Infectious Infections. Am I Doomed To Continue To Be Infected? *Sigh*

[gummibears]

With DS I had ONE yeast infection. Nothing else.

I've NEVER had a uti in my LIFE until this baby, and now it's about all I have. I'm on my THIRD uti this pregnancy - just 2 days after my doctor said no more cultures are needed and I was in the clear. Oh, the irony.

I'm also on my SECOND yeast infection. (I have a two-for. Got both on the same day. Pain like you'd not imagine)

Then before the yeast and uti's started, I had a cyst that had sat for 2 years not bothering no one become infected. Had TWO rounds of antibiotics for that, but during the second one they found my first uti and combined my antibiotics for both infections.

Am I doomed to spend from now til May infected because it's really putting a damper on this pregnancy, which very well could be my last one, so I'm supposed to really be enjoying it - which I was when I wasn't infected.

We are working on getting the shower on our tub (we moved at the end of Nov, and the house is old with an old claw foot tub that surprisingly was not rigged with a shower) so I'm hoping that helps, but I got my first uti when I took NO baths at all, so I can't completely blame that on the uti.

Other than that, I don't know what we could possibly do to avoid them, as I don't do ANYTHING (other than have an adversion to feeling like I'm gonna float away on the insane amount they tell me to drink. I get to 4 glasses and I'm starting to feel SICK!) I'm not much of a water drinker, I used to hate it and not touch it ever about 2 years ago, so it's still really hard for me to drink much of it. Even if I drank other favored beverages, I don't see myself stomaching 10-12 glasses every day without being sick or unable to eat.

Anyone else in a similar situation? Or have any advice how I can get out of this boat? I read in my meds that if taken for 5 months it can cause lung problems. I'm a bit scared as that's wholly possible at this point given that they keep coming back, and obviously that's a scary thought. Who wants lung problems - especially near delivery? I've been given that med twice now. Once last month and again this Friday. The other meds were different ones.

Then, of course I start to worry that all these meds are somehow affecting our baby. I don't know if it was coincidental or not as I wasn't home the days following my last diagnosis, but our baby has seemed far less active, and it worries me. Maybe I'm making more out of it when it's just different sitting positions that's the reason, but we'll see as I'm finally back home and can monitor things again. Yesterday there was only one time she was really active all day long, and that was at around 11pm when I got back home (we returned home at 9) and it didn't last long. Typically she's active for a very long time with very strong kicks. Most of the time she IS active since the last diagnosis is mildly so a few small nudges and nothing more for hours. This is down from past days.

[MamaChef]

Eliminate white things from your diet.. white sugar, bread, rice, potatoes, etc.. as well as sugars in other forms - fruits, soda, etc.. atleast until you remain asymptomatic for awhile

Grapefruit Seed Extract in your water.  10-15 drops in 10 oz of water.

D- Mannose for UTI, but Id run that by a naturopath.  How people feel about it in pregnancy varies 

CranActin as a daily maintenance for keeping it away.

I hope you find some relief it would be super frustrating to battle reoccuring infections!

[gummibears]

Thank you Mama chef. I don't eat bread (except in bagels) so I'll have to watch that. I'll have to figure how to divert my sweet tooth that loves fruits and potatoes with something else. If I lose these infections it'll be well worth it. The pain and dealing with the solutions are just killing me. Plus I loathe putting all those meds into my body. I'm the type that will suffer all day with a headache to avoid taking Tylenol, yet I'm forced to take all these meds which are stronger.

I've been trying to be aware of my cranberry juice intake. I have the bitter one without sugar. Not too tasty, but I hear that's the more effective one to get.

[MamaChef]

Some people actually say that cranberry juice is bad because it messes with your PH in a negative way and the pills are a better choice.

http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/utis.html

Not the same, but Ive never had a yeast infection of any sort in my whole life and this pregnancy Ive been battling a skin yeast infection, Candida Intertrigo, underneath my breasts and I have one really stubborn satellite patch on my upper stomach.  I tried topical treatment for yeast and athlete's foot.. no effect for over a month, infact it got worse.  Then I started applying a mix of GSE, Tea Tree Oil and Vitamin E x 2 a day and it was like magic.  The areas underneath by breasts cleared up in a week and the spot on my stomach is finally starting to resolve.  It was really weird how it worked. It was like it brought the infection to the surface and made it look alot worse, then it started clearing.  It actually pulled up some raised lesions just shy of blisters, then dried and scaled and peeled.

