r/vulvodynia • u/Usual_Key_7926 • 4d ago
Burning after yeast infection
I really need help and some understanding regarding my situation. I first got a yeast infection in January (treated with clotrimazole), and then later got another infection (cloteimazole again) and then I was diagnosed with Gardnerella. I was treated for that (I didn’t have a yeast infection at that time, mostly burning and irritation), but on the treatment I developed a severe yeast infection. This time, Canesten didn’t work, and even a single dose of fluconazole didn’t help.
Later, after using a vaginal suppository and taking another fluconazole pill, I tested positive for a yeast infection again. I then completed a fluconazole treatment on days 1, 3, and 7. Right now, I don’t really have the typical discharge that usually comes with a yeast infection, but I still experience intense burning and irritation every day. I feel like I’m going crazy. Sex is painful, and I can’t stop thinking about it all the time. It’s making me really depressed, especially because I’m constantly dealing with burning and pain in such an intimate area every single day.
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u/Old_Bat6894 3d ago
I had chronic infection-like symptoms as well. Here's what worked for me:
- daily antihistamines (fexofenadine and famotidine) this DRASTICALLY cut my itching. The success of this medicine suggests MCAS.
- stopping use of ANY soap on the vulva
- switching hair products and body wash in the shower to hypoallergenic fragrance free versions bc it washes down onto your vulva. I use cera ve.
- switching to organic cotton underwear or going commando
- switching to free and clear laundry detergent. Zero fragrance.
- rinsing my vulva with a peri bottle after peeing and dabbing dry with bamboo toilet paper. I think that leaving pee residue on my vulva was irritating.
Your skin is in a very sensitive state right now so it's important to avoid anything that could irritate it. I also recommend a juno or evvy test to get a clear comprehensive picture of what's going on with your microbiome.
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u/Usual_Key_7926 3d ago
How long did it take before things got better?😣
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u/AcademicBlueberry328 3d ago
Ah yes only water for washing, absolutely never again any soaps and no scented detergents!
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u/Usual_Key_7926 3d ago
When did things get better??? Everything is so irritated, and I can’t take this anymore. I’ve constant burning (+redness) and sometimes itchiness down there…
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u/Old_Bat6894 3d ago
If you havent gone to pelvic floor pt yet or had your pelvic floor assessed i recommend it. The infection you had could have caused your pelvic floor to tighten up from the pain, and the tight muscles could now be causing your burning and redness. That's what happened to me at least!
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u/Usual_Key_7926 3d ago
When did things get better/improve for you after starting with that?
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u/Old_Bat6894 3d ago
Personally I wasn't able to relax my pelvic floor from pt alone, but i believe that is because it's am hypermobile and my muscles react differently than normal ppl's. I will be getting pelvic floor botox soon and am confident it will help me!!
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u/Usual_Key_7926 3d ago
Do you have a burning feeling down there?
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u/Old_Bat6894 2d ago
I used to have burning and itching all the time. Now I just have provoked burning/pain if I put pressure on my vestibule or clitoris
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u/AcademicBlueberry328 2d ago
We really would need a survey on how many of us here are hypermobile. Like it can’t be a coincidence.
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u/Old_Bat6894 2d ago
Yep!!!! One study found that 50% of hypermobile women have vulvodynia , insane!! There's a few reasons for the connection. One, obviously our ligaments and muscles are dumb af so that makes you likely to have pelvic floor issues. Two, connective tissue disorders make you way more likely to have a weighted central nervous system response to pain. Three, MCAS is comorbid with hypermobility. Idk if they know why.
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u/AcademicBlueberry328 7h ago
Wow! That’s so interesting. I have a hunch that there’s something going on with hormones as well, as in tendency to have too low t when on the pill for example, leading to infections and stuff. Because in the hypermobility group there’s also a lot of discussion about low testosterone!
Would you mind posting the studies if you have them? I’m lazy I know, but just so I find the same. Would love to read more about this.
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u/Old_Bat6894 3d ago
There's not a easy answer to that, but i had fluctuating infection like symptoms for about a year, then i just stopped using soap on my vulva and within a few days my symptoms went away lol. But i was left with mild neuroproliferative vestibulodynia. A year or so later I got an iud in and went to PFPT for my vestibulodynia and immediately things got way worse and I was having horrible itching and irritation, as well as new clitoral pain. Gradually I started replacing certain products and discontinuing others, over like a handful of months. And my itching gradually got better. I also used estrogen cream for like two months during that time which I feel like maybe made a 5-10% improvement of my symptoms. I also started taking the antihistamines and an otc mast cell stabilizer (quercetin/bromelain). The antihistamines made the biggest difference but i think everything together got me to where i am now. I would say within 6 months my itching was 95% gone and I could wear underwear comfortably again. I'm still left with the provoked clitoral and vestibular pain tho, so working on that :)
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u/Usual_Key_7926 3d ago
How has intercourse been for you? If you have been active
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u/Old_Bat6894 3d ago
Absolutely zero intercourse for me lmao. Or sex of any kind. My clitoris is painful to the touch. My pelvic floor is also very hypertonic so it would be excruciating to be penetrated by a penis
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u/Realistic-Wish6291 4d ago
What kind of yeast do you have?
