reoccuring cystitis and thrush

[EarlyyearsChildcare]

I have suffered from the above for years.
I went to my GP today because I am now suffering with one or the other constantly, I was shocked when she said 'It's a woman thing, we are badly designed, there isn't anything I can suggest that you dont already know'

I know it is hormone related because I didn't suffer all the time I was pregnant and full time breastfeeding.

If I have sex, drink alcohol, use any type of shower gel, soap in the bath, wear tights, or skinny jeans I get an attack.
I always get thrush after cystitis. I get cystitis at least once a month and use canetsen cream constantly.
I eat live yoghurt and drink actimel and cranberry etc etc etc.
Im really fed up, anyone know a miracle cure?

[mumof4sons]

Has your partner been treated for thrush too? Men don't get the symptoms like we do, but could have it unknowingly and keep passing it to you. Try treating the both of you at the same time.

[milkjetmum]

I used to get cystitis all the time when I was in my teens/20s, then I had the worst bout of all time (while on a campsite in the middle of the night - the glamour) and I am SURE that I passed a stone! Since then no problems. So might be worth pushing to get that checked out. At times it was so bad for me that I wee'd myself, so I feel for you.

I am sure you probably already know this, but my top tips are:

• try and drink a pint of water before sex, then always wee/wash soon after sex
  
• drink plenty of water even when feeling well. Plus cranberry every day if you like it.
  
• at the first tingle of a problem get started on the water and painkillers - it always get worse before it gets better
  
• my own self-treatment plan was half a pint of water every 20mins and a weak cup of tea once an hour (plus painkillers and the salt sachet) with a hot waterbottle.
  

Can't give much advise on the thrush other than what you already know. Good luck HTH.

[BrokenBananaTantrum]

Don't want to worry you but this can be a sign of diabetes. I went to my gp after having thrush 3 times in 5 weeks. She sent me for a fasting blood test and I have now been diagnosed diabetic.

I hope I haven't worried you too much but might be worth getting checked.

You gp is a bit daft to say its just cos you're a woman.

[hermioneweasley]

I am very fortunate not to get cystitis, but have suffered with thrush all my life. I gut the gussets out of tights, which is very effective, and don't wear trousers much at all, wearing natural fibre and loose ones when I do. I am currently undergoing treatment for the world's most persistent yeast infection and am on a 6 month course of itraconazole because fluconazole wasn't touching it ( the one I'm on is a broader spectrum fungal). Otherwise a good probitoic (a brand called Lamberts is the best I've found) and I would lay off the cranberry juice - it has so much sugar that this will counteract any benefits of cranberry in it's natural form. Echo the advice about yourpartner being treated and you being tested for diabetes. Feeling for you!

[oldenoughtowearpurple]

You need a different doctor!

I went through a phase of this in early menopause. Was diagnosed as urethritis triggered by thinning of membranes Down There. Hrt cured it.

Insist on seeing a gynae if the doctor is being this useless.

[CurlyCasper]

I was on long term treatment for recurring thrush, it's just something I am prone to. The specialist threw more and more chemicals at the problem and never tried to find the cause. In the end I stopped seeing him and used natural treatments - apple cider vinegar or tea tree oil. These can be applied using natural sea sponge tampons (google Sea Pearls or Jam sponges). I'm not so bad these days, but was recently told to monitor my sugar intake, as this can be a major cause.

I really feel for you - I have also had cystitis turn into such a bad infection that the GP suspected meningitis from my symptoms and I was hospitalised.

[picnicbasketcase]

Garlic capsules and probiotics, cut down on bread and suagr as much as possible and get your partner to take a fluconazole tablet just in case you're passing it back and forth. I've never had cystitis but can you get cranberry extract rather than drinking juice?

[VivaLeBeaver]

I don't get thrush but I get cystitis constantly. I reckon it's interstitial cystitis. Consultant who is an arse reckons I have an over active bladder. But he didn't actually ask me how many times a day I wee and it's only about five on average so he's talking bollocks. I've had bladder scans and kidney scans and nothing unusual. Gp has put me on a six month course of low dose trimethropin which has sorted it for now, however I missed a few tablets last week and it started up. Knocked it on the head quickly with double dose of tablets but a bit depressed that it's still there. I'm hoping to break the cycle, may take a bit longer I guess. I'm having a cystoscopy next month.

There is a good thread on here that has been running for ages about interstitial cystitis. I can't link ATM as am on phone. Try and search for it or if u can't find it I'll link tomorrow.

[VivaLeBeaver]

And cutting down on tea, coffee, alcohol and cola is beneficial.

[exorbitclamp]

Had my mirina coil taken out 6 months ago and the constant thrush I had suffered from for 8 years has gone completely, also used to suffer from cystitis and drank cranberry juice once a day whether I had an attack or not.

[exorbitclamp]

And it is bloody miserable, I do feel for you.

[ClaimedByMe]

I suffer this too, the thrush is often a side effect of the antibiotics you take for the cystitis - no answers thou just loads of sympathy!

[quirkychick]

I have had thrush 4 times in the last 4 months, each time just before my period [ouch]. I have been swabbed, awaiting results. Diabetes was mentioned, but GP thought not the issue. It was suggested that it might be hormonal. Mirena coil has been recommended by 2 different GPs rather than mini pill. After reading exorbitclamp's post I'm not so sure.

EarlyYearsChildcare you definitely have my sympathy.

[nightcat]

I would check for diabetes or pre-diabetes, cut out sugar in any form and add zinc supplement, which would improve immunity

[exorbitclamp]

I have always assumed a strong general antibiotic that was administered just after giving birth to DS triggered the repeated attacks of thrush and cystitis, it just sent my normal system hay-wire. The mirena coil was put in after my second child was a few months old. The thrush disappearing after it was taken out after 6 years was an unexpected benefit.

[quirkychick]

nightcat I definitely will try cutting out sugar, although I don't have much and hardly eat any bread. Zinc sounds a good idea, that was on the ringworm thread for fungal infections.

Thanks exorbitclamp I'm still very unsure about coil as I keep hearing different things. I think, maybe I need to be sure that it is hormonal.

EarlyYearsChildcare it sounds as if you need to be referred to a specialist. It is not normal or healthy to have constant cystitis/thrush.

[JackiePS]

As VivaLeBeaver mentioned it could be Interstitial Cystitis. I suffered for years with what I was told was normal cystitis and eventually I had a cystoscophy (can't spell that) which showed it was IC. This is inflammation of the bladder rather than a bacterial infection. Check the web and look at the symptoms and see if these fit.

[MsNg]

This may be a little tmi but I used to get recurrent cystitis and thrush. In the end I stopped it for good by using baby wipes every time I poo. However carefully I was wiping with ordinary loo roll it was obviously leaving some bacteria behind which were triggering the infections. Bad for the environment, for which I feel guilty, but I haven't had either in years and it used to be almost constant.

[Johnsond]

Hi I was wondering what dosage you was on with intracanozole as I'm on 100gm for 6 months thanks