[MamaChef]

Oh.. I forgot, Lotsa Probiotics once you are off the Antibiotics.

[gummibears]

Thanks again. Sounds like you are kinda in a similar situation. I don't get these infections when not pregnant, so it has to be the hormones pushing me over the edge, I guess. I'm looking at the link now.

And really about the juice? My last ER visit they said drink the juice to avoid it. Ack. Too many differing opinions to make one's head spin. (I will say I wasn't drinking it lately and I got the infection. Then again I wasn't drinking it on vacation and it stayed away, too. Out there I just had the yeast as a result of the antibiotics (which was another pain)

I'm calling my midwife soon to get into her (I'm between HCP's as last Wed I bid my last HCP farewell) and will see what she has to offer that may be along the homeopathic route, which is what DH and I prefer.

[lovebeingamomma]

I got yeast infection after yeast infection after yeast infection last pregnancy, the only thing that made them go away for good was to stop wearing pantyliners.  Seriously.  That's what it was, my vagina just needed to breath!  So try that if you're not already. 

[gummibears]

Originally Posted by lovebeingamomma 

I got yeast infection after yeast infection after yeast infection last pregnancy, the only thing that made them go away for good was to stop wearing pantyliners.  Seriously.  That's what it was, my vagina just needed to breath!  So try that if you're not already. 

Really? I was thinking they would help as I change them out 2-3 times a day. Hmm might help, though I need to get off these antibiotics first. It seems that NEITHER infection went away with treatment and I'm looking at another ER visit tomorrow as I'm still having pains.

[beckyand3littlemonsters]

[lovebeingamomma]

Yes this is what my midwife suggested.  The pantiliners just breed all the bacteria because they are lined with plastic.  She even said go pantiless at night.  And it worked!  I also noticed a drop in the amount of discharge I had after I did that.  I thought I NEEDED the pantiliners because of the increased discharge but I was just making it worse.  Yes it's a little gross to have to change your underwear a couple of times a day, but so worth it to get rid of the infections!
 

Originally Posted by gummibears 

Originally Posted by lovebeingamomma 

I got yeast infection after yeast infection after yeast infection last pregnancy, the only thing that made them go away for good was to stop wearing pantyliners.  Seriously.  That's what it was, my vagina just needed to breath!  So try that if you're not already. 

Really? I was thinking they would help as I change them out 2-3 times a day. Hmm might help, though I need to get off these antibiotics first. It seems that NEITHER infection went away with treatment and I'm looking at another ER visit tomorrow as I'm still having pains.

[jr'smom]

I was going to say LOTS of probiotics and prebiotics.  I'd take a normal dose even while on antibiotics even though they'll get killed everyday, it usually makes your stomach less uncomfortable while you're taking them.  Then LOTS afterward.  Wash underwear and towels in hot water and only use them once.  Good luck!

[gummibears]

You know this kinda makes sense. I never used pantiliners with DS and I only had one yeast infection no UTI at all. I thought the same. The leaking and the meds and all that it was better and I needed them. Assuming they don't put me on the yeast creams again today I'll give it a whirl. It can't make anything worse, that's for sure. I've been in pain for about 10 days now. The meds only took the edge off the symptoms, but I don't think either infection was touched otherwise.

Originally Posted by lovebeingamomma 

Yes this is what my midwife suggested.  The pantiliners just breed all the bacteria because they are lined with plastic.  She even said go pantiless at night.  And it worked!  I also noticed a drop in the amount of discharge I had after I did that.  I thought I NEEDED the pantiliners because of the increased discharge but I was just making it worse.  Yes it's a little gross to have to change your underwear a couple of times a day, but so worth it to get rid of the infections!
 

Originally Posted by gummibears 

Originally Posted by lovebeingamomma 

I got yeast infection after yeast infection after yeast infection last pregnancy, the only thing that made them go away for good was to stop wearing pantyliners.  Seriously.  That's what it was, my vagina just needed to breath!  So try that if you're not already. 

