Help!!!! Suffering with reoccurring Bacterial Vaginosis for almost two years!

Women's health
1

Really hoping someone can help me get rid of this horrible thing. I don't even know how many times I've had a mental breakdown and cried about this. 

I have wet discharge non stop and the stench can be so bad sometimes.

I've literally tried EVERYTHING. I've been to the gynecologist TWICE. I've took Flagyl/Metro. probably well over 20 times. It works for the time being and then it comes right back. I've stopped wearing thongs and wear cotton underwears or even sometimes I don't. I avoid tampons as much as I can. I also thought at one point that alcohol and coffee was making it more intense so I quit that for a month. I've even stopped intercourse for a while and that still didn't make a difference. 

I've tried probiotics (RePhresh & lactobacillus acidophilus probiotic's) I've tried tea tree oil baths, coconut tampons, apple cider, yogurt, tons of water, etc. 

Literally I've done everything that I've been reading on forums of other girls who were successful doing certain things but nothing is working for me.

I actually just started the RePhresh probiotics and I honestly feel like the smell is getting stronger, does anyone know if you should avoid sex during these probiotics? 

I'm so frustrated, I feel like it's bringing my self confidence and although my boyfriend is super supportive , I still feel like crap that I have to deal with it and it's not going away.

If you have any other advice or other tricks that may work, please please let me know!!

THANK YOU XO

2

Try vitamin d and Culturelle brand probiotic it has lactobacillus GG. Also only rinse your vagina with water, dont put anything else on it.  Give the probiotics time to work. And please dont cry 🤗. Big hug!

3

Seems you are lacking vitamins. (Reoccurring) try healing. I don't think you giving enough time for your body to heal. I tried everything too so I know how frustrating it is. Your going to have to figure your body out. For one your vag will heal itself stop putting things in there. Take your medicine flagyl, soak in vinegar baths, wear loose clothing, try a multivitamin, and drink plenty water, no sex, no perfume soap atleast 2weeks. Follow these instructions consistently. Remember the plenty of water, cranberry juice try pee it out. Everyday you should be feeling better. After its gone remember to pee right after sex and buy wipes if necessary. That bv grows so fast. Good luck

4

Have you been tested for any of these bacteria overgrowth that present like BV? My GYN tested me and put me on Doxycycline and I have not had any symptoms since.

There are about 200 types of mycoplasma bacteria, but most of them are harmless. The ones you may have to worry about are:

Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Mycoplasma genitalium

Mycoplasma hominis

**Ureaplasma urealyticum**

Ureaplasma parvum

Mycoplasma pneumonia

If you're told you have a mycoplasma infection, you'll need to dig a little deeper and find out what type you've got. There are five major kinds, and each one can affect you in a different way.

All mycoplasma infections have one thing in common, though. They're caused by tiny living things called bacteria.

Unlike other bacteria, the ones that lead to mycoplasma infections don't have cell walls. That's important because many antibiotics kill bacteria by weakening those walls. Since mycoplasma bacteria don't have them, some antibiotics, like penicillin, won't work against them.

There are about 200 types of mycoplasma bacteria, but most of them are harmless. The ones you may have to worry about are:

Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Mycoplasma genitalium

Mycoplasma hominis

Ureaplasma urealyticum

Ureaplasma parvum

Mycoplasma pneumoniae

This type causes lung infections. About a third of people who get infected come down with a mild form of pneumonia called "walking pneumonia." Most people, especially children, will get "tracheobronchitis," a fancy name for a chest cold.

5

So you think I should give flagyl another try? Yeah I think I don't give my body enough time to heal, right after the medicine I wait a couple of days and go back to sex. I just feel like theres been a time where I did take the medicine and I didn't have sex at all and it still was coming back but I guess I should try all the other things you mentioned as well

Thank you!

6

Hey! Yesss I've been tested several times, most of the time they say it's hardly even present but it's always just BV. I was even so concerned I asked to get an ultrasound done and they said everything looked perfect.

It's so frustrating when the doctors keep telling you're okay but you really aren't.

7

first off you need to stop antobiotics all tofether, they do nothing but destroy all the good bacteria and that is the root of the issue to begin with. Not everyones BV is the same, it could be caused by a hormone imbalance, thyroid issue, it could even come down to the body soap you're using so its up to you to research and figure out whats causing yours. But I had the same issues, for months I would cry every night researching for answers and tried all of the above as well with no relief (except the 3 day relief with the rephresh gel but it came right back the fourth day) and what helped me was soaking a tampon in diluted non-iodized salt water (very diluted you want to he careful because this wasnt recommended by a medical professional) and leaving it in for a few hours at a time, i did this every other day for about a week and on the off days I would soak a tampon in coconut oil and leave it in for a few hours (this helped a lot with the irritation that came with my BV and also the smell). I also started taking folic acid and high quality probiotics everyday. I found the more expensive probiotics to be more effective, (usually around 40+ dollars and need to be refrigerated no $10 acidophillus from walmart). You NEED probiotics to repopulate all of the good bacteria that those nonstop rounds of antibiotics destroyed. You may not notice immediate changes from the probiotics but after months they really do make a difference. I'm so sorry that you're going through this I can honestly say it was one of the hardest times of my life but dont give up. Feel free to message me if you have any questions or would like more tips!

