A probiotic! I was pretty constipated early on and tried all the things - prunes, fiber, etc, but once I started taking this https://www.amazon.com/Garden-Life-Formulated-Probiotics-Guaranteed/dp/B00Y8MP4G6/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=probiotics+for+women&qid=1626758255&sprefix=probiotic&sr=8-3 each day, I haven’t been constipated once and I’m now 33 weeks.
Oh I used to drink Yakult religiously, mainly for the taste. Lol But I found that the probiotics I take now have been the best out of all the kinds I’ve tried! I’ll see if I can figure out how to link it for you. :) They have them on Amazon, formulated for men and women.
Garden of Life Dr. Formulated Once Daily Women’s Shelf Stable Probiotics 16 Strains, 50 Billion CFU Guaranteed Potency to Expiration, Gluten Dairy & Soy Free One a Day, Prebiotic Fiber, 30 Capsules https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Y8MP4G6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_WEDEVT85YJH9QSP87C4B?_encoding=UTF8&psc= That’s for women, but they also have a men’s version. I hope the link works, I’m not the best with Reddit. XD I’ve a lot to learn still.
I’ve never had BV so I can’t be much help there but as far as the probiotic I would definitely recommend trying a better one. I use a women’s probiotic that is physician formulated. It’s in a pink and white bottle and I get it on amazon. Kinda expensive (about $25 a bottle) but it works for me
I have diagnosed “extreme anxiety” as well. And I would say just try to relax . 1 in 3 people have HPV which literally means if you threw three people in a room 1 of those people most likely has it . Don’t feel alone.
And as for anxiety . What helps me is taking my medication. I take buspar. I also go to therapy. I also notice a huge difference since adding a probiotic to my diet . There is a big connection between stomach health and the brain , you can even find more info about this on YouTube. But I recommend adding a probiotic to your diet .
If you are interested here is a link to the kind I use https://www.amazon.com/Garden-Life-Formulated-Probiotics-Guaranteed/dp/B00Y8MP4G6/ref=mp_s_a_1_3_mod_primary_sns?crid=3JPND2UEGAIMK&keywords=garden+of+life+probiotics&qid=1664640541&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIzLjk5IiwicXNhIjoiMy4zOCIsInFzcCI6IjMuMz...
I also got them all the time when I first started having sex. It’s been said but I’ll say it again because it’s crucial - pee after sex. Make sure to drink lots of water all the time so you’re flushing everything out consistently. Also, I started taking a daily probiotic which made the biggest difference. I take the Garden of Life once daily Women’s probiotic.
Spinning babies is free! I did the stretches some in second trimester but really did them a lot in the third trimester, along with LOTS of walking, walking feels so good in pregnancy :)
I looked up the exact probiotic needed for babies to be able to digest their milk and this one has it-
That’s a good brand of probiotics- getting on top of nutrition will set the stage for a healthy mom and baby, I’m glad your into checking out that book :) I do not know any doulas, sorry, but that’s a great idea! Just don’t let them induce you unless it’s really really necessary, and try natural inductions if you have too (your close to 42 weeks), the rate of C section after inductions is SUPER high- also the longer you can labor at home the better your chance of having a natural birth, I had all three of mine with no drugs and it’s totally doeable, if I wouldn’t have had a midwife I probably would have had a C section with my first but I labored at home so long I was only in the hospital (transfer because I was soooo worn out and not progressing after 3 days) for 1 hour before my son was born (LOL!) Try to find a good doctor or midwife in the hospital that supports laboring in your own way (not hooked up to the machines constantly) and you express your wishes beforehand. I birthed an hour away from the hospital with my second and everything was great, a good midwife will be able to foresee any issues and get you there in good time if that’s what you choose, I am blessed to have had a very medically aware midwife who had all the tools and drugs and was very experienced, I was in good hands with her for sure. Hospital births can be great too though :) good luck and congrats again!
I used to take two femdophilus, then I switched to taking two rephresh pro b, now I'm taking two jarrow dophilus daily. So about 10 billion probiotics? Is this the garden of life one you take? https://www.amazon.com/Garden-Life-Formulated-Probiotics-Guaranteed/dp/B00Y8MP4G6/ref=sr\_1\_7?crid=L6X8U8PZBV76&keywords=garden%2Bof%2Blife%2Bwomens&qid=1652980903&sprefix=garden%2Bof%2Blife%2Bwomen%2Caps%2C76&sr=8-7&th=1
Take the antibiotic as it will help if there IS an infection there. Don't forget to top up with probiotics as well - those get wiped out with antibiotics. A good one for vaginal/bladder health is Garden of Life Women's Daily Probiotic. This will also help you avoid the nasty yeast infections that often follow antibiotics.
