Joined: 10 Feb 2004 Posts: 10 Location: burlingame, CA
Bacterial Vaginosis Posted: 02-11-04 00:05am
Oh my god. I do not know what to do. I
have had this horrible disease for several
months now, having tried 3 very expensive
prescriptions, all of which gave me
debilitating migraines. only one of those
times was I able to last for the entire
period that I was supposed to take the
drug- the infection did go away but just
came right back for some reason. I think
that since I have had bv for so long I
need to take something really strong for a
long period of time in order to get rid of
it.
im going to call my doctor tomorrow to see
if there is anything else, but I am
apprehensive as I seem to get this
reaction from everything, regardless of
whether or not it is a documented side
effect. And I do not want to waste
another $50-$100. Besides, im pretty sure
that there is no other prescription drug
for bv out there. Does anyone know of any
good natural treatments? I tried the
acidopholous, the tea tree suppositories,
the douching with betodine....None of it
worked. I think they are all much too
weak to help me. I just did a little
research and came up with something called
"enzara" that claims to have 100% success
rate, but it's $75 a bottle. They offer a
money back guarantee, but I don't know.
i'll have to keep looking. If anyone can
help me out, I would greatly appreciate
it.
Thanks!
-jaqui
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melibell
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 08 Feb 2004 Posts: 8
Re Posted: 02-11-04 01:09am
I had this once and they gave me a
suppository... Some antibiotic.. Took
care of it in three days.. Was a little
messy .. But worked like a charm ...
Ask your doc about it...
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jaqula
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 10 Feb 2004 Posts: 10 Location: burlingame, CA
Posted: 02-11-04 15:38pm
Yeah, that was the thing that I did for
the whole five days and it just came right
back. Got a nasty headache from it too,
even though only 5% of the drug is
absorbed into your bloodstream...
Thanks anyway. I think im just gonna have
to live with this. It doesn't seem like
there's anything I can do, or can afford
to do at least.
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2ferano
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 23 Dec 2003 Posts: 3717
Posted: 02-16-04 18:51pm
You cannot just live with it, because it
will cause permanent damage. Herbal
things might help, but will not rid of the
infection because it is a bacterial
infection. There are several different
prescriptions to cure bv, you just have to
find the one that is right for you. You
can get a test from the lab that will
determine exactly which antibiotic will
cure your particular infection. I do not
know the cost, but just talk to your
doctor. It is frustrating, but you
really do need to take care of this.
Just explain to your doctor in plain
english that you are not made of money!
Good luck!
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jaqula
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 10 Feb 2004 Posts: 10 Location: burlingame, CA
Posted: 02-17-04 01:04am
Thanks for the reply, but I have tried
everything that they can prescribe for bv.
Straight outta my doc's mouth- there is
nothing else they can give me. She also
said that bv is a very harmless condition
that you can choose to live with, which I
have decided to do. It won't lead to
anything else more dangerous, and it won't
cause infertility or anything like that.
So although it is terribly pesky and
unpleasant, im just going to get on with
my life and hope for the best. My doc
says that if I take really good care of
myself there is a good chance that it will
go away. Plus, I have stopped eating
sugar and white flour (for other reasons),
which I understand will have a positive
effect on the bacteria. So, we'll see.
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2ferano
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 23 Dec 2003 Posts: 3717
Posted: 02-17-04 18:30pm
I am sorry, I must have been misinformed.
I was under the impression that bv did
cause damage if not treated, but I am glad
that it does not. I am sorry that no
antibiotic will work for you, that just
sucks!
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IceBaby86
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 10 Jan 2004 Posts: 24 Location: North Dakota,USA
Posted: 02-20-04 23:50pm
I've had bacterial vaginosis(bv) diagnosed
since nov. 5th and a week after I finish
meds the symptoms come back.....Its came
back 2 times already....I know I have it
know but im not going in and am giving
up....Treatment doesnt seem to work &
they cant put me on higher dose cuz im
very underweight for my age. The thing of
it is the hospital/clinic only has on type
of anti-biotics they will give me. My doc
shes not to worried that it keeps on
comming back ...Shes just wants
to make sure it doesnt produce into
something else
.....I hate that this can cause other
cerious health problems such as pid,
etc.!!
i hate this doing it stupid infection!!!!
anyone got any insight about why it keeps
on comming back? I'd really appreciated.
