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Are we more prone to infection? (includes lady talk)

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Posted 4/26/2017 10:24 PM (GMT 0)
I have a tender spot, swelling, and a hard knot on my *ahem* outer lady parts. The pain extends to the panty line. I saw my general practitioner this morning and she thinks it's a "skin infection" - which is a very broad term. She guesses it might be an infected lymph or gland or inside there's just an "infection". She's putting me on antibiotics for 7 days and wants to see how it goes. Of course, I hate this shot in the dark medicine - she only poked around for a few minutes and wants to see how I react to the abx. I'm hesitant to do more abx since I just did some a few months ago. Naturally, I'm worried and don't want it to get worse so I'll probably do the abx.

Anyway, are we Lymies generally more prone to infections? I guess our immune systems are hindered - how are you all keeping your immune systems healthy?
Posted 4/26/2017 11:06 PM (GMT 0)
Try coconut oil. I had that and it went away with the coconut oil. Now I don't know if it occurred because of my monthly cycle (I don't do tampons) and the friction of that.

For immune system support I do vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, cordyceps, monolaurin, and cats claw. I may be forgetting something but those are the main ones.

Oh and I just restarted acupuncture.
Posted 4/27/2017 12:50 AM (GMT 0)
KristenBee -

Not sure exactly where your bump is - like on the lip area or above? You have lots of glands in your groin (our bodies have over 700 glands…)

I used to have chronically swollen lymph nodes - everywhere - neck, ear, chin, head, arm pits, groin… high viral load(s) was almost always the culprit and antivirals always helped. This was a long time ago and so I would only take Rx. But there are also many natural antivirals to try - I generally don't have good luck with them but many people do.

I also had some crazy sore, swollen nodes about head/neck/face w/ stiffness and bed-ridden-for-days exhaustion and migraine when I started vanco for bart. I paid closer attention to lymphatic system, added red root and dry brushing to my protocol and this helped tremendously to reduce the swelling and pain.

Also, I had a pubic (inguinal) hernia when I was 9. They removed it - checked the other side and removed one there, too, that hadn't grown yet. I have no idea why these developed but it caused the recognizable bump (about the size of a grape tomato) and pain. It's tough to know from your description exactly where your pain was - just tossing it out there as an idea.

So these are three possibilities to consider based on area… and none of them require or would respond to abx. Also, "skin infection"? From an ingrown hair maybe? a cut or scrape from shaving/waxing? wrong area?

-p
Posted 4/27/2017 1:08 AM (GMT 0)

Pirouette said...
KristenBee -

Not sure exactly where your bump is - like on the lip area or above? You have lots of glands in your groin (our bodies have over 700 glands…)

I used to have chronically swollen lymph nodes - everywhere - neck, ear, chin, head, arm pits, groin… high viral load(s) was almost always the culprit and antivirals always helped. This was a long time ago and so I would only take Rx. But there are also many natural antivirals to try - I generally don't have good luck with them but many people do.

I also had some crazy sore, swollen nodes about head/neck/face w/ stiffness and bed-ridden-for-days exhaustion and migraine when I started vanco for bart. I paid closer attention to lymphatic system, added red root and dry brushing to my protocol and this helped tremendously to reduce the swelling and pain.

Also, I had a pubic (inguinal) hernia when I was 9. They removed it - checked the other side and removed one there, too, that hadn't grown yet. I have no idea why these developed but it caused the recognizable bump (about the size of a grape tomato) and pain. It's tough to know from your description exactly where your pain was - just tossing it out there as an idea.

So these are three possibilities to consider based on area… and none of them require or would respond to abx. Also, "skin infection"? From an ingrown hair maybe? a cut or scrape from shaving/waxing? wrong area?

-p

I think the technical term is labia majora. It's on the outer lip part, but the sore area extends to the side, just to the left in the leg bend area, like where your front panty line would be. It's also swollen just on the one side. There is a hard lump in there and it hurts.

