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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Just fell out with my GP over thrush...

52 replies

Emma7 · 17/05/2006 17:50

I nearly gave up breastfeeding (DD 3 weeks old)because it was so painful and all along I have been told to 'feed through the pain' by GP, Health Visitor and Midwife Angry. In the end I decided to go to a breastfeeding support group as a last resort before giving up. They were fab and prescribed me some cream for thrush which has made things a bit better. Today I went to my GP to ask for fluconazole as I read on another thread here and on a BFN leaflet that it was good for thrush. My GP said that you couldn't get thrush on your breasts and refused to prescribe the fluconazole - she said that the breastfeeding support people didn't know what they were talking about and offered to give me antibiotics (which will make thrush worse)she looked at me like I was s*it on her shoe. Why are so many GPs, Midwives and Health Visitors unaware of this condition. I am sure that it must lead to loads of people giving up breastfeeding because they are led to believe that the pain is normal and unavoidable.

Sorry to go on but feel better for that little rant!

OP posts:
Ledodgyherring · 17/05/2006 17:51

Shock that is bloody disgraceful!

Piffle · 17/05/2006 17:55

atrocious, I've never had thrush but even I know that your GP is talking complete and utter shit.
Worth a written complaint I feel to the Practice Manager.
Shocking, that is really basic stuff ffs.
Ask to see another doc until you get what you want

Gillian76 · 17/05/2006 17:56
Shock

I would definitely seek a second opinion.

Thrush and breastfeeding is a common problem and your GP must have landed from another planet if she doesn't know this!

Suffered hugely myself so really hope this improves soon for you. Good luck :)

sugarfree · 17/05/2006 17:59

I gave up bf thanks to thrush...diagnosed by a GP.
Second opinion called for,for sure.
I got cream and LO had Nystatin drops.

NotAnOtter · 17/05/2006 18:02

i asked for fluconazole as well for the same and got same response - cream did work but 3 times a day for 10 days b4 pain stopped - plus oral gel for bab - nystan drops were crap!

damewashalot · 17/05/2006 18:07

Lots of gp's don't believe in it I was lucky as someone had given mine lots of info from the web about it after she had refused to prescribe for it for her, could you try that or see a different gp? I was the first person she had treated for it and it worked so she has changed her views. hope you can see someone to sort you out, BTW baby needs treating too to get rid of it. good luck and hugs as it hurts loads Sad

spidermama · 17/05/2006 18:09

I had to print out the BF Network stuff out and take it in to my doc to insist on the fluconazole and the correct dose. He was very difficult at first.

You must get a second opinion Emma. It's terrible that GPs still aren't up to speed with this.

sugarfree · 17/05/2006 18:11

Kind of glad to hear that other people found it really painful too.I thought I was a big wuss and had the guilts for months after.SadSadSad

tribpot · 17/05/2006 18:11

You might want to point out to your GP that the NHS Direct website acknowledges thrush can be passed from baby to mum, \link{http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?articleId=87&sectionId=5229\here} and that "If the infection has spread to the mother’s milk ducts, a course of antifungal treatment may be recommended." \link{http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?articleId=87&sectionId=5232\here}.

So not really the word of a bunch of breastfeeding yurt-knitting madwomen against health care professional after all.

spidermama · 17/05/2006 18:22

I found it agony sugar. I'd fed three babies before with no problems but I was on the verge of giving up because of thrush. I was topping up the pain killers every day and I don't normally take pain killers for anything.

How are you now? What's the plan?

sugarfree · 17/05/2006 18:38

Thanks Spider.
Do you mean how am I now and what's my plan or was that for Emma7?

Californifrau · 17/05/2006 18:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

popsycal · 17/05/2006 18:48

omg
go to the chemist and get daktarin cream for you and daktarin gel for you r baby

shocking of the gp

spidermama · 17/05/2006 18:54

The cream's fine for thrush on the nipples but it won't touch anything in the ducts.

spidermama · 17/05/2006 18:55

Sugarfree I think I meant emma, but even I've even confused myself now. Smile

Laura032004 · 17/05/2006 19:23

I suffered with thrush for 6m before I finally got it sorted, so you have my sympathies. I think fluconazole is a last ditch solution though. Where have you treated up to now? I had to treat ds orally, and in the nappy area (he had nappy thrush), and treat myself with daktarin on my nipples, and with pessaries and cream down below. A course of 4 pessaries (one per week), and all creams at the same time, eventually knocked it on the head. Hope you get it sorted. :)

spidermama · 17/05/2006 19:27

I had it for six weeks and in the end I saw a homeopath, took the remedy, and it was gone within 48 hours.

sugarfree · 17/05/2006 19:38

Just in case Spider,I'm fine thanks,get occasional guilt pangs but he's 2.5 now!
As for plans...Hah!What are they??

morningpaper · 17/05/2006 19:40

There is nothing LICENSED specifically for treatment of thrush in the breast - could this be what your GP meant?

If not I agree, formal complaint is necessary

Californifrau · 17/05/2006 19:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LucyJu · 17/05/2006 21:29

Poor Emma!

I had a very similar experience with my GP. Is there another GP in the practice that you could see? Or is there anyone medically qualified who could perhaps write a letter fro you to give yoyr GP? (The midwifery sister at the BF clinic wrote a letter to my GP about the thrush, which I was able to give him, together with a printout from the breastfeeding network about Drugs in breastmilk). This,together with a lot of insistence on my part eventually did the trick.

BTW, I found ibuprofen to be more effective than paracetamol for dealing with the pain from thrush. Both are safe to take whilst bfing. HTH.

suzi2 · 18/05/2006 08:45

I've had similar problems. I have recurring thrush and 'manage' it with antifungal creams that were prescribed to me. But I can't get any of the 3 GPs I've seen at my practice to prescribe the tablets. The all say that I can't have them while breastfeeding and that the creams are as effective. I took them the BFN leaflet that they stock in their own surgery and they still fobbed me off.

I keep meaning to write a letter of complaint! I think you should do so too.

moondog · 18/05/2006 08:47

What an arse of a woman!!
Emma,go some place else.#
My life was made utter misery by thrush.

Original poster
Emma7 · 18/05/2006 11:46

Thanks for your responses.
I am using Daktarin cream twice a day and cream for baby 4 times a day. Nipple is healing (which shows it's not positioning that is the problem) but deep pain after feeding is still there and seems worse again today.
I took the BFN leaflet to her but she wouldn't look at it. In the end I said 'look at the list of symptoms - I have every single one what is wrong with me in your opinion then?' she said mastitis. I looked at symptoms of mastitis and they are totally different. Will speak to the health visitor when she comes this afternoon.
I have only been using the creams since Monday maybe I should give them a bit more time to work.
I just want the pain to go away Sad GP thought I was just on a mission to piss her off.

OP posts:
damewashalot · 18/05/2006 12:29

The same drug can be given to a new born at 10times the dose that comes through in breast milk.
I was told to use the cream after every feed and keep using it for 2weeks after it seems better.

Good luck with hv