Utterly depressed, persistent thrush not responding to medication.

[Summerhols]

I've created a few threads about my attempts to bfeed. My DD is 7 weeks and I am on our 2nd lot of medication for thrush. I really thought it was working as I had 2 days pain free. BUT the last couple of days things have got worse again, not as bad as before but bad enough for it to make me really depressed as I know that if the meds don't work I really don't know how I continue. I am trying to be strong and persuade myself that I can just continue and live with the pain, itchiness and general discomfort, but for another 4 months??? Though i really wanted to feed till she was 12 months.

I just wish it would GO AWAY!

I don't suppose there is anyone out there who "lived" with thrush?

You don't have to live with thrush, honestly you don't.

It's bloody horrible, I've had it a couple of times when breastfeeding. Each time I found the meds only worked if I also done the following:

cut out all yeasts wherever possible, bread, marmite etc.
Cut out as much refined sugar from my diet as possible.
Washed my towels and bedding regularly.
Changed and washed my feeding bra's everyday.

It was a pita, but it worked.

Good luck, it can be beaten. You just need to find what works for you.

don't forget that when you wash bras, muslins (and anything else that has had milk on it!) to use a hot wash to kill the spores.

I really hope something works for you. Thrush is horrid and can drag on, but once it has gone it will all get easier, I promise.

You poor thing - I've seen some of your other threads. It's awful, the feeling that you'll just have to live with the pain to feed your child the way you had thought would be so easy...but you definitely don't have to live with thrush!

I had the same thing. I was going through a thrush/cracked nipples hell until 10 weeks when antibiotics finally cleared the last huge crack up - the pain was intense and very demoralising. It was so constant and I used to dread feeds (and then feel guilty about that) and I used to count every day as another day closer to the magic 26 weeks when I could wean him off the boob.

But after two tubes of daktarin cream (for me) and two tubes of daktarin gel (for DS) and 2 weeks of flucozanole (as well as all the "extras" - pau d'arco capsules, acidophilus capsules, live yogurt, cutting down sugar/white carbs, regular hot washing of clothing/bedding/bras, changing breast pads at every feed) the thrush cleared up and I could just concentrate on the crack.

What medication are you on? Is your baby on nystatin or daktarin? Have you been doing all the hot washes etc? And have you been taking painkillers to help with the pain? You can take both paracetamol and ibuprofen at the same time...

Once your thrush goes then painfree feeding should be possible. And, from my experience, I'm so glad I stuck with it as feeding is lovely now - as well as convenient and super easy. My DS is 22 weeks tomorrow we're still going strong.

I really hope your thrush clears soon.

Blimey 22 weeks flip? Where did all that time go?!

Are you treating baby too?

Agree with ILikeToMoveItMoveIt & octopusinabox's suggestions. We managed to beat thrush doing those things.

Thanks for your responses. I am on my second dose of floconzle (sp?) and I have daktarin, my DD was prescribed nsyatin but I'v read this doesn't work so I've got her some dakarin also.

I have been hot washing my bras but not everything else, so will start to do that now. I had not realised that steam sterilising wouldn't get rid of it so will start boiling her dummies and bottles - though not really using these.

I started to cut sugar & yeast out of my diet, from yesterday, so hope this will work, though already craving toast and jam!

It really, really helps to read that others have managed to get rid of thrush and continue. I never expected to have to face something like this when i was pregnant, it just shows how little you are prepared.

Sorry for spelling - typing with 1 hand as baby in my other :)

Summerhols it sounds like you will get through it - it's so bloody persistent but things improve dramatically once it's under control (I'd really recommend either live yogurt or acidophillus capsules, if you don't like yogurt, as they really do help). Keep posting - there's lots of women on here who've been through thrush and continued to breastfeed.

Halib big waves to you. Just reread my post and my son's not 22 weeks til Tues but is five months tomorrow (was addled when I was typing obviously ). Where is all this time going?! Really need to meet up with you once all the holiday madness has calmed down. Can't believe your DD1 is starting school already!!

Have you got a proper strength dose of fluconazole? I can't remember what it is, but has to be really high to shift ductal thrush. I had to see several GPs before one would take it seriously enough to prescribe what I needed.
It was hell. It did get better.