Yeast infection... maybe... I don't know...

I think I have a yeast infection.
yesterday I was in the bathroom, and.......
nasty white discharge... and it smells BAD!!!!
that's a yeast infecion... right?

I didn't really think to post about it yesterday,
because I really didn't think much of it, because
I guess I kinda thought it wasn't one, because
it didn't itch, and don't yeast infections itch?
Well...... guess what? today it is starting to itch.
(so sorry if inappropriate for this forum or TMI )

Generally yeast infections don't smell bad and do itch. BV (bacterial vaginosis) smells bad...and needs rx medication.

Crap... and I have no money to go to the dr.
(and now it really REALLY itches!!!!!!!!!)

I'd try over the counter first and if it doesn't go away, believe me you'll be running to the doctor! That's an it's you just can't scratch!

go to chemist and ask for some canestien cream and a suposerty , thats all they give you here at first and it works, make sure you wash reguarly and wear loose clothing and try cotton underwear

I had a yeast infection this summer. Sometimes it DOES have a discharge and smells bad. Mine was just this itch so intense that my skin was raw and swollen from scratching in my sleep. They just gave me two pills and a cream that made it go away in a week. I'm not so sure about over the counter stuff...I'd read up on how well that works first.

You need to wear clothing and I mean washing is always good, but for a yeast infection they actually tell you to NOT stay in hot water. That's how the bacteria grows. They thrive in the wet heat which is how it happened in the first place. So either wash with cold or do it quickly, lol.

I'd go see your family doctor just to make sure.

hey girl,
not sure if yr into the holistic health thing, but, ive got some info about yeast infections (or specifically an overgrowth of 'candida' - a natural yeast in the body's 'intestinal flora'). anyways, a doctor can prescribe a pill called diflucan which will wipe out the infection like an atom bomb. one pill. boom. there are tons of over-the-counter treatments, but i have had horrific allergic reactions to them. as for me? because im the product of two hippies and kiinda a crusty punk coop-living hippie myself... i go the following route!

the CANDIDA DIET.
people get way into it, but ill just give you the bare essentials.
candida thrive (eat, spread and keep the infection going) on carbohydrates. and a few other things ill mention.

so, youve got to limit yr carbs if you want to try the (anti)candida diet. no sugar, no bread, no pasta, no fruit, blah blah blah

avoid things that contain YEAST! no beer, no bread (again), no baked goods, no wine (all alcohol), blah blah blah

avoid DAIRY! though eat as much plain yogurt as possible. you need the natural probiotics to combat the candida. but only plain yogurt- no sneaking in the sugar, silly.

avoid MEAT and EGGS. not sure why, but ive always heard this. maybe its because when i got really into this stuff i was hardcore vegan. ha ha

sorry for going on and on. but try it out. even if you do it in conjunction with medication or creams/suppositories. its pretty amazing. its all i do when i sense one coming on and POOF! the girly problem surrenders!

again, im really sorry for going off. i get really into this stuff.

xo
presh

I use Summer's Eve feminine wash, it helps a lot!

I had a yeast infection and it did smell... and itch. My doctor gave me a pill (I dont remember the name) but it was a one time pill that cost like 7 dollars at the pharmacy and it was gone in a day or 2. Maybe if you explain the situation to your doctor you can get the script without an appt. so you wouldnt have to pay for the visit. Or she might be able to give you some samples. My doctor gave me like 6 months worth of birth control samples cause i told her i was broke and couldnt really afford it. Theyre (hopefully) going to be more concerned about your health than your money. (I said hopefully! lol)

Douching is the worst thing you can do to your vaginal pH. It's just not healthy.

Considering all the stress you're under right now w/your living conditions, it could be a yeast infection or a bacterial overgrowth.

Dehydration, stress, eating too much processed food/sugary junk food/dairy, not enough sleep, all those things can lead to either problem. I think they have an OTC for yeast infections, but for the bacterial overgrowth, there's not a whole lot you can do other than change your stress levels & ride it out, or get a prescription antibiotic vaginal cream/gel/suppository.

Don't douche & don't over-wash, especially with highly scented, drying soaps or body washes/shower gels - the more you irritate the tissues in the area, the worse it'll get and you could give yourself a skin infection on top of it. If your outer folds & inner thighs get rashy pick up some Desitin or other diaper-rash ointment & use it for your outer skin until you can get to a doctor. It'll also soothe some of the itch. Aveeno makes some mild oatmeal lotion, too.

I've heard you can douche w/thinned out, plain, unsweetened yogurt & it'll help bacterial overgrowths, but it's kind of hard to find plain unsweetened yogurt with no additives/preservatives.

Feel better soon & try to get some rest!

also, im not sure if someone else has said this yet, but you can get a yeast infection from being on antibiotics also. and when i got one my doc said that women my age (early 20s) can get them for pretty much no reason at all. and my boyfriend said that some of his previous partners had gotten them soon after they started having sex because their bodies werent conditioned to his bodie's bacteria yet? Im not sure how true that is but he said he has had girlfriends get yeast infections right after they got together and thats what theyre doctor told them.

i tried the yogurt thing. don't waste your time. the over the counter yeast infection stuff is a good place to start. yeast doesn't smell like BV but it can still smell.

oh god, manda, i didn't realize that was you. boy the gods are not being kind to you right now are they.

unfortunately not...

There is a kit you can buy that will test to see if you do have a yeast infection. I'd stick with the Monistat (generic do not work as well). And I'd use the one that you use for several days vs the one day thing. The one day one has never worked for me, even when it was still Rx only.