Thursday, March 7, 2013

The BV Prescriptions, OTC medications & Home Remedies I Have Tried

Trying to keep things as light as possible for this damn blog I thought I would get festive for St. Patties Day!

I know you all want to know what I have tried to keep the BV away and not just hear me say over and over everything. I have become that women who is no longer goggling for suggestions because I have tried it all. I'm going to you what I have tried and how each has worked for me. I would also love to hear what has worked for all of you. Now remember just because some of these didn't work for me doesn't mean it wont work for you.

To back track just a moment for anyone who did not read my original blog "The great bacterial vaginosis roller-coaster" I am a week shy of my 30th birthday and have been suffering with chronic BV for over 8 years. I have a great doctor is determined to figure this out. She just referred me to a Infectious Disease Specialist and as soon as I have an update regarding that I will post it. Now to the OTC remedies and prescription medications I have tried. 

  • Lifestyle changes: I eat clean and exercise regularly. This wasn't always the case and while I notice the amazing benefits that come from eating clean and being active this hasn't had any improvement on BV. 
  • Condoms: I was on birth control for almost 10 years but have been off for the last 5. I have been told to use condoms to prevent BV but it hasn't made any difference.
  • Prescriptions Oral: - Metronidazole/Flagyl, Clindamycin, Tindamax - All of these medications work while I am taking them but my BV comes back within days or weeks of the last dose. 
  • Prescriptions Vaginal: - Metro-gel & Clindamycin these medications are great at getting rid of the BV symptoms but doesn't cure it. 
  • Over the Counter: - VH BV (homeopathic) pills & Vaginal inserts. The pill form I currently take in conjunction with a daily Pobiotic. This seems to help with the frequency but it doesn't prevent BV from coming back. These can be found at your local health food or drug store - DO NOT confuse this with the VH lubricant you can find at the dollar store. RePresh is another one that comes in both pill and vaginal insert form. They are costly and I did have some relief with the pill form. 
  • Acidolophilus with & without Bifidus:, FEMdolophous is a popular one. I also make sure to get a serving of unflavored yogurt with live cultures each day - I think this may help keep the good bacteria alive but I have read studies that suggest the lactobacilli found in yogurt and these probiotics are not the same as the ones our bodies produce. 
  • Apple Cider Vinegar: - I use the organic Bragg's brand you can find it at any health-food store and usually any grocery store super cheap. I drink it daily and have tried the vaginal suppositories (you mix them with two parts water one part ACV and freeze them. Then insert as you get into bed) This has just been irritating no benefits forfor me. 

  • Hydrogen Peroxide Douche: While I found this helpful for making me feel "fresher" for the time being this had no lasting effect it did not kill the bad bacteria. 

  • Yogurt (vaginally): I have done the tampon in the yogurt and any other way I can get it up there, again it did relieve some of the worst symptoms for the moment and I can see how this might work for others but not for me
  • Vinegar & Water douche: NO benefit for me
  • Glycerin soap: This hasn't cured anything but it has no dies or harsh chemicals and I don't think it's hurting. 
I may be missing some but off the top of my head the above is what comes to mind. Please let me know if you have any questions for me and I will happily respond. I have a great group of girlfriends and they know what I go through. I believe 2 of 8 have had BV and as far as I know they have each had it once. That is NORMAL! I have had one yeast infection in my life that is NORMAL having either on a regular basis is not. My doctor said more than 4 times a year is chronic and not normal. If you have any questions you would like me to take to my trip to the infectious disease doctor post them & believe me I will ask & re-post! 

One thing I would like to add is that at this point I think that my reocurring BV may be a symptom of something else and not the cause. I had a woman on a medical forum tell me my story was just like hers and her doctor tested her for (don't quote my spelling, EVER) Ureaclampsea & Myclampsia - you can google them. She said she was treated for those and is now cured of BV. So that might be worth looking into.

Alright chicka's if you took the time to read this whole blog, God Bless you, you must be going through a tough time. Ask away & Stay tuned! 

47 comments:

  1. Hey. Thanks for this very informative blog. I think I have BV but not sure because with the white discharge, I am also having two painful rashes outside my vagina. They are red and sore. Is that a symptom you have experienced? I dont have insurance so google medicating for now :P

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    1. Hi Mara,

      I have not experienced the rashes myself. Just a friendly warning Google can be your best friend or worst nightmare. I suggest calling your local planned parenthood they should be able to see you at little to no cost.

