Just fell out with my GP over thrush...

[Emma7]

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 . 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!

I thought about giving up b/f too because of pain but then read on onternet about a woman who had had untreated ductal thrush so gave up b/f but got the hot-needle-shooting pains in her breasts when she later got vaginal thrush. At that point I became even more determined to get someone to listen!

I have been there, and have had fluconazole. My midwife told me to ask the doctor for it, and very helpfully gave him a copy of the NCT guidance on treating thrush which gave doses etc.

Although I was given the drug, the doctor explained that the drug company say it is not suitable for breastfeeding because they don't want to spend the money on research to check that it is. This may be why some doctors won't prescribe it.

I suggest anyone not having success with their doctor visit another one, armed with the NCT guidance leaflet if necessary.

Good luck.