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2ferano
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 23 Dec 2003 Posts: 3717
Posted: 02-21-04 01:18am
I thought if left untreated it could turn
into something else. I knew my doctor
would not lie to me!
Ice baby, I know I have posted this in
other places, but I cannot find it, so
here goes again!
Things that can cause bv(or recurr)
underwear with colored fabric in crotch
area, taking baths instead of showers,
scented tampons, scented or colored toilet
paper, certain soaps, detergents, fabric
softeners, or perfume(if you spray on you
underwear...Sounds crazy but some people
do)douche, feminine sprays and such,
etc.
But some people just don't respond to
certain antibiotics. But, there are
sooooo many different ones that your
doctor just needs to give you another one.
You can get a "sample" of your infection
taken and sent to a lab, and they can
determine exactly which antibiotics will
work for your particular infection.
Depending on your insurance some doctors
will probably tell you that it is
unnecessary simply because they do not
want to pay for it. Just like they may
tell you just to live with it because they
do not want to pay for it, but you cannot
just live with it. Definately not a good
idea. I know the antibiotic I had to
take for mine made me soooo very sick, but
I knew I had to take it.
Sorry so long, hope this helped!
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stiffjello
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 21 Feb 2004 Posts: 4
Posted: 02-21-04 20:57pm
Hi,
i have also had bv a number of times.
The first couple times they tried
different antibiotics, which would clear
it up shortly, but it would always return,
whether or not I was sexually active
(which was the initial thought for why it
was occurring). However, I had read
something about yeast infected women using
something similar to a turkey baster and
inserting plain yogurt, and it would kill
the bacteria. I have never had a yeast
infection, but I tried this. Although it
is very messy, and should be performed
only when you have time to let it settle
into your panties and then absorb into
your body, somehow the enzymes seem to
have killed the bacteria within. If you
have an old douche nozzle, you can try
this with simply plain yogurt. Something
in the live cultures of the yogurt kills
unhealthy bacteria. Since I tried this
(every day for 2 weeks), I have not had
another outbreak of bv. Maybe it can
work for you. Good luck.
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jaqula
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 10 Feb 2004 Posts: 10 Location: burlingame, CA
Posted: 02-21-04 21:05pm
Yeah...Acidopholous (the enzymes in yogurt
that kill bacteria) was one of the first
things I tried. But instead of using
yogurt, I used pure acidopholous powder
that was much more concentrated than in
food. No matter how much I used and how
often I did it it never went away. I
think it's just because i've had the
infection for so long and I need something
super-powerful to wipe it away. And
unfortunately everything in that category
(at least that I and my doctor know of)
give me the most horrible migraines. But
thank you anyway for trying to help : )
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jaqula
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 10 Feb 2004 Posts: 10 Location: burlingame, CA
Posted: 02-21-04 21:21pm
hotasfrick
wrote:
i thought if left untreated
it could turn into something else. I
knew my doctor would not lie to
me!
well one of our doctors is certainly
lying....
hotasfrick
wrote:
depending on your insurance
some doctors will probably tell you that
it is unnecessary simply because they do
not want to pay for it. Just like they
may tell you just to live with it because
they do not want to pay for it, but you
cannot just live with it.
i have no insurance, which is why I have
to pay for all my prescriptions myself.
So if it is a greed issue, my doctor would
want to avoid telling me that bv is
harmless (even if it is true) so that I
would want to take their horrible, toxic
medicine. This is true in all cases no
matter what type of insurance you have-
doctors want to prescribe as many drugs as
possible so that they make more money.
That is why they don't listen to your
symptoms for more than 15 seconds before
filling out a slip of paper for you.
hotasfrick
wrote:
but, there are sooooo many
different ones that your doctor just needs
to give you another one.
from what are you basing this statement?
