Dealing with E. coli infections

Hey... anyone here dealt with Escherichia coli? How did you manage the treatment? :/

I haven't personally dealt with it, but from what I understand, standard treatment is pretty much the go-to if the inflammation is a bit more intense. Once they run the culture—which is really the only way to be sure—the lab report usually suggests a specific course of action based on the sensitivity profile. Basically, you end up with a particular antibiotic that’s currently considered the most effective option for that specific strain. It’s fairly straightforward, I suppose. You’ll likely be prescribed some vaginal suppositories to go along with it, too.

The thing is, I didn't get any antibiotics, just some Multi-Gyn for vaginal rinsing. It’s been six days now and nothing's getting better... heading back to the doctor again

In that case, you should definitely make an appointment with your gynecologist—and be sure to emphasize that things haven't improved one bit since your last visit.
It’s quite common for this type of thing to trigger colpitis, which often presents itself as just a standard inflammation; I suspect your doctor might have assessed it as being relatively mild and decided that antibiotics weren't strictly necessary at this stage.

It says the exact same thing in my medical report, though I’m a bit stuck on the wording—does the part about "not needing antibiotics" refer specifically to the colpitis, or is it talking about the Escherichia coli?

Also, does anyone actually know what parakeratosis is?

I’m a bit lost here—what exactly does your paperwork say?

So, it turns out I've got an Escherichia coli infection.

I feel like this is one of those rare corners of the internet where anyone actually mentions Escherichia coli—it’s honestly hard to find decent info on it. I’ve been struggling with this for months now, just an endless cycle of frustration, and I haven't seen even a hint of improvement.
I mean, I have tried using Multi-Gyn, some antiseptic wipes, and even Sumamed, but nothing seems to stick.
If anyone out there has actually managed to kick this thing for good, please, please let me know what worked for you.

wiredbison said:This is one of the few forums where I’ve actually seen Escherichia coli mentioned. I've been fighting this for months now and nothing is working.
I've tried using Multi-Gyn, some antiseptic wipes, and Sumamed.
If anyone has actually cleared this up, please tell me what worked.

Did you get an antibiogram done? You know, where they take a swab and test which specific antibiotic actually kills the bacteria? If you haven't, do it. Seriously. Guessing and popping antibiotics blindly is just a fast way to make a bad situation even worse.

I’m still fighting this E. coli battle. One day feels fine, then suddenly everything is burning and stinging again... I picked up some Wolf Basic cream for external use that helps dull the irritation slightly, but nothing else actually works. I've been scouring the internet for answers, but there's nothing useful out there. Some of those old vaginal suppositories used to be available, but they've been pulled from the shelves now... honestly, neither I nor my doctor have a clue what to do next.

melloworca6 said:Have you actually had an antibiotic sensitivity test done yet? You know—where they take a swab and check exactly which antibiotic will actually kill the bacteria? If you haven't, I really think you should... because honestly, just guessing and taking antibiotics blindly might just end up making everything much worse.

Well, my cervical swabs came back negative—and besides, I was told that Escherichia coli can't even be isolated through a cervical swab anyway. And apparently, there’s no need to bother with a vaginal swab if the cervical ones are being done, since anything present in the vagina should show up on the cervix too.

My tests come back negative, my bloodwork looks fine, I’ve even checked my hormones and my glucose tolerance test was normal. But this stupid bacteria just won't budge. I took Sumamed for a dental issue and then Silapen for the infection, but nothing works. Not Vagisil, not Multi-Gyn, not Gynopro, not Femgel, not even baking soda. NOTHING!!!!! 😢

How on earth do they know you have that bacteria if your swabs keep coming back negative? 🤔

Honestly, ladies, I’m at a loss here. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to try boosting your immune system with something. 🤷

I know because you can actually see it under a microscope during a swab test... my doctor showed me.
To boost my immunity, I'm taking spirulina and folic acid... just took some Lactogyn, too.

Aha. So, is there any way to actually run an antibiogram to figure out which specific antibiotic will actually do the job?

It feels weird to me that they can't isolate it in a swab if you can see it right there under a microscope. Some kind of strange little beast.

There are natural supplements out there with antibacterial properties—I used to take some herbal tablets or capsules, though I can't recall the exact name right now, specifically for bacteria, fungi, and that kind of crap—so maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to give those a shot.

I went through the exact same thing, though I was only prescribed Vagisil. Honestly, I don't think it actually helped me. I happened to be on several rounds of antibiotics for other issues at the time, so I likely just ended up killing off the bacteria that way.

It's hard to believe how dismissive some doctors can be about this, especially when an antibiotic is clearly necessary! I really thought it was nothing to worry about...

melloworca6 - seriously, try to remember which tablets you were actually taking...

From what I’ve gathered online and from my own doctor, that bacterium isn't actually pathogenic. It just causes discomfort and those issues mentioned above. There used to be a specific medication for this, but it was pulled from the market back in 2009 and there hasn't been a decent replacement since...

😢

Donna Wright43 said:melloworca6 - come on, try to remember which tablets you were actually taking...

From what I've gathered from reading up online and talking to my doctor, the bacteria itself isn't pathogenic; it just causes discomfort or the issues mentioned above. There used to be a specific medication for this, but it was pulled from the market back in 2009 and there hasn't been a decent replacement since...

😢

The ones I took were called Paraprotex. It's a plant-based supplement meant to fight off fungi, viruses, and bacteria. Just Google it and see what comes up. I also took Calivitine, though I'm not sure if any other brands still make them.

It helped me out when I had strep (alongside the appropriate antibiotics I was on at the time), so give it a shot. Maybe it'll work for you precisely because the bacteria isn't strictly pathogenic.

Hey... I played doctor today and honestly, the nightmare is finally over...
I'm not sure if this will help anyone else, but one of these things actually worked for me. After my last dose, I used Femigyl for three days and took a heavy hit of Lactobacillus (two tablets every single day) for two weeks. For the last six days, I’ve been using lard. Specifically, homemade lard that I rinse ten times—put it in a bowl, shake it around with a cocktail shaker, and dump the water until it's clean. Then I just put some on a pad at night before bed. I found the recipe online; some lady claimed it works for various yeast infections or discharge issues. Since modern medicine hasn't done much for me, I figured why not? And hey, it actually did something! 😁