this itching is driving me crazy!

You may need to go to the doctor so s/he can figure out if it's a yeast infection. If it is, you would probably get prescription Diflucan.

If it's not, try Ilex. It doesn't let anything through. You can order it directly from the company Medcon.

There's just nothing like the itch, is there?

kathy

If it is a yeast infection, all those barrier creams just make it worse, by trapping in moisture in a warm, dark place. Plus, yeast infections take time to heal...think weeks, not days.

If you've tried the OTC creams for a good two weeks, then you need to see or call the doctor. When I get it, I mix the antifungal with OTC 1% hydrocortsone. You can use concentrations of 2.5% or less in the perineal area safely. Helps with the itch whle the antifungal kills the infection.

Plus, you need to be sure to dry well (don't rub with a towel, just blot or use a air dryer on low). Wear cotton undies (no nylon or spandex!), and wear loose fitting clothes. Not a good time for thongs!

Jan

I have had this many times and it ends up being a yeast infection for me. You can buy the creams at RX store, they take longer or do difucan RX which is quick.
Maybe want to have testing done on poop which I just did Genova Diagnostics, a integrtated MD can do it, as they found lots of bacteria there on me, yeast was one, and I am taking all sorts of things to eliminate it.

Thanks everyone
Made an appointment and going to see the Dr on Thursday. I also have an appointment with my surgeon on Friday as I have not seen him since 6 weeks after my surgery. Hopefully between the two I will get some answers.
Here's hoping for some relief!
Crick

Try Balneol. I had terrible itching and this stuff saved me. It was recommended by my surgeon and I use it everyday. It has yeast fighting capabilities and also cleans the area.

My surgery was 2 1/2 years ago and I still use Balneol. I found it about 3 months in, it was and has been a God send!

Have your doctor prescibe 5% lidocane creme. It comes in generic for, costs me $5 and work like charm fo itches and butt burn.

i had itching from front to back and found something online it said use moisture wipes with with hazel which i got in rite aid..i could not believe after so long it works..look in hemmroid section of store i also got hemmroidal ointment for in and outside incase itch inside..both od these have done the trick

rebe

A common brand name for witch hazel wipes is "Tucks."

I've had lot's of problem with this itching and burning and now believe that it is due to yeast. But it doesn't appear to be Saccharomyces yeast that causes my problem. I've discovered that Torula yeast is used as a food additive. It can be hydrolyzed to release relatively large amounts of glutamine. Glutamine is essentially MSG (monosodium glutamate) and a flavor enhancer. Food manufacturers use hydrolyzed Torula yeast or other forms of Torula yeast as a flavor enhancer in a large variety of foods because they don't have to list MSG as an ingredient yet they get the same effect. They can even claim that the food is all natural and contains no artificial ingredients. In fact, I believe that in some preparations it can be listed among the ingredients as "natural flavoring." I believe that enzymes are also extracted from Torula yeast or perhaps some other types of yeast and used at times for certain foods like some cheeses. I find that if I avoid foods that list yeast, yeast extract, hydrolyzed yeast, enzymes, and natural flavors or natural flavoring, wash all raw foods well with soap and water to remove any active yeast, avoid foods like raw grapes that seem to be difficult to completely remove yeast from, and use hand sanitizer on my hands whenever I handle food that I'm eating (my hands seem to easily pick up yeast that then transfers to my food if I handle it with my hands, like sandwiches or crackers), then I don't have itching. This means that I have to avoid a lot of processed foods. Substances like barbecue sauces and just about any types of potato or corn chips that are flavored (not plain chips) as well as lots of other processed foods and some cheeses have these ingredients. But I suspect that avoiding them is a good thing for other reasons, as well. Indeed, avoiding foods that have these things seems to be a healthier diet, in general. So I don't really mind. But it does mean that I have to carefully scan lots of food labels. However, I'm becoming familiar with a lot of food items that are yeast/enzyme free so that I no longer have to check the ingredients list for those and, of course, all unprocessed food is usually fine as long as it's either cooked or well washed. There may be times when yeast starts growing in my pouch, for instance, if live yeast rather than processed or hydrolyzed Torula yeast, are in my food. It seems I can counteract that in a day or two with the probiotic Culturelle that I take almost every day. But those episodes seem to take a little longer to clear up because the yeast don't just immediately pass through since they are growing and multiplying until they are overwhelmed by other organisms.

I suspect that I've developed an allergy to this type of yeast and perhaps related organisms and that's what causes the itching. I'd like to be checked for that allergy but I'm not ready to pay for that yet and not sure insurance would cover it. I wonder, now, if this allergy or reaction was responsible for my ulcerative colitis and if I had known this before I had J-pouch surgery and had managed to avoid these foods, perhaps I would not have needed to have my colon removed?