After that, maybe check to see if you have a different type of cystitis? It sounds like you might, especially if there is no pain while peeing. It's basically inflammation of your urinary tract and there can be a number of causes.
Well wishes!
Oof okay, that's not a great response from them. That's super annoying. There's always a normal level of gardnerella, but an elevated level means BV. It absolutely could one thing or could be a combo of hormonal stuff, dysfunction, and/or an infection. I'm going to kind of outline some stuff that helped me.
First and foremost: Antibiotics. Specifically vaginal metronidazole and/or clindamyacin (I ended up with a particularly resistant strain of bacteria, yay me). Eventually it got to the point that I had to do a 6mo course, but I was on an immunosuppresant medication and am already immunocompromised so it may not be as bad for you. Also, if you're currently sexually active your partner should receive a course of oral flagyll.
Second: Women's probiotics, taken every single day. I use the Garden of Life once daily womens as it has the best variety of lactobacillus I've found.
Garden of Life Dr. Formulated Probiotics for Women, Once Daily Women’s Probiotics 50 Billion CFU Guaranteed and Prebiotic Fiber, Shelf Stable One a Day Probiotic No Gluten Dairy or Soy, 30 Capsules https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00Y8MP4G6/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_GTJYQJVWBHE2NWKKG08W
Third: Boric acid suppositories. They work really well for some people, but not as well for others. I used Azo brand, but really any brand should work.
Fourth: Hygeine. No hot tubs, pools, baths with bath products. It sucks so bad because I love baths, but most bath products are SO bad for you. I've been able to integrate baths back into my life as long as I'm very careful about what products I use. Everything has to be PH balanced. Honestly, this goes for any soap or product that goes anywhere near your vagina. I can totally make a list of what I use if you want.
Fifth: Clothing and detergents. 97% or higher cotton underwear, try to avoid thongs and super tight pants. Avoid fabric softener. Use unscented detergent i.e. all free and clear. Wash your underwear separately.
Garden of Life Dr. Formulated Probiotics for Women, Once Daily Women’s Probiotics 50 Billion CFU Guaranteed and Prebiotic Fiber, Shelf Stable One a Day Probiotic No Gluten Dairy or Soy, 30 Capsules https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Y8MP4G6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_1HARP2HK636JFK6T3JH4 This is a good one from garden of life. Drink lots of water too and you might need a yeast treatment as well
This Probiotic may help and has several strains of bacteria. If you take a probiotic, get one with a variety of strains, do it for the 30 days, then take a break from it. You don't want to overwhelm other strains of good bacteria already in your gut by overpopulating it with the same few types over and over again. Incorporate probiotic foods if you can, like kimchi, sauerkraut, low carb kefir, yogurt, or kombucha, and try different brands when you can, to get different bacteria. Get a variety of organic greens to feed your good bacteria - buy organic when you can, to avoid glyphosate which causes a number of problems in our bodies. It takes a while to change your gut flora, but it definitely helps.
I use this kind Garden of Life Dr. Formulated Probiotics for Women, Once Daily Women’s Probiotics, 50 Billion CFU Guaranteed, 16 Strains, Shelf Stable, Gluten Dairy & Soy Free One a Day, Prebiotic Fiber, 30 Capsules https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Y8MP4G6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_FBlzFb7N57CP5
Haha I know what you mean we referred to it as “the baby” before knowing the gender. Knowing the gender really makes it so real and the nursery planning becomes more concrete. I love the Garden of Life Doctor formulated they have a prenatal one too but I found that a bit weak.
She might want to play around with different brands to find something that works for her :)
This one! https://www.amazon.com/Garden-Life-Formulated-Probiotics-Guaranteed/dp/B00Y8MP4G6?ref_=ast_sto_dp I got it at Target and I noticed a difference almost immediately. Not pre pregnancy better but still much better than the first few weeks!
Hey there. Long winded reply but hopefully it helps. If it seems like I’m a crazy person obsessed with learning about this and getting rid of it that’s because I am LOL! It has affected my sex life and mental health greatly. have had recurring BV now for a year and a half. I’m currently on my 3rd round of antibiotics (clindamycin) after 2 rounds (metronidazole and flagyl) knowing nothing about how tough BV is to beat and not taking it seriously, and 7 then months of trying boric acid and probiotics solo and researching as much as possible before giving it another go with antibiotics. My only symptom was smell that was originally horrendous and it has improved! I can space my boric acid out further than I used to and it doesn’t smell as bad but I want it GONE. Im on my 4th day currently of AB and being super rigid and strict on my diet and routine this month and hope I knock it out for good. Here’s some info I know now I wish I would’ve earlier and what I will do after I’m finished with antibiotics.
Washing your underwear on hot should be plenty. Using a low ph soap is a good idea. But while external care is important that is a very tiny piece of the puzzle.
