Embarrassing issue

[DoNotDisturbPlease]

I keep getting thrush and BV

I'm a size 18 and aware I could be at risk of type 2 diabetes. I only have this as a symptom though. Doctor wont check for diabetes and just keeps telling me to use over the counter medicines which cost a shit load and dont really work. I did get 1 course of anti biotics but it has come back since then. I'm exasperated. I do everything else right, I stopped using panty liners, condoms and shower gel down there. I now just use canesten wash. I started eating yogurt every day. I dont know what else to do. Help!

Clotrimazole pessarys do clear it when I get it but like the Doctor said it isn't working because it keeps on coming back. You need the same treatment I'm on.

Red wine what treatment is that? Unless I've missed what you've said!

Sorry haven’t read all replies, doctors don’t always check for BV but your local sexual health clinic will swab and help, I found the BV gels you can order off amazon absolutely great, doc did a swab and said it was clear and I new it wasn’t, so bought gels and smell went!

I suffered with recurring thrush for about 3 years! Still get it vvv occasionally.

I have tried so many different things and read so many articles - I now have a google PHD!

There is so much misinformation out there, including from the medical profession. For a start, I don’t think thrush is treated for long enough. I have got thrush a few times on holiday in the EU, and have always been sold longer term 5+ days worth of treatment.
The treatments help get rid of the symptoms but I believe that the thrush/Candida is still there. So it’s not that the thrush is recurring - it wasn’t cured in the first place!
I’m gutted that I lost a brilliant journal article from an Australian study
Where I first read this.

The main things were improving my diet by cutting down on starchy, sugary foods and yeasts/fungus that feed the Candida. (Bread especially) I bought the harcombe diet book and although I didn’t follow religiously, I did stick to the main principles.

The other thing is multi-gym actigel. This has literally been my life saver! You can buy a version for thrush but that version comes in individual tubes and works out very expensive. I buy multi packs from amazon and use a medicine syringe to apply 2.5mls as that’s the amount I have worked out to be comfortable- any more and it gets too messy. If thrush is active it can bloody sting - enough to make your eyes water and you want to bite on something. The rest of the time there is no reaction/pain.
When thrush is active i use twice daily for 5 days, (alongside any other thrush treatments although skip the actigel if using a pessary)
then once a day for 5 days or until thrush symptoms have gone
Then every other day
Then 2/3 times a week
Then once a week

Now I only use it
the week before my period when I start to feel tender
After sex (usually next morning) I also shower after sex - bit of a pain but I think the sperm ph affects my vagina ph.
Instead of lube
After a very rare bath (I mostly shower to prevent thrush)
Whilst taking antibiotics
If I feel dry or sore at any time

It works simply by keeping your vagina at a PH were the Candida bacteria cannot survive!

Bicarbonate of soda baths are also soothing (and help restore ph levels)

Fluconazole oral thrush tablet 150mg for 6 months - Take 1 a week
But to start off you take 1 tablet every 3 days for the first 9 days, then once a week for 6 months

I agree with Waterlemon it can't be going away after we're treating it, not treating it for long enough which is why it keeps on showing it's ugly, fungus, itchy, muthafucka head.
I itched so bad it cut the skin and bled.
I'm relieved to be symptom free, long may it continue. I have a review in 3 months time to see if the treatment is working.

@redzebra10

'Put natural yoghurt on, you fanny!'

Actually Doctor said it doesn't work if you put Yoghurt on your lady bits.
There are myths of putting raw garlic up there too, don't do it as it isn't recommended.

I had similar and turned out my partner had caught it from me but showed no signs so I was only treating myself then getting reinfected, my gp said my partner had to put canesten cream on twice daily for 10 days and I used a pessary and cream and we've been fine since

Some great tips here, thank you!

Yes thank you fantastic tips. I'll get my husband to use the cream for longer and hopefully kill off his but if thrush so he wont give it back to me. Fingers crossed I dont have diabetes but I will update for those that are interested and let you know after I see the GP.

Actually Doctor said it doesn't work if you put Yoghurt on your lady bits.

It may not cure it but it certainly provides relief so I wouldn't rule out using it.

Hi OP, I've only read your posts. I had this problem and me and my DH were passing it back and forth. I got us both the oral treatment from here:
www.pharmacy2u.co.uk/pharmacy.aspx

I ordered extra as they were so cheap and I haven't had a problem in 2 years now. It was really getting me down so I can understand the frustration.

Try the oral tablet and ask for the no brand one which costs about £5. I had a serious thrush problem for months and attacked it with the oral tablet plus pessaries for three days, that eventually did the trick.

Another vote for bicarbonate of soda in the bath.

Best advice I had was from a male GP: stop wearing jeans. Is there any way you can wear something different from your work trousers? I think I’d get thrush just looking at them. I always wear a skirt or dress with stockings rather than tights, or leggings. Not had thrush for years now.

I kept getting thrush for about six months. Eventually I washed all my knickers on 90 degrees, DP and I both took oral medication bought of the internet, we abstained for two weeks, and touch-wood I have been thrush-free for two years.

Try a good probiotic, really helped me stay clear. This one www.stressnomore.co.uk/optibac-probiotics-for-women-10794.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjwocPnBRDFARIsAJJcf94g_DT1_diHmOYkX7mB7RS1ONQCE3jzbmcVNI2wNBQK7n2ze5hjbWgaAoUiEALw_wcB
And then go onto daily Optibac probiotics

Ok I contacted the doctor and they said to call from Monday and make an "on the day" appointment. So I shall do that and let you know the outcome. I can only wear my specific work trousers sadly. I could definitely wash my knickers at a higher temp and then hit us both with treatment and abstain and hope it doesn't come back. Unless the doc says I have diabetes and it goes via controlling that!! I do hope not though. Thank you all x

I will definitely look at probiotics too.

Ladies can I ask - those of you that are au naturel down there I.e no waxing etc do you find it makes thrush worse/better at all? I havent been able to wax so I've got a bit of a bush going on but it feels like it's making things worse more sweaty etc?! TMI sorry!

You could buy a sugar monitor from boots and just check your sugar daily (check in the morning and an hour after meals). It's not a good perfect check for type 2 diabetes but you could try to manage your BS and see if it helps. It will also reduce your risk of type 2 in the future. Obviously if your BS levels are ridiculously high take them back to your GP.

Men don't always have thrush symptoms! Get your dh to take a canesten tablet. I had to have a course of three tablets over about a week and a half to fully clear up mine too.

Just echoing a PP who mentioned the coil - my SIL had awful awful thrush for about 18 months - turned out the string of the coil was the issue. Once removed it cleared up completely. Best of luck OP

I’m a all or none girl op! Lol! I go from one extreme to the other!
don’t think it makes much difference but I only wear 100% cotton knickers. Bloody holy grail trying to find decent ones these days though!

With probiotics you need a really high dose of certain types, ask in a health food shop. Most are far too low to make any difference.

The key really is getting your vaginal PH To a level that inhibits the Candida and maintaining it!