u/bottled-fairy

I am here to share my experience, in case anyone else needs this information in the future. This will be long post, so I apologize in advance. I urge the moderators not to delete.

I am currently dealing with my third Ureaplasma infection. This one's symptoms arose about a month after a colonoscopy procedure. By now, I know how to listen to my body and know what it feels like when an infection is coming on. I have had the same partner since my last infection, and we were both cleared after the last, I even had several tests done to make sure I was negative, as I deal with chronic pelvic pain syndrome ever since my very first infection, so sometimes (as someone with health anxiety), I have gotten re-tested to confirm the symptoms were just residual.

Let's back up to May of 2025 - I had my gallbladder surgically removed. A few weeks later, I started having symptoms went and got a test done, and sure enough, an infection was present. Both my partner and I were treated, and hadn't had any positives again, until now, after this recent colonoscopy procedure where I went under sedation, and it was also incredibly stressful on my body as I WOKE UP during (I won't go into detail) and it was traumatizing to sum it up.

My first ever infection was also after my very first surgical procedure, back in 2023. I had a bilateral salpingectomy, and about a month later, I started experiencing pelvic and abdominal pain, and it took SEVEN months to get a diagnosis, which, by the way, the whole reason I figured out what was wrong with me, was through my own extensive research, and this subreddit, which I am incredibly thankful for. I had to request the test from my OBGYN and they stated to me "I seriously doubt it's that, but sure, we can test you". Sure enough, I was right, and thank goodness I found this info on my own. That is why I struggle with chronic pelvic pain now, because that infection was sitting there for that long. I have gone through several phases of pelvic floor therapy in the last few years, and do my own at home stuff to help manage it now due to finances.

My whole point of this, is to let you know, that I am proof that this bacteria can literally just overgrow when your body goes through something incredibly stressful - like, for example, surgery, once it has been introduced into your body. I am not saying it wasn't originally passed to me sexually, but after these instances, how am I supposed to know? I know there's not a whole lot of info out there about it, which is incredibly frustrating. I am now super anxious to ever have a surgical procedure again, and will likely have to ask for prophylaxis beforehand to prevent it. The amount of antibiotics I've taken in the last few years for these infections have not only ruined my vaginal flora (which was just starting to get slightly better), but I was also diagnosed with reactive gastropathy (stomach injury) last year, and I am almost certain that the antibiotics caused this, as I can feel the current ones re-lapsing the pain in that area.

This has been a very long and stressful past few years for me. I hope this information can be useful for other people.

I have been struggling with yeast infections on and off for a while, and the past two times the oral pills nor the Monistat cut it, so I have been struggling this time since February. I also tried boric acid to the maximum time you can take it and it didn’t help. The oral pills (Fluconazole) when I was given them at the recommended dose for “severe” infections (meaning 14 days straight) by a vaginal specialist started giving me dizziness and pretty bad reaction at 7 days out, so that’s not an option for me anymore. I’m at a loss. I bought some tea tree suppositories that I have not used yet just because I’m kinda nervous it’s gonna burn, but am willing to use them. Does anyone have any other advice for me….. I’ve been doing baking soda sitz baths every now and then but that’s the only other thing, and that just aids in symptoms temporarily. I’m honestly depressed and scared thinking this is gonna affect me forever. I know to only wear cotton underwear, try to eat less sweets etc I know all the basic things, my questions here are if there are any herbs or other remedies I could be trying. Thanks and sorry for the long post.

Happened to feel a bump (under the skin not raised) in my pubic area
(Like an inch or two above my vulva on the left side), there is the slightest redness to it, and I did shave recently - I can’t honestly tell if it’s an ingrown hair, but the lump under my skin is what has me concerned…. I have an appt at OBGYN Wednesday for a completely different reason but will bring it up, I have anxiety though and am wondering if anyone else has had this? There is literally no head to it just the slightest redness and a bump slightly bigger than a pea under it. I have had something similar to this on my leg before that didn’t get diagnosed and it went away but it was smaller and took probably a solid 2 months to disappear. 😭

As the title states I am a vet tech and have been for quite a while, I am looking to change careers, and dental hygiene seems to speak to me more than others (I already perform periodontal Tx on dogs/cats constantly). I have my associate’s degree already - my question is if anyone here has used a previous associate’s and just done a dental hygienist program? Is that possible? I am in northeastern Colorado if that matters. I love animals but I’ve been in the field since I was 16 (I’m now 32) and I don’t get paid enough and am so burnt out and overly stressed. Thanks in advance.