Question:
Hi all,

I've had burning pain down there for 3 weeks now. The first week was excruciating, and I also had a sore throat. Sometimes the pain subsides a bit, and sometimes it gets worse. Over the past few days when it gets worse I think I'm seeing tiny white bumps, but I'm not sure. It looks like it could just be my hair follicles, since I shave everything down there. Everything down there looks a little red, but not inflamed.

I've had 2 nurse practitioners tell me they thought it was an external yeast infection, and one thought there was a chance it could be herpes. I've been putting anti-fungal cream on it, but I'm not sure if its helping. It seemed better the first few days I was using it, but yesterday and the day before the burning was strong.

Any advice would be appreciated, I've never been so stressed and scared.

Answer:
you need to see a doctor.

Answer:
yeah, they need to do a swab test on any sores or bumps in that area for HSV. It sounds like it can be herpes. Go to your local planned parenthood if you must.

I know years ago when I was younger I had some brutal yeast infections (usually after I took antibiotics) but none that made me hurt when I peed. Just super itchy and annoyings (and sometimes even gross...discharge...bleech, fun!) So that is why I say to get a second opinion. The antifungal cream is not going to help the herpes either it can AGGRAVATE it. So.........I would go asap.

Good luck. I hope all turns out well.

Answer:
I've already been to the local STD clinic, they also thought it was an external yeast infection. I didn't have any sores or bumps at the time. When I do get them, they come and go so fast, I wouldn't be able to schedule an appointment fast enough. The clinic only books appointments one week in advance. I've given up on the local PP, every time I call the line is busy. I currently do not have health insurance - the quality of care I'm receiving without it really ticks me off.

Answer:
If it actually is just a yeast infection - the cheapest thing I can recommend is going to your local grocery and if they have a health section getting an organic, fat free, sugar free, plain yogurt and applying it topically or even mixing it to make a douche. This method is certainly old fashioned but works incredibly fast and does not have negative side effects. usually can be purchased for around $1.

If you are prone to yeast infections please note that yeast (candida)feeds on sugar. Carbs, foods containing grains, alcoholic beverages, dessert items, pastas, vinegar, mushrooms all contain things that can aggrevate and cause yeast infections to become more severe. Consuming yogurts with live cultures or probiotics can help to keep candida in check.

It's tough when you don't have insurance and if that were the case for me and I was very physically uncomfortable I'd show up at the clinic, be willing to sit it out for a cancellation or no show and insist on them running the herpes specific bloodwork.

Answer:
I've been prone to frequent yeast infections throughout my life, but none of them have been like this. I've been taking my probiotics, but I think this afternoon I will go to the health food store and pick up some plain orgainic yogurt. I've actually never tried that!

I did finally go see an OB-GYN, and she didn't have any definitive answers for me. She asked me what I was worried about and what I had been reading about! As if my concerns were just something I made up? When I told her I was concerned about herpes, she said she wouldn't rule it out and gave me a supply of Famvir. She also prescribed a stronger anti-fungal cream. We both agreed it was too soon to run another herpes blood test. I had one done 2 weeks ago, which came back negative, but there hasn't been enough time since my last sexual encounter for antibodies to develop.

I took the Famvir 2 days ago, and haven't noticed any improvement. I just started the anti-fungal cream last night, and I'm still burning today. This makes one month of feeling miserable. :(

Answer:
The antivirals take several days to work. They work based upon the following process: they keep the virus from replicating or reproducing itself. When the virus isn't actively reproducing itself the ob should end. I have had internal ob symptoms that look exactly like a yeast infection but have a slightly different consistency to the discharge.

As for suffering from frequent yeast infections you should pay careful attention to limiting sources of sugar in your diet and also things that are fermented. Candida feeds on sugars. These include "carbs-foods" such as pasta, bread, pastries or baked items. sweetened food items and fermented include: soy sauce, mushrooms, beer, alcoholic beverages, soft-drinks, fruit, candy . . .

The probiotic I use is a capsule and it is made by a company called Jarrow. It is vegetarian.

I hope you get relief soon.

Answer:
For once I'm hoping medicine doesn't work! I wish my doctor could provide more insight, but without active sores to test, I just have to wait to have my next blood test done.

As for the yeast infections, I had spent a full year of my life with no sugar, no flour products, no caffeine, no alcohol, and no dairy in my diet, with minimal cheating. Even with all that effort, I still got recurrent yeast infections. (It did wonders for my allergies though!) I sort of learned to live with them, being that conventional medicines like Diflucan don't work, and alternative therapies only provided minimal relief. Thankfully my yeast infections are mild, they just last quite a long time.

Grapefruit seed extract (GSE) and caprylic acid works best to help control my yeast infections. When they get bothersome, I take 15 drops of liquid GSE three times a day (by far the most bitter substance I've ever tasted), and 2000 mg caprylic acid in divided doses.

BTW, I just tried the plain yogurt douche, and now I'm feeling sort of itchy on the inside. Is that normal?

Answer:
It did not do that to me it made me feel lots better. I did it at night and made my own with bottled water and then I wore a pad so it wouldn't make a mess so I could just go to sleep. I also added the yogurt to a cool bath and just soaked.

I am curious do they know for certain that this is candida? Did your health practitioner ever do any cultures to verify this?

From your own admission it sounds like you have done everything you should to get this little fungus under control.