I was prescribed two different drugs and
then told that there is nothing else I can
take. Why would they say that if it
wasn't true? This just isn't adding up...
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2ferano
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 23 Dec 2003 Posts: 3717
Posted: 02-21-04 23:43pm
I don't know, but I am not here to argue
with you, I am trying to help. If left
untreated it can cause pelvic inflammitory
disease. Doctors do not make money off
of writing you prescriptions. When
doctors take an hmo they get paid more the
less that they do for you. This is why
people have been trying to improve our
health insurance in the united states for
years. You can do whatever you want, but
I would certainly get a different doctor.
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jaqula
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 10 Feb 2004 Posts: 10 Location: burlingame, CA
Posted: 02-21-04 23:56pm
As I am not trying to argue with you, just
trying to get some answers here. You make
all these assertions that could mean I am
in big trouble if they are true. So that
is why I am asking you about them. And
yet you haven't answered any of my
questions...
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2ferano
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 23 Dec 2003 Posts: 3717
Posted: 02-22-04 01:12am
Here is are several little bits of
information I found on the web(some repeat
the other, so bare with me)
are there any risks related to bacterial
vaginosis
· pelvic infection
· premature (early) labor in pregnancy
· infection after a vaginal birth,
cesarean section, or gynecologic
surgery
what are the complications of bacterial
vaginosis?
In most cases, bv causes no complications.
But there are some serious risks from bv
including:
· having bv can increase a woman's
susceptibility to hiv infection if she is
exposed to the hiv virus.
· having bv increases the chances that an
hiv-infected woman can pass hiv to her sex
partner.
· having bv has been associated with an
increase in the development of pid
following surgical procedures such as a
hysterectomy or an abortion.
· studies suggest that pregnant women are
at increased risk for complications of bv.
Bv can increase a woman's susceptibility
to other stds, such as chlamydia and
gonorrhea. Although bv will sometimes
clear up without treatment, all women with
symptoms of bv should be treated to avoid
such complications as pid. Male partners
generally do not need to be treated.
However, bv may spread between female sex
partners.
Bv is usually not serious. In some
cases, however, it can cause infections in
the uterus and fallopian tubes. It is
important to treat bv, especially before
having an iud inserted, an abortion, or
tests done on the uterine lining. Bv
during pregnancy may cause the baby to be
born too soon.
Some women get bv again and again. It is
not clear why or how this happens. These
suggestions for good vaginal health may
help:
· wipe from front to back (away from the
vagina) after bowel movements to avoid
spreading bacteria from the rectum to the
vagina.
· keep the vulva (outside of the vagina)
dry and clean.
· do not douche. Douching is never a
good idea, especially with bv.
· avoid feminine hygiene sprays, harsh
soaps, or soaps with lots of perfume.
· avoid clothing that can trap moisture:
pantyhose (wear pantyhose with cotton
crotch) or latex exercise clothing.
· using condoms may decrease bv recurrence
for some women.
Prescription medication, usually
antibiotics, depending on the organism
causing the infection is used to treat
and/or cure bv. Treatments may include:
· in most cases male sex partners do not
need to be treated (but I did read that if
bv continues to reoccur and you are with a
steady partner, then he may need to be
treated.)
so, above there are five different
antibiotics, I am honestly not sure if
there are more, but the lab could test a
sample and see exactly what kind of
bacteria you have that needs to be
treated. Below is a list of the
different types of bacteria that can cause
bv:
· bacteroides bacteria
· gardnerella vaginalis bacteria
· gardnerella
· mobiluncus bacteria
· mycoplasma hominis bacteria
· ureaplasma urealyticum
i hoped this helped some. Once again,
pid and the other risk factors of bv do
not occur in all women. But it can
happen.
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jaqula
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 10 Feb 2004 Posts: 10 Location: burlingame, CA
Posted: 02-22-04 19:36pm
Well that's very interesting...But can you
please cite your source? There is so much
information on the internet that is
contradicting so it's hard to tell what's
valid and what's not. I guess if it turns
out to be valid i'll have to get another
doctor. This really sucks
thanks for posting this.
