Just an update about me. I had what I thought to be an allergic reaction to nitro. Then, I thought it was yeast. The itching and inflammation were unbearable. I completed a round of Diflucan with no improvement in my symptoms. It worsened for a few days, then I headed to my OBGYN so she could examine me. She visually diagnosed a yeast rash and started me on a second round of Diflucan and a prescription yeast cream. She also took some swabs to culture.
Here is my most recent timeline:
Monday: Started 200 mg diflucan and yeast cream AND drank some kefir that my husband had cultured. Feeling better. Strangely, fissures don't bother me.
Tuesday: 100 mg diflucan and yeast cream AND drank some kefir. Feeling even better. I think my fissures are healing!!!
Wednesday: 100 mg diflucan and yeast cream and FORGOT the kefir. Pain and itching worsen throughout afternoon and evening. Can barely sleep.
Thursday: 100 mg diflucan and yeast cream. So itchy and fissure pain flares up after bm. OB calls to say ALL swabs were negative (no strep B, no bacterial vaginosis, not even any yeast). Finally remember to drink a *big glass* of kefir.
Homemade milk kefir is the only thing I've done or not done that's had an effect on my fissures and rash. I know that gut bacteria can play a role in fissures for some people. My gut flora doesn't reach the level of dysfunction of say Crohns or Colitis, but I know it's not in the greatest shape due to a youth full of antibiotics and an adulthood full of Diet Coke (read up on how aspartame and Splenda decimate your good gut flora). I have been reluctant to take probiotic pills while dealing with my fissures because they tend to firm up my stools, but kefir has a greater number and diversity of bacteria and it doesn't effect the stool consistency.
I'll keep you posted.