Yeast Again?

I am getting so tired of finding out I have a yeast infection. I developed one before surgery when I went through urodynamic testing. I developed a bladder infection and vaginal infection after they removed the catheter -- was on two different antibiotics for those. Now I'm 5 weeks post op and suddenly have a burning sensation below and a hard time sitting for any length of time. I realize it's yet another yeast infection! I'll drink lots of water and cranberry juice tonight and call the doc in the morning for yeast med. The sensation originally felt like my stitches were bothering me -- but those self-dissolved weeks ago, or should have. I'm looking forward to feeling NORMAL again, or at least a reasonable facsimile! Best wishes to all, Aunt May

Hi Auntmay! I'm sorry to hear you're so uncomfortable. Are you absolutely sure it's a yeast infection? You might want to have your DR do a quick swab to make sure. I've gotten to where I can take a quick look with a mirror and when I see those cottage cheese looking white patches, I know it's the yeastie beasties partying in there again... and if not, it's the dreaded vaginal dryness, which can feel just like the beginnings of a yeast infection.

Have you been using a probiotic to replace the 'good' bacteria in your vagina after the last round of antibiotics? The cranberry juice will help prevent UTI's (it does this by making the bladder 'slippery' so those nasty bacteria can't hold on), and plain unsweetened yogurt with live active cultures can help replace the good bacteria. It also helps to watch your sugar intake, since the yeasts feed on sugars.

If you do find out it's a yeast infection, make sure you alternate your treatments... if you keep using the same thing (most of us love diflucan), you will develop a strain of yeasts that are resistant to it, and those can take over and be almost impossible to get rid of. I know it's hard when you're not cleared to put anything in the vagina. You may need to get clearance to use some other type of yeast medication though, like one of the Monistats (I've found 5 and 7 to be the most effective for me).

Also, I'm assuming you're not cleared for intercourse yet, but even outercourse can spread a yeast infection back and forth between partners... if you're having any kind of sexual contact, you may need to have your partner get treated, too.

I hope this helps... there are tons of threads here in Post Op and also over in the Hormone Jungle about yeast infections that can help, too.

If you find out it's not a yeast infection, you might want to consider the possibility it's vaginal dryness... there's a discussion about that here .

Feel better soon!
s,
-Linda

Dear SurferBabe: Thanks for the advice. I did a quick check in the mirror, as you mentioned, and it is the yeastie beasties returned. For the last two infections, they put me on the same med, so I will mention to the nurse today that perhaps I need a different med. I was getting disapointed in my recovery -- the inability to sit for any length of time after 5 weeks is frustrating -- but if I can cure this latest thing again, perhaps I'll finally be better. Best wishes to you, Aunt May