Treating thrush: when will I have a pain-free feed?

[dizzy77]

I had thrush in my nipples and 4wk old DS's mouth diagnosed at a BF clinic at my local hospital on Monday, and on Tuesday obtained a prescription for a single dose capsule of fluconazole for me and topical miconazole in an oral gel to rub into DS's mouth and my nipples after each feed. I took the capsule immediately and I've been using the gel since Tuesday afternoon and still dreading feeds.

Our latch was checked by the peer supporter and lactation consultant on Monday and appears good though not always first time, and compared with the nipple damage I suffered in the first few days of bf-ing they look fine.

[peanutdream]

oh you poor thing thrush can be such a bugger!

the BfN leaflet is excellent if the one dose of fluconazole doesn't work. here

other home remedies that i've heard of include

grapefruit seed extract - people rave about this
drinking apple cider vinegar diluted (or putting it on your salad )
diluting bicarb of soda 1:10 with cooled boiled water and putting it on your nipples
go sugar free - including white flour/rice/bread

if i remember anything else i'll post again
good luck. hang in there!

[japhrimel]

You'll probably need a 10 day course of fluconazole as well as a higher loading dose.

With that, treating LO and scrupulous hygiene (e.g. hot wash or sterilise everything that touches milk or nipples other than LO!) I saw a difference within a few days but wasn't pain free for over a week.

[dizzy77]

Thx peanut & japhrimel will hang on in there [grits teeth smiley] - it doesn't seem as bad as it was but still not fyn. Need to gather my nursing bras & hotwash I think before returning to the dr next week with the bfn leaflet.

[Tryharder]

I had the the most godawful case of thrush on my nipples recently - it lasted about 3 months and the resulting damage to my nipples ended up in me getting infections. I tried everything recommended on here and on Kellymom and took 2 separate week long courses of flucanozole plus was prescribed caneston and nystatin.

In the end, the only thing that cleared it up was vaginal thrush strength caneston which my GP refused to prescribe as it's not licenced for nipple thrush. I basically had to lie to the pharmacist to get it.

Thrush is a bastard.

[KnockedUpMell]

Mine only cleared after 2 courses of fluconazole (the second was the higher dose for 2 weeks), and only stopped hurting halfway through the second course. I took acidophillus probiotic capsules, and used a tea tree oil soap as well as the usual hot wash for all my clothes and baby clothes and boiling dummies daily etc. I also cut down on sugars (fruit included) and carbs. Also stopped using a bra at night and if I was at home so my nipples stayed dry. Hang in there!

[dizzy77]

Crikey [hot wash rumbling in the background]. Tryharder - did you do any of the "alternatives" along with the drugs? (I ask as I'm more of a pill person than a potion person). KnockedUpMell - I was asked if I take probiotics and everyone seemed satisfied with my answer that I eat a lot of yoghurt, however looks like I need to be a bit more determined and get some capsules too.

[japhrimel]

Yoghurt won't give you nearly enough to rebalance a lack of probiotics, even if it is the right kind of yogurt. You really need a high dose multi-strain probiotic capsule or powder - you can these from any good health food store.

I took probiotics and a mix of garlic, caprylic acid and tea tree oil (all natural supplements with anti-viral properties).

You also ideally need to cut down on or cut out sugar and alcohol.

[Tryharder]

Dizzy, I spent a fortune at the health food shop on garlic capsules, grapefruit seed extract, probiotics, etc etc and they had no discernable effect. Sad, as I am a big believer in herbal/natural treatments.

[aswellasyou]

I had thrush on and off for the first 5 months. Looking back, I can't believe I carried on through the excrutiating pain! Eventually, I had a 14 day course of fluconazole and miconazole cream. I was rubbish at remembering to use the cream but I still haven't had thrush since (4 months later) so I'd suggest asking for a longer course of tablets.

[dizzy77]

Thanks all. Back to the Drs this week. After subsiding, the pain is back inside by left boob and feeding is hard again, DS is fighting again so imagine it's still uncomfortable for him too. Will definitely request a longer course of tablets (as presumably the single dose got rid of it inside, but it's back as it's still outside) and more effective cream: reading the BFN leaflet looks like the oral gel doesn't work on skin anyway.