Doctors - any advice for infections?

[OakLeaf]

I was on a yo-yo with infections for a while when I was younger. Treating the yeast infections meant harsh greasy goopy creams that predisposed me to bacterial vaginosis. Treating the bacterial infections predisposed me to yeast.

I finally just had to step back, chill out, and let my normal flora restore themselves. I just had to live with the burning of bacterial vaginosis for a while, until everything straightened out.

Make sure you're not using any soaps, lubricants or laundry products that might be irritating you and aggravating the problems. Dr. Bronner's or pure olive oil or glycerine soap for your body; unscented color-free detergent for your shorts; if you use lube on the bike, search this board or ask your riding buddies for a gentle one that works for you.

And +1 on taking a hard look at your diet. Your problems could be aggravated by allergies to foods other than yeasts/molds, even if your diet is healthy and yeast-free.

[indysteel]

I followed the apple cider vinegar suggestion that I found on this board and that helped get things back to normal down there after a bad spell.

I tend to think that riding without a chamois in regular ol' bike shorts is just going to cause its own set of problems and that you would be better off approaching it from a different angle. That said, I'm out of my league here. I barely make it through a month of discomfort. My heart goes out to anyone out there who has dealt with something like this for years.

[BethinPR]

Thanks again for all the support. I drink 70-90 ounces of water a day, so it's not that, but I probably need to take a close look at my diet and cut out the refined sugar, etc. I rode in cycling shorts last night and today feeling a little irritated. I'm not sure what to do

I've been off the prescription meds for a full month now at new doc's advice, so things can get back to normal down there. Also changed soaps, laundry detergent, 100% cotton white undies, the list goes on. My doctor suggested a boric acid capsule as a possibility to restore pH, so we're going to try that as a next step.

Thanks again for thoughts and advice! I hope to find a solution soon!

[tulip]

Eating yogurt with live cultures is supposed to be good. I'd steer clear of the sugary ones, though.

There's a great book called Prescription for Nutritional Healing. See if you can find it in the library or bookstore (Whole Foods sells it). Well worth the money for me.