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 4d 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 3d 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/Usual_Key_7926 3d ago

When did the constant burning stop (months?) And how

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u/Old_Bat6894 3d ago

Pretty much just from the bullet points I listed. The product things i slowly incorporated one at a time over a few months. The antihistamines made the biggest difference in my itching for me. I also got an estrogen cream which I feel maybe made a 5-10% improvement in my symptoms. All in all my unprovoked itching/burning symptoms were about 95% better in less than 6 months. But if would have done everything i listed all at once I'm sure it would have been quicker. I didn't mention that I also took otc quercetin/bromelain (a mast cell stabilizer) and a lot of other anti inflammatory supplements. I'm not sure whether or not these helped but wanted to mention it!

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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 13h 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