BV - at the end of my tether

Women's health
1

I've been suffering with BV and yeast infections since I was about 14/15. I am now almost 28 but suffer with BV far more. I would say the longest I have had without any symptoms is around a month. I have tried anti biotics (orally and vaginally) both work but only temporarily. I think it is important to mention that whenever I have been tested for BV it has come back negative. I have never ever tested positive for anything. Yet, when given anti biotics the symptoms clear up. My symptoms are -

Watery discharge with a fishy smell (although sometimes smells like urine)

Occasional itching

Pain during sex

General inflammation/redness

Balance activ gel works while I use it but symptoms return as soon as I stop. Probiotics also work when Inserted (femdophilus and reuteri) but again, symptoms return within a day or two if I stop. When I first started using them, I could go longer without symptoms. I have also tried:

Tampon soaked in yogurt (did nothing)

Apple cider vinegar (some relief)

Salt baths

Folic acid (didnt try for long)

It feels like whatever I do, the symptoms return. I hate it. I am constantly paranoid about the smell, especially at work. I don't douche, I stopped wearing underwear, I stopped using soap and aqueous cream to wash (just water), I stopped shaving and trim instead. I shower twice a day. I feel like I have to because if I don't then ill stink. I just bought laundry detergent with no perfumes or dyes. I really hope this makes a difference. I don't go to the doctor anymore unless I am desperate. They tend to want to take swabs, and I know that it will show as "normal".

Things that trigger it are -

My period (even though I rarely get them now due to taking the pill)

Sex

Shampoo suds from the shower running down

And that mysterious thing we are all doing that triggers it and have no idea what.

I also suffer with Batholins cysts. Normally, when Im being treated for this, the bv clears up. (Its not the same anti biotic they give for bv)

Has anyone ever beaten it?

2

I've also been suffering with BV and yeast infections for a year. I got it exactly one year ago ever since I was sexually active with this guy (who i found out was sleeping with lots of girls before and maybe even when I was with him) and after I took birth control pills.

I cut things off with him, still BV.

I stopped birth control pills, BV.

Antibiotics, antiseptics, BV.

Vitamin D, Vitamin C, Folic Acid, Apple Cider Vinegar, Probiotics, still BV.

And this would happen every month.

I just got done with 12 days of fluomizine, 7 days of clindamycin, 10 days of levofloxacin, and one fluconazole for the yeast infection.

After I took the last pill, I drank 3 glasses of water and chlorophyll and 3 capsules of 20billion multi strain probiotics. After that, I drink nothing but chlorophyll mixed with water. I read somewhere a few people got cured because of this.

I'm going back to the doctor tomorrow. Hopefully it clears up or gives me relief for months cause I am so sick of spending so much money on this bullsht. On top of that, I'm still in college and have to pay for all the doctor visit and treatments by myself.

Read up on BV biofilms. BV won't go away because of that. 

3

I deal with BV frequently. For several months, I’ve had a very strong ammonia smell.  I don’t like taking antibiotics because they cause me to get yeast infections.  Anyway, last week, I started drinking a green smoothie every morning: spirulina powder, wheatgrass powder, matcha powder, spinach, chia seeds, banana, fruit, honey.  I also started oil pulling with coconut oil.  I don’t know if there is a correlation, but a couple days ago I noticed no more ammonia smell. I’m still leery that it’ll come back but seriously, this is the first break I’ve had in months.  Wouldn’t hurt to try the smoothie. It’s good for ya.  :-) 

4

I feel your pain.

Have you tried probiotics insterted vaginally? It seems to be the only thing that gives me relief other than antibiotics. Has to be either Femdophilus or Reuteri though. I tried regular ones and they dont work.

The laundry detergent with no perfumes/dyes seems to have helped a little bit. I've also started taking folic acid again as I didn't try this properly last time. Also taking vitamin D3, and probiotics orally. I've decided to try and go as long as I can without using one internally because it's clearly not curing it. At the moment, I have slight discharge and a bit of smell but its reduced compared to what it was. I just hate having to go to work and worrying about the smell. 😕

5

Hello Amelia

I have had BV with varying degrees of success at different times.

I have used two different shampoos at the same time in the shower. I stopped using one of them in the shower as well as conditioner and the BV went away. Another time I used hydrogen paroxide for inside and the BV went away. If you drink coffee or tea try a lot less. Hope this helps. Might be of help not to use shampoo in the shower.

6

thanks for the advice!

glad it’s working for you. At the moment, my symptoms are not bad. I’m hoping once the probiotics, vitamin D and folic acid build up in my body that it’ll go away completely.

7

Hi,

did you stop using shampoo completely? or did you just start washing your hair separately? my shower is over the bath tub, so I could just lean over the bath.

8

I cut out using one of the two shampoos still using the first shampoo in the shower which was the apple and aloe. I still use this shampoo in the shower. I use the second shampoo and conditioner over the sink. They may alter the PH balance otherwise as I see things and make you feel ill.

9

not beat it- just manage it- gotta be on it with the probiotics (like everyday for months on it- your going to need boric acid suppositories for 21 days start right after your period they need to be 600 mil- dont ingest them they go you know where at nighttime - try to cut the majority of sugar out of your diet- make sure your getting plenty of vitamin D and zinc- some ladies are talking about folic acid and Iron take supplements for all of it- why not?

10

I struggled with it for two years. tried everything as you did. nothing cured it. finally figured out the trigger was added white sugar. i could have NONE AT ALL. fruit sugars were fine. my dr told me to treat sugar as an allergy. she didnt know why my body starting doing this, but it did, so stop eating sugar. talked her into drawing some labs. bc to me it just didnt make sense. my vitamin d was low. i started taking vit d supplements. within 3 months i was totally back to normal!!! it cured me. vit d deficiency can cause sugar intolerance and decreased immunity. I really hope this helps you. but please have it checked. getting too much vitamin d can be harmful. you need to know if you are deficient or not.

11

I’m vitamin D deficient too, asked my gynecologist and she said oh 23.3 is okay you don’t have to take supplements lmao. I tried taking 10,000iU for 2 months, didn’t do anything to me. i guess different things work for different people.