-jaqui
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2ferano
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 23 Dec 2003 Posts: 3717
Posted: 02-22-04 23:56pm
I would site my source, but their were
like 20 of them. And you are right they
do contradict each other.
I guess the best way to look at it is,
some women who have bv have developed pid,
but then again some do not. I don't know
that it is actually proven to cause pid,
but then again it has not been ruled out.
So really, we are both right in a way. I
think they just really don't know enough
about bv.
If you have tried all of the antibiotics
(again I thought that there would be more,
which maybe their are, but maybe not) and
they did not work, and you have tried the
insert thing, then I don't know what else
you could do. One of the sites suggested
foods to include in your diet that could
help rid of the infection.
The sources that I used I found as
follows: I went to yahoo and searched
bacterial vaginosis. I used a couple on
their (all from the first page) and then I
searched "treatement for bv" and used a
couple from their (also on the first
page). One of the sites actually said
that bv was a sexually tranismitted
disease, which we all know is not true, so
I guess we really do not know which ones
are valid and which ones are not.
Some women simply cannot get rid of bv,
but it will probably go away at some
point. Although it will probably come
back which just sucks.
I was not trying to worry you, I just
wanted you to know what "could" happen.
So, if all else fails, just pay close
attention to your areas "down there" if
you experience worse symptoms or
unexplained pain then I would get checked
out again to make sure there is nothing
worse going on.
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RLeb
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 27 Feb 2004 Posts: 2 Location: UK
Bacterial Vaginosis Posted: 02-27-04 15:13pm
Hey, i've got it too and it keeps coming
back. Mine stayed away for three days
after the antibiotics! My advice:
- stop taking antibiotics because they are
really bad for your body, they don't work
at all (because it just comes back), and
each time you use them your bacterial
vaginosis builds its resistance to them!
Also, it was in the paper last week that
some research ahs shown that the more
antibiotics women take, the greater the
risk of cancer.
- get this book I have just got called the
v book, by elizabeth g. Stewart, you can
get it really cheap on amazon. It has
loads of info in.
- take lactobaccillus tablets from the
health food shop. Make sure you keep
them in the fridge. They are not bad for
you, and they work while you take them.
Sadly, just like antibiotics, when you
stop taking them it comes back (so far it
has come back once), but they are good for
healthy digestion as well, so in theroy
you don't need to stop taking them.
Let me know if you find any other
remedies. That is the first one I have
tried from the v book as I have only just
received it.
Good luck!
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jen1000
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 26 Jul 2004 Posts: 2 Location: UK
Bv Posted: 07-26-04 11:46am
Hi,
i get bv every time I have a period. I
take antibiotics which clear it...But it
always comes back. Am going to try those
lactabaccilus tablets that were suggested
- which particular brand did you use?
Really hope they help - hate taking
antibiotics anyway
thanks
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PattyV
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 01 May 2004 Posts: 1103 Location: Chicago area
Bv Info Posted: 07-26-04 20:24pm
Look on first page of woman's
conditions,there is info on bv.I know how
frustrating bv is ,had my share of hell
with it.I responded to meds,just kept
recurring.I also went off yeast for
several weeks and took diflucan.Also used
probiotics.I'm not saying you should try
this but it worked for me.Good luck,but a
second opinion might not be a bad
idea.Patty
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jen1000
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 26 Jul 2004 Posts: 2 Location: UK
Posted: 07-27-04 04:01am
Thanks for the info on probiotics and
yeast free diet etc, will definately try
that and see how it goes. I responded to
the drugs too but just comes back every
month. Had no idea the extent of this
infection and how many women get it
recurring.
only one of those
times was I able to last for the entire
period that I was supposed to take the
drug- the infection did go away but just
came right back for some reason. I think
that since I have had bv for so long I
need to take something really strong for a
long period of time in order to get rid of
it. 
i'll have to keep looking. If anyone can
help me out, I would greatly appreciate
it.
...Shes just wants
to make sure it doesnt produce into
something else 
.....I hate that this can cause other
cerious health problems such as pid,
etc.!! 
