For those who have had medication for thrush - how soon did you start to feel better?

[Summerhols]

My DD is 3 weeks old and after a bout of Mastitus, which led to me having antibiotics I have now developed thrush in my breasts. After a bit of a battle with the GP who was not convinced it was thrush (until she actually examined my DD and saw the white spots) she has now presecribed me Fluconazole and various creams for me and DD.

I have had a nightmare of a weekend, every feed is agony because of cracks and I am suffering from shooting pain and very sensitve breasts in between.

So as the subject says is there anyone out there who has had medication and how long was it till you felt better? I can not go on like this and have given myself 1 week for things to improve and after that its going to be formular

Please someone give me a ray of hope that I might feel better in a day or two!

You poor thing.

The meds should improve your condition bit by bit every day and I reckon you will be fine at the end of the week.

I know they don't recommend this but have you tried nipple shields for the interim. Also, I cannot recommend Lanosin enough for cracked nipples. Also keeping your nipples exposed to air for periods throughout the day.

Don't feel guilty if you do go to formula, and you could always mix feed after 12 weeks (they don't advise that either), but do try and take yourself out of the current situation and ask yourself why you are breastfeeding and focus on that.
It get's so much easier as time goes on (very soon for you)
All the best of luck xx

Meant to ask about the mastitus...

Did the doctor ask you about this?
The cracked nipples and mastitus could be a sign of a bad latch...might nont be but I would hate for you to get rid of the thrush and still have such problems.

The hcv is usually better than the doctor in helping out in these situations, try and speak to them or your local bf group.

Stick in there if this is what you want to do...you can do it (I did after no end of problems and constant questions about why I bf and I am happy with my decision and stopped at 2YR 2mth)

I feel your pain. Was in your exact situation 2 weeks ago. Just finished the 10 day course of Fluconozole (at 100g a day with a loading dose of 150g) and am pain free - touch wood! I would say that it took about a week for the pain to get better and 10 days before pain completely went away. I also applied the cream to my nipples after every feed and gave DS the drops. I expressed on and off cause nipples were in a state but creams seemed to work. Another tip is to wash your nipples in a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda in water before and after each feed and cut back on sugar and bread as both yeasty. It's a hassle I know but made me feel better. I also drank green tea and ate more garlic - both apparently good for getting rid of thrush. Not sure if any of this helped but I was desperate and the combination seems to have worked for me. Good luck - it will get better!

Thanks ladies, glad to hear you are feeling better foodaholic.

scaussie - my latch weas bad but I've had it checked 3 times by BF counsellor, going to get it checked again this week.

Unfortunately things going worse as developed a temp again so the reason I'm up now is to express some milk off to tryt prevent another bout of mastitus. This my be the final nail in the coffin of bf, but we'll see.

poor you, I hope taht you can make it through this bad patch because if you can it will soon get easier.

I had meds for thrush and it took a few days for most of the pain to go away but I used the cream for a couple of months, it just took a long time to shake it off.

all the best.