8

Hey sweetie, I am so sorry you're going through this. I've suffered for 7 long years. I COMPLETELY understand where you're coming from, and your pain. I also tried every little thing possible to help. Nothing was working for me that was working for other girls. Than I came across a product called balance complex on amazon. It has thousands of wonderful reviews from women with chronic bv. It also had a great review from me! This product has kept my symptoms away for almost two years. It did take awhile for it to work. For some women it worked after three days others it took awhile like myself. All of our bodies are different, what works for some doesn't work for others you just have to find what works for you body. I highly recccomend this product for you at least try it out! I take two pills everyday, this is not a cure for bv but it keeps everything in balance while you're taking the pills. I know some women only take them few times a week because it is pricey. One thing that has really helped me was working out. When I don't work out while on these i notice my discharge is more excessive. Last thing I want to point out to you. I highly reccomend for you to read all of the news about bv, this is pretty exciting because they are focusing many drug companies and doing test trying to figure out a cure for chronic sufferers like us. By 2023 they are hoping to have found a once and for all cure.

9

I came across it on a website and which also had an eBook that I purchased. Here is the instructions:

Instructions for using gentian violet vaginally

Wash your hands

Apply Vaseline to your vulva, outside only, if you are using to protect against dying your vulva

Put a pad or panty liner into your underwear, ready for when you are finished

Put on the gloves

Add one tablespoon of gentian violet (1 per cent mix) to the plastic container

Add one tablespoon of water, to dilute by half to make a 0.5 per cent mix – one part water, one part gentian violet makes a 0.5 per cent mix

Dilute further as you wish

If using a douche, to maximise surface area and time, try to do it lying down, but expect mess; otherwise insert douche as high as you can and slowly squeeze contents while sitting on the toilet – wear gloves!

For the tampon method, after unwrapping, put the tip of the tampon inside its applicator into the gentian violet mixture, letting the tampon soak up to three-quarters of the way up the length

Insert the tampon as you normally would

Remove tampon after 3-4 hours

If you have irritation, remove immediately – and wait a day, then dilute your mixture more, and if that doesn’t work, abandon treatment and look to the next treatments

10

Use gentian violet soaked in a tampon. Insert and leave 3-4 hours or over night for 12 days in a row. Follow by douching with problotics and taking them orally during treatment and after. I tried boric acid, vitamin c, hydrogen peroxide, douching with probiotics, steaming my vagina, vagina "detoxes" and infinite amounts of antibiotics. Nothing breaks the biofilm like gentian violet. I'm only on this forum now to help other women. Msg me if you have any wuestions

11

Hey!!! Oh wow, I'm so happy that you got rid of it!! I'll def look into that and probably try it out, so desperate at this point.

Do you take anything else other than the Balance Complex? And do you take both pills together?

Thank you so much babe!!! XO

12

I know the feeling. I've been suffering with BV and yeast infections for over 10 years.

have you tried changing your laundry detergent? recently, I bought one that has 0% perfumes or dyes. I think it might be making a bit of difference as the odour isnt as strong. I also don't wear underwear as I found it just made things worse.

I have never tried Rephresh, but I have used Femdophilus and Reuteri. both work temporarily when inserted.

at the moment, I'm trying to drink as much water as possible, I'm taking folic acid, reuteri probiotics, and vitamin D3 daily. Also using the unscented detergent. The smell isn't gone but its significantly reduced.

I also stopped washing with soap, I just use plain water. Anything else makes it worse. It's hard to not feel dirty at first but you get used to it.

hope this helps

13

Wow thank you for all this information!!

Isn't it bad to insert stuff inside? I keep getting mix answers as to put stuff up diluting it with something or not to put anything up there at all...

14

You shouldn't douche or insert anything in your vagina--when its healthy. The worry is you can disturb the good bacteria. But in this case its already disturbed. Dont just put anything in there, that's for sure. If youre really concerned you can check with a doctor.

15

hi, i feel you girl. you need boric acid suppositories 600 mil for 21 days straight- start right after your period ends- probably sex is a bad idea at this time- when you take the probiotics you have to take them for a loooong time for them to start working- like every day for a few months- increase your vitamen d and zinc- cut down on sugar in your diet. that represh stuff doesnt work. The only things that have helped me are what I've listed here. don't be scared of the boric acid- just dont ingest it- some ladies have a lil reaction it but i didnt and a lot of women don't and it restores the pH of your vagina the smell WILL go away. you got to stay on top of it- don't let this get you too down A TON of women have it- you might feel gross-but stay positive- stress makes it worse I think.

16

Sorry you are dealing with this. I know what you are going thru. First of all sex and inserting things will only reinfect you if your not totally healed. After you take all ur meds go get check to see if its gone. You have to be patient. Healing and getting to know your body takes time. Drink plenty of water. No tight clothes, your vag need air. Probiotics are good. I took culturelle, my body loves it. No scented soaps, plain water and thoroughly wash with water. You are irritating your vag probably so its harder to heal. Take care

17

i take culturelle too and noticed a difference. when do you take yours and how many times a day. how long did it take to start working for you? did you refrigerate it after opening the box?

18

hey! I too struggled with this for almost two years. I tried everything!!!!! same story as yours. I finally figured out that the trigger was sugar. I could have no added sugar AT ALL or i would get an infection. Natural fruit sugars were fine. But added white sugar was my trigger. I Thought it was strange that all of a sudden I now couldn't have sugar. I was also feeling very tired and depressed. I had my DR draw a bunch of labs. Turned out my VIT D was low. A low VIT D LEVEL can cause sugar intolerance and a supressed immune system. After taking VIT D for 3 months, I'm totally back to normal!!!! It's like heaven!!!! Life was so terrible for so long. I hope this helps. PLEASE have your dr check your levels. VIT D can cause a lot of issues if you get too much. So you definitely need to have it checked. GOOD LUCK!!!!

19

hello. did you soak the salt tampon with the applicator or take it out?