Recurrent oral thrush. Enough might be enough!

[Readytoburst]

My daughter has hydronephrosis and so is on daily trimethoprim. We're currently entering our second bout of thrush in 4 weeks. I'm in agony and wondering how long I can keep bf, particularly if this is going to go on and on. I need advice/support please not judgements about switching to formula.

Have you had flucanazole? And are you taking probiotics? What treatrment has your LO got?

have a read of this hopefully it should help :)

My dr won't prescribe it - only daktarin cream. Dd finished nystatin just over a week ago - back to dr tomorrow. I know about treating thrush - dd1 had it a couple of times too. My concern is that the trimethoprim will go on for potentially 12/18 months and I can't do this every few weeks!

Can you try a different gp? Or is there a bf specialist in your area who may be able to suggest something? I think the Daktarin GEL is supposed better for the baby than the nystatin if you can convince him to prescribe that?

He is the only gp at my surgery. Saw a lactation consultant last time who sent me to gp. Dd is only 4 weeks so he won't prescribe the gel. Feel a bit stuck!

try printing off the leaflet I linked to and take it in? If that doesn't work I'd change gp!

Was going to suggest the same leaflet.

Can you take it to an out-of-hours doctor or a drop-in clinic so you see someone different?

I'd take the leaflet in and if he still refuses to give flucanazole or daktarin gel, say you'll complain and want a second opinion even if this means swapping surgeries or getting a referral to someone more qualified. Have you told him this could well mean the end of bfing?

Probiotics could help prevent either of you getting it again if you can clear it. I know some people give babies probiotics, I think in drop form, but I have no experience - I just take them myself.

Have started up probiotics again but changing gp is not an option. We have massive gp issues here - the only one I'm in the catchment for I had to make a complaint about with dd1 and get patient services to move us! Will make an appointment and plead but can't help but think in two weeks time I'll be back in this position again. How many times can one person treat thrush before calling time!?

At the end of the day, it's your decision. I know how excruciating thrush is so I totally get that - especially without proper meds to give you the best chance of fighting it off! - continuing through ongoing thrush is not really feasible.

Stopping bfing doesn't mean that you will be able to get rid of your thrush without flucanazole though, so whatever way you think you're going, really fight for it. You can get an initial loading dose OTC as Canesten oral, but for deep breast thrush, this really needs to be followed by 10-14 days of a lower dose. If your doctor point blank refuses (and if they do, I really would complain) I think I would get the OTC dose to at least give you a better chance of shifting it.

Would expressing be an option? I know exclusive expressing is a lot of hard work but it is an option and one that would mean you could stop yourself getting reinfected from your LO (assuming you can shirt your own thrush!), whilst giving them at least some bm.

I totally sympathise and know how horrific thrush is. I had it with DS1 and ended up giving up BF at 10 weeks (after expressing from 6 weeks).

I've got it again with DS2 and have been managing it for 12 weeks. I had 2 courses of fluconazole plus daktarin gel and cream which didn't get rid of the thrush. I then tried cutting right down on sugar, yeast, bread etc for a couple of weeks and also started taking probiotics, garlic capsules and grapefruit seed extract. This reduced the symptoms to the point that many feeds are totally pain free.

Both my DS and I still have thrush but it's manageable. In fact mostly feeds are great. If the pain returns (usually if I've been a bit rubbish about remembering to take the supplements) then I use some daktarin cream for me and gel for DS and make sure I take the supplements every day and that seems to do the trick.

I would try to get the fluconazole first as it works for most people - do persist with your doctor. Just wanted you to know that thrush can be managed and you can keep feeding. Good luck.

meant to say, am no longer restricting my diet so must be the supplements that are doing the trick