Mystery vaginal ‘infection,’ please help :(

[Burnybits12]

I’ve name changed for this for obvious reasons.

I’m so, so desperate and if anyone can offer me any advice, I would be so grateful.

9 months ago I had a microneedling procedure done on my face that caused a huge acne outbreak and awful stress. I was put on antibiotics (3 different types over a month and a half) and strong antihistamines and my skin issue resolved.

However, I developed itching and a lot of discharge that I presumed was thrush. I also used scented sanitary towels and this came 3 days afterwards. Long story short, treated for thrush and didn’t work and multiple visits to doctors/GUM clinics and swabs have shown nothing except for group b strep. No STIs, no thrush, no BV.

Itching soon changed to burning and swelling, internally and externally (but not on labia majora, just inside of labia minora and vestibule, plus entrance of vagina etc).

I’ve been in continuous pain for 8 months now. The original discharge and itching have mostly gone. I would gladly welcome them over the redness and burning!

I’ve been treated with fluconazole, metronizadole, pencillin v for 10 days, 2 weeks of estrogen pessaries and clindamycin vaginal cream. I’ve been using the clindamycin cream for almost 2 weeks and don’t feel better. Natural yogurt burned and caused red patches.

No outer skin issues or white areas to suggest Lichen and am under the care of a hospital gynaecology team. The only thing they can think of is Desquamative vaginitis, but it isn’t responding to the clindamycin.

My PH is waaaay off, (way too alkaline) and I probably have no good bacteria left in there.

Is there anyone out there who could please help me? I have young children and it’s taking all my strength not to just sit in a room and cry all day. It’s killing me and has destroyed my mental health.

I don’t know who to turn to and have even looked at flying to America, so am willing to try anything. I’m open to all natural suggestions or anything.
Please?

I had a skin allergy test because initially I had maddeningly itchy sore red hands. But found that it explained other problems that I had. When breastfeeding I had got terribly sore nipples - I had been using nipple cream containing propolis (bee glue). I was allergic to propolis - it is in lots of beauty / medical products, ironically to soothe irritated skin. In pregnancy I had used anusol for piles and it contained balsam of Peru. It gave me a terrible reaction. I am allergic to that too. It's often in pizza tomato sauce and pizza makes me really poorly. Other foods do too, and my skin irritation is often in areas like mouth and under carriage. I find I have to avoid all sorts of things but toilet rolls are my real issue! I now have given up - I use cotton wool pads with warm water. I only mention all of this as recently I had a similar problem to you - your symptoms sound similar. Initially it was an allergic reaction which then became infected, then I had antibiotics, then it became thrush! What worked in the end was hydrocortisone cream, a fungal infection cream, and anti-histamine tablets!! I think the allergy came from a new shampoo I used in the bath - I didn't realise it contained the allergen. I should really just use simple shampoo and conditioner for my hair and dermol lotion for washing my body, but of course it is so boring, I just want something pretty now and then!

Thanks, everyone!

I am now only using the happy panda (I think it’s called?) toilet roll and taking some out with to work, etc. I started my new job only about 3 weeks before this started and there’s only really cheap, tissue type toilet roll. At home, I’d also bought charmin when this first started and the consultant I saw at a GUM clinic said this was covered in formaldehyde and bleach. I also used Persil non bio and found out they changed their formulation a few weeks before my issues started, too.

I guess it could have been any of a handful of things and now I’m felt with chronic irritation/altered flora/ph issues?

@Clankboing That’s really interesting. Did you get that through NHS? I’ve started a daily food diary to see if there’s any correlation to my worst days.

A couple of months ago, my feet were really itchy. Found out that my husband cleans the bathroom floor with neat bleach and doesn’t wipe it off. My child had a vomiting bug the other day and I went a bit crazy with the bleach and then my symptoms did get a lot worse. I didn’t think you could actually be allergic to bleach, though?

no problems, its just an idea but may be worth mentioning to your doctors. i had a patient with it, before her i had never heard of it, we tried everything, the gynaecologist didn't have a clue either and referred her to a dermatologist who then diagnosed it. it needs a biopsy to confirm. in general, it really does look quite bright red so different to LS etc.

as far as I'm aware plasma cell is different to desquamative? I've only seen steroid ointments rather than foams be used. standard advice about no soaps, use dermal wash only, cotton underwear as said by pre pp

Yes, just through NHS. They did a huge patch test over my back. Immediately three areas began to drive me nuts. I was desperate for it to be washed off. The doctor at the hospital gave me advice after and I had leaflets and a repeat prescription for body washes.

Hi @Burnybits12 did you manage to solve this? Struggling with a mystery vaginal infection myself and came across this thread so thought worth following up with you

I did! Had to cure myself in the end. I was under a top consultant at a women’s hospital for a year and even they couldn’t figure it out.
I do believe it was b strep. All health professionals were adamant that it can’t cause symptoms, yet I found many forums online full of women suffering with it.
I was losing my mind and desperate, so picked up Balance Activ BV gel. I tested negative for BV, but figured it may treat the b strep. I used it every night for 10 days. Within about 4, I was feeling a lot better. This was after a whole year of constant suffering with burning 24 hours a day. For a couple of years, I used the gel for 5 days or so after my period, then twice a week. I didn’t need to, but I was so frighted of it coming back. I always have it in the house and if I ever feel the teeniest bit of irritation, I use it that evening.
I hope that helps. It was such an awful year and I felt completely alone with it, so I understand your pain!

Extremely extremely happy for you!!! That gives me hope, I am starting relactagel today and if that doesn't work then will give Balance Active a shot.

Thank you so much for the prompt response, super appreciated!!!

@Burnybits12 what was the link to no symptoms during your period? I am having the same

Hello @Burnybits12 . I've just stumbled across your posts. I think you may have had a condition called aerobic vaginitis. It is documented in the scientific literature but NHS and UK gynaecologists don't recognise it (through lack of knowledge not anything else). I had this and suffered as you did for a long time until I treated myself.
I hope you are completely better now and I just wanted to send hugs and solidarity.
Xxx