Now, she said she didn't think it was a lymph, but she didn't sound sure either. She also said it might be a gland or just a random infection. I hate how unsure she was. I swear, Lyme keeps upping the ante. It's always something new to freak out about.
Posted 4/27/2017 1:15 AM (GMT 0)
I thought lymph nodes were glands? There are some in the area where you are describing (if I'm understanding where it is)

www.medicinenet.com/image-collection/lymph_nodes_picture/picture.htm
Posted 4/27/2017 1:18 AM (GMT 0)
It sounds like it could be a gland. I would try putting warm compresses on it. If it is an infection, then that could draw the infection to the surface and allow it to drain. If it's sore, it probably is some kind of infection.
Posted 4/27/2017 1:29 AM (GMT 0)
I don't think you have any nodes on the outer lip. But you could still have a swollen gland(s) interiorly, which could be causing pain. And an infection in the vicinity could cause the glands to swell.

I know this sounds crazy - but maybe a boil? I have heard of that.

I agree w/ trying warm compresses. Not at all sure about eating abx in exploration. Topical abc-maybe. But I'd try the lymph route first. Red root. anything to help support lymphs.

-p
Posted 4/27/2017 1:46 AM (GMT 0)
Maybe an infected hair follicle?
Posted 4/27/2017 4:15 AM (GMT 0)
Yeah, she didn't seem sure. She's going with the "skin infection" answer until it either goes away or gets worse. Said if it gets worse and gets a head or worse to go to urgent care. It doesn't have a head, nothing to pop right now. Just swollen. It's not even really red. And she doesn't think it's a boil. She's not a great doctor, though. She was literally in and out in 10 minutes.

I guess for now, I just keep an eye on it? I wish it was anywhere else. It's the worst place too. So uncomfortable.
Posted 4/27/2017 1:28 PM (GMT 0)
I wanted to add...

My morning temp has been running low - in the 96s and 97s - and sometimes as low as 95s. The day before I noticed the lump it was 98.2 - Does this qualify as a fever?? It's technically "normal", but I've been running low for weeks and that would make it two degrees above what I've been. This morning it was 97.8 - still not normal.

Update: This morning, swelling is down, but it's still swollen and hurts. The lump is still there. It just feels hard in there. Not really a round lump.
Posted 4/27/2017 3:46 PM (GMT 0)
re: fever. I have wondered that myself. I'm usually on the low side - temperature wise...does that mean our fevers are lower than the average as well? Although, mine is never in the 96's - it's usually 97.5 to 97.8.
Posted 4/27/2017 3:53 PM (GMT 0)
KB,

Sorry about that.

Have you been tested for the Herpes virus? Most of us have it in our body and it lies dormant, it may be there. It can feel like a bump and give tingling down legs, some fatigue, aches and pains, low grade fever.

If that is the case you can take an anti-viral. I would start on I-Lysine and keep D-Mannose on hand. It is a simple sugar that keeps bacteria from affixing to bladder (and other areas), keeps UTIs at bay and clears them very quickly. I know you don't have a UTI but in case it turns into something.

Personally I wouldn't take abx. at this point. Keep us posted.
Posted 4/27/2017 4:06 PM (GMT 0)

Huddie said...
KB,

Sorry about that.

Have you been tested for the Herpes virus? Most of us have it in our body and it lies dormant, it may be there. It can feel like a bump and give tingling down legs, some fatigue, aches and pains, low grade fever.

If that is the case you can take an anti-viral. I would start on I-Lysine and keep D-Mannose on hand. It is a simple sugar that keeps bacteria from affixing to bladder (and other areas), keeps UTIs at bay and clears them very quickly. I know you don't have a UTI but in case it turns into something.

Personally I wouldn't take abx. at this point. Keep us posted.

Since the swelling is down some this morning, I'm going to try colloidal silver and see how that goes. Silver has always done right by me when I have the flu or a cold. I'll be taking about 2oz a day? I'm just guessing here. It's more than I usually take. It's also not a super high PPM silver, only 30.

I'm definitely on the job with this "infection". I have the ABX on hand just in case, but I really have a hard time with it so if I can help it, I won't take it. In fact, today I feel pretty good - by recent standards. Energy is pretty good, mood is good, aches yes, but otherwise better than I've been. No dizziness. We'll see how it goes.
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