My husband or my doctor? Kidding -- that refers to my previous posting.
I went to the Dr. yesterday. I think she has been reading up on Crohn's just for me (she's a GP). She said it is most likely not at all related to Crohn's or any relevant medications I take or any of us take. She said that until recently, they have not been able to actually test specifically for a feminine bacterial infection and that the itching type is usually bacterial. A discharge type is yeast -- esp. the whitish discharge. She said that yeast is more due to out of balance on the pH and a flora imbalance such as after antibiotics. Bacterial is mostly due to being sexually active and perspiring in the area in the warmer weather. She said if it is really strong or really itchy, see the Dr. for an antibiotic. Mostly, she said to keep the area fresh with the methods we have all mentioned above. She said this is becoming way more prevalent along with urinary tract infections. She said it is not a sexually transmitted disease, but they give it the catch-all name of genitourinary bacterial infection.
Sounds like this is another example of bacteria getting stronger and more prevalent. While I was in the waiting room, a drug rep. arrived. I listened because I am going to do medical transcription. The drug rep warned that hospitals and the FDA are advising Dr's NOT to use Cipro in first line of treatments because hospitals are having massive bacterial infection outbreaks and it's resistant to Cipro. They can use other things close to Cipro like Levaquin or Avelox, but to save the Cipro for the big stuff (which is what they had tried to do pre-Anthrax scare and pre-smallpox scare).
Now, she did point out the the itchy skin spots I have and others have reported having on other threads, ARE most likely Crohn's related and first they would try an antifungal (they did and it didn't work) and then a topical steroid (which we are trying now). I get some improvement from OTC cortisones and so this is a bit stronger as the OTC ones are really, really slow at making progress. It can be termed a psoriasis or an eczema because those are very similar and kind of are classified based on extent and thickness into the skin as affected. She said the fact my first spot appeared during my very first flare-up was kinda a sign that it is related.
So, that was my trip to the Doctor. She also gave me a note that says I shouldn't be working outside the home because the stress seems to make keeping stable a harder business. I had this little tutor job where I would spend 8 or 9 hours away from home and get paid for working 6, and it was a hour drive to get there. Plus, the boss was not being nice and she embarrassed me in front of a student. I quit on the spot rather than even giving notice because of her confrontation with me though I was in the right and she was in the wrong. In order to not have to pay them back for training (is that crazy or what?), I needed a Doctor's note. There is no disability or unemployment involvedc, so it's not like trying to scam the system. So, I have a prescription written on her prescription pad that says I shouldn't be working at this time. This is good because I can focus on finishing the medical transcription and getting to work from home in that manner (and it's really interesting).
Yes, I had a very busy day at the Dr. I have the BEST Dr!