Thrush - in agony!!

[candidasa]

I'm sure there have been lots of threads on this subject but I am desperate!

I used to suffer a lot with thrush but since pregnancy and having my DD it calmed down.

Saturday 1st January I got another episode of thrush and it is unbearable! I would normally use the Canesten gel pessary with the external cream and that would sort it out within 24 hours but it hasn't worked! I used the pessary on the evening of 1st January and then I purchased the Canesten tablet pessary on the second January and that didn't work either. I also went to boots yesterday and purchased fluconazole and that seems to have had no effect whatsoever.

I visited my doctors today who confirmed it is thrush (she's done a swap to double check though) and she has just prescribed me more Canesten - I could cry. She has given me some slightly stronger stuff but it is still something I could have bought over the counter.

I can barley walk it is that painful and my lady bits feel like they are on fire. I don't know what to do and at this point would happily let someone chop it all off.

The GP did say it just needs longer to work but 4 days and no improvement whatsoever? I'm not buying it and I'm desperate. If anyone on here could come along and give me some advice that would be greatly appreciated.

Anyone?

What works for ME is buying water wipes (literally those not just any wipes) and putting one lengthwise between the flaps and one over my vulva, lying in the bed reading/watching tv/Mumsnet etc. I've tried flannels etc, but they're not as comfortable so not so easy to forget about. Once they no longer feel cold, replace them.

For ME that makes it bearable.

Then cut out the sugar, including hidden sugar - juice, bread, cereal, rice, ketchup,etc

But when I get it, it's because I'm 'off the wagon' with my seriously low carb diet.

Try the water wipes!!

Good luck, it's bloody awful.

I discovered after numerous bouts of thrush that I’m allergic to certain types of loo roll. The loo roll seems to cause the skin to become sore and then thrush moves in. Diet etc did nothing for me.

Hey, it can take a little while for the stuff to work, but in the meantime you need to add a vulva safe moisturiser to all your external bits to ease the agony. Also if no improvement after 48hrs of most recent treatment, go back and suggest you could have a resistant strain of candida that requires a different treatment. I really hope you get some relief soon it’s awful x

Have you tried any 'home' remedies to ease it? Natural live yogurt on a tampon? Apple cider vinegar in a bath or as a rinse?

Try cutting out sugar/yeasty carbs? If skin red and inflamed avoid bath foam/shower gel. A bath with dermol might help ease inflammation.

Definitely go back to GP if still no change as you might need different treatment.

Huge sympathy from me - my dd5 has just had thrush (following course of penicillin) and she was screaming with pain/itchiness. Canesten did relieve it for her, thankfully.

@mayblossominapril

I discovered after numerous bouts of thrush that I’m allergic to certain types of loo roll. The loo roll seems to cause the skin to become sore and then thrush moves in. Diet etc did nothing for me.

I don't know what difference that makes to me because I never use any fragranced or aloe/almond/coconut or whatever.

@candidasa. People say it's no good, but personally I do find fem fresh helps during an outbreak. When things are 'normal' I use olive oil bar soap. I've not had any problem with any bar soap, but I do tend to stick to fairly plain bar soap.

I had recurrent thrush that wouldn't go with the usual treatment. The doctor at the GUM clinic prescribed multiple doses of oral fluconazole. Cant remember the regime, but it worked.

The tablets work but can take about a week sometimes. I agree with pp who said eat low carb low sugar. So eat vegetables (not fruit), protein and high fat but keep it low carb, no rice, pasta, bread, potatoes, and no sugary stuff. Eat salads, fish. Eggs, cheese, veg. Sugar and carbs feed the yeast. Drink lots of water. You’ll be surprised how quickly eating this way reduces inflammation and yeast throughout your body.
Also put a desk fan on near end of bed and just lie legs open. Cooling it down will reduce the itching and pain.

Thank you everyone.

I've tried most things so far. Had a bicarb bath last night which definitely eased it and then after applied sudocrem which seemed to help too but it's all temporary and then in the morning I wake up and it's raging again.

I'm taking probiotics, drinking yakult, taking vit c & vit d.

The yoghurt on a tampon is regularly suggested but honestly there is no way I could put a tampon up there right now.