Really? I was thinking they would help as I change them out 2-3 times a day. Hmm might help, though I need to get off these antibiotics first. It seems that NEITHER infection went away with treatment and I'm looking at another ER visit tomorrow as I'm still having pains.

 

[gummibears]

Originally Posted by jr'smom 

I was going to say LOTS of probiotics and prebiotics.  I'd take a normal dose even while on antibiotics even though they'll get killed everyday, it usually makes your stomach less uncomfortable while you're taking them.  Then LOTS afterward.  Wash underwear and towels in hot water and only use them once.  Good luck!

Hmm what are those? I'll have to Google and see what I can do.

[gummibears]

Update: Went to the ER again tonight (this is getting old fast) but I had all the leaking, pain, burning that indicated a problem that needed to be seen. The doctor there said I had something called Clue Cells. I guess they are cells that are covered in a bacteria - but not the one that causes a UTI, and it would not respond to the UTI antibiotic. The symptoms I had are due to these cells which cause symptoms similar to the UTI (which is why it felt like I had no relief at all from the infection)

So. On ANOTHER antibiotic. Hopefully no yeast will come from this one. :( Taking lovebeingamomma's advice tonight on the liners and hoping to get these infections managed and gone for the last 16 weeks until she arrives.

[MamaChef]

I didnt see this update until now.. I was wondering how you were doing and drug up this post.

It's great the doc was able to find the Clue cells.. they are usually a red flag for bacterial vaginosis.  What is really messed up is that it can be cause or worsened by antibiotics stripping the bacteria that keeps this bacteria away :(  Im glad you are on something for it specifically now.  I think Metronidazole or Clindamycin are the two for bv but have no idea which ones are okay for pregnancy. 

Hope you are feeling a million times better by now!

[gummibears]

Yeah, basically they have told me that the antibiotics are causing this vicious cycle of infections and put me on a probiotic now. Only while on that I still got another UTI. Hoping to stop the madness soon, though. Just finished meds for last infection and have an apt next week with midwife.

[sharita]

Ugh!  I thought I was the only one who couldn't wear the panty liners.  I really need them too but they give me UTI's as well.  Maybe I should get some all cotton natural ones. 

As far as yeast goes, definately watch the white carbs and eat yogurt (dannon is good and has live active cultures) if you are not much of a yogurt fan, try the yoplait thich n creamy or whips kind.  One is more like a mousse and the other like custard, sooo good.  Ate this back before I had a taste for yogurt. 

Also, increase your garlic intake.  Yeast hates that stuff.  I was also told to rinse twice a day with diluted apple cider vinegar on the exterior and inner labia (but no douching) I had the worse case of yeast ever and all this helped so much. 

[gummibears]

Even since I ditched the panty liners I'm STILL getting the infections. I truly give up at this point and have basically been in tears more than once over this cycle that can't be broken. I've had 4 UTI and the Clue Cell infection in addition to 2 rounds of antibiotics for a cyst early on that infected. In short this pregnancy has pretty much been constant antibitics since about 12 weeks. For someone who wanted NO meds this is troubling to the point of frustration.

I've been doing the probiotic (one a day = 10 cups of yogurt) but was told to keep with the yogurt just the same yesterday, so I'll get back on that, too. I'll try the vinegar thing and the garlic one, oh dear, I'm not a fan of that stuff, I can't stand the taste, smell, nothing of it and I can just see DH teasing me about that one, LOL.

So far no sign of yeast, though I'm debating if my UTI left or not. It seems to change with the hour if I'm feeling like it's there or not. We'll see on Tues, I suppose.

[Nutter]

  That doesn't sound like fun at all.  You might want to look into the raw silk liners (cloth; reusable) made by Homestead Emporium (a WAHM).  She offers a variety of sizes and styles (viewable here).  As of today she doesn't have any raw silk products made up and ready to purchase but if you contact her she may be open to a custom order. 

[gummibears]

Thanks Nutter. Those look fabulous and like a pretty good substitute for the panty liners. I might have to order up some as soon as I'm paid. :)