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!!

Persistent thrush is awful OP.

I kicked it by using these natural remedies.

Allicillin tablets. They are garlic tablets and they stink but they helped.
Multi Gyn. (I think it's called) Treats BV and thrush. I think you can get a thrush specific remedy, have a look on Amazon.
The probiotic Saccharomyces Boulardii is really good for candida as well.

And as a PP mentioned, wash knickers on a hot wash to make sure that the thrush isn't still there.

I hope you get it sorted.

I've actually only got a shower! When I had my bathroom redone 10 years ago I decided against having a bath as there wasn't room for both and I knew it was making the thrush worse!

I really wish I could give this thrush the boot once and for all. It's very uncomfortable all the time and I don't feel like I can ever quite relax.

Sorry to hear how many others experience persistent thrush too. It goes to show it's a common problem though.

Not read the responses, but ask your GP to check for lichen sclerosis. Similar symptoms and can often go unspotted.

Coming off the pill stopped it for me too. If you are on any hormonal contraceptives I’d look at stopping if you can.

Agree with washing underwear at 60 and I used to give an extra rinse in case any washing powder lingered and caused issues.

Sleeping naked (because I couldn’t be commando during the day) helped too.

Plus a weeks worth of fluconozole (sp?)

Try some different probiotics. You need to find the right strain.

Similarly to what others have said, I had the same problem but as soon as I came off the pill it stopped so definitely can be a hormonal thing.

No baths, no scented shower gel or products, cotton pants and cotton leggings, sleeping naked, multivitamins and pessary treatments worked for me.

I've never had it again in 7 years and can wear what I like so keep the faith, it will go away soon.

Do you have a sexual health clinic nearby? GPs can be a bit useless. They managed to clear mine up after 2 years of on-off treatment from the GP. If you tell them you are in discomfort but dont actually mention thrush, they will swab for all sorts, you may be surprised to be told its something else as well.

Contraceptive pill caused mine, not had it since I stopped taking it (I continued with the pill for convenience when single which in hindsight was a mistake).

Are you or your partner asthmatic?
I ask because I used to get recurring bouts of thrush when I was with former boyfriend.
He was asthmatic and it turned out that his inhaler was responsible via oral sex.
Ask your doctor for some diflucan tablets.
They treat the thrush from within. Usually you need only one tablet each.
They beat anything else treatment wise.

When I was pregnant with my first, I had repeat infections despite thrush creams, pessaries, kefir, natural yoghurt. I had Months of it. I finally tried the canesten vagina probiotic and before I finished, it was gone. I expected a return but no. I did a few maintenance ones but it was clear. May have been a fluke or one of those that work for some and not others but worth a try?

I'd suggest you get an appointment at your local GU clinic to get a more thorough swab and make sure it's the normal kind of thrush. I had this persistent problem, and it turned out to be a different strain which needed a different treatment.

Thank you again for the suggestions.

It's encouraging to know I'm far from alone and this persistent problem isn't unheard of.

None of the partner stuff is relevant to me, but might well be for others.

I'm going to ask for another swab to be sent off. My instinct though is that it's probably not an unusual strain, it's just never been fully eradicated so it appears as though it's recurring rather than chronic.

You seem sensible and have tried most things and confirmed with a swab.

Sorry haven't RTT but are you using fluconazole tablet and 2% clotrimazole cream? Sometimes 1% cream doesn't have the same effect.

Good luck.

Also is your loo paper scented. I never used to buy the scented stuff but I think the brand changed (whatever was on offer) & I think that it did not help either.

Are you absolutely sure it's not an STI? It's unusual (though not impossible) for thrush to cause pelvic pains. It's possible it could be pelvic inflammatory disease (which is often - but not always - caused by an STI). If you haven't been tested since your most recent partner, it's worth checking. You may also consider going to the GUM clinic as they are not only able to test you, they can also probably figure out what's causing it better than the GP, who tends to be fairly clueless about this sort of thing. GUM/sexual health clinics are open now and even a phone consultation would be helpful.

If it is actually thrush, what's your diet like? I found I got quite bad thrush when my diet was very carb/sugar/beer heavy. Going low carb helped to shift it. You might also generally look at Candida diets as there are definitely specific foods you should avoid.

One thing that really helped me was Acidophillus, you can get it from Holland and Barrett, just take a tablet daily. I tried all the creams, pessaries, diet changes etc, and this was the only thing that helped. Good luck, persistent thrush is just awful.

The thing that helped me kick it properly after years of intermittent but constant bouts , was my (female) gp who advised to put in the pessary on the last day of my period three months running. And that did it.
It’s back again now due to hormonal changes so I’m going to try some of the suggestions posted here. Good luck ;hope things change or you. Can’t imagine what it was like for women a hundred years ago. Must have driven them mad!

Low estrogen levels can cause symptoms which closely resemble thrush. I have a long term pituitary problem which results in low estrogen. I don’t particularly like the medication so take it intermittently, I know when I need to start taking it purely by the symptoms I get.
I’m now menopausal so have HRT patches. I have a much healthier vagina and vulva as a result.
At 37 you may be peri menopausal or have another cause of low estrogen.

@DK123 really feel for you - I had persistent thrush with the stomach ache but nowhere near as long as you have suffered for.

Mine was resolved by only using unscented bar soap on my nether regions but also I was taking the shower head off and holding it close to me to rinse properly so I didn't leave any soap residue to make me itchy!. In reality I was irritating the area with the jets of water and causing the discomfort. Stopped doing that and the irritation disappeared. The probiotics suggested by another poster might also help if you've had lots of antibiotics .

Make sure your sanitary towels aren't fragranced, pretty much all of them are now.

Just in case no one else has mentioned this, as I've only read your posts, have you tried applying the cream to the perineum too?

Nb if you have an allergy to latex don’t use aloe Vera based products. It is a member of the same plant family and can illicit a dermatitis type allergic reaction. As can avocado, orchids, banana and quite a few other plants.

Op you need accidophillus, its the only thing that really sorts thrush out for good. I tried everything for years after repeated antibiotics in my teens and nothing really worked.

Its a probiotic, but has to be pure accidophillus to work. You can get capsules, ( amazon/Holland and Barrett) keep in the fridge and take 3 times a day with a sip of milk, not water.

Drink lots of water too, go commando under a long skirt if possible until things ease. Wash twice a day with cool water only, no soap or hot water.

If you are particularly prone to thrush, once it is under control, still take one a day.

I had the most horrendous thrush for the whole of my pregnancy, it was absolutely grim. It caused bleeds which when I was checked down below they said they'd never seen such a bad, persistent case. It disappeared the moment DD was born (thank fuck). Could you be pregnant?

I had so many canestan pessaries it was unreal 😂