cures for this and stop letting these doctors get rich off our misfortune of BV problems.
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Avatar universal
I have been battling BV since the birth of my last son.  I had already completed two courses of metronidazole and it still came back.  My doctor's nurse recommended some homeopathic remedies, including boric acid, which I had never heard of.  I found a website, natren.com, and I ordered the Gy-Na-Tren, which is a 14 day treatment, it's 14 days of oral L. acidophilus and 14 days of vaginal capsules containing boric acid and L. acidophilus.  They ship it on dry ice to keep it could.  I swear, after the first night I noticed a difference immediately!  It recommends if the vaginal pH is off, to put the vaginal capsule in warm water first, and then insert it, so I definitely did that.  I only took it for seven days and I'm saving the other seven days as a backup, but so far I have had no problems since.  I just wanted to pass this along to everyone and I only wish my doctor's nurse would have recommended this earlier!  Good luck to all!
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Avatar universal
This is my second time with BV. The first time I went to the doctor I was just told that there was some imbalance between my Ph, and antibiotics would cure it. It did for a moment. This time my BV came right after I went off my period. However, I switched my soap to Dove with some energizing beads, and that makes me a little sore sometimes. After I have sex I have to get up and put cream on. One time after I had sex I examined myself in the mirror and found swollen red outer parts. I called my doctor and asked if they could put some medication into my pharmacy because the BV came back. This time I was prescribed the Gel. I did not use it yet. I tell my boyfriend everything about this so he wont smell it and it catch him off guard, so I warn him first. I even tasted myself before, and it was sour. I asked my boyfriend did I taste sour, but he said no. I would like to know what vagina he's tasting because mines taste sour. I have a question though, can my boyfriend get BV in his mouth?
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Avatar universal
I feel all you females pain because me myself have also been struggling with this issue for about a year now and just want some relief!lol I hate that all the doctor's do is keep giving the metro pills or metro gel because it just keeps coming back or maybe it just never has gone away!  mollylynn
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Avatar universal
I'm glad I'm not alone. I began thinking the worst as I'm going on 4 months with BV. I feel better after the last antibiotic (Metrodizanole) that I took but the test still shows gardenella. I"m in fear that I will get symptoms again. Now I have anal itching as someone else on here mentioned that they also have. I dont know if its related to the BV or not. If I've gotten all STD tests done after 3 months of sex is it safe to say that I am ok? I am in fear that something may show up later. Help pls!
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Avatar universal
I am 23 yrs old and up until 7 months ago i had never had a bv/yeast infection. I started dating my bf 7 months ago (after getting a divorce and being with just him) and have just had a problem ever since!! I feel so hopeless. I have been to the doctor every month and they keep treating me for bv and yeast infections. The treatment masks the symptoms for a few day but it always comes back. I just always have a heavy discharge, lower abdominal pain and pain during sex. Luckily my bf is understanding but i want things to go back to normal!! My sex life has taken a toll, i always expect sex to be uncomfortable/painful now. Im starting to worry i cant have kids because we have been having unprotected sex with no result..One doctor said my bf and i just don't mix.  But what kind of answer is that? That doesn't help me out as to how to prevent these infections. Im not breaking up with my boyfriend so how can we fix this?  How can we have a baby if his semen is the cause for all my troubles?? I just feel like doctors just want to push you out of their office and not really help you out. It is really nice to know that i am not the only one with an ongoing problem though. My boyfriend is out to sea for 6 months so hopefully in this time of no sex i can get back to normal. Im so sick of discharge and abdominal pain!!! Why can't i just go back to how i was before?? I feel like this is hows its going to be for the rest of my life!!
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Avatar universal
I know you made your comment like a year ago, but I have the same problem you have or had. I have a yeast infection/bacterial infection at the same time. Nothing works. I'm angry that my gyno prescribed Clindesse because I think it made it worse. I had a horrible allergic reaction to it and had to wash it out. I have read that all the medications people are given don't REALLY prevent it for more than a short period of time. I want it gone. I'm so frustrated. I'm going to try using hydrogen peroxide/water like "IJustWantToHelp" suggested. I have been taking acidophilus religiously.... I don't know... This has been going on for three weeks and I feel very discouraged to read about people who deal with this for years and never fully find a cure. I'm 22 years old and I feel like I'm never going to get better.
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Avatar universal
for some reason my post has been censored....where you see the asterisks it says d-o-u-c-h-e   (sorry, had to write it like that or it would be blocked out again)

Best Wishes Everyone!!!!!  I hope you try this remedy as it is Amazing
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Avatar universal
Bacterial Vaginitis/Vaginosis

  BEST and FASTEST method of healing Bacterial Vaginosis is to ****** with 1/2 Hydrogen Peroxide and 1/2 water.  If condition is severe, ****** a few times per day for 2 to 3 days...infection should subside.  It is good to make it a habit to ****** Hydrogen Peroxide/Water once every week or week 1/2 once healed in order to continue optimal health and cleanliness.  Also, it is very good to make it a habit to take Folic Acid and Lactobacillus Acidophilus.  These vitamin supplements are Very easy to find (Rite Aide/Walgreens/CVS/Walmart) and Very inexpensive.

  When I suffered with this condition for about 1 year & 1/2...I was so depressed as none of the natural home remedies seemed to work.  I found this method that I have written above to be the Fastest, Lasting and Most Effective cure without a doubt!  It's a Miracle cure.  We underestimate the extensive healing properties of something so simple and extremely accessible as Hydrogen Peroxide...and it is Completely safe!


Your days of BV are Gone!!
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