Persistent Thrush for over a year

[Willieverfeelnormal]

Ok here goes....I have had persistent Thrush for over a year now. It's not recurring (I.e goes away and comes back) its just there constantly. I do have the odd few days when things seem better and I've felt normal but then bang, the niggling and discharge starts again. There doesn't seem to be any link to my period either. I apparently have Candida Parapsilosis not your normal Candida albicans (typical). Anyway, my gp has attempted to clear it with fluconazole 1 every 3 days, 50mg daily for 2 weeks, 100mg daily for 1 week and no change. It gets slightly better when I start the treatment then just comes back again before I've finished the course. I've also tried canesten pessary and no change, my gp then gave me a weeks course of itraconazole 200mg twice daily, again got slightly better then came back before the week was out. So I'm now on a month long course of Itraconazole 100mg twice daily. I actually had 2 symptom free days, then discharge came back for 2 days then I had a further 4 symptom free days and now the discharge and discomfort is back again! I'm on day 12 of 30 with the medication and I have no idea what is going on down there. To top it off I had a pelvic floor repair (cystocele, rectocele and perineum repair) in August so this hasn't helped matters but I had the thrush before I had the surgery. I don't get the crazy itching but it does irritate the outside a little and I usually wipe away the discharge before it get the chance to come into contact with the outside bits . Here the tmi bit (sorry) My discharge can vary from thin and watery to so thick I have to scoop it out ! I mostly get vaginal swelling and burning and there's also a heat in the outer area too.

Has anyone out there had the same problem? Or does anyone have any experiences of the month long treatment? I've tried the yoghurt, acidophilus, tea tree, bicarbonate of soda etc etc.

[Mylittlepuds]

Have you been tested for diabetes? I had thrush that wouldn't go away for months and months despite trying to keep on top of it with the treatments you've mentioned.

[4nomore]

I have had thrush basically since my son was born (so for over seven years now). I've never seen my GP with it as it's just a worsening of a tendency I've had since around 1990. I'm definitely not diabetic just always prone to thrush and I assume that like you I've now become infected with something other than mainstream albicans. I think the whole thing started going seriously downhill when I became allergic to Canestan but didn't realise for a long long time. I use Daktarin sometimes now but I have found that if I use a lactic acid gel, faithfully, every day (just at night when symptom free) it keeps everything under control most of the time.

[dsmama]

I had this and eventually sorted it with the help of a naturopath and a very restricted diet (no sugar, wheat, yeast etc). Once it was gone it was gone. Also came off the pill which apparently can make a big difference.

[Willieverfeelnormal]

Thanks folks for your replies. Dsmama - I came off the pill over 3 years ago but I was wondering if I had some hormonal imbalance... I'm getting bloods done on Monday for that as my periods over the past few months have also been heavier and longer. I'm constantly exhausted and irritable so perhaps that could also be contributing. What I'm finding weird is that since starting this month long course of itraconazole the discharge has increased. My mum has actually suggested trying homeopathy to see if that would help.

Mylittlepuds - no I haven't been test for diabetes... Maybe the bloods I'm having done next week will cover this too. I'll ask the nurse

4nomore - I have some stuff that my gp gave to me before my prolapse repair called Relactagel. It's basically lactic acid so the same stuff you use. I'm finding that because of my vaginal repairs its quite painful for me to use a anything up there (cause I've basically had my vagina sliced from top to bottom at the front and back so as you can imagine there was quite a bit of stitching and healing).

Oh I don't know..... Feeling really depressed, I've not been able to have sex with my DH since last April . Maybe this is just how life is gonna be for me.

[nightcat]

OP, you need to take zinc supplement, as recurrent fungal infections are linked to zinc deficiency

[cocolepew]

I went on a restricted diet the same as dsmama, it got worse before it got better but it did clear up. Have you tried a probiotic? It needs to be one that's kept in a fridge, not Yakult or the like. Pure Bio website has some good ones.

Definitely get tested for diabetes, I had insulin resitance due to PCOS and was very tired with it.

[cocolepew]

I went on a restricted diet the same as dsmama, it got worse before it got better but it did clear up. Have you tried a probiotic? It needs to be one that's kept in a fridge, not Yakult or the like. Pure Bio website has some good ones.

Definitely get tested for diabetes, I had insulin resitance due to PCOS and was very tired with it.

[cocolepew]

Oops sorry.

I was reading online that this is from wounds and needs to be treated by IV, the drug used is amphotecerin B, for 2-5 days until it clears significantly and then given orally for a few weeks longer until the yeast is eradicated. Apologies if you knew this already .

[Willieverfeelnormal]

Thanks for that cocolepew - i take it that you mean candida parapsilosis is from wounds? Would make sense as even though I did have thrush before my op, it is now significantly worse since I was discharged from hospital. I'm due to see the consultant that did the op in feb so I will def ask him about this. It's so weird how it fluctuates from day to day. I'm really bad today but I bet tomorrow I'll feel better and by Monday back to how I am today .

[cocolepew]

Yes, blood, wounds and tissue damage and reduced immunity. If you google candida paraposilosis it's the fifth one down, livestrong, where it says this.

