I need guidance!

Posted by sophee @sophee, Apr 3, 2018

Hi I am a Female, 21 and I was married 8 months ago. I was diagnosed with mild scoliosis when I was 13 and it seems to be slowly getting worse. I suffer from chronic back pain and fatigue but I’m not so sure that it’s solely related to my scoliosis as it is severe in my muscles around the spine some days. I also suffer from extremely Frequent UTI’s (about 5 or more every 6 months) that have been tested positive every time and I have just been given antibiotics (Cephalexin) that I am now immune to so I have tried others. I had a miscarriage about 12 months ago very early stages about 5 weeks. I currently have a vaginal Candida infection that I have had constantly for over 9 months! It has changed in that time in texture and now has an embarrassing odour. my doctors keep giving me pessaries that don’t work. I have a very bad immune system, I pick up anything that’s going around very easily! I need some guidance please! because of my age I am not being taken seriously in many aspects of my life, for one, my husband and I would like to try for a baby however my doctor says we cannot have intercourse while I have the infection, regardless of the fact that I have constantly had it since before our wedding day. Also I have been put on leave management at work because the doctors tell me to rest and have pain killers. My superiors at work don’t take me seriously and have told me that I have to come into work even if I have to wear a diaper or that they would put me on night shifts if I want so that I don’t have to be around anyone so that I am not embarrassed. It is really frustrating me that I am being treated like a delinquent child rather than an adult with health issues that I am trying my best to amend. I am the youngest in my workplace ( I work in administration at a hospital) I really need to be at work as I am paying off debts and my husband doesn’t have stable work, which my superiors know. everything is really starting to effect my mental health, I have started getting pretty severe anxiety almost everyday and panic attacks. And I am just really starting to feel like I could just curl up in bed and never leave the house again. For your information I have been tested for STIs and I was negative along with my husband, I have been with him for 4 years and only slept with someone else once and the same for him. I am sorry this is a massive paragraph but I need some guidance because I am not getting any support where I’m at. I would love to know if anyone has suffered anything similar and I would love to hear your suggestions!

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Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Apr 3, 2018

Hello @sophee and welcome to Mayo Connect.

I appreciate you sharing your story here on Connect. We have many members who post here and seek encouragement for their health needs.

I am sorry to hear that you are having problems with frequent UTIs. We all know how difficult those can be. I would like to invite you to take a look at our Women's Discussion group. We have many women who are posting about similar problems. Here is a link, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/womens-health/tab/discussions/?pg=3#group-94-activitystream. Please take a look at some of these discussions and feel free to read and post as you find a common need. The Mayo moderator of this group is Lisa Lucier, @lisalucier. Some of the volunteer mentors of the Women's group are @alpaca and @windwalker.

We also have a Kidney/Bladder discussion group. Here is the link to a discussion on frequent UTIs. https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/recurrent-uti/
Kanaaz is the Mayo Moderator for this group, @kanaazpereira and Kelly, @kdubois, is a volunteer mentor.

Please keep in touch. I look forward to hearing from you again as you search for answers for this health problem.

Teresa

Errol, Alumni Mentor | @duvie | Apr 3, 2018

Hello @sophee Welcome to Mayo Connect. Congratulations on your recent marriage. I'm not that up on scoliosis but I have read posts from members of various groups that do have various forms of scoliosis. Neuromuscular scoliosis can be very painful as you know. Some members have even complained about the pain to their Dr and the reply is; "You just have to deal with it!!" It's not always easy to find specialist who are excellent in scoliosis. Is your spine showing signs of curving to the right or left?

Has your medical team suggested any Physical Therapy, Neuromuscular Therapy, or mild Yoga classes to help slow the progression of your type of scoliosis? Some patients admit that it helps reduce the pain and some not as much. Everyone is different and support groups are an excellent place to get ideas or suggestions to talk over with your medical team. Some exercises can help and the same exercises can harm others so it needs to be a specific program designed for you by your medical team including therapist who are very familiar with scoliosis.

There have been suggestions about using Turmeric Curcumin with Bioperine 1500mgs to reduce the pain but again I'm just mentioning this to talk with your medical team about. Many things can affect a patient that we don't know about so Please get your list of things you want to discuss with your Drs started so you don't forget. Wanna here something funny? Sometimes I write a list and at the last minute forget the list, lol. Please don't forget. I have an excuse, I'm almost old not 21 and bright minded.

Keep in Touch
Errol

2011panc | @2011panc | Apr 4, 2018

@sophee Thank you for sharing here. I am sorry you have been experiencing all these problems. My best suggestion is to keep a journal of your daily health status, activities, and what (if anything) you are doing to heal. I knew a woman who shared with me that she had a candidus infection and all the things she was doing to get rid of it. That may be something for you to research and speak to your doctors about.

From my personal experiences regarding vaginal yeast, I can review that I have been advised (some from medical personnel and some "alternative" choices) to: wipe front to back when toileting, drink cranberry juice, drink 2-3 liters of water daily, avoid any foods/drinks with yeast (bread, baked goods, alcohol), use a good mouthwash, brush and floss 3 times a day minimum, limit sugars because they feed yeast, douche with warm water only, wash your genitals well daily with a gentle soap, wear cotton panties, sleep without panties, use an antifungal daily (Monistat is available over the counter) for an extended period of time, take a bath in Epsom salts or baking soda., and do not use bubblebath.

My gynecologist is the one that recommended the antifungal and that is ultimately what worked the best for me, He said it was okay to use it for long periods of time and even without an outbreak as a preventative. After several years of use and eating a cleaner diet I was able to stop using it. I still keep some on hand just in case.

I also was diagnosed with an intestinal yeast overgrowth by a gastroenterologist and given a different drug to manage the internal yeast.

I hope you find relief soon. I cannot image such a long time with such extreme discomfort and symptoms. Prayers and blessings for you.