Quote from: jade on December 27, 2009, 02:45:36 AM
%100 tea tree oil in the vag? Ouch! I would not risk it.

There's no risk. It was recommended by a naturopath and I've used it for years - it works and doesn't do any damage at all.

Lots of women get this deal, myself included. The thing that worked for me was to switch to a non-vegetable glycerin based lube. Anything organic lets the little nasties feed on it if anything is left after playtime is over. Waterbased lubes are best. Silk is a good brand but lately I've switched to Sliquid Organics which makes two grades - one thinner and the other thicker.

OK I'm going to throw in my two cents.  Only one person has commented on the smell aspect.  Yeast doesn't have a strong smell, bacteria does.  You want to stop foot odor, use triple antibiotic ointment.  You got atheletes foot you use an antifungal.  My wife had yeast infections often, I could see them, i could see the whitish finely curded discharge, but I never noticed a smell.  If its bacteria, you are probably stuck with a doctor visit.  You treat that for yeast, it will alow the bacteria to multiply without competition.

For the first two to three months you may want to douche with an iodine based antispetic solution that will promote healing.

We used to get told to use it at least once a day after dilation and to douche with weak salt water solution in between.

Google Videne and/or Betadyne - basically it is a Providone Iodine solution and you dilute it about 5 to 1 before use. It's very gentle and safe, specifially made for treating post operative wound sites and it speeds up healing.

After the three months is up the healing is all done and you no longer need the iodine so you can switch to the probiotics quite safely. They work well too!

These days I tend to douche about once a week with a weak cider vinegar solution 5ml in 250ml of water as this helps to keep the PH in the vagina naturally acid as it would be in a natal female and helps the probiotic lactobacilus-vaginalis to grow happily. But definitely don't start that until you are all healed up!

WHATEVER you do don't use anything agressive in the douche - clean is good, positively antiseptic is NOT because if you use anything other an iodiine or salt solution you will damage the newly formed tissue.

Valerie, I would send Asclepiade a quick email and tell them the problem.  They are usually pretty quick about getting back to you.  It sounds like yeast, but I'm just guessing, judging by the smell and the color of the discharge.  Worst case, I've had my GP take a looksie a couple times at stuff.

mamba

Many thanks girls, I never heard of Femina Flora till I read it here, I could have done with it 20years ago when I had my redone, a lot of information to take in, I havent had a yeast infection in years thank goodness.
p

I keep reading about douching but Dr. Bowers is dead set against it.  I have heard from females for years that douching is a no no.  Dr. Bowers said she doesn't recommend it at all. 

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Post Merge: May 24, 2010, 10:22:25 PM

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Douching gets rid of the good bacteria as well as bad.  Maybe that is why you all are getting yeast in the first place.  I am no Dr. but it seems that The SRS Drs. methods are totally different.  Dr. Bowers said also to only dilate 3 times a day for 15 mins during the first 3 mths then twice a day for 3 more mths.  Now I do it 3 times a day but If I am watching tv, I will leave it in for sometimes an hr.  Just depends and at 2 weeks, I already had made it up to the middle dilator and then the next day to the biggest one.  I am 3 weeks post tomorrow. 

[I thought I might just post here, rather then start a new thread, my question and comments are right on target with the theme of this post!]

Hi All,

So now, even 7 months into healing from SRS, I still have yellowish discharge, and wear/change liners 2-4x a day.  I really haven't established a normality of what to expect from my new 'area', and so really have no baseline to compare what I'm experiencing.

Since the beginning, I have had a strong scent, at first it was unpleasant to me, but grew on me over time.  But I had absolutely no idea if it was 'normal' or not.   But it was strong. I could even smell it, like if I wore a skirt to work, on occasion.  My purse has liners and a pack of baby wipes in it, *always*.  I got mildly concerned, and went to the doctor about 4 weeks ago, and a test was ordered.   It came back positive for BV.  Which isn't particularly abnormal or disconcerting, as there are no symptoms like rash, etc, with the exception of the strong scent.

Sooo, the doctor gave me a choice of taking anti-biotics, or going at it with homepathic methods, like those mentioned in this thread.  (vinegar douch, femina flora, tea tree oil, etc.....)

