Health Update

[drcpunk]

Or, why one should eat yogurt with antibiotics.

As you know, Bob, antibiotics kill off all bacteria, good or bad. This includes the bacteria that keep me from getting yeast infections. So, I managed to get one. At least, that's what I think it is, and it seems to be responding to the medication I had in the house in case of just such a contingency. I'll be seeing the gynecologist tomorrow.

I actually called his office on Wednesday, and was told to send him email, as he uses RelayHealth. At that point, I hadn't figured out what was going on, so I wanted to ask if he thought I should come in. I sent a detailed email, and got no answer by Thursday. When I called, I was told to give him another day.

Friday, I called and asked for an appointment, figuring that, while I seem to be improving, I'd like confirmation, and a new prescription. The woman I talked to agreed, now that I was in appointment mode, as opposed to "have questions for doctor mode", saying that it's always best to check such things out. But, the gynecologist does not have Friday hours, just Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday hours. I have an appointment for tomorrow.

I then got, at long last, an email from the gynecologist, which said that my email was too long, he hadn't read it, and I should make an appointment to see him.

While this is annoying, it seems to me more an overall confusion about when email is to be used, and on the part of his assistants, rather than on my part, than the kind of slap in the face I felt my gp was delivering when I was told that calling him on his day off was out of line. I do wish the gynecologist had sent his reply on Wednesday evening or Thursday. And, one of the things I need to put on my list tomorrow is "Establish procedures" so that I'm clear on when to push for an appointment, when email is actually appropriate, and so on.

And, really, while yeast infections are quite annoying, kidney stones are worse.

Comments

[avram]

Chris says eating lots of garlic helps keep yeast infections away. She also recommends cranberry juice and (as you've already discovered) plain yogurt.

[bugsybanana.livejournal.com]

The yogurt and cranberry juice work by keeping your bodily pH more acidic, which makes the environment inhospitable to the yeasty beasties. (Sorry, that's the ex-chem major talking.)

I also recommend keeping your sugar levels as low as you can stand, as sugar is yeast food. OTOH, more garlic is a Good Thing 'cause yeast is part vampire, I guess, in addition to being a Good Thing per se.

[avram]

She also just told me (but was too timid to post) "Technically, you can treat a yeast infection by shoving a peeled clove of garlic up your twat." The development of garlic-derived lubes or douche is left as an exercise for the reader.

[drcpunk.livejournal.com]

Er... given that I'm told being stabbed with a knife that was previously stuck into a garlic clove gives one blood poisoning, I'd be really leary of that.

[avram]

I remember that scene from Ariel (it was a throwing star). But every few years I remember it, and try to find an even halfway reputable confirmation of the claim. And I've never yet found one. I just tried googling for cutting garlic danger, and the closest I found was a page saying that if you eat too much garlic you can come down with nausea and skin irritation. So maybe fantasy novels aren't a reputable source of medical information.

On the other hand, Wikipedia says:

There have been several reports of serious burns resulting from garlic being applied topically for various purposes, including naturopathic uses and acne treatment. On the basis of numerous reports of such burns, including burns to children, topical use of raw garlic, as well as insertion of raw garlic into body cavities is discouraged. In particular, topical application of raw garlic to young children is not advisable.

So, not deadly, but also not recommended.

[drcpunk.livejournal.com]

I don't even remember the Ariel reference. I've been told that the Mafia uses the garlic trick to ensure a kill.

Maybe an urban myth. I don't know. But, I decided to compromise by eating garlic with my ice cream. Raw garlic is still quite painful to chow down on.

[jl8e]

I think the Mafia uses the "shooting you several times in the head" trick to ensure a kill.

While garlic may contain chemicals that are lethal in large enough concentrations, it's not casually toxic -- nobody warns people to be (unusually) careful while chopping it. A great many things contain chemicals that are toxic in large enough concentrations.

[nellorat.livejournal.com]

Actually, I think one or two shots to the head is characteristic of organized crime or hitmen, while multiple shots ("overkill") is usually a sign of passion, usually personal antagonism.

Using a poisoned weapon is more CIA/NSA, but I've never heard of garlic.

(Yes, I'm a crime buff; I even sometimes write professional reference articles on serial killers.)

[jl8e]

I'm sure somebody on Iron Chef has made garlic ice cream, but they likely roasted it first.

[drcpunk.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Garlic ice cream is very good. The year WorldCon was in San Francisco, a group of us went to the Stinking Rose, and we shared a garlic ice cream. It had unsweetened (or is that semi-sweet?) chocolate sauce. The first person took a spoonful of ice cream and sauce, and said, "Hm. Whoa!"

The next person blinked, took a spoonful, and said, "Hm. Whoa!"

Repeat around the table, like a wave.

[avram]

Wait! I found verification, sort of. According to The Straight Dope, yes, garlic oil can be fatal if injected. But the dose is impractically large. The LD-50 is about 130mg/kg of body weight. So, if you inject a 70kg (154 lb) human being with 9 grams (about a third of an ounce) of diallyl disulfide (the most poisonous chemical in garlic), it has a 50% chance of killing him with acute pulmonary edema. It doesn't say how long this would take. It also doesn't say what proportion of garlic oil is made up of diallyl disulfide -- it might be only a small part, in which case you'd need a huge amount of garlic oil to get that 50% chance of killing that guy.

[drcpunk.livejournal.com]

Cool. Thanks!

[drcpunk.livejournal.com]

Yet one more reason to eat garlic.

I don't care much for yogurt, but I can eat it, or drink it, in the case of lassi. And some yogurt ice cream is viable.

I like cranberry juice and garlic. Alas, I also like chocolate, ice cream, and sweet desserts in general.

[bugsybanana.livejournal.com]

You can go back to eating sweets once the infection is gone, and while plain yogurt is probably best, sweeetened yogurt is OK too.

[nellorat.livejournal.com]

Sympathies on the yeast infection. I'm really glad you can get the meds OTC now!

[drcpunk.livejournal.com]

You can? Wow. It's been a while since I had yeast infections. I didn't miss them.

[drcpunk.livejournal.com]

What do you use? My gynecologist prescribed me fluconazole, a single pill, which isn't actually over the counter.

[nellorat.livejournal.com]

Miconazole is the main OTC antifungal. It's a white cream in a tube. You have to apply it daily, and it's packaged as one course--sometimes 7 days, sometimes 3, I guess depending on strength--with vaginal applicator (inserts the stuff almost tampon-like). Do not use meds made for athlete's foot; I think the right stuff says "for vaginal infection" or "for yeast infection" on the package. Rub some on the labia as well as using the applicator. It takes a while to work fully, but should help right away.

If you're not 100% sure it's a yeast infection, or if you think something else might be going on (for me, yeast infections are definitely diabetes related), you need to see a doctor. Otherwise, I'd say, not so much. The OTC stuff is especially good for repeat yeast infection, since you know what it is and have had a doctor think about underlying problems. The cream is maybe a bit messy--I usually put it in before going to bed--and one pill is more convenient, but I'd hate to have to see a doctor each time.

[drcpunk.livejournal.com]

I've done prescription cream in the past. It is indeed messy. I've taken the pill the gynecologist prescribed, and it says to expect it to clear things up in 3 to 5 days. So far, it's been 2 days, and I've still got icky discharge. Looks like vaginal snot. We'll see if it clears up in the next day or so. If it doesn't, Tuesday's likely the next day I'll be able to see the doctor.