Symptomatic Group B Strep Vaginitis HELP!! - Page 3

[Ninjacat]

Hi All, I'm new here and have been dealing with recurrent vaginal infections for much of my adult life.  I had a 3 year chronic, recurrent Bacterial Vaginosis infection which I finally cured with boric acid suppositories (back when Yeast Arrest had higher doses of boric acid---now they only have homeopathic doses, but you can get boric acid and capsules from the pharmacist) plus Natren's Acidophilis used orally and vaginally.   Then, a few months later I had vaginitis and was positive for Group B Strep.  Since I'm allergic to penicillin, my doc prescribed an infection of Ceftriaxone (after clindamycin vaginally didn't work).   This worked and I was fine for several years, most of the time taking probiotics.  Then a few years ago I started getting GBS vaginitis again.  I had a few recurrent bouts after Ceftriaxone injections and then finally got rid of it with this garlic protocol that a midwife passed on to me:

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

Well, a few months ago I got a UTI and the doc prescribed me with Ciproflaxin which is a broad-spectrum antibiotic.  Cleared up my UTI but shortly afterwards I got GBS vaginitis again.  So, I think it was caused by my vaginal balance being thrown off by the antibiotics---I think that all my good bacteria was killed off.  So I've been taking probiotics including Femdophilis (by Jarrow) and also Jarrow's EPS and again was treated with Ceftiaxone.   Felt good for a few weeks, then, a few weeks later had symptoms again, started using garlic which didn't help, and then  they cultured it and it was Gardeneralla (i.e. B.V.) !   So, I took flagyl and tons of Femdophilis and then used Yeast Arrest as a preventive.  Now, about 5 weeks later, with symptoms again, they cultured it and it is Group B Strep again.  UGH!   It is so bad this time that I started bleeding early (I see from another woman's post here that she often gets bleeding from GBS also--I wonder if it is b/c our cervix is irritated .  Is it cervicitis?).  I'm also crampy.  So, the doc I saw on Monday for the culture said that once the culture came back she would have it tested for sensitivity to various antibiotics to make sure we were using the right antibiotic and it wasn't resistant.  So, I left a gazillion messages for her this week to remind her (as she told me to do) and the stupid lab THREW AWAY the culture before she could order the sensitivity test.   So now tomorrow I have to go back in for another culture so they can order both tests.  And the speculum is so painful right now.   I am not convinced that the  GBS is antibiotic resistant, and think instead that what is happening is that the antibiotics are just killing off the good bacteria that throws off our healthy balance, resulting in an overgrowth of GBS.   Anyway, I'm sorry for this long message, but I am so frustrated with the whole thing and   just had to vent.   I'm also just really scared.  

My point for the other newcomers here is that it's VERY important to determine which type of vaginitis you have because the treatments (traditional and alternative) are different for each one.   So, make sure your doctor does a thorough exam and culture.  However, the one common thread that seems helpful for many of these infections seems to be probiotics which is probably preventing us from getting out of balance and preventing overgrowth of Gardneralla (BV), Group B Strep, and yeast.    I am very interested to read that some of you have found that reducing gluten and eating more vegetables has helped you to some degree.  I may try that also.     

To add to my frustration, my husband and I are about to do donor-IVF so I really need to get this resolved soon---I am concerned about having an invasive procedure while having GBS -- worried it will enter my uterus when they implant the embryo in my womb.  Not to mention the risk of miscarriage of GBS.   So, I am really hoping to resolve this soon.   Since I am feeling so bad, with cramps and bleeding, I think I will take the prescribed antibiotic and also use FemDophilis orally and vaginally and perhaps even do the garlic cure as a preventive in another 15 days after I am healed.   

Sorry for the long post and I hope everyone here finds a resolution soon.   I do recommend the garlic cure in the link I posted as one good possibility--but be sure to use probiotics too! 

One thing I thought might be helpful is if we each describe a few things about ourselves and our diets and see if there are any commonalities that may point to the problem.

For example, I have low serum cholesterol (150) and LDL cholesterol (85) (as does someone who previously posted here),  I eat mostly vegetarian (which is probably why the low cholesterol) and probably too much wheat (but as of the past few days am really trying to reduce processed foods and move to whole foods, especially vegetables).    I am 5'7" and 136 lbs and am in my mid 40s.  

Best to all.

