Intense vaginal itching

[sbm1001]

I guess no topic is taboo here, though I do feel a bit odd talking about it.

For the past 4 days I've had very intense vaginal itching. It's only externally & MAN does it itch!!!!!!!! I've never had a yeast infection but know there's odor associated with yeast & I don't have that. Just major itching & some swelling from the occassional scratching I can't help but give in to. I don't know how to treat it & I really don't want to see an OB for this. I've been applying EVOO infused with lavender EO & lobelia root but it's only temporary relief & doesn't seem to be "healing" anything.

I've had intense itching & irritation in one of my armpits for the past week & a half & I'm wondering if the two are related somehow. Like maybe I scratched my armpit & didn't wash up properly afterwards. The itching sensation is similar & I can't seem toget rid of the armpit issue either. I've been treating the armpit with a myrrh & goldenseal salve & it's better but not gone.

I tried using a lotrimin-type cream yesterday on my armpit but the itching only got 10 times worse so I wiped it off & am not about to attempt putting it on my crotch to see what happens with that!

How would you treat this?? HELP!

Shannon

[She2dancer]

I've only had a yeast infection a few times in my life...but each time it was that same type of intense external itching you are describing....I never noticed any odor...

If I remember correctly, I think I took some acidaphilus (sp?) for a few days, ate some soy yogurt everyday and it cleared up eventually...

Very uncomforatble and I think our pregnant bodies are more prone to them...

I am not sure about the armpit though????

[wrzos]

I've had this with both pregnancies - and it was yeast - just external only. I'm not opposed to medicines for yeast, especially when I was itching that badly! I found an external cream (made by monistat I think) that helped. It wasn't vagisil or anything "light" like that - but an actual medication that ended in ...zole. Anyway, I'm sure some of the more homeopathic solutions for yeast will also help - but I was desparate at the time!

[happydoulamama]

I had my first yeast infection this pg and man it was unmistakable- the itching was like none other! And NO odor whatsoever- not even any "normal" odor. I was odorless and it was weird. And no "cottage cheese" either- just white-ish discharge. I got the over the counter 7-day cream to treat it since I read it's the most effective. But I'd treat it fast- yeast at birth can cause thrush in the newborn. And you don't want that!!

Edited to say that although the 7-day treatment was the longest, my symptoms were a little better the first day, noticeably better the second, and almost gone on the third. I also had tried a water/vinegar wash, plain yogurt, and a tea tree oil wash. None of those things helped and I was in dire need to stop itching, which is when I decided to self treat.

Also, my RN mom says that any "white-ish" flakes in discharge is yeast. I had clear discharge with white flakes and self-diagnosed that way. But with you this close to labor, you might check with your mw to see if there is a good quick safe way to get rid of it fast.

Good luck!

[juliansmom]

As long as the itching is not unbeareable, and if you are having the problem in other areas as well, then I would agree with you that most likely it's not yeast. I am wondering if you're just having some general irritation simply due to increased discharge. I had this a few weeks ago and found that compresses soaked in cold milk helped. Diluted white vinegar helped, too, but not as much.

Feel better soon, mama!

[~*~MamaJava~*~]

The underarm thing is weird...but it sure sounds like an external yeast infection.

Tea tree oil drops in your underwear feel superb. And just use an external antifungal cream. It'll work.

[roomformore]

I had similar itching. I took a warm bath with my bath salt mix and some lavender EO. You could just put baking soda in the bath if you don't have the salts. My mix is- 1 cup baking soda, 1 cup epsom salts, 1 cup sea salts. Mix well and use about 1/4 cup of mix per bath. Also, I would make sure that you dry the area well. Perhaps a hair dryer on cool or (really) low heat... towel drying could cause more irritation. Hope you find some relief!

[sbm1001]

Thanks for the advice, everyone. I won't be using any antifungal creams as I'm so afraid of a reaction. I used some on my ds' yeasty diaper rash about a month ago & the reaction he had to it has finally cleared up within the last week. It was like a burn on his skin, he reacted so badly. I'm really afraid I'll have the same kind of reaction, with my sensitive skin, so I'm steering clear of any chemical-type stuff. I'm trying to get in contact with an herbalist to get a natural remedy. I have some acidopholus from when we were trying to clear up my ds' issues left over so I'll be taking some of that in the next several days.

How long will this take to clear up. The last thing I want is to labor & deliver with this kind of itch!!!

Shannon

[gaeasun]

I use Boric Acid suppositories that I make myself (I had to get the boric acid from the pharmacist, it wasn't out on the shelves) in gel tabs. I use one vaginally at bed time for 2 nights, and if it isn't gone, I skip a night, and then used it again for 2 more nights. It is a remedy I got from my midwife, and it has worked well for me.

Good luck!

[prettypixels]

Shannon, there is a HUGE thread about natural remedies for yeast in the... I think it's the health section. But if you search for yeast, or maybe search for apple cider vinegar (one of the natural remedies), you should be able to find it. I will go see if I can track it down really quickly too!

