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Infant feeding

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

THRUSH + Fluconazale hasn't worked!!!

30 replies

squirrel999 · 20/12/2006 19:04

Help. Getting v frustrated and fed up now. I still seem to be having thrush symptons despite taking fluconazale tablets 1 x 200 a day for 3 weeks. My lo had the fluconazale drops for a week and the doctor checked her over and said that the thrush had gone from her.... I have enough tablets for another dose of the fluconzale but it cannot be v good for me or her? I don't want to give up breast feeding. Any suggestions?

OP posts:
EmmyLou · 20/12/2006 19:14

Did you have the extra large loading dose? When suffering from ductal thrush, I read the Breastfeeding Network thrush info on their website and I'm sure it said that the loading dose (ie: one off extra large first dose) had to be BIG or the whole course of traetment might not work.

Cutting out yeast and sugar and to some extent dairy helped too.

God its a pain in more ways than one. You have my heartfelt sympathy

FrostyTheSnowMarsLady · 20/12/2006 19:16

Are you sure it's thrush?

Put some canestan on your breasts then wipe it off before each feed! See if that helps!

ninja · 20/12/2006 19:16

I had the same problem. If you read the Breast feeding guide it recommends the maximum dose of Flucanazole (which is an initial 500 dose as well if I remember rightly but I might not!) Like you I didn't get given the max and it didn't work. I did then get the correct dose but it was too late and 3 months (and extremely scarred, bleeding nipples later) I went on a extreme Thrush diet which amazingly did work (I could see the difference inside a week!)

I'm not saying the same will happen to you - and I'm sure you'll get more qualified advice than me! I'll go and look up that diet again and post it in case you decide you want to give it a try (it's like an extreme detox!)

Good luck - it's worth it if you can get through it - I breastfed until 22 months

kiskidee · 20/12/2006 19:20

if you are still finding irritation on the surface of the nipple but not inside the breast then it may not be thrush. the skin is tender and breaks easily. my gp gave me daktacort (hydorcotisone with antifungal) and in less than 24 hrs i was fine.

ninja · 20/12/2006 19:21

This is the diet in case you want need to give it a try

The things NOT to eat

Sugar and foods containing sugar - white sugar, brown sugar, sucorse, fructose, glucose, dextrose, corn syrup, maltose, caramel, golden syrup, treacle, molasses, maple sytrup, honey, sweets, chocolate, marzipan, icing, desserts and puddings, ice cream, cakes and biscuits, soft drinks including squash and all canned drinks, bottle ketchup, chutneys, ice creams and any hidden sugars in processed foods. (if it tastes sweet don't eat it)

Yeast and all foods containing yeast or derived from it. This includes bread and even most pitta breads, foods coated in breadcrumbs, most pizza bases, Marmite, Vecon, Bovril, Oxo, monosodium glutonate, citirc acid and vitamin tablets unless "yeast free stated. (Use Marigold Swiss vegetable bouillon for stock as this is yeast free).

Refined grains - white flour, granary flour, and brown flour (which are white flour with bran and grains added), white rice, white pasta, cornflour, custard powder, cornflakes and cereals unless "whole grain" is stated (Use potato flour as a thickener)

Mala and malted products. Some cereals i.e. Weetabix, brown Ryvita, granary bread, malted drinks like Ovaltine, Horlicks and Caro.

Fermented products - alcoholic drinks, ginger beer, vinegar and all foods cotnaining vinegar (ketchups, pickles, salad creams, baked beans), soya sauce.

Cows milk and most milk product including cream and cheese (Cottage chees and live natural yoghurt are allowed)

Concentrated fruit juices and any cooked fruit eg stewed with sugar, jam marmalade. Peel all fruit.

Dried fruits - prunes, figs raisins, sultanans, dried bananas apricots etc.

Nuts - unless freshly cracked. Avoid peanuts and peanut butter which support the growth of mould.

Smoked or cured fish and meat including ham, bacon, smoked mackerel and smoked salmon.

Preservatives - these are frequently derived from yeasts or introduce a chemical substance to the body.

Mushrooms

Tea and coffee. Drink herbal teas or Barlecup

Hot spices - the irritate the lining of the intestine

THINGS YOU CAN EAT. The sheet actually says "enjoy" before each line but I'll leave that out because half this stuff I'm not sure how the word "enjoy" can be associated with it!

Yeast-free bread made with wholewheat glour or other grains, i.e. soda bread or sourdough rye. Village Bakery (at waitrose) or a very good rye loaf

Rice cakes, oak cakes (malt free), original Ryvita ( not brown, it is malted), Ryvita with sesame seeds, wholemeal crsipbreads (read labels carefully).