This is all very hard for me to wrap together.  I really need to get a vaginal health routine together.  I'm loathe to take anti-biotics, as it's like a  complete wipe-out of the flora, and I don't want to do that lightly.  Like, I don't want to take the anti-biotics, and just have it re-occur, because I really don't know the best way to take care of my vagina after that.  They don't really give you instructions on this part of life at the clinic, lol.

I had read this thread when it was originally posted on, and indeed, at the 4 month mark when I decided to quit douching, I then did a completed Femina Flora routine.  It didn't seem to change anything.. my scent, and secretions were the same.

So, I have this prescription for Flagyl.   I'm kinda stuck, trying to piece together the plethora of information on the internet, the DR, this thread, SRS-Vagina vs natal-vagina flora's.... and figure out a routine that works for me.. and all I get is dizzy, and frustrated lol.

I don't even know what to ask.  Something like, if I decide to go with the anti-biotics, how do I figure out a routine that carries me forward that reduces the restart of the BV.

Here's my tentative plan, thoughts?:

First 10 days:
1.  Take Anti-biotics for the 10 day cycle.
2.  Douche every other day with cider vinegar solution (through this 10 day wipeout period).
3.  Eat a helping (or three) of yogurt containing Acidophilus each day.  (read on several women's health sites)
4.  Take Folic Acid supplements daily.  (once again, read as

After 10 days:
1.  No douching.  (or once a week cider vinegar douche?)  Need to figure this out, everyone has a different opinion.
2.  Folic Acid Supplement daily.
3. Keep eating the yogurt.  (tasty!).
4. Do Femina Flora (they have it at my local health food store).  OR yogurt injections.  The goal being to get healthy bacteria into the vagina.

I also wonder if the lubrication from dilations isn't partly at fault.  I use a bacteriostatic lubricating medical-grade jelly, not sure if that could be a problem.  It would seem like it wouldn't cause issues...

Any comments?  Can someone just give me a sweeping answer that solves all of my vaginal problems?  Or at least helps me in my efforts to make sense of all the information out there to establish a sensible routine for vaginal health .. 

*huggs*,
Melan

I'll agree with Natalie's post re: probiotics worked for me for a yeast infection. For a couple of month Post op i used Betadyne to douch with that used to help with nasty smells but you cant get betadyne anymore arr oh well dont think i need it anymore im 21 years post op and had two bad Yeast infections which were cured once with canistan combi then once just recently using Probiotic Yogurt which sounds yuk but works realy well. But i would go see the doc just incase its a bacteria infection treating one if its the other will make it realy bad so go get checked out just incase then once you know what the difference is you can safely teat it on your own if its a yeast infection.

Kerry

Quote from: fluffynuf on September 27, 2010, 05:40:05 PM
I'll agree with Natalie's post re: probiotics worked for me for a yeast infection. For a couple of month Post op i used Betadyne to douch with that used to help with nasty smells but you cant get betadyne anymore arr oh well dont think i need it anymore im 21 years post op and had two bad Yeast infections which were cured once with canistan combi then once just recently using Probiotic Yogurt which sounds yuk but works realy well. But i would go see the doc just incase its a bacteria infection treating one if its the other will make it realy bad so go get checked out just incase then once you know what the difference is you can safely teat it on your own if its a yeast infection.

Kerry

I now use a probiotic and an occasional vinegar solution douche - but if you want a betayne equivalent it is available under the name Videne. I don't use it myself - but my partner still does.

After dialating, I go to the toilet and clean up as well as I can.
I sleep on a towel as the lube.. Umm.. Leaks out over night.

I take acidoplilus daily to help balance the biotics. but...
I hear douching is bad, but I just used clean water (out of the shower head) this morning. Day after day of dialating with out cleaning my self out leads me to feel like its an ideal way to get a yeast infection.

Should I try a teaspoon of distilled vinegar in the water?

well I use Cider vinegar. if you look on various female health sites there is an approximate recommended dosage too. The idea is to slightly acidify the water so that it is of the same PH as the vagina would normally be.

BUT please don't try it until you are fully healed - you don't want to damage newly healing skin by putting anything on it which is that acidic. Until then if you must douche then a teaspoon full of salt in warm water will be better for you.

In the old days the surgeons used to tell us to douche with diluted videne solution (used to be called betadine) which has iodine in it and thus promoted healing, but these days they don't and I think on the whole you should follow the advice that you are given unless there is a very good reason not to do so.