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  2. Hi Kimberly,

    Thank you so much for the blog. While reading this I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time because I am experiencing the same thing. I kept wondering if my husband might be re-infecting me since I try treatments and he hasn't. OMG I am sooooo sick of this. I came across your blog while googling for a remedy on how to get rid of it. I have tried all of these. I am going to go to the pharmacy and see what I can find over the counter. Unfortunately I am not working now so I don't have health insurance so I can't afford to do anything but the home remedies.

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  3. It sucks to say this but I feel good that I am not the only one going through this.. I have been having bacterial infections since my first pap at 16 years old (I'm 30 now) and I was not sexually active so I was very confused... I have tried all the things you mentioned and nothing worked... one doctor that I was seeing had me do the pill and the metro-gel at the same time and it worked for almost a year (best year of my life if I may say so) but then it came back as has been here ever since. I dont know What to do... it has ruined my sex life with my boyfriend of 9 years... I wish it would just go away.

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    Replies
    1. I feel u completely but get water works from walgreens.com for $25-30. It has saved my sex life the best money I ever spent and its all natural. When I heard about it I ordered it that day and it works instantly

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  4. This is a great inspiring article.I am pretty much pleased with your good work.You put really very helpful information. Keep it up. Keep blogging. Looking to reading your next post!
    Thanks
    antibiotics to buy

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  5. Thank you so much, I am doing research for my daughter. I have an excellent specialist that helped solve my chronic yeast and I think he can help her.

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  6. I used to get bv all of the time. I stopped using tampons and haven't had a problem in 4 years. I also started taking my birth control pills continuously for three months to skip my periods and that helped also. But now....I have been off the pills and trying to conceive for over a year now. I've had two miscarriages and this is the third time I have had bv in the last three months. Typically the symptoms are after having intercourse when he releases inside of me. It shows up a couple days later. So now idk what to try other than deal with it until I finally get pregnant without miscarrying.

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    Replies
    1. Get water works they sell it at Walgreen.com $24.95 I think. I had the exact same problem and waterworks is natural and works instantly. It will b the best $30 u ever spent. It was also on dr oz

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  7. I have the ultimate remedy and it works instantly. I love love love it and its all natural. Ladies its called Water works and they sell it online at walgreens.com for $24.95. It was a miracle for me. No odor no white discharge and I felt very different away I haven't felt in a long time. Its stainless steel and water and u can keep it for a hundred years. So if u are a repeat bv women like me where when your ph balance is interrupted u get this nasty stuff. U must have this. It worked for me and I thought I should share. Back to some good lovin.lol smooches

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    Replies
    1. Did your gyno suggest the douching? My gyno instructed me to not use them Bc they rid the good bacteria....

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    2. My GYN said NOT to douche as well. It disrupts the pH balance.

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    3. Hi ladies!

      I can tell you that douching, while it might make you feel fresher for a moment it doesn't help.

      Delete
  8. Learn more about photofacial gurgaon at www.skindelhi.com/photoRejuvenationFacials.html

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  9. I read your whole post. I completely feel your pain!! BV is driving me mad. I started my own blog just like you to document all my experiences with each "solution." It's SO frustrating that no doctor can help me and I've resorted to the internet. Thank God for people like you!! Would love for you to check out my blog if you have a second:
    http://bacterialvaginosisforum.blogspot.com/

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    Replies
    1. It's really sad and unbelievable that most doctors just keep pushing antibiotics and Flagyl on all of us. We keep going back to them with the same issues and they just keep on giving us the same stuff. Like it's going to help THIS time. I posted below with my experiences and treatments if you'd like to read my comments. Thanks.

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    2. Hey Jennifer! I'm checking your blog out now. I hope we figure this out!!

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  10. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  11. Has anything worked at all for you?!... I have had BV for FOUR YEARS and have tried all of these including Boric Acid vaginally for 30 days. I have also done combinations of all of these. My Dr. also gave my boyfriend of 4 years take Flagyl for a week thinking he was the one causing it. He obviously was not and none of this has worked.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Theresa. I just commented. You probably need to do the Boric Acid for several months. I think I used the suppositories for 3 months. I now use Tea Tree Oil and Tea Tree Oil suppositories and let me tell you, what a difference. Of course the BV will probably never disappear completely, but compared to what mine used to be like, it's so much better. I'll probably have to use Tea Tree oil for a long time, maybe the rest of my life, I don't know, and my doctor can't say for sure either but if it helps this much, it's worth it. Hang in there. Go back to your doc and get more Boric Acid (at least three months) then try the Tea Tree oil suppositories. :)

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    2. Hi Theresa, I'm Kimberly the author of the blog. I have an update that should be really helpful. I'll try to get it up by the end of the day today.

