Has anyone successfully overcome thrush? If so, how?

[PhoebeLaura]

I've been suffering with thrush for 4 weeks now but only managed to get the correct medication last Friday - 400mg loading dose of fluconazole then 200mg daily for 2 weeks, plus cream for me and nystan drops for DS.
At first I thought it was working as the stabbing pains seemed to ease but they are now back and as bad as before. I've been changing breast pads frequently and washing bras on hot then ironing them. Also trying to wash nipples before and after feeding.
I've been reading about other things that can help such as washing with vinegar or bicarb of soda and might try doing that.
Anyway, getting a bit desperate now, so does anyone have any advice as to how they dealt with it and how long it took to get rid of? Thanks

[lizzytee]

Phoebe, this sounds miserable for you. My understanding is that washing the nipples is not thought to be helpful as it's likely to strip the skin of its natural flora that help to keep candida and other nasties under control. I can see the logic of using vinegar or bicarb but vinegar in particular is likely to be quite astringent and perhaps a little hard on your skin.

This link and this one may have some useful information on other treatments you could pursue alongside the drug treatment.

How did you get on with the BFC yesterday?

[PhoebeLaura]

Unfortunately she cancelled as she was ill, trying to rearrange appt asap. I spent an hour and a half crying on the phone to an NCT BFC last night. she was very nice and suggested lots of things, although I already knew most of what she told me tbh. One nipple is now so sore i've stopped feeding from it and am just expressing - I was going to do this for 24hrs and see if it helps to heal it.
I'm giving myself till new year and if things don't improve i'm going to have to start FF

[lizzytee]

(((((hugs)))))

This is such a difficult time of year, lots of illness and grotty weather and support services not running. Plus judging from the experience of friends who have had had it, thrush can be quite tenacious. I have not had breast thrush but at times in the past had it a lot "down there" (sorry if tmi) and did resort to a diet where I avoided sugary things, ate natural yoghurt and didn't eat yeasty bread (ie rye or sourdough rather than normal bread). Not an easy diet at this time of the year but on the bright side you can eat all the turkey and roast potato you like .

If you are finding things difficult, it is worth considering speaking to the NCT phone counsellor again. She may not be able to tell you anything factual that you don't already know, but she is trained to talk through with you how you are feeling about the current situation.

Take care and keep posting

[anchovies]

Hi Pheobe, haven't got much time now but I have got the current thrush leaflet that I bought from LaLeche that I have now finished with, do you want me to post it to you? If so cat me (or email d_ carr at btopenworld dot com) with your address and I'll stick it in the post this afternoon. I had thrush for 4 long weeks (and again a couple of weeks later) but am finally free of it now and have been for a couple of months.

This is what I did (have copied and pasted from an old thread)
Daktarin/Clotrimazole for you, apply a pea sized amount after every feed
Flucanazole for you (if you are feeling deep breast pain, not just in your nipples) 150mg loading dose plus 10 days of 50mg twice a day
Nystatin for baby, 4 x 1ml each day, coat the whole mouth with a clean finger (micanazole/daktarin gel is no longer prescribed for babies under 4 months)
Disilled vinegar solution (1 - 2 tsp per 160mls of water) applied as often as possible to your nipples with a clean piece of cotton wool for each side
Clean towels after every shower, plus clean pjs and bras, I ironed my bras and pjs at a high temp as I couldn't wash these hot enough
Plenty of handwashing
Acidopholus tablets, 1 tablet twice a day
Grapefruit seed extract 250 mg three times a day (or the equivalen if you get the liquid)
Garlic capsules, triple strength, 3 tablets 3 times a day

Took the flucanazole for 10 days before it started to work.

Got to run x

[anchovies]

Oh another thing (that you probably already know!) Make sure you sterilise everything in milton not steam or microwave.

By the way the leaflet is actually really good (A3 with loads and loads of info not just a little leaflet!)

[PhoebeLaura]

wow thanks so much for the info, anchovies. I'm not doing all that you suggest so I'll start asap. I've got grapefruit seed extract liquid from my travelling days (it's amazing at keeping stomach bugs at bay) so i'll dig that out.
Couple of questions for you, is distilled vinegar the same as ordinary white? Also did you use disposable breast pads as the NCT BFC told me to buy the re-usable ones as the disposable ones can breed thrush because of the plastic coating.
I had no idea you had to sterilise using milton - I've been using a steam steriliser. . why is milton preferable?
I've emailed you my details for the leaflet. Thanks again!

[lizzytee]

Milton is a chemical antiseptic rather than a heat-based method and I think the thinking is that a steam steriliser doesn't always maintain a high enough temperature for long enough to kill all the bugs. Boots do a cheapie own brand plus bucket which should work just fine.

