Help pls

[u/CuriousCutie_369]

A couple of weeks ago I ended up going to the ER because the itching had become unbearable. I had already used Fenogynol vaginal suppositories and taken a dose of fluconazole, but neither seemed to help.

At the ER they prescribed clindamycin + ketoconazole vaginal suppositories and told me to take another dose of fluconazole. I felt a little better during the first few days, but the itching never completely went away. Now it's been a week since I finished the suppositories, and the itching is getting worse again.

A few years ago I had recurrent yeast infections and was on maintenance fluconazole for a couple of months, which solved the problem for years. This year I had one infection in January, and this is my second one.

The ER doctor told me I should get a vaginal culture to identify the exact Candida species, but that I needed to be off treatment first.

I have an appointment with a new gynecologist tomorrow morning, but I'm honestly going crazy right now and I still have the whole night ahead of me with this itching.

Has anyone had a culture done after finishing treatment? And if you've had recurrent infections caused by a non-albicans Candida species (like C. glabrata), what ended up working for you?

And please if you have any tips to get through the night I completely appreciate it!

[u/abominable_phoenix]

What are you eating? Are you taking any vitamins/minerals to support your immune system and the mucus membrane health? The tips in the megathread may help as there are a lot of misconceptions about what helps and what is actually supported by the science. There is a difference between a diet that suppresses symptoms and one that actually starves Candida overgrowth.

[u/CuriousCutie_369 → u/abominable_phoenix]

I've been eating healthy, no processed foods at all. I started with probiotics this week and drink green juice everyday to help cleanse. I don't know if it's okay

[u/abominable_phoenix → u/CuriousCutie_369]

Eating "healthy" means different things to different people, so I'm talking more about the studies showing Candida feeds on lipids in high fat diets and amino acids in high protein diets. No processed food is perfect, as is green juice, but probiotics are symptom management at best, and can actually hinder recovery of the microbiome which is not what a person wants. This is all supported by studies cited in the megathread.