I'm going to see if my mum can pick me up some tea tree oil today and also some vit b12. Its costing me a bloody fortune!

Will try the Apple cider vinegar bath tonight, too.

I just don't understand why the Canesten isn't working and I have no hope that this one the GP has prescribed me will. I have a 21 month old who I have to take care of on my own and I feel like the worst mum in the world as I'm literally sofa bound with my legs up trying to get some relief.

Thrush is the worst!

@Fakehungarian I tried to ring the GUM clinic about 15 minutes ago but all appointments were taken for today. Going to call tomorrow first thing if tonight's treatment has no effect.

I'm praying for a miracle.

Does anyone know if this stuff is any stronger than the Canesten gel/tablet pessary?

Been looking online and can't see much to say it is.

Poor you. If you can’t manage yoghurt on a tampon could you at least slather it around the area and as far in as you can manage?

Neat apple cider vinegar is your friend. Just apply with cotton wool to all affected areas. It stings like hell for about 5 seconds then gives you so much relief! It is the only thing that works for me. Also after you wee don't wipe with tissue (this just spreads the candida around), put water (and ACV if you want) in a sports bottle and squirt yourself first before patting dry. If you weren't in pain thrush can be eradicated purely by washing the spores away. Oh yes and no underwear for as much as possible.

I soak a sanitary towel with yoghurt ( and apply around area ) and find that works well . Could you try that ? I find the cream quite drying and this helps me

Fluconazole normally takes 2-3 days for me but is the best treatment. I say this as someone who was blessed with raging thrush on Christmas morning.

It's usually much more effective than the topical creams or pessaries. You can order it online, doesn't need to be branded, without prescription and keep a stash of it at home. Take as soon as thrush starts.

In the past I took it, at suggestion of GP, every 3 days, for about a week, then monthly for 3 months. Cleared up a persistent bout for years.

Personally, I wouldn't brave Tea Tree oil, sounds agonising. I have found yogurt just smeared on like a cream quite soothing,

@DrPhilYourGuts oh lucky you! On Christmas Day too I took the fluconazole yesterday so maybe it still needs time to work but I would have thought I'd have some relief by now? I have some more on the way too so will take another when they arrive.

At this moment, I will try anything. I really am desperate!

I never knew thrush could be so stubborn...

1. Skirt and no knickers or tights. Keep it as cool as possible.

1. Pour a couple of mugfuls of cold water over the area, every hour on the hour. Improved mine very quickly when the (trainee) GP was useless.

I used to get it when on the pill. I would make a strong bicarbonate of soda solution and rinse out everywhere, including feeling behind my cervix to remove as much thrushy gunk as possible with one crooked finger!
Then I would slather best live yoghurt inside my vagina and on vulva. Sit for a bit with no knickers. Repeat several times a day.

Hope you find something that relieves it, it can be miserable.

Had a recent bout of thrush thanks to a male relative buying scented toilet roll (had used it and then blew my nose, which is when I realised). In the US at the mo, so no canestan was around, after day four or five (having used american treatments) I was so desperate one night that I poured MILK onto a sanitary towel and it really actually helped.

High does vitamin c works. But don't take for more than 2 days.
I had this in November and I was at my with end by day 5. My dh looked online and read high does vitamin c works but only take for 2 days.
If you try expect a headache. It didn't clear it up but did reduce some of the uncomfortableness.
Lay in bed on a towel with no underwear on. Let down there air.
I walked around the house in just a robe for days.

No good suggestions for getting rid of it but since I’ve switched to just washing in water in the shower I’ve had much less thrush. Any soap/ shower gels just set it off again.

10% is very strong cream, it's usually 1 or 2% I think?

Sometimes you need a long course (e.g. 50mg every day for a week, or 150 mg each week for a month) to get rid of thrush. You can also buy the stuff online (unbranded, cheaper) to keep in stock.

When I last had it it got unbearable and I ended up wrapping ice in a cloth and using that to numb it all.

Fluconazle tablet. Buy OTC at pharmacy. Works for me. Cut down sugar.

A long course of Fluconazole*

Sorry didn't explain that above.

Poor you- Balance activ gel worked wonders for me- sadly very experienced with thrush!