[MoooCow]

Phoebe, you also have my sympathies. Great advice from everyone, I wish Id asked the same question when I had thrush. Me and my LO struggled on for 6 weeks passing it too and fro. Eventually it got so bad for both of us that I stopped BF, much to my sadness.
Just wanted to let you know though that if it dosnt clear( and i really hope it does) that its not the end of the world for you and your LO if you do have to stop BF. My LO is now almost 6 months and has no ill effects of going onto FF. Happy painfree mummy = happy baby Good luck

[PhoebeLaura]

oh MoooCow thanks for your lovely message. I'm sorry to hear that you had to stop BF but happy that it all worked out ok for you and your LO. I'm going to write down all this good advice and take it to my local breastfeeding drop in centre where last week when I went, all 5 of us there had thrush! Hopefully it will helo some others too.

[normansmum]

eating a spoonful of live yoghurt each day is beneficial. not sure if it cures thrush but does stop it recurring.

[skidaddle]

phoebe - poor poor you . I had thrush for 8 weeks with DS and it was horrendous. You are doing absolutely everything I did so I have no practical advice for you, just lots of sympathy. I think mine went when I started ironing my bras and using Milton but I don't know if that was just a coincidence. Also keep treating your DS long after the symptoms have gone (I know the first step is to make them go in the first place)

It is so awful but once you get through this it will all be so easy. I really really hope you can see the BFC and things get better for you soon. Once the thrush went with me it was all plain sailing and I am still happily feeding DS who has just turned one .

[MoooCow]

Phoebe, I hope it sorts itself out for you soon, don't worry too much. My LO is screetching with teething tonight! Thats a whole new thread....!

[AliEightMaidsAMilking]

Phoebe hope your thrush gets sorted - had it for 8 weeks with DS and went back and forth to doctors before finally getting prescribed fluconazole. But what finally got rid of it for good was taking grapefruit seed extract tablets 3x a day, giving DS the Nystatin, adding some of the GSE liquid to the rinse cycle of the washing machine and sterilising everything in Milton. At a guess I would say the GSE tablets got rid of it in me, the Nystatin in DS and the other stuff stopped us from continually transferring it back and forth! Did take a little while for it to work though - about a week after I started the GSE tablets.

[PhoebeLaura]

Thats great to hear AliEight - I've always thought GSE was miraculous, I took it every day whilst in Vietnam 5 years ago and despite eating at street stalls every day I didn't get any stomach problems (I really should have done given some of the things i ate!).
I'm feeling much more positive to hear all these stories of people who have got over thrush

[MamaG]

Can I hijack this thread please?

DS2 has thrush and was prescribed Daktarin - he's 6 weeks old. Iphoned the Docs and asked if they were sure he should have it as the leaflet said not to be given under 4 months and the GP assured me it would be fine.

I've been giving it to him, but should I insist he gets Nystatin?

[skidaddle]

mamag - i think daktarin is OK - I vaguely remember having this dilemma nyself. I think the MW told me that daktarin was much more effective and I think the BFN reccommend it - not sure at all but I do knoe I gave it to my DS at less than 8 weeks and he was fine.

HTH

[Suzmum]

I got diagnosed with thrush 5 weeks ago but think I've had it much longer. Symptoms finally subsiding. It's so horrible, my sympathy to you, and I never thought I'd get through it but am so pleased it now no longer rules my life and my mood!

I started to feel better only after I had finished the fluconazole course. I was convinced it wasn't working, but perhaps it did. Also used to religiously wash but I think it was better when I stopped washing after every feed. Couldn't bear to give up bread, but kept it to a minimum, avoided sugary stuff, alcohol, anything malty. And am convinced that vast quantities of natural low fat bio-yoghurt makes a difference - I scoff a big 500ml pot every day.

MamaG - the advice on Daktarin gel for babies has only recently changed to 4 months. Its due to the supposed choking risk - but as long as you only use a small amount and spread it around the baby's mouth I don't think its a problem, and my dr and HV were happy to give it to me. My daughter has had it since 9 weeks and seems to love it which makes it easy to apply and spread on her tongue, gums and inside her cheeks.

[MamaG]

Thanks alot

[pbo]

Thank you for this thread!! I've had mastitis and now thrush for about 3 wks, DD is almost 4 wks and although mastitis is gone the thrush is agony...haven't worn a bra for 5 days cos it's so painful. The doctor prescribed us canesten for my nipples and her bum (horrible rash) but I can't understand how that's going to fix things, if I kill it off on the nipples surely she'll just give it back to me when she feeds(!?!) And it hasn't worked for me anyway, her rash is a bit better but I'm still hurting, I'm going to go back to the doctor's AGAIN and demand something better, if I don't go today I'll have to wait 2 wks til the holidays are over and I don't know how I'll manage that!! Who wants a christmas cos your boobs are burning!!!! Is breastfeeding ever enjoyable??