[cocolepew]

Another site says it is commonly found on membranes, eyes, mouth, vagina and causes inflammation and red itcy skin.

I hope you are able to get it sorted you must be miserable.

[BlissfullyIgnorant]

Hope you don't use soap!

[Back2Two]

I haven't tried it but I think it sounds quite a natural approach

Or this is fantastic but it is Australian and I'm not sure how you get it in this country

[Back2Two]

So, basically from my experience I would totes recommend a regular tablet that maintains healthy bacterial levels rather than a "treatment" such as canestan.

[Back2Two]

Oh, and how old are you? Thrush can be related to the menopause.

[Willieverfeelnormal]

Cocolepew - I've been googling ever since I found out I had this weird strain of candida 6 weeks ago! I'm driving my husband mad as well as myself..
Blissfullyignorant - no I've not used soap down there for about 2 years just aqueous cream or E45 wash.
Back2two- I'm only 35 so hopefully not early menopause either.

[StitchAteMySleep]

Try changing diet as others have suggested, I have had to cut out wheat and sugar to keep candida at bay, also look up grapefruit seed extract.

[alphabetspaghetti]

I had very persistent thrush for about 6 months. I ended up on a course of itraconazole which didn't clear it immediately. I also took a cocktail of probiotic, zinc, garlic and iron tablets. I also took about a tablespoon of organic cider vinegar with water am and pm.

But what I really think helped was the fact I made a decision not to let this ruin my life (sounds dramatic but it was).

In the end I went to the GUM clinic and spoke with a doctor who said she was determined to get to the bottom of it. Luckily when she tested of it had gone. Keep pushing to find someone who will take this seriously.

I wish you all the best.

[JustasmallGless]

I have suffered with thrush for years in and off. I found that when I changed my diet it has disappeared completely. I changed to low carb which may not suit you but would certainly recommend cutting out wheat and sugar as others have recommended
Good Luck - sounds miserable for you

[BlameItOnTheBogey]

Another one who after a year of this had changed diet significantly with good results. I cut out wheat, alcohol, sugar and caffeine and introduced a probiotic. It sounds drastic but I was Fed Up. And the diet change has made a huge difference. As an added benefit, I've lost over a stone too!

[Willieverfeelnormal]

Alphabetspaghetti - how long were you on the itraconazole for? This is my second attempt with Itraconazole and I had a good few days spell but now the discharge is significantly worse as is the swelling again. I had been on itraconazole about a year or so ago for 6 months (just a small amount every night to keep thrush at bay after I got rid of it using gynodaktarin) makes me wonder if I'm now resistant.

Jeez i think I'd really struggle with changing my diet. I'm soooooo fussy, don't eat veg other than peppers and eat mostly all of the things I need to cut out. My whole family all like diff things so I tend to eat what either the kids are having or my DH as making 3 different meals every night is just not an option. I'd end up just not bothering to feed myself cause of the hassle (can't afford to lose weight either as I'm about 8 stone and hate being so thin but I've always been like this)

[alphabetspaghetti]

I was on it daily for a month. Make sure you get your liver function checked because it can affect that.

How old are your dc's? I have a friend who suffered following the birth of her dd and it was linked to strep b.

If I hadn't got rid of it my next step was to go to a homeopath. Maybe you could try that?

I also read something about nystatin and boric acid. Not sure exactly what they are or if they could help.

I also drastically but down on sugar, carbs and yeast. I still can't bring myself to eat a mushroom - Damn fungus.

[Willieverfeelnormal]

Did you feel your symptoms worsened before they got better? I'm day 13 of 30 day course of 2 x 100mg daily. Can't understand why I had a completely normal day on Sunday & Monday past and then bang the damn things back with a vengeance.

My kids are 6 and 2. I have suffered from long bouts of thrush since my first son was born. I was also prone to it when I was a little girl too. Didn't think about the whole strep thing. Would that not show up on the swabs? My swabs are a hit or a miss, sometimes it shows thrush sometimes it doesn't. Doc says they are unreliable.

[alphabetspaghetti]

I think that my symptoms did get slightly worse whilst on it and it did take the whole month to shift it.

Also, possibly tmi but when I had a poo I would wash myself straight away. Not my fanjo, just my bum.

Come to think of it I also did a few vaginal douches.

See, im not completely sure what cured me but I did all sorts of daft things in desperation.

[knackeredoutmum]

I had this continuously day and night for years but fortunately it is now under control. None of the medical treatments worked at all.

I cut out sugars including fruit, juice, cakes etc and also white bread for around 6 months (you will be able to introduce small amounts slowly, its not normally a permanent change)

I took 2 x biocare acidophilus forte (vvvexpensive) for a month and then one a day thereafter for 6 months

I used this inert food grade acidifying gel 3 or 4 times every day to correct the vaginal ph balance (alkaline environment encourages thrush, if your vagina is alkaline the gel will sting a little)

I also used these acidophilus pessaries several times a week.

Drink lots of water to help keep the cells of the vagina (where sugars collect and encourage the thrush) well hydrated

A drop or two of tea tree oil in the bath or on a pantie liner would help too.

It was costly but it has gone!!! if I eat lots of cake I will start to get symptoms the next day