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Original poster

Thrush - in agony!!

64 replies

candidasa · 04/01/2022 12:01

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.

OP posts:
jacqelinedaniels · 04/01/2022 21:00

I was advised by nurse after cystitis to only use aveeno baby wash down there as it’s so gentle and I have definitely felt much better since stopping using soap. No ideas for helping with your immediate thrush but much sympathy, it is awful 💐

Smallkeys · 04/01/2022 21:02

What about hot water bottle frozen to keep cool down there then you are not making it wet and maybe the natural yoghurt too ?

confusednortherner · 04/01/2022 21:11

Couple of handfuls of salt in the bath can help the discomfort. Hope you feel better soon thrush is the worst thing!!

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General health
user1471462115 · 04/01/2022 21:18

Slather your bits with natural yogurt and sit on a towel no knickers, for at least an hour.
Rinse with Luke warm water in a shower. Repeat daily or twice daily until not sore anymore.

Skirt with no knickers or tights., and sit with legs apart . Skirt needs to go over your knees to protect modesty if you have to go anywhere

AntiHop · 04/01/2022 21:19

You may need a course of fluconazole. You can buy it over the counter, but the doctor should be deciding on the course regime. Did the doctor examine you? The pain could be a sign that you also have a bacterial infection, but they would have noticed this with an examination.

My sympathies. I had terrible fungal infections when pregnant.

Triotriotrio · 04/01/2022 21:21

Are you sure it's not BV? I thought I had thrush and it wasn't until about a week of treating it I was diagnosed with BV and got metronidazole to sort it out. It felt exactly the same, it was just after a week that the BV smell came and I realised what it was.

I hope you get some relief soon.

fiorentina · 04/01/2022 21:34

When I had it regularly and it was agonising I used nearly neat tea tree oil. It did help and numbed it a little. The cream and pessary took a while. I also took flucanazole for months to finally rid myself of it.

MogsBestestFurball · 04/01/2022 21:50

Just bought a peri bottle, as I find too much wiping with toilet roll irritates my perineum and leads to thrush.

Belindabelle · 04/01/2022 22:10

I had really bad thrush recently. What worked for me was inserting kefir grains into my vagina. Same idea as using live yoghurt. Had to lie down initially but after a while I managed to use a tampon to hold them in place. I make my own kefir so had some grains to use but I would give the yoghurt a go.

Justkeepleft · 04/01/2022 23:03

In my worst cases a cold can of drink between the thighs worked wonders.
I was having recouring cases when I got my minera replacement and it was all better again.
Smelly loo roll sets me off too.
Oh the doctor prescribed the pessary for me once and I was allergic to it. I find the cream works best for me.
I hope you get some relief soon.

Nat6999 · 04/01/2022 23:39

The sexual health clinic was the only place that cured mine, I had skin dropping off it was so bad. I was given 7 days Fluconazole, canestan steroid cream & a cream to use in place of soap. Have you tried Daktarin cream? You can buy it in the supermarket, it is cheaper if you buy the Athlete's foot tube but is the same stuff. For relief from the itching I bought Vagisil because it has local anaesthetic in it.

FrecklesMalone · 04/01/2022 23:44

Sorry if I've missed it but check your loo roll. They keep changing brands and making them scented and it causes me unbelievable itchy pain.

Melroses · 04/01/2022 23:53

I have used Multi-gyn flora plus alongside diflucan/flucanazole. It does the same thing as balance-active mentioned above and balances your pH.

I did try yogurt once and it was messy and made it all worse Grin

Melroses · 04/01/2022 23:54

Also dermol 500 for washing.

whatabelter · 04/01/2022 23:54

Boric acid pessaries. Salcura Topida spray!!!

Original poster
candidasa · 05/01/2022 09:38

Hi everyone. Thank you for all your responses, it really is so helpful and I feel like I'm not on this journey alone because I feel very miserable right now.

Had a ACV bath last night which didn't do much at the time but I also applied the internal cream I got from the doctors last night before bed. Woke up to slight relief, it's not burning and it's not as red down there but still very itchy. Terrified this is only temporary relief and it will all come back again but I'm trying to think positive.

