I am being colonised by a fungal infection

[Beachingtons]

Help!

In late January DD2 brought athlete’s foot home from nursery. I thought it was hand, foot and mouth at first, but she was scratching intensely and crying about it at night, so when it didn’t clear up by mid-Feb using OTC creams, I took her to the doctor and she was prescribed an anti fungal cream. She cosleeps.

By this point, I’d developed a rash on both sides of my groin that was SO intensely itchy, especially at night. I started applying Canesten immediately. I saw the pharmacist who said it could take two weeks to go. After two weeks, it was still awful and had spread further and to my armpits. It’s keeping me awake at night and I’m regularly taking ibuprofen to relieve the itch. I cried on the phone to the doctors, who brought me in to have it swabbed, but haven’t had the results yet.

This week, I started using Daktarin. This has taken the itch from my groin and it seems to be healing there, but it’s still spread to my armpits, knee pits, and today I’ve noticed new patches under my watch strap.

Things I have been doing for weeks:

• no exercise, sex or anything remotely sweaty
• keeping DD’s feet covered
• showering daily or twice daily
• replacing towels and clothes on every use
• wearing only loose cotton, and no underwear/bra unless necessary
• using Head & Shoulders on my hair and the patches
• wearing cotton pyjamas at night, changing bedsheets every couple of days
• drinking diluted apple cider vinegar
• applying either Canesten, or now Daktarin, three times a day to washed skin

I’ve had ringworm a few times in the past but it’s gone within a few weeks with Canesten application.

What the hell is going on?!

Sounds like impetigo. My son had this and anti fungal creams make it worse. You need antibiotics if it is that. It is very contagious.

There are some products you can put in the washing machine that claim to get rid of fungas. AI says this:
Eradicil and Fongex are the leading, specialized antifungal laundry treatments in the UK, designed to kill fungi (athlete’s foot, thrush) and bacteria at low temperatures (30°C). They are used as a pre-wash or alongside regular detergent to prevent re-infection from bedding and clothing.

Maybe worth a go

Haven't RTFT but any clothing which has come in contact with the infection, will carry the infection and spread spores to anything in your laundry drum. To kill the spores, everything has to either be washed at 60 degrees or washed in disinfectant or Halo sports detergent (most sports detergents aren't antifungal).

Will echo others that doing keto diet for a couple of weeks will likely help too, if you are getting desperate!

Sorry you are so itchy!

Have you tried taking a fluconazole capsule..one every 7 days for a few weeks

Have you tried bathing in Dead Sea salts. A podiatrist recommended it to me for athletes foot and it definitely helps sooth the rash, then dry thoroughly before applying the ointment

Not in this country but if you can get hold of a veterinary shampoo/skin dressing called Malaseb OTC somewhere in the world, it will be the answer to your prayers.

Also no carb/carnivore diet is good for fungal.

I would be giving major side eye to your immune system once it's in abeyance. You shouldn't be getting overwhelmed like this.

Have you tried a yeast free diet? I have eczema and went through an intolerance test. Been told to avoid yeast, mushrooms, cheese, grapes as these all contribute to itchy skin. Just wondering if that would help?

Try daktarin and a hydrocortisone mixed together. My husband had a weird rash on his armpit and this is what the Dr recommended. Took a few weeks to clear.

Pityriasis rosea? I had that in my teens and it drove me demented. You're not "supposed" to get it in the areas you describe - groin, knees - but I did!

I've not read all the replies but only the OPs.

Please stop co sleeping until you get this resolved. Do you have a bed you can take yourself off to and leave DD and DH?

You need to change your bedding every day. Same as towels.

There was a thread about scabies the other day and that family were having a nightmare so I hope it's not that.

I personally think you and your DD are unrelated illnesses and just a coincidence. DD is treated and getting better. Keep her separate from you.

Could you be having an allergic reaction?

In your situation I would be sleeping alone until you can get to the bottom of this. Separate beds, separate towels, fresh clothes.

Seconded.

I was going to suggest this. It's very strong, you have to dilute it otherwise you'll get chemical burns. The packaging says 1:10 oregano to carrier oil. I used an empty bottle and poured in a teaspoon of the oregano and then 10 of the carrier oil. The skin infection I had did finally go after using this 4 times a day, having tried both oral and topical antifungals to no avail.

Short term the hydrocortizone in Daktacort will reduce the redness, so you won't know if it's working as an antifungal for a short while. Did your doctor take a swab?

Second this. Please ask your doctor to do liver function test.

Very bad for your liver.

As an absolute chronic thrush sufferer, I'd:

1. cut sugar and carbs for 2 weeks
2. liberally douse the areas in vinegar (any vinegar will do) 4 times daily.
3. get your thyroid function tested.

1&2 massively helped me during flare ups and 3 finally solved the problem for good.

Try Eurax cream for the itchiness. It gives relief up to 10 hours and also try Piriton.

Oh and make sure none of the creams you are using contain urea. It's a common anti itch ingredient but fungus feeds off it - DHs joke itch exploded when he used it.

Thanks everyone! I believe I get the results tomorrow (nothing on the NHS app yet).

The itching has stopped at the groin now and it looks like it’s drying out and healing. The armpits are still itchy and have lots of small patches, and there’s small patches behind both knees and on my watch strap area.

I didn't have the patience to wait for supplements, I just needed to get it sorted and feel better in myself. So I had an infusion at the Iron Clinic through my health insurance. A ferretin level below 30 is sufficient to justify an infusion medically, regardless of anaemia, albeit the NHS don't give them easily.

I would ask your GP to check iron, ferretin, B12, vitamin D as a starting point.

I had a similar effect on cutting all sugar and drastically reduced carbs. Cleared my resistant recurring infections and my skin was transformed too.

Definitely Try Nizoral shampoo as a body wash. My son has a rash that was spreading on his legs - tried a few creams with no joy but it cleared up a week or so after using Nizoral alongside the creams

Daktokort is great for this type of thing. Can take a few weeks

It totally sounds like scabies, there’s a huge outbreak at the moment. Get some lycette cream for the whole family. Hydrocortisone really helps with the itching. Wash everything at 60, or quarantine it for 3-7 days. Honestly, my money is on scabies.

I do feel for you OP.
Obviously, see your doctor and take their advice, but as a long term thrush sufferer (in the past thankfully), I just have a couple of things to add:

1. Get your iron/B12 levels etc. checked as previous posters have suggested
2. Cut down on sugar
3. I never (quite) got to the point of ordering this as Canesten worked for me, but there are great reviews out there for Mama Nature thrush treatment. Maybe worth a go?

PS I went vegan for ethical reasons a while back and my immune system seems to be much improved! May be down to being a lot more attentive to my diet and vitamin/ mineral intake etc.