[earthmama369]

I'm not in your DDC but this happened in both my pregnancies -- intense armpit and vaginal itching.

The first time, I went to my FP and after testing to rule out yeast, we determined it was bacterial vaginitis and I tried a medicated topical cream, followed by oral medication for both dh and I on the assumption we were passing bacteria back and forth, so treating just me would be fairly useless. Both provided temporary relief only and the itching started up again within a day or two. Finally I shaved down there, lightly iced it on the worst moments, and just rode it out. It subsided within a couple months of dd's birth.

Lo and behold, the same thing happened again with my next pregnancy, again starting right around 20 weeks. Consulted with my FP again, and determined that it was pregancy-induced hormonal vaginitis. Same symptoms as bacterial vaginitis, but the medications that kill the bacteria don't work because it's caused by hormonal shifts.

So . . . bright side, no crappy medications needed. Down side, giving birth is the only "cure." There were a few things I did with this pregnancy to treat the itching that really helped: Probiotics daily. Cold yogurt applied topically when the itching flared up. Ate a lot of yogurt, too. Just helped keep everything as "optimal" as possible to counterbalance the effect of the hormones. Stayed shaved to cut down on irritation. No soap down there when showering, just water. Rinsed with a peri bottle (just water) after peeing.

It went away again when ds was about 8 weeks old. I don't know if this is what you're experiencing, but throwing my experience out there in case it sounds familiar.

[sbm1001]

Originally Posted by gaeasun

I use Boric Acid suppositories that I make myself (I had to get the boric acid from the pharmacist, it wasn't out on the shelves) in gel tabs. I use one vaginally at bed time for 2 nights, and if it isn't gone, I skip a night, and then used it again for 2 more nights. It is a remedy I got from my midwife, and it has worked well for me.

Good luck!

I read that somewhere once, but it didn't apply to me at the time so I forgot about it. Thanks for the reminder! I'm SO headed to the pharmacy when dh gets home. I have one of those pill maker things & some empty gel caps. I'm DYING for some relief!!!

Shannon

[sbm1001]

Originally Posted by earthmama369

I'm not in your DDC but this happened in both my pregnancies -- intense armpit and vaginal itching.

The first time, I went to my FP and after testing to rule out yeast, we determined it was bacterial vaginitis and I tried a medicated topical cream, followed by oral medication for both dh and I on the assumption we were passing bacteria back and forth, so treating just me would be fairly useless. Both provided temporary relief only and the itching started up again within a day or two. Finally I shaved down there, lightly iced it on the worst moments, and just rode it out. It subsided within a couple months of dd's birth.

Lo and behold, the same thing happened again with my next pregnancy, again starting right around 20 weeks. Consulted with my FP again, and determined that it was pregancy-induced hormonal vaginitis. Same symptoms as bacterial vaginitis, but the medications that kill the bacteria don't work because it's caused by hormonal shifts.

So . . . bright side, no crappy medications needed. Down side, giving birth is the only "cure." There were a few things I did with this pregnancy to treat the itching that really helped: Probiotics daily. Cold yogurt applied topically when the itching flared up. Ate a lot of yogurt, too. Just helped keep everything as "optimal" as possible to counterbalance the effect of the hormones. Stayed shaved to cut down on irritation. No soap down there when showering, just water. Rinsed with a peri bottle (just water) after peeing.

It went away again when ds was about 8 weeks old. I don't know if this is what you're experiencing, but throwing my experience out there in case it sounds familiar.

I really hope it doesn't last that long!! I'm sorry you had to deal with it for such a long period of time! I can't remember if I said this in this thread or not but I had the same armpit thing when pg with my 14 mo. old ds & it went away after his birth. It was right at the end of the pg, too.

Thanks for the advice! I'm off to the bathroom with the trimmers!

Shannon

[sbm1001]

Originally Posted by prettypixels

Shannon, there is a HUGE thread about natural remedies for yeast in the... I think it's the health section. But if you search for yeast, or maybe search for apple cider vinegar (one of the natural remedies), you should be able to find it. I will go see if I can track it down really quickly too!

Thanks! I'll go search that out.

Shannon

[browneyedsol]

I'm guessing yeast. I never have odor, and I have chronic yeast. Here's what I do. I use an organic tampon (which I don't otherwise use). I put a few tea tree drops on the tip and then coat the tampon with olive oil. In it goes, and it works better than anything I've ever tried. Oh, with the exception of an essential oil blend that simplers organic oils makes specifically for yeast. That actually works a little better than tea tree. I have put some tea tree on a re-usable cotton pad, too. That might be a better idea for you since I'm not sure about the use of tea tree near your cervix when pregnant.

Good luck! Yeast is a p.i.t.a!

[Twilight]

I know you have lots of natural-remedy suggestions already, but I am adding one more I've found relief with garlic. Peel a garlic clove, wrap it in gauze and tie with a string... then insert and leave it there overnight. It feels a little weird in there but the itching was gone in the morning!