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  12. Your blog has been very helpful if only in the fact that we are not alone. I have had BV for 2 years and so far nothing has worked. I have eliminated packaged food, sugar, gluten, soy, corn, dairy from my diet. I feel better but this hasn't done anything for the BV infection. I've seen 2 gynecologists, a naturopath and a urologist to name a few. I've taken 9 different anti-biotics, the latest a 2nd round of metrogel (vaginally). This works great while your taking it, but the symptoms return after a couple of days. I don't know what I'm going to do when I'm finished with this.
    My cultures came up positive for gardnerella and light staph A, which the metrogel is supposed to fix. I've tried different douches, nothing has worked. My husband has not been tested, but I don't think he is the cause. I'm way older than all of you young women, but still sexually active and a newlywed to boot. I've had this our whole married life, but did not have it before we met. I'm open to trying anything at this point. I will look into the Water works from Wallgreens, never heard of it before.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Doctors keep pushing antibiotics on us. All they're doing is making our bodies immune to the antibiotics, making our infection(s) worse (antibiotics kill all bacteria and we need the good kind) and wasting our time and money.
      Boric Acid suppositories (Rx) helped me, and now I'm using Tea Tree oil suppositories. I posted about my experiences/treatments at/near the end of the thread.

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    2. Hi Susan, boy do I know your frustration! I know it's been a few months since you commented. Have you had any improvement?

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    3. Susan, I never had this issue before i met my husband. NEVER. It makes me wonder if certain people are just not compatible with others.

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  13. Thank you for sharing your experiences, Kimberly! Have you found something that works for you in the year that has passed, short of taking the prescription continuously? At least now, people can read this blog and see what to expect when using some of the products that have been “known” to help with BV. And some of the items on the list could be beneficial for them, especially the ones that could provide immediate relief. I hope you’re feeling well now.

    Drea Tyrell | Anaheim Hills

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    Replies
    1. Drea, I have had a change and I'm hoping to get my update posted by the end of the day!

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  14. Wow! This information was very helpful; thank you ladies so much. I'm also dealing with BV and it goes away for a while, but returns. I'm planning to try the water works you've suggested; thanks agian.

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    Replies
    1. Let us know how the waterworks worked for you!

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  15. Hi, I've dealt with BV constantly for three years. After my divorce in 2011, I was promiscuous and ever since, I've had this problem. It was at its worst in December of 2013. Doctors kept prescribing antibiotics and creams, thinking they'd be the one who made them work for me. Ya, no. I also tried the yogurt thing, the vinegar thing, and probiotic thing (orally and vaginally). Nothing helped. I finally found a GYN who thinks outside the box. I explained to him everything I've tried and the frustration I was going through and even cried. He said his "go to" solution is Boric Acid. Boric Acid suppositories. He prescribed several months' worth (insurance doesn't cover this). They're about $45 for 20 pills but SO worth it. Cleared up my BV in about 7 or 8 doses (approximately four days). I used them twice a day, every day (except for when I had my period) for three months, then for five days after my period. The BV did return when I wasn't using the Boric Acid, but was much less severe. The smell wasn't nearly as bad as it was before using the Boric Acid. I now use Tea Tree Oil and Tea Tree Oil Suppositories. You can find them at Whole Foods but I recently bought some on Amazon.com for a bit cheaper. Same product. Same quality. I just alternate between the oil and suppositories. Just whenever I feel I need something a bit stronger, I insert the suppository. For the oil, I found those long cotton swabs on Amazon too. Just dip it in the bottle, and insert the swab up there (I get way up there on my cervix) and rotate it a bit. Sometimes I repeat the process (get a fresh cotton swab for this). Tea Tree Oil tingles, feels fresh and smells good. I can do either method every other day and I'm good. During my period, I'll poor a little bit of oil on my tampon before inserting it. It seems to help, although I do see a little bit of green discharge when I change my tampon. It's much less than before the Boric Acid and Tea Tree Oil treatments though. My vagina and I have come a long way. Frustration, embarrassment with the boyfriend, tears and almost giving up. My doctor kicks ass. He seems to really understand the effect BV, or any condition of the vagina has on women. It makes us feel dirty and smelly. Even after a shower I still wasn't clean. I still smelled and the dishcarge was still there. He told me "Women are more than vaginas. No one knows you have a problem there. If you're walking in the mall or something, people are going to see your cute shoes or hair. Not your vagina. Stop thinking about it so much and let me take care of it." :) Go to your doctor and demand Boric Acid suppositories first, to really kick out the BV, then in a few months, get some Tea Tree Oil Suppositories and/or oil. Whole Foods has the suppositories for around $24 for twelve. Try Amazon too.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Chelle! Thank's for the information. Was this another temporary fix or would you still swear by boric acid? I've never tried it.

