Should I go to an infectious disease doctor?

[Ara818]

I have been having vaginal issues for over a year now. Right after the assault I had symptoms of something happening. I did a Juno Bio test a few months ago which showed ureplasma,bv causing bacteria and other intrusive bacteria. Nobody was much help and was only told to go to reddit for answers on ureplasma from Juno Bio. My pcp also wouldn't give me the reccomended antibiotics for ureplasma on reddit. So I had to use push health. The nurse from Push told me to retest after a month and depending on the results of the vaginal microbiome test she would reccomend me to an infectious disease doctor. I am still not having a normal menstrual cycle, and this issue also started the same month I got assaulted and ever since then it's been absent periods for months.

I have vaginal pain,and sometimes it feels like my vagina is dropping out. TMI sorry. Also when I have to swab myself for Evvy/Juno test or doctor test I get this horrible pain on my buttock area. It feels so uncomfortable. I have talked to my pcp and gyno about this but as I said before my gyno was useless as she just rode off all my issues to bv and said I would have this for life. My pcp has been more helpful and I'm grateful for the minor help she has provided.But still I am in pain everyday. Has anyone had any similar problems? I have been trying to do pelvic floor exercises at home as on reddit people said an active ureplasma infection causing symptoms weakens your pelvic floor. It's been hard to because I can't keep a job down I keep having mental breakdowns and mainly cause of all the physical pain down there as well as other symptoms.Since my assault happened in Atlanta Georgia  I  am not saying everyone is dirty there but the guy who hurt me for sure was. I know Atl is a high risk population should I try to get the reccomended antibiotics for after rape. On some of the bacteria I had it seemed to cause digestive issues,reccurent vaginal infections,(bv,uti,yeast)I couldn't find much on the strains but I did read articles of women and men with some of the same strains and they needed some penicillin medicine to eradicate it. Only problem is these bacterias don't seem to be tested for normally so it takes special testing. Also just cause I forgot to mention, I just retested with evvy today as I saw that they do the same as Juno bio but they can at least tell me which antibiotics to take. What would you do in my situation?

 

Edited April 17, 2023 by Ara818

[APPLE3]

I wouldn't really get medical advice from reddit. (just my experience)  can you get a second opinion from a different GYN?  Finding a dr who actually listens and does not dismiss you takes trial and error, and some pushiness on your side - unfortunately.  Can you ask around for word of mouth referrals?  IDK how you feel about planned parenthood but when I was younger I went there for care and didn't have any problem.  You might be able to get follow up referrals from PP as well.

[Ara818]

Well for ureplasma the sub reddit was actually helpful it has helped diminish symptoms but I'm still not healthy. The thing about ureplasma is that here in the US it isn't considered anything serious hence why I had to do a vaginal microbiome. I have asked but all the girls that said they found a doctor are in different states. My nurse from the Push app is more up to date on ureplasma and the other bacterias I presented. That's why she told me to retest to see what azithromycin and doxy and metro gel cleared. I've tried planned parenthood but the one near me said they don't test for ureplasma I have gone there but all they could give was antibiotics for bv and yeast. I just did an Evvy test and apparently they will prescribe antibiotics depending on the present bacteria, I will keep looking but I don't know nobody seems to think what's going on with me is a big deal. They all just say that the rape wasn't the cause for my illness. But I've told them multiple times I was a virgin and never had any issues down there never had issues with my periods,or any sort of infection.

It's my fault I'm in this situation had I maybe gone right away and just ask for some help even if I didn't want to speak to the police or anything. From looking online it seems alot of the guidelines for reccomended antibiotics after assault would have eradicated most of the harmful bacteria. I had 49% bad bacteria and the rest was Lactobacillus spp. That's why I was thinking of maybe seeing an Infectious disease doctor as they probably know more as they seem to specialize in this. I'm also scared what if I can pass these bacterias to people around me. Doctors say no but with their lack of help and guidance it makes me question them. 

I have thought about even flying out of state as I've searched and gotten gynos that specialize in cases like mine but how I said I haven't been able to hold a job long term so ATM that's not an option.

Edited April 18, 2023 by Ara818

[mbholly]

Hi Ara,

I know how frustrating it can be when doctors don’t seem to adequately address the symptoms you are experiencing. I am not familiar with Push or Juno or Evvy, but it sounds like you are able to use them for testing and, depending on results, possibly antibiotic prescriptions. That sounds like it should be helpful.

I think if I were in your situation and couldn’t find an ob/gyn to help, I would seek help from an infectious disease specialist. One of the things they do specialize in is diseases caused by bacteria. You may need a referral from your pcp to be seen (depending on your insurance and the office policies of the infectious disease specialist). 

I hope you get some answers.

[HarryC1967]

I don't think anything is TMI on this group. As a biologically born different person, how about I just share the advice I would give my own wife. Go to the doctor and find out. I'm being empathetic (I hope) and saying if my event occurred the past 20 plus years instead of 47 years ago, I would be tested for all kinds of things that may cause discomfort and personal embarrassment. Look, it's not your fault so take care of yourself. You're the best you, YOU have! Prayers everything will be okay, and you feel better real soon.

[Ara818]

Thanks yall I will be seeing my PCP here in a few days I will see if she can help me out I will try to be pushy to see if she will help if not I will just ask for infectious disease doctor referral. If not I will just have to wait until my Evvy results come back and then on the push app I can see if I can get a referral.

I was also seeing there's this MicroGenDx test that can just test you the bacterias you have what antibiotics or antifungal you should use and if you have become antibiotic resistant. I may have to do a couple of those, both rectally and vaginally. Ultimately if I can't get help around where I'm at I will just have to rely on testing my self with labs that do microbiome tests. Doing that type of test is what showed me that I had ureplasma it was horrible symptoms, that no matter how much antibiotics they would give me nothing would help.

I will just see what happens here in the next few weeks, even without doctors help I have been slowly figuring out what's  happening so if it comes down to it I myself will take my health back. Once again thanks for the advise and words of encouragement. Have a wonderful and safe day. 💙

 

Edited April 18, 2023 by Ara818

[blondie2002]

I hope everything worked out.