My story starts with a (bad) decision to try taking doxycycline, which is a broad spectrum antibiotic, for my acne.
I took it for almost a month, and it only slightly improved my skin. Meanwhile it destroyed all the good bacteria in my body along with the acne causing bacteria.
About a week after I stopped taking the doxycycline I had sex for the first time since starting the medication and the morning after I experienced a raw, burning sensation and discomfort. Upon further inspection I also discovered I had a thick white cottage cheese like discharge
I researched and found that antibiotic use can commonly cause yeast infections (my dermatologist didnt say anything to me about this, if I had only known taking Doxy may affect my sacred lady parts I NEVER would have done it no matter how bad my skin looked!!!)
I tried the one day Monistat. Burning and thick white cottage cheese discharge persisted for 2 more days. I spoke with a pharmacist who recommended the 3 day or 7 day Monistat.
I tried a 3 day course. Burning and discharge persisted. At this time I also started taking Diflucan, which is a commonly prescribed oral anti fungal to treat yeast infections. I took 3 doses spaced out 72 hours apart and also decided to try one more Monistat treatment, the 7 day this time.
By day 5 of this third Monistat treatment I was absolutely miserable, my period had come on top of everything else, I was having very intense burning sensations everywhere down there, thick white discharge all the while that looked like wet toilet paper, symptoms had persisted for 2 weeks at this point.
I also tried a vaginal suppository I got from a health food store containing boric acid and some other ingredients, and was taking triple doses of probiotics every day. Also tried rePHresh gel which made it WORSE - OMG BURNING FROM HELL.
Since the Monistat, Diflucan, and other treatments, were doing absolutely nothing to help me, I decided to stop all treatment and waited 3 days until I could accurately be tested for all other possibilities (its advised not to be swabbed and tested for 72 hours after Monistat and/or your period) Saw my primary Dr and was tested for: Yeast (candida) all strains, UTI, bacterial vaginosis, Trich, gonorrhea, and chlamydia.
All tests came back negative
At this point I was desperate for answers - OBVIOUSLY something was VERY and terribly wrong. I did some more research online which is when I discovered lactobacillus overgrowth syndrome and this forum. OMG!!!!
So all this time I had been treating for yeast, and using medications that are meant to lower the PH of the vagina AKA make it more acidic, no wonder everything was aggravating my symptoms!
RePHresh gel, boric acid, Monistat, are ALL A BAD IDEA if you suspect you have this condition - they are all acidic which will make the vagina more acidic which is NOT what you want if your vagina is ALREADY too acidic!!!!!! - OUCH!!!!! -----
Probiotics also made it worse with more burning which makes sense if I already have too many lactobacilli and I am taking triple doses of medicine with 90 billion lactobacilli!
Through all my research I found that baking soda can help to raise the PH of the vagina AKA making it more basic and less acidic
I immediately ran to the store and put an ungodly amount of baking soda in my tub with some nice warm water and soaked away - probably 30 - 45 minutes. Repeated the treatment the next morning as well for the same amount of time
HALLELUJAH!!!!! my first pain free day in almost 3 weeks at this point!!!! I was so happy. I celebrated by enjoying a beautiful day at the beach with my boyfriend and our dog.
We decided to try being intimate that night .. well 2 times that night and once again the next morning to be exact ........
NO ..... PAIN AGAIN ......
I was laid out on the couch the rest of the weekend :( :( :( :(
so all of this takes me to this moment writing my story
Today is another relatively pain free day thank GOD
After 2 days of recovery post sex
I am going to continue with the baking soda baths and I may try very gently douching using an irrigating syringe
I am planning on waiting at least a week before we try being intimate again, providing all of my symptoms stay away until then
Just praying for a normal healthy vagina at this point
I would like to add that until taking the doxycycline, I had NEVER had ANY vaginal issues EVER. Anyone thinking of doing this please re-consider. I wish I would have known what would happen, I would have NEVER taken the doxy. I only wish acne was the worst of my problems right now.
Ladies, please say a prayer for all of our bodies and our health, life is already crazy and hard enough, the last thing we all need is to be constantly in pain and worried about our vaginas!