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    2. After suffering from BV and recurrent yeast infections. Doctor visit after visit. Antibiotics, anti fungal creams, vinegar rinse and baking soda rinse.... I FINALLY found something that works! I have been using VH Essentials probiotic suppositories and VH Essentials oral probiotics with prebiotics. One suppository at beditme, two oral capsules at night. Then if I feel I need an extra boost to a slight feeling of the BV, I slice an oral capsule (some of the contents will spill out) and insert internally into vagina. Have been doing this for a week now and while I don't know if it is a for sure cure ... but I feel better, no odor, no discharge, no burning. NOTHING other than this has worked for more than 1 or 2 days! I am hopeful!!!! VH Essentials can be bought at walmart over the counter and is SUPER inexpensive!

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  16. Hello All! I have only been dealing with this for about 1 year now, but 1 year has been MORE than enough! The only product I've found that has worked for me is called the Greens. Its made by a company called It Works. In full disclosure, I just started working with them because of my results. I never thought I'd find a permanent solution. You just add one scoop a day to some water or juice and in 3-4 days you will notice it is gone. I am not trying to peddle a product on you, but I know the frustration and embarrassment of this and I just want to share. I'd love for you to buy from me, but even if you go through someone else you will thank me.
    It's $33 for a months supply and as long as your using it, no BV. I have several friends on it now and they have not had a relapse. I am NO botanist, chemist, biologist or whatever, but I know it has worked. I was starting to feel like my body was a constant science project doing all these crazy things out of desperation! The Greens also contain 8+ servings or fruits and vegetables and 38 superfoods, so this product is good for the WHOLE body... not just the lady parts.

    You can go to my site www.cheysexywraps.myitworks.com and email me for 3 days worth to sample it or you can email me directly at chey2chey79@yahoo.com. I'm not a creeper or weirdo, you can read my profile on my site, my phone number is listed there too if you want to call me with any questions. Hope this helps y'all. :)

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  17. After suffering from BV and recurrent yeast infections. Doctor visit after visit. Antibiotics, anti fungal creams, vinegar rinse and baking soda rinse.... I FINALLY found something that works! I have been using VH Essentials probiotic suppositories and VH Essentials oral probiotics with prebiotics. One suppository at beditme, two oral capsules at night. Then if I feel I need an extra boost to a slight feeling of the BV, I slice an oral capsule (some of the contents will spill out) and insert internally into vagina. Have been doing this for a week now and while I don't know if it is a for sure cure ... but I feel better, no odor, no discharge, no burning. NOTHING other than this has worked for more than 1 or 2 days! I am hopeful!!!! VH Essentials can be bought at walmart over the counter and is SUPER inexpensive!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Bv can be transmitted sexually. You and your partner need to be treated at same time with flagyl. 2 a day for 7 days. If not it will keep reoccurring. Most doctors don't treat the male. But if you look up sti's bacterial vaginosis is on the list.

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  19. Bv can be transmitted sexually. You and your partner need to be treated at same time with flagyl. 2 a day for 7 days. If not it will keep reoccurring. Most doctors don't treat the male. But if you look up sti's bacterial vaginosis is on the list.

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  20. Ladies who experience vaginosis once tend to be vunerable to it re-occurring again sooner or later. home remedies for bacterial vaginosis

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  21. Burning with urination may occur. Itching is uncommon. Occasionally there may be no symptoms. Having Bacterial Vaginitis approximately doubles the risk of infection by a number of other sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS. It also increases the risk of early delivery among pregnant women. So we advise you to take Home Remedies For Bacterial Vaginitis which is work properly in all conditions.

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  22. Before taking the decision for the hair transplant surgery, you must have an appointment with your doctor on the basis of your over the counter tablets.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Bacterial vaginitis is one of the mildest vaginal infection that is caused due to the imbalance between the good and bad bacteria present in vagina. This is not a serious problem but the symptoms are very annoying. The good news is that the condition is treatable and there are various Natural Home Remedies for Bacterial Vaginitis which can help to get rid of it quickly. Medicines can cause some side effects too, so it is better to try Ayurvedic Remedies for Bacterial Vaginitis as they are completely safe and effective too.

    ReplyDelete
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