-Ninja Cat. ;)  

[pe4rl]

Wow. Just read the whole thread carefully. I was finally diagnosed with GBS recently. I've had a constant watery discharge with an unpleasant odor for about 1 1/2 years. Began with a UTI (unpleasant odor and color but resolved on its own) However, I have never had any accompanying vaginal pain, itching burning or discomfort so I'm lucky in that regard. It seems to be low-grade.

I have always eaten a high-protein low-carb diet. Red meat, fish, chicken and lots of veggies. Almost no fruit because I don't like it. I am overweight because I have portion control issues and I sometimes go on extended chocolate jags which can't be good. I think you are all on to something with the diet factor.

While inserting creams, probiotics, antibiotics, garlic, chinese tinctures and other things directly into the vagina may give temporary relief, I agree it can only be a short-term fix because it's an imbalance throughout the body of alkaline/acid ph. Similarly anything "medicinal" by mouth or IV will also be just a temporary fix. We have to ask ourselves why the vaginal environment seems to be permanently out of whack. Please go onto some of the alkaline/acid diet web sites and tell me what you think. Acidity is the cause of so many diseases in the body including autoimmune diseases such as Hashi, arthritis etc. Also people with cancer have a highly acidic ph (can be measured by saliva or urine with ph test strips. I actually tested my vaginal discharge and it came out acidic on the strip. The strips can be bought online.).

Sugar and white carbs are a huge factor which causes systemic acidity. Surely an acidic (typical American) diet will lead to an acidic vagina which is the perfect breeding ground for harmful bacteria. Fermented dairy products (although not regular milk products which are acidic) such as yogurt tend to be alkaline so maybe that's why they help in addition to the probiotics. Almost all veggies are alkaline. Red meat is acidic.

I am going to take a course of penicillin to hopefully "jump start" a cure but I am also definitely going to stop the chocolate and red meat (acidic) jags and eat more foods from the alkaline lists which are easy to find online. I think the only way to vaginal health is for the whole body ph to get back in balance......not just the vagina.......that's just my opinion and I'll let you know how it goes. If any of you convert to a more alkaline diet and it helps, kindly post so we can all benefit. I'm so glad to have found such an intelligent thread regarding this topic. Thank you all very much.

[JU11]

Take Oregano Oil, I got mine from my chriopractor.

[Elph68]

Hi Ladies,

I can tell you definitively from a males perspective that if you have diagnosed Group B Strep and it is symptomatic, your partner (the male) has it to. 

The bug get's caught up in the prostate and lives quite happily in the mucous, also lives under the foreskin. For me, this caused a condition called prostatitis, or a prostate inflammation and foreskin inflammation or balanitis. My prostate inflammation was originally diagnosed as non-bacterial by my urologist as 'there was nothing there'!. After 2 years of arguing, negative tests and 9 different doctors, an infectious disease specialist found it by growing out the samples and having a 'hard look', first in my throat, then in other areas. GBS infects the pharanx, the anus and the genital tract. Can also cause diabetic ulcers, arthritis and skin infections. If you have a tickly cough or sore lymph nodes in your throat/neck, you probably have it there too as it is transferred through oral sex.

During that time I gave it back to my wife 6 times (Zithromax and Avelox cleared it 4 of these times). Our doctors weren't smart enough to find it in her, they even did a cervical cauterization 'to solve the problem'. It took 6 weeks of augmentin for me 10 days for my wife and now we believe it is now gone. 

You only get it 2 ways, from your mother during birth, or from intimate sexual contact.... 

And ladies, I can taste it. The vaginal fluids are bitter and smell unusual, and the white discharge burns my tongue and causes ulcers. The reason I reacted so violently to it .... I am diabetic, otherwise I would never have known I picked it up and would have been an asymptomatic carrier like everybody else.

So, if you aren't treating your partner, it may never go away, and he needs 4 weeks minimum. I also found that using condoms for 6 months, along with 'clearing the pipes' 5 to 6 times a week, cleared my symptoms .... but came back again after taking the condom off. It may actually leave the male system over time, but that is only an observation.

I sincerely hope you don't find my post too blunt or rude, I am a male who has had the feeling of a cricket ball shoved up my bum for the past 2 years.

Good luck ladies, the only reason I finally got it resolved .... because I never gave up!