I rang the GUM clinic this morning too, they said they can't get me in until Monday despite the fact I'm struggling to walk and the pain is agonising but there's nothing more I can do. I will be trying all of your suggestions over the next few days to see if anything works/helps.

Does anyone know if I took fluconazole 150mg 2 days ago, can I take another today or should I wait?

OP posts:
Bremusa · 05/01/2022 09:59

I found after several bouts of persistent thrush that the canesten cream just wasn't working for me externally, I was torn and really sore. The only thing that helped was a prescription of Daktacort 1% cream, but you can buy it online at Superdrug and other online chemists. I also used the oral tablets and pessaries at the same time. It took over a week to clear up, and a few days to start feeling more comfortable but it worked.

I know I'm stating the obvious but no scratching, dab gently with toilet paper or water based wipes after a wee and no soap to wash either. If it's bad it's going to take a while to heal. I really feel for you it's horrible suffering from this.

Original poster
candidasa · 05/01/2022 10:14

@Bremusa you know it's funny you should say that because I had a tube in the house that I dug out last night and have been using that last night and this morning. I researched it and it says it's safe to use down there so I went for it. I did wonder if it was just the outside that was sore from the Canesten because every time I put the Canesten on it would burn. I will see how I get on. Thank you for your suggestions.

I really hope for it to go asap. I've had to call in sick for work as my job is very active and there is no way I can walk around at the moment.

OP posts:
MrsClatterbuck · 05/01/2022 10:16

For relief I found a bath with tea tree oil better than the Canesten cream. Also used tea tree oil cream for relief until the tablet kicked on I'm in recovery at the moment. Took a tablet a few days ago as had one from last attack. Using Canesten cream and Boots tea tree oil cream. More tablets due today. Ordered from AYP health which are so much cheaper. Hope they're ok. Pharmicia are also much cheaper. Think too much sweet stuff over Christmas did it for me. Last year as I have a sensitive bladder I tried the always liners which are just like pant liners and the thrush just started from there. They didn't seem to be scented tbh. I wash with Lactacyd which I can only get in Boots.

WhatALump · 05/01/2022 10:22

Have you had your blood sugar tested? I had thrush for over a month that I couldn’t get rid of and it turned out I had t2 diabetes

Peaseblossum22 · 05/01/2022 10:25

Sympathies , I had thrush on and off for nearly twenty years. Things that worked when I had an attack;

30 days of nystatin , get them to prescribe the oral 30 days course plus the cream (I hate the cream but some people find it helps)

Symprove has really helped, its a probiotic, not cheap but has really helped with yeasty stuff, plus take a probiotic any time you have antibiotics, a cold etc You can get it from amazon or direct , just google

I was allergic to one of the ingredients in Canesten cream so never use it , in fact I avoid any creams . It was a gynae consultant who discovered this I will be forever thankful to him as I was at my wits end .

Warm baths with a muslin filled with oats in the water, very soothing
Sitting on an ice pack is also good
Cut out anything fermented from your diet plus fruit juice

Sorry these things sound random but different things work for different people .

MotherMole · 05/01/2022 10:28

Smother yourself in natural love yoghurt. Really helps relieve the pain and take it away.

MotherMole · 05/01/2022 10:28

Natural live yoghurt, not love!

Original poster
candidasa · 05/01/2022 10:31

@WhatALump I've had many blood tests done in the last year - due another in February to check my thyroid levels. Would a routine blood test pick it up or does it need to be a specific test? If so I will request one.

OP posts:
Original poster
candidasa · 05/01/2022 10:34

Omg!!! @Peaseblossum22 that sounds awful! 20 yearsShock how did you cope?!?! I've had this for not even a week and I'm at my wits end. I'm so glad you found a cure in the end! I've seen lots suggesting nystatin has worked for those where Canesten hasn't so if this hasn't budged at all by tomorrow I'm going to ring my GP and ask for that I think. I definitely think the Canesten external cream is doing more harm than good right now.

OP posts:
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