Well it seems I'm collecting little setbacks - although I wish I wasn't. Healing of the neo vagina and tissues are going pretty well but now some light burning seems to be due to candida funghal infection. So where does it come from?

Candida is the more official name for yeast. And yeast loves sugar, fructose and all sorts. And fermentation. Funny that my IBS really kicked off badly 10 days ago as well. The spores love to travel along dark moist pathways - and can be ejected from intestines during gaseous exchange with the outside world. Ahem. Since my IBS was triggered by a healthy diet and medication it was inevitable that I discover the joys of candida infection.

What does it look like? White flecks on the skin - occasional spidery type mucus across the labia. And white patches inside the neovagina. If you see white patches floating out from your douche it could be dead skin. But if you feel an itch it is definitely worth getting checked with a doctor.

Now for the good news - it is (fairly) easy to treat. Some pills and anti fungal creams. And a diet low in sugars. Which is fairly easy when following a low FODMAP diet for IBS. The downside / surgeons don't recommend putting creams inside the vagina as the skin won't absorb it same as with a genetic vagina. Although I have creams and pills - does anyone know of a good liquid treatment which could be douched a couple of times a day?

Candida is very easy to  reinfect yourself with. Boil your flannels, baby wash on a washing machine, or dispose of them.

The oral antifungicides work very well, no reason to use vaginal creams.

Cleanliness and excellent hygiene are important to stop reinfection.

Thanks Cindy

I'll ask for more oral ones. I had a "single pill" yesterday.

Yes I knew I had to clean things - seems ill boil underwear and towels / flannels. I use disposal wipes and tissue. What about dilators? I rinsed them in boiling water last night, but guess they also need a bit more care as they get regular use down there.

Quote from: Monkeymel on October 01, 2014, 07:01:46 AM
Thanks Cindy

I'll ask for more oral ones. I had a "single pill" yesterday.

Yes I knew I had to clean things - seems ill boil underwear and towels / flannels. I use disposal wipes and tissue. What about dilators? I rinsed them in boiling water last night, but guess they also need a bit more care as they get regular use down

Follow the usual clean up and follow by washing in bleach and thourghly wash to get rid of the bleach. Bleach kills anything but you don't want it in your vagina!

It's also normal to have *some* yeast, if that helps. Most people have some living on their skin; it's just that in dark, warm, moist places it can overgrow until you have too much and it becomes a problem, or broken skin can introduce it under the skin where it isn't helpful. So you don't have to worry about nuking every last one, just getting the colony back under control.

The only douche method I know for treating a yeast infection is, counterintuitively, not about killing them off directly at all - it's to use live culture lactobacillus yogurt (and eat lots of it, as well). That particular bacterium eats yeast, so if you can tip the balance in its favor... It's also among the beneficial bacteria most commonly found in cis vaginas, so it's not that you'd be introducing something foreign and later unwanted; this will help establish the healthy natural flora you want down there.

As always, though, check with a doctor first.

I was prescribed vagoclyss which includes lacto bacteria as part of the solution - and douch twice a week. Might up it a bit in the next day or two.

Unfortunately dairy protien (casein) and I don't mix. But perhaps yoghurt up there won't hurt... But yeah I'll check with my doctor first. Clean up and move on...

My Candida infection occurred at 2 weeks post op, and the oral medication was my primary treatment, and was only a single pill.  I had still been using an antibacterial gel per surgeon's instructions at the time mixed in with my normal dilation lube gel, and was told to discontinue the antibacterial treatment when the yeasty beasty was discovered.  (My PCP and surgeon got together via phone on my care.  I had given permission to both for contact.) I was also instructed to take sitz baths after at least one of my dilations each day in clear warm water, and then to dry off carefully and use a hair dryer on cool setting to help the drying if necessary.  My instructions on the dilator was to use just ordinary hand soap, although my OB/GYN said it was OK to use gel type hospital scrub soaps, but use PLENTY of clear water and dry the dilator thoroughly.  Fresh underwear after EVERY dilation and fresh pads after EVERY trip to the toilet.  Plain cotton underwear, and 1/4 cup of bleach per washer load, was daily!!  I was fine in less than ten days after the pill treatment.