To ask how to get rid of the most persistent thrush

[DK123]

Posting on aibu for traffic!

I'm desperate to get rid of this thrush that's come and gone for months and I cannot permanently shift it.

I've tried taking fluconozole and itraconazole for weeks at a time. I don't have anything with sugar, I've been careful re cotton pants, laundry detergents, been drinking kefir for months, but it keeps coming back.

I've got slight stomach discomfort and a lot of soreness with it too.

Definitely not pregnant or an sti.

Can anyone tell me if they've had a similar experience and any suggestions for what I can do or what I could ask a doctor for?

Thank you!!

Are you sure it's thrush and not BV?

Could your partner (if you have one) be reinfecting you? I've had that before, took a while to realise we both needed treating.

Are you sure it is thrush? What age are you? Peri menopause can cause thrush like symptoms where the vagina is drying out. I kept taking pills and using creams and realised it was dryness and not thrush.

I've repeatedly had to have 6 month courses of fluconazole, first one every two days for a week, then one a week for however long then one every two weeks and so on.

That works for a while but then something will set it off again (often stress plus a period).

I'd go and annoy ideally a female GP about it, perhaps ask them to take samples of discharge/swabs to be sure it IS thrush as they may be assuming it is and its something else or some other fungal thing or, who knows what.

I don't get stomach discomfort, just a proper sore itchy dry foof and the skin seems so tender just wiping with even a toilet wet wipe causes bleeding and swelling :(

If you have a partner are they being treated at the same time? I used to get recurring thrush when I was with one particular ex, but since we split I have never had it again. I think I got it from him and he kept re-infecting me every time I got treatment

Get your partner treated too. I had an infection that wouldn't go, so the GP gave me 6 pessaries, one a week, husband got a dose of the pills and I changed to washing with Sanex. Much less fabric softener, not pads with plastic backing or any fabric that got me too warm. No tampons, I think the micro tears from using them were making it worse.

I can never wear nylon tights again.
Finally got rid of it but I do feel for you. Also I take A-Z multi vits and that seemed to help. Not sure why but I couldn't care if it was a placebo as long as it didn't come back.

I'm 37 so unlikely to be menopause related and I don't have a partner so definitely not being caused by sex/reinfection.

I'm sure it's not BV, it's classic thrush and the swabs I've had sent off quite a few times over the last several months have all shown Candida albicans which I think is straightforward thrush

Check it’s not BV and iron the crotch of your pants, helps kill off anything there

I had it it was awful

Turned out to be always pads for me. I ditched them 6 years ago and I’ve had one bout which was brought on by the stress of early lockdown.

Completely cut out all sugar and yeast for a few weeks. It's devilishly hard- you can't even eat carrots but it worked for DD when nothing else did.

@Bigpaintinglittlepainting ironing the crotch is a really good tip, thank you!!

Reduce the amount of sugar and mushrooms that you eat, that could make a difference

Haha dh caught me doing it and was cause I don’t iron anything! I think it was a midwife or health visitor who recommended it.

I had this in my youth and it keeps coming back because the antibiotics are wiping the natural balance in the vagina. In my case it came back just before my period was due and I was on a merry go round of anti biotics. What cured it for me was a probiotic - Google “Raw Microbiome Vaginal Care” for eg. I took a probiotic for about 6 months and that, with one last course of antibiotics, cleared it for good.

Use a canestan pessary to treat the vagina, not just the vulva. My gynaecologist also recommended three Balance Activ treatments per cycle to help reset the vaginal flora.

I had persistent thrush for years. Had a nurse who actually took me seriously a few months ago. Full bloods done for vitamin/liver/kidney's etc and one for hormone levels (in my 40s). I had vitamin B12 deficiency. Low B12 means the flesh in your mouth and other moist area's is not as resilient as it should be so can get sore.

I have had blood tests every 3 months to check on the B12 level and 3 tablets to take a day. Sorted out the thrush and I got a bit of extra energy too.

Keep harassing your doctor or nurse. You should not have to live with this.

I had persistent thrush a few years back and my mum also did at a similar age. She saw a consultant at our local hospital who got rid of it forever, he amazingly was still working at the same department so I asked to be referred to him too. His advice was internal treatment, so pessary or internal cream, every night for at least a month, I think, though it may have been longer. His theory is that with persistent thrush a normal treatment lifts the symptoms just enough but doesn't get rid and so it soon comes back. I didn't find canesten to ever do anything so I used gyno daktarin internal cream every single night for a month. It is better than a pessary in my opinion, coats everything and doesn't come back out in horrible bits. You use a tampon type applicator. It worked and I haven't had thrush since - this was about 8 years ago after years of having it recurrently.

The diet tips are worth it too but imo when it's at this point you have to really have proper, longer term treatment.

Thank you for all the comments so far! I'm curled up in a ball feeling very uncomfortable and I really appreciate everyone trying to help!

One thing I have noticed actually is that it seems to come back badly straight after each period (at which time I feel like I also get bad vaginal dryness first of all)

Best advice I got was from a GP: stop wearing jeans

Have you been checked for diabetes?

@OrangeUmbrella I have been checked and apparently not diabetic.

Jeans are a nightmare of discomfort for me so I haven't been wearing them for a long time!

I second the B12 post above. Also, and it is a Little urgh but I have (after my friend recommended it) used a need and thread on a garlic clove and inserted it for a few hours, then replaced like a tampon. It makes you smell but does work (for me and friend at least). I do think the Daktarin recommendation sounds good though

Do you use scented or coated toilet paper? One swipe of that and I’m out of action for a week.

I had this a couple of months ago and had basically given up, so I googled natural remedies. Coconut oil, slathered everywhere it hurt (outside) for a couple of nights. Gone now. (No idea why, but it did work)

@enjoyingscience I did wonder about the toilet paper- I once had a horrible time on holiday in a hotel with heavily scented toilet paper. I had to sparingly use the tissues provided and keep asking for more. I learned my lesson and take a couple of rolls of my own in my suitcase now (and my own sanex and shampoo!)