Pastry made with wholemeal flour or other grains

Soya milk (sugar free), Rice milk (Rice Dream) or coconut milk (diluted one quarter with water). You will quickly adapt to it on cereal and when cooked with oats or rice it becomes really creamy

Unhydrogenated margarines - Vitasieg or Vitaquell

Plain natural yoghurt - any 'live' variety

Cottage Cheese

Free range eggs

Salad - at least one large plate a day - make dressing out of olive oil and lemon juice, garlic and mixed herbs

Vegetables - eaten raw, steamed or stir fried

Avocados

Potatoes - cooked in many different ways. Lightly salted plain crisps are ok

Fruit - only after a couple fo weeks. Moderate amounts i.e. 3 pieces a day all must be peeled including apples, pears and other hard fruits

Other wholegrains for variety - brown rice, wild rice, millet, oats, buckwheat, barley, rye, Wholemeal pasta, rice pasta spelt pasta, corn pasta.

Fish, seafood, chicken and game. Red meat should be kept to a minimum and preferably organic

Herbs and mild spices i.e. cumin, coriander and tumeric

Drinks - herb teas, camomile tea, mint, ginger, cinnamon, ginseng, Rooibosch tea, hot water with a slice of lemon, Barleycup, V8 vegetable juice, still bottled mineral water, filtered tap water

Onions and garlic - obth of which are highly effective anti-fungal agents

Nuts and seeds - freshly shelled eg coconut, almond, cashew. Seeds - sunflower, pumpkin, and sesame. Avoid peanuts and pistachios

Pulses - beans, lentils, chick peas, i.e. humous

Extra virgin olive oil - use in dressings and to cook with. Avoid all refined oils i.e. any that look bright yellow on the supermarket shelves.

GOOD LUCK It started working for me in a couple of weeks and a less strict version usually keeps it at bay

fizzbuzz · 20/12/2006 19:39

Can you take diflucan or sporanox? don't know much about breastfeeding and thrush, but do know all about resistant to therapy thrush "at the other end" IFKWIM.

Best thing for me is Homeopathy with thrush. It will shift it where major dose of anti-fungals don't work. Try candida or cimicfuga-both have worked for me-but you will need to see a homeopath, and the medicine is completely safe for breast feeding

EmmyLou · 20/12/2006 22:10

You could also try taking acidophilus capsules (like yalult type drinks but without the sugar and with loads more strength). I got mine from my local health food shop.

EmmyLou · 20/12/2006 22:15

Try Pat Gima's diet and supplement tips \link{http://breastfeedingonline.com/yeast.shtml\here

EmmyLou · 20/12/2006 22:17

Doh - try again:

this

whenevilgotstuckupthechimney · 20/12/2006 22:19

dd has been on drops beginning with an "n" for thursh for a week now and its not shifting - i don't have any signs of it tho. can it be symptomless??!! have been giving her live yogurt as well as not sure drops are agreeing with her but to no avail....

squirrel999 · 21/12/2006 10:19

Thanks Ninja, for that diet, think i might try it after christmas! Thanks everyone for your suggestions. Nystatin drops didn't work for my baby either, she was on fluconzale, oral suspension but cos the doctor told me she was fine, i didn't finish the course. I'm going back 28th for 2nd lot of jabs so will talk to doctor again and maybe get another prescription. I am thinking about giving up and trying formula. I love breastfeeding though, so don't really want to Managed to breastfeed for 11 weeks and 1 day now with thrush, not sure if i'll manage it any further, i may have to speak to a bf counsellor. Thanks

OP posts:
squirrel999 · 21/12/2006 10:23

Oh, I have been taking the acidillophis capsules, they are kept in the fridge, washing everything in vinegar at 60 degrees, ironing everything... all sorts.... i must admit i haven't been totally on top of it all...tho.. boo hoo, need to get back into military operation. feeling under the weather too

OP posts:
kazbeth · 21/12/2006 10:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

liquidclocks · 21/12/2006 10:40

Squirrel - I'm sure if you've been on the BFN site you know this but have you continued to treat LO even though it's cleared up for her as in could she be reinfecting you?

liquidclocks · 21/12/2006 10:41

Oh, and my MW suggested wiping wite wine vinegar on my nipples once a day to alter the pH level so it was less throush firendly - and wash my bras at 90 degrees.

liquidclocks · 21/12/2006 10:44

BTW (sorry for lots of posts) I think you're amazing for keeping on with it - I got thrush at 3 weeks and only managed to keep BF 'properly' until 8 weeks (his latch never came right either though and was suffering horrid migraines) - anyway, well done and I hope you can get rid of it.

EmmyLou · 21/12/2006 18:57

Squirrel - I'd like to echo what Liquidclocks has said - WELL DONE for sticking it out, I know what it's like to be taking it feed by feed, let alone day by day. It is agony and you are doing the best you can.

