thrush treatment - what did you have? I just got cream for my nipple...will it work?

[absandme]

OK.... I won't bore you with my 5 week history of problems breastfeeding - we do however have it nearly sorted.
I cleared a blocked milk duct then realised that maybe the sore nipple & really really bad stabbing pains through my boob during and after feeding may be thrush.
My GP perscribed some cream to put on 3 times a day.

Will this work? Anyone got experience of thrush?

I only have it on one side. DD does not show signs & is not as yet being treated.

Thanks mumsnetters! :-)

Nipple cream (daktarin) for me, oral gel (daktarin) for ds, pills (fluconazole) for me. Eventually. Initially, clotrimazole for nipples and nystatin drops for him, which didn't work and are less recommended, but I think really fluconazole is the biggy. Mind you we had it for 9wks and in the end it was homeopathic borax that worked! Bfn leaflet is good, take to gp. Good luck.

Is it definitely thrush and not the latch causing problems/soreness? Has your LO been checked for tongue tie?

I was in agony for weeks went feeding, toe curling screaming pain, all avenues were explored and in the end the only thing that seemed to work was taking a thrush treatment tablet and using cream ( sorry can't remember products long time ago and so little sleep)

My midwife thought it was thrush though told me some GPs don't accept you can get in in your nipples. Definately take some oral tablet too to really tackle it.

Hope it clears up soon

Oh needsadviceplease post is much more informative

Seconding the questions from SuckedDry - would be unusual for DD not to show signs so might be worth a second opinion.

I too thought I had thrush and had clotrimazole cream for me and nystatin drops for baby - made naff all difference and after what felt like years of miserably wiping self clean before and after feeds, applying cream, forcing drops into babies mouth, hoping he wouldn't feed soon after, etc, I went to a private bf consultant who watched a whole feed and advised that it was a bad latch (which looked ok from outside, so had not been spotted in our local bf cafe) and vasospasm. Stabbing pains were related to let downs and have settled down as my hormones settled (though still get them to some extent).

Having said that, if you do have thrush I believe that you need to treat DD as well even if she isn't showing signs, so I would get back to GP with the bfn leaflet or get advice from a bf counsellor if possible. I went private as the help in my area dried up after three weeks but there may well be LLL or NCT people in your area who can help for free.

Hope whatever it is clears up soon, painful feeding is miserable.

I had a pretty similar experience blossom. Faffes about with creams for weeks when actually the latch was the issue.

Breast Feeding Network recommends Daktarin (miconazole 2%) for mum, not Canesten/clotrimazole as clinical trials have shown it's far less effective in cases of nipple thrush. Baby must also be treated simultaneously using Daktarin/miconazole 2% oral gel. Daktarin for mum should go on sparingly after every feed - it doesn't need to be wiped off before next feed. Daktarin for baby should be used four times a day. Apply four petit pois sized blobs: one in each cheek, one on the roof of the mouth and one on the tongue, smearing over as much of the inside of the mouth as possible, especially at the back of the tongue where thrush really likes to hang out. Both of these are available over the counter but you can also ask the doctor to prescribe them. If you are prescribed oral fluoconazole, an anti fungal, it has to be used in combination with the cream and gel as above, otherwise baby will just keep giving thrush back to you. You need to carry on with the cream and oral gel for at least a week after symptoms have resolved. I found applying the cream then leaving my boobs exposed to the air for as long as possible, while extremely undignified, was key to getting better. I also stopped using breast pads and stopped wearing a nursing bra at night. This took some getting used to but was a turning point in shifting a very persistent case of thrush. I also took acidophilus tablets. All of the above treatment advice is from both the Breast Feeding Network and my excellent breast feeding specialist and it worked a treat. GPs notoriously know very little about nipple thrush so ask for a referral to a breast feeding specialist if it doesn't improve.

My GPs have an ongoing row about thrush inside the breast with local midwifery and hvs, and backed up by hospital microbiology dept. Told me the bfn leaflet was rubbish. It is totally exhausting to be a new mum, in agony and in the middle of battle between HCPs who won't talk to each other...

Anyway, my milk has been repeatedly tested and a group B strep infection found there. I've not had redness or lumps and I had four sets of antibiotics over 10 weeks, but my boobs finally feel ok (15wks) Not great, but ok. worth asking for tests? (I think my gp did it to prove that thrush wasn't there, I was being a wimp, and was surprised to see something else!)

The mental agony dealing with the pain (labour was easier) and various bits of the nhs was awful. Good luck.