ThinkingKitten -> RE: Yeast Infection Question (6/20/2006 8:01:03 PM)
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Well most of its already been said in one way or another, but as I work professionally in this sort of area, I thought I'd toss in my 50 cents, and offer some other info that might be of use/interest to others...... If you have no prior history of recurrent YI, then yes, it was more than likely due to the antibiotics. Fluconazole (Diflucan) is only about 70% effective in curing vaginal YI's (as I recall - could be wrong) based on the current protocol of a single dose. Most other Candida species infections require longing dosing. If you want to try taking a probiotic, then head off to a good health food store, and choose one from the refridgerated section (I always take mine to the lab and promptly culture the pill to make sure it contains viable organisms of the right type :) Have not had a problem with refridgerated organisms yet, but the regular freeze dried ones on the room temp shelf are questionable. A hefty shot of yogurt containing "live culture" will do the same thing - Lactobacillus acidophilus is the usual beneficial organism used in culture, but you might also see ones with Bifidobacterium sp as well - they're fine too. Keep the genital area clean and dry - when women started wearing underwear on a regular basis in the mid 1800's we set ourselves up for this problem by hampering air flow round the area. DO NOT DOUCHE. You'll likely just cause more trouble. Avoid talcum powder (an irritant) - use cornstarch powder instead if you want something (especially if you are shaving the area etc). Finally, if you have a YI tell your partner. Men can be asymptomatic and simply give it right back to you without realising it - if you've had recent sexual contact with them then they might want to have a chat with their doc to get a topical cream, JIC. The OTC cream/ovule treatments generally work great as well (just a bit messy). IF, however, you keep getting them, then you may have picked up a resistant strain and you'll have to take an oral antifungal. There are other reasons, most of them clearly stated on the product inserts..... diabetes, immune deficiency etc. Finger's crossed this was just a one off to you..... if you were taking something like Ampicillin then you could try telling your doc if he/she wants to put you on it again in the future that you got a YI - they might try something else that's not so unkind to your normal bacterial flora. Better yet, just avoid the antibiotics altogether if at all possible. Hope that blurbs useful someway, somehow.
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