Im sure you know, but the the boric acid should only be inserted vaginally. The culprit of it coming back could be that your PH level shifts after your period (blood is basic), sex without a condom (semen is basic) or other random times (soap got inside, whatever). When your PH level is higher than it’s supposed to be, the bad bacteria can start taking over the good bacteria. It’s much harder for the bad bacteria to grow and take hold when the PH is low. The main reason for recurrence, however is something called a biofilm which is a very very-hard-to-bust coating of bacteria that is on the walls. This is why many women have issues over and over. In order to eradicate BV, we have to destroy that biofilm that has taken hold. Think of sweeping some salt into the trashcan with your hand vs sweeping a cracked egg yoke. Which one leaves the most sticky coagulated mess behind? Which one if really bacteria would be strong and able to grow again?
There are several studies that go over the best methods to get rid of BV and keep it away. Some research based methods include taking an antibiotic and inserting boric acid nightly for 21 nights. This is the method I chose. People throw around boric acid like it’s the answer to kill bacteria. It merely changes the ENVIRONMENT (PH level) in your vagina to one unsuitable for the bad bacteria but fine for the good kind, therefore tipping the scales. Taking probiotics to build these good bacteria levels when your PH is acidic is KEY but you can’t just take anything on the shelf at the store that says probiotic. There are specific strains of bacteria that either were created in a lab from a healthy vagina a long long time ago or are the good kind that typically make up a healthy vagina. The strains that are the best to use are l. Crispatus, rhamnosus, reuteri and gasseri. You should be taking these daily long term to keep adding the good bacteria to your system.
I found this probiotic at target and it’s pretty good. It’s missing crispatus though which is one of the top ones to have.
I just bought the 3 pack (90 pills) of this one because it has all 4 and is cold shipped to you and has to be refrigerated meaning it has live cultures in it and is therefore more effective.
Once you have BV again, you can’t just make it magically go away without antibiotics. If it goes away without antibiotics you just had traces of the bacteria (think salt) instead of full blown BV with a biofilm (egg yolk). Or even had a yeast infection instead which this gets mistaken for on occasion. But when you use antibiotics and don’t get rid of all of it, that biofilm just got stronger and will be harder to kill next time. We’ve all heard about antibiotic resistance... taking them for BV should not be routine. It should be taken seriously.
So if I were you, I would try inserting boric acid every night for 2 weeks, then every other day for a week, then every third day, etc. if you continue to not have it come back you can drop to once or twice a week. Every time you have sex you should insert one afterwards. Every day take the probiotic. This can be pricey but you want to be using the boric acid to its full potential by giving your vagina a safe place to grow more of the good stuff rather than just masking the problem and smell by changing the ph with boric acid but not the makeup of bacteria. If this is unsuccessful, you have 2 options.... take more of a low dose antibiotic like you did last time but keep up with periodic boric acid and probiotics during and after the process or your doctor might suggest/you could ask for long term antibiotics that aren’t just 10 days but potentially longer than a month or more.
This week and once my antibiotic is done I will eat only minimal sugar/carbs/dairy (bad bacteria love it) and not drink alcohol for 1 month, taking live probiotics daily, eating fiber (which is prebiotic) and using boric acid at regular intervals. Then I’ll probably test the waters and start spacing out the boric acid as I said above to about once a week for long long term. At that point I will also get another test at the doctor to see exactly what makeup my flora is and if there is any remaining bad bacteria. I had like 3 kinds in my previous test and NO traces of good bacteria so it’ll give me a better idea if I’m safe to back off probiotics/boric acid to say once weekly or keep going. Either way I’ll use boric acid once after sex and once the day before and after my period probably for... forever. Hope this helps in any way and best of luck!!!
She's done well with OrthoBiotics and Garden of Life (the latter is cheaper.)
And here's a list of probiotic strains to look for that are good for avoiding histamine. You'll notice that these both have mostly histamine-lowering strains.
You may just have to keep trying different brands because there's literally thousands of strains of bacteria and you can't really know which ones you're deficient in, so it's trial and error. Good luck!!
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These are the ones I use.
Garden of Life Dr. Formulated... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Y8MP4G6?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Garden of Life Dr. Formulated... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Y8MP4G6?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
I've been using these.
https://www.amazon.com/Garden-Life-Formulated-Probiotics-Guaranteed/dp/B00Y8MP4G6
These are the ones I've been using.
I am not reddit-fluent 🙁. Does this link show the product? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Y8MP4G6/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_ZN9AEDHNA6V0NAXYWDKV?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
I use this one from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00Y8MP4G6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
No particular reason that I picked this one besides the fact that it had great reviews
I use this one from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00Y8MP4G6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
No particular reason that I picked this one besides the fact that it had great reviews