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u/Usual_Key_7926 4d ago
candida albicans
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u/Realistic-Wish6291 4d ago edited 4d ago
Hm have you been treating your vulva along with taking the fluconazole this last time?
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u/Usual_Key_7926 4d ago
What do you mean by treating my vulva along that? I have not taken anything else when I took fluconazole. Since it was a oral pill
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u/Realistic-Wish6291 4d ago
My doctor always treats the vulva as well, even when taking fluconazole bc sometimes it doesn’t reach the vulva as good.
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u/Usual_Key_7926 4d ago
What does your doctor treat it with?
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u/Realistic-Wish6291 4d ago
Usually clotrimazole+ steroid cream
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u/Usual_Key_7926 4d ago
Steroid cream?
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u/Realistic-Wish6291 3d ago
Yes it’s a clotrimazole + betamethasone cream
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u/AcademicBlueberry328 3d ago
This can make the situation worse as it can irritate the area further.
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u/Ironborn_Taco 4d ago
I had this exact same thing happen and it has caused years long nerve pain. Do you know if you have an active infection? If so, ask for a test with resistance testing to make sure the medications you're taking will actually work. Evvy can be a good (but expensive) for figuring out other things microbiome wise. Do not have any sex until you are 100% certain you don't have an infection. Wear only cotton underwear, and breathable pants while you figure this out. I'm sorry this sucks!!
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u/Usual_Key_7926 4d ago
Are you better now? If so what did help?
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u/Ironborn_Taco 4d ago
I'm improved but scheduled for vestibulectomy because of intense lingering nerve pain. You can DM me for things I tried that helped.
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u/Nightowl34635 1d ago
Join fb group “beyond bv”. It’s a very educational group. You may find a long term solution there.
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u/No-Aerie9876 1d ago
I’m really sorry you are experiencing this. Back in 2001 I developed what I thought was just a simple yeast infection. I had been out all day wearing thick denim shorts in the summer heat. Once I was able to get home, I tried to treat the infection with a single dose Monistat. The Monistat immediately caused searing burning pain to the point that I had to rinse the medication out of me. I was able to get into seeing my doctor, and this began a year long nightmare of constant itching and burning symptoms that I would usually only get a few weeks break. I remember the doctor was constantly treating me with different yeast infection ointments, and Diflucan. Nothing seemed to work. I went to several different doctors and one finally sent out a culture that came back positive for a bacterial infection. It’s been a long time, but it was treated with the medication that is commonly used for bacterial infections. For the life of me, I cannot remember the name. After a couple of treatments with this I went for about 25 years without any type of burning or itching symptoms. Recently, I’ve had a similar problem, but it’s turned out to probably be the pudendal nerve. My recommendation is to make sure that you are having cultures sent out to make sure that you are treating the right type of infection. I really feel like back in 2001 I must’ve triggered something or really irritated and damaged my tissues. Good luck to you and I’m so sorry you are experiencing this. It can really drive you crazy.
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u/lola_rose00 1d ago
How did you figure out your pudendal nerve is the issue and do you do any treatment for it?
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u/No-Aerie9876 1h ago
I basically figured it out by process of elimination after going to two different gynecologist, two different nurse practitioners, two different dermatologist, one who specialized in the vulva, an allergist, a urologist, and two different pelvic floor therapist along with a pain management doctor. I never tested positive for any kind of infection and my tissues never really looked abnormal. The burning and itching, but mainly burning apparently is a telltale sign along with an almost electric shock feeling sometimes. Yes, the pelvic floor. Therapist has probably been the most helpful. Biological breathing is what helps the most.
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u/GIGIBates 12h ago
When I had persisitant burning ( w/o a yeast infetion)I needed fluconizole, double dosing no creams. Finally got control after 4 double doses. Sat on ice for relief. Used a peri bottle after urination.
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u/Usual_Key_7926 12h ago
Double dose of 150mg?
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u/GIGIBates 7h ago
yes
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u/Usual_Key_7926 7h ago
Every day? If so for how many days?
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u/GIGIBates 4h ago
It started out double dose until I had symptoms again. I did not have yeast but the fluconizole would stop itiching and burning which was internal and external. I took 4 double doses during a 2 month time. MY NP told me she starts some patients initially on a double dose then they take one a day for period 30 days at which time there is a f/u visit to assess the effect . My SX stopped after 2 months becuase of a drug intolerance I had to gabapenton and diculfinac. When those drugs were iliminated I stopped my other symptoms. All this is of course not based on evvidence based manangment but I am just sharing my experience and the NP's opinion. Good luck.
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u/TheLuminousKnife 4d ago
I'm so sorry to hear that. I would take this current study to your gynecologist. There's a lot of research to suggest that yeast infections and the antifungals used to treat them cause a proliferation of mast cells, leading to constant inflammation in the vestibule.