Edited by Elph68 - 5/3/12 at 10:39pm

[missy101]

HELLO EVERYONE I HAVE 4 KIDS AND 3 DIFFERENT FATHERS THAT HAD PREVIOUSLY SLEPT WITH A LOT OF WOMEN.  LET ME TELL YOU YOUR HUSBAND HAS TO BE TREATED WITH CLINDAMYACIN, OR IT WILL KEEP REOCCURING.  I SUFFERED FOR MONTHS TIL MY HUSBAND WAS TREATED AND HAVE NEVER HAD ONE AGAIN.  DOCTORS DO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT MEN NEVER GET CHECKED THEY SHOW NO SYMPTOMS BUT CARRY IT AND PASS IT TO US AND WE GET UTIS FISHY BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS GROUP B STREP DOES AFFECT NON PREGNANT WOMEN.  CLINDAMYCIN TREATS BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS AND GROUP B STREP IN MEN AND WOMEN. PLEASE PASS THIS ON WOMEN ARE SUFFERING AND DOCTORS ARE IGNORANT TO THE FACT THAT MEN ARE NOT CARRYING THIS STUFF AROUND!!

[sadface]

I have diabetes and similar symptoms.  If you do not have diabetes, you may try cutting soda out of your diet.  There is so much information I have found, but no solid facts.  

[camilled]

Hello eplh68,

I just had a few questions for you.  I was just treated with amoxicillin at 500mg 2x daily for 7 days and my partner with ampicillin at 500mg 2x daily for 7 days.  However it came right back a week later.  I thought that penicillins were the only effective antibiotic for strep b? I was also under the impression that its something you carry forever.  I just need some help in getting rid of this horrible thing that I've been dealing with for the better part of a year.  I think a birth control I was on threw me off initially but I've been off it now for 5 months and still having issues.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 

[Elph68]

Hi Camilled,

This was the same issue for us .... my doctor gave us short doses of fluroquinolines as he didn't know what it was. If you have had it for a while the bug goes deep into the uterus and is hard to get rid of. The length of course may need to be 2 to 4 weeks ..... using the guidelines for PID and prostatitis may help when discussing this with your GP. I was on Augmentin Duo Forte for 6 weeks. My wife needed another 10 days (20 days in total), PLUS the doc gave her a 3 day Zithromax. Group B strep also gets deep in the prostate and penicillin and other antibiotics don't get to it.

The question to ask is was it after contact or did it come back on it's own? When I passed it on 4 days to a week later the cervix would become tender and she had bladder pressure ..... about a week later the irritation, burning and discharge.

For men, a strong smell, a very slight irritation or redness if uncircumcised.  

I battled with the medical 'experts' for 2 years and it took an infectious disease specialist to find the answer.

We will see what happens now .... fingers crossed and best of luck to you in getting it resolved.

The 'experts' just don't know ..... 

[Tropicalfever]

Hello,

I have been having Garnerella vaginalis for the pas 4 months or so, it was first diagnosed in March I was put under fasigyne and vaginal Metronidazole for 10 days my DPalso had fasigyne by the time I was over I waited another 10 days and tested agian, The gardnerella was still there and candida albicans had added its self. I took  , I took an appointmnet with the OB/GYN on saturday we had an echography and he realised (and showed me) that I have a swolen right fallopian tube whic is completely "glued" to the u times fasigyne, triflucan seven days clotri-denk cream. I tested again this month same thing I'm loosingf my mind. Now I'm taking clotri-denk vaginal tabl, fasigyne and after the vaginal tab will start Trophigil to rebuild my doderlin flora which is extinct.

Now my Ob/GYN discovered that I have my right fallopian tub which is about 3 times the size of my left tube and "glued" to my uterus. He says the gluing might have been caused by scars or by an infection. Three months ago I underwent a treatment a a cyst at the right ovary don't know if its linked but the cyst is gone. He went through my history this is generally caused by PID I've never had Clamydia or Gonhorea My personnal hygiene is perfect I dont have any pains  I've never had any problems before (well I guess). He asked me to do a lab test for my prolactin level it turned out I'm at 20 nanograms/ml so he precibed parlodel 2.5 , he also prescribed clomid and Utrogestan to be taken for the next cycle. Im at 22 DPO no AF took the test again at 17DPO it was BFN he says I should hold on till 30DPO  that I tested too early and by then if  I still get a BFN  themn I have a more serious condition. In summarry what does it all mean? Has any one suffered form any of these before of do I mobve my post elsewhere and where precisely? I think I'm gonna post this on a new thread. Thanks for reading.