Never-ending thrush. Any stories of successful treatment?

[bondbaby]

Currently EBF my 17 week old DD and its pretty much been a nightmare her whole life. She had a course of antibiotics at 2 weeks old and after that we both developed thrush.
She doesn't have visible symptoms but is very fussy when my symptoms are bad so I assume it's causing her some discomfort.

I've had 4 courses of fluconazole - finished the last 2-week course on the maximum dose around a week ago and having had a nice few days pain free, the symptoms are back today. DD has had nystatin (useless, she gags and spits it all out), but this last time was given daktarin gel. I also had daktarin cream to put on my nipples. I change bra/breast pads a few times a day, wash everything on a hot wash, try to air dry my skin whenever possible, am taking probiotics, I just don't know what else to do.

I'm so miserable that it just seems to have got such a grip and my body can't fight back. I REALLY don't want to give up BF but I'm starting to get desperate.

Can anyone tell me there's light at the end of the tunnel? Will treatment work if I keep at it? (not even sure if the GP will prescribe me any more). Is there anything else I could be doing?

I've not had any experience sorry OP, I know that's not much use.

I was just wondering though if you've seen a BFC or spoken to one on one of the BFing Helplines? They may be able to offer sone suggestions?

I realise that the answer might be a resounding ' are you bloody joking ?' But are you having sex? I found our in my 20s, when I kept getting thrush, that my then partner had it, was symptomless and kept unwittingly giving it back to me. Both got treated and it went. Relief.

I think the OP might mean oral thrush rather than vaginal Lightly

Maybe, but you know it's still possible from a BJ

Does she have nappy rash? You need to make sure you are treating everything simultaneously, gel in mouth, cream on nipples and nappy rash.

You say she doesn't have any visible symptoms. This surprises me as it's usually really clear to see. The only way to make sure is ask the GP to swab the area.

The only thing that worked for me was cutting out carbs. It took about 3 days to stop the worst of it and about a week for it to clear up completely.

Ha @lightlypoached I'd say it's nigh on impossible with 2 kids under 2!

It is odd though that I have been massively prone to vaginal thrush for 20+ years, since I was a teenager, but haven't had a flare up since I got pregnant with my first.

DD doesn't have any nappy rash now although she did have a really bad case of it in the first few weeks. We've just done 2 weeks of tablets and cream for me and oral gel for her. It did work for a few days but now we're back to square one and I don't know what else to do.

I'm waiting on results of blood tests to check liver function after all the fluconazole and I get the impression GP is reluctant to carry on treating us but at the same time says it's not necessary to do a swab. BF helplines advised all the hygiene measures etc that we're already doing.

I just feel really frustrated that the NHS are so keen for us all to BF but no one seems to want to help me keep going!

Amélie i knew someone would suggest the carbs/sugar thing but I'm just not sure if I can face it! Toast and biscuits are what gets me through the day tbh. It'll be an absolute last resort!