AIBU to wonder how anyone manages a 10-day thrush treatment?

[Fitanditchy]

I really really apologise for how much TMI this is.

I’ve been getting relentless thrush for months now, which I suspect is thanks to my good friend Lululemon and daily intensive workouts. It goes away after one dose of canestan but always comes back quickly.

(it’s definitely thrush, incidentally).

The doctor has given me the 10 day dose of treatment now, which he thinks may help properly kick it once and for all.

In my experience though, the day after using a pessary is always gross, with remnants of said pessary reappearing throughout the day. I’ve always found I can’t do anything active at all really. I just stay at home and wait for it to leave.

How on earth is it practical to do that for 10 day? How does anyone do it? Is there some secret to name it NOT the most uncomfortable, messy thing in the world?

Sorry if that’s an utterly ridiculous question but the thought of it is making my skin crawl!

I found the pill much more effective!

Can you take fluconazole instead?

Did the GP say why you were prescribed pessaries and not fluconazole tablets?

Yes, I've always just taken the tablet. The pessaries and cream thing never ever worked for me.

I hate the pessaries, but I think I just used to wear a pad if I had to use them.

Having had recurrent thrush for years, I just used pantry liners and got on with it when using the pessary.

But I'm surprised they didn't try the 7 day Fluconazole course. I've not had a GP offer me the pessary in the last 10 years, I did have a course last year but that was in desperation after six months of Fluconazole didn't help (don't let that put you off - in my case, despite positive swabs for thrush, it turned out I also have lichen sclerosus. I believe courses of Fluconazole are usually highly effective.)

I’ve just had another swap done after six month treatment only gave temporary relief and it came straight back. They’ve taken another swab. Did the GO diagnosis second condition or were you referred?

You just use pads?

I will go back and ask for the oral medication! No idea why I’ve not been prescribed that.

Wear a pad or period pants. Ask for the oral dose aswell.

Yes I found the pesserys useless. And bloody painful. But tmi but I found that a full wax lessened my case of utis and thrush. But obviously that's a personal choice!

If it's easier, then it's very cheap to buy online

I had the same problem following regular exercise classes. I just couldn’t get rid of the itching although I’m not certain it was thrush. Someone recommended trying Feminaflora supplement (New Roots). Not cheap but I thought it would be worth a go.
I’ve only taken them for 30 days and have to say I’ve noticed a real difference. It seems to have stopped it. I’m going to carry on for a while just to boost my gut biome. As an alternative to topical creams and fluconazole it might help.

I take the tablet, always works. (Haven’t had it for years thankfully but used to get it monthly after my period)

Also you don’t need to be prescribed it, asda pharmacy sells the generic fluconazole for £5

Pads and period pants are not good for thrush though.

I think OP this is the old chestnut of gynae problems being dismissed. Ive just had same issue for BV - given pessaries when tablets have sorted it in the past. It’s so annoying having to fight for these sort of things.

GP was pretty useless, just kept prescribing Fluconazole, seemed to give up when the six month course didn't work. Then I saw a lovely trainee GP, who was very enthusiastic and determined to do something about it. After a couple of appointments with her she referred me to the sexual health clinic, and they diagnosed the lichen sclerosus pretty much immediately and referred me to dermatology, though I never saw them, they passed me on to the women's clinic who confirmed the diagnosis (thankfully without a biopsy.) All the swabs taken had shown a thrush infection, the last one at the sexual health clinic also showed that the strain was not resistant to Fluconazole.

I've been using steroid cream for six months now and the lichen sclerosus is under control, and I've just finished another six month course of Fluconazole, so fingers crossed without them endlessly triggering each other the thrush will stay away and the LS will stay in remission.

I always found it disappeared after 3-4 days of treatment. Just use pads.

I think they'll only sell single tablets though rather than a course - If OP has been given a ten day course of the pessary, it may be she needs a seven day course of the Fluconazole.

I use cotton reusables. Normal pads were a nightmare with thrush (and scented ones are the work of a particularly sadistic demon).

I bought a 7 day course online last year.

Could you use a tampon to hold the pessary remnants in/absorb it while you exercise? It shouldn't stay up there for long if you vigorously shower up there. I'd wear baggy workout bottoms for now as well.

I hope it works! 🤞 X

You can buy both that and the pessary over the counter.
I used to get it a lot too, but 1 pessary and 1 tablet on day 1 and then same 1 week later and then I haven't had it for ages. Only time I had a multiple course of pessaries prescribed was when pregnant and couldn't take the tablet

Fair enough, though if she had recurrent problems she should probably keep on at the GP.

So do but either an organic pad or a maternity pad as these don’t contain nasty chemicals in them that tend to irritate things down there

I also went on the contraceptive pill as I was as breaking out nearly every month…. The one the doc gave me has stopped my periods entirely which means for me no more thrush.

also don’t know how old you are but could it be perimenopausel symptoms? Just a thought. My skin is the best it’s been since I started hrt.