I'd heard grapefruit seed extract was meant to be good too - but never managed to find some. I saw a homeopath too, and she added some advice when I told her of all the things I'd cut from my diet - to remember to have a little of what you enjoy (dark chocolate in my case) as too much denial was bad for morale which in turn could affect the thrush.

poppetmum · 21/12/2006 19:42

Hi. I had thrush twice with my first, but had to keep BF as she was allergic to formula (complete nightmare!!). I saw a fantastic NCT counsellor who diagnosed it after the doctors said it was just latching incorrectly. The counsellor gave me a great leaflet from St George's HealthCare NHS about treatment, which I then gave to my doctor. Treatment was: Mother: daktarin cream applied to nipple after each feed (you can buy this at the chemist). Baby: Nystatin suspension, 0.5ml off a teaspoon after each feed (this came on prescription) or Daktarin gel after each feed (orange flavoured - again can get from chemist). Treatment should carry on for one week after being sympton free. If that does not work, then fluconazole is prescribed - 400mg first dose and then 200mgs for 14 days, in parallel with the daktarin and nystatin. I took the flucanzole and it did work for me. You do need that big first dose. I was also told not to wash my bras with the baby's clothes (which could have infected milk/ sick on them). I'm sorry if I'm repeating things you know, but I'm new to this thread. Remember, you are doing BRILLIANTLY for continuing. Stick in there!!

Ceolas · 21/12/2006 19:46

If you don't want to stop bf I would try EVERYTHING before you give up. I stopped at 6 mths with DS because of thrush and I have regretted it since.

Don't think hot washing your bra and bed sheets has been mentioned...

squirrel999 · 22/12/2006 22:13

Thanks for all your replies. Have decided to stick with bfiing.... going to try the ninja diet in jan, hopefully will lose weight too!! I eat a lot of the stuff in the allowed to eat section anyway, so shouldn't be too much of a problem. Going to eat, drink and be merrt for the last few days of december though! anyone tried gentian violet? am hoping that a friend is bringing some back for me from prague. am going to try the grapefruit seed extract too, what do i do with it please?
i'm still usiing daktarin, have canesten hydrocortisone too, still have fluconazale and i did a loading dose of 400mg and then 200mg a day for 3 weeks initially..... am going to have more ready and maybe enter a big war against thrush by trying everything, or is that mad?

OP posts:
ninja · 23/12/2006 23:40

Good Luck on the diet - I did it just after Christmas too and it last my last few pregnancy pounds! I couldn't believe that the open cuts on my nipples started to heal within a week or two after so long (my dd was teething throughout the Thrush time hence the cuts). What kept me going was not wanting to finish on a low point as it had been such a positive experience at first (and did continue to be to the end)

I hope it works out for you.

DeckTheHallsWithFRAUsOfHolly · 23/12/2006 23:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

floraflora · 24/12/2006 15:44

Good luck Squirrel... I got it at about 6 weeks, Dr. didn't give me the initial loading of fluconazole... it wouldn't go away, only thing that keeps it at bay is the diet (NOT good at this time of year - think you are right to eat, drink and be merry for a few days - I am!). Every time I lapse, diet-wise, it raises its ugly head. But I am still BF at 6 mths and really glad I stuck with it. Acidophilus and grapefruit seed extract seem to help too.
Have you see Jack Newman's handouts (read candida and fluconazole) see:
\link{http://www.bflrc.com/newman/articles.htm}
(Hope that works!)
He mentions gentian violet too - I haven't tried it though.
GOOD LUCK & HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS

squirrel999 · 01/01/2007 16:33

Hello, ok I'm starting the anti thrush diet and it does indeed look like a pain in the arse and I'm hungry!!! Have eaten porriage with alpro milk, had homemade veg soup, presume this is ok? have had irish soda bread and some sunflower ryvita with cottage cheese, so far today, dunno how i'm gonna keep this up!!! Anyone got any menu ideas please???

Also i have had everything represcrived AGAIN and have emailed the breast feeding network for more advic eon this. But those that have gone through all this, can you tell me at which dosage (fluconzale) you anaged to shift it? I have daktarin for my nippples, oral gel for them too, been outting on juyst b4 feed so that baby sucks some onto the white patches in her mouth. And have canesten 4 her bottom, tho this seems to be ok at the mo. Should I get the Dilficon oral suspension too? And give to baby when I'm having the fluconazale? or os the oral gel enough?

Thanks in advance, have to go and feed the baby xxx

OP posts:
squirrel999 · 01/01/2007 16:34

flora flora, where do you get grapefruit seed extract from pls? they don't sell it in holland and barratt x

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