Breastfeeding hell- please help me not give up!!

[Ibizababyy]

DS is 7 weeks old tomorrow and EBF. We have had no end of problems starting with mastitis around week 3 then we got his tongue tie snipped at week 4. For the past 2 weeks we have been battling thrush. I didn’t realise that’s what it was initially so we were 5 days in before speaking to GP. That was a battle in itself to just get the daktarin cream for me and nystatin for DS and I got terrible advice from the GP about use but thankfully HV was able to correct this. It appeared to improve after 4 days but then went down hill again so last thursday I rang GP back- a different locum who was more understanding but still didn’t have a clue and prescribed a single flucanazole. This seemed to improve things for about 36 hours before it felt worse again. I bought flucanazole from the chemist yesterday and took another (I know i shouldn’t but GP useless and everything I’ve read says it should be a course!).

This has improved the deep breast pain somewhat but still getting lightening hot spikes through the nipple and surround area. The worst affected one is excruciating to touch/ feed off etc- skin to the Areola is bright pink and has almost gone papery/ thin and is peeling and the nipple has a crack that hasn’t healed for over a week . Baby has no more nyastatin left but seems much better- tongue was never massively white it was more him being unsettled when feeding that affected him.

I can barely hug my 4 year old and every minute of the day is filled with pain. I desperately want to continue feeding as baby is really thriving and when it works I actually enjoy it!

Have had loads of fantastic support from local peer supporter who will refer me to lactation consultant tomorrow (I believe she is a specially trained HV). What can I expect her to be able to do? I feel like I’ve tried everything and that breastfeeding will always be this hard. Any other pearls of wisdom or ideas?

I would push for doctor to provide a swab, you can collect from behind reception, swab yourself and drop back. At least to rule out any other infection.
When DD3 was tiny I had a huge crack that bled to the point she was throwing up blood in her sick. Lanisoh was a life saver, I actually put it on before and after feeds.
Breast pads, I brought some reusable ones which may help because I find they seem to remove moisture from the boob which may help if it's thrush. Then they can be washed at a high temp. Also when washing your boobs water is enough. We haven't had thrush (yet touch wood) and this is what I do.
Finally if you look on the internet or social media I think there are lots of experts providing advice via video call.
If you honestly want to keep going it will be worth it once this is sorted. I still found it tough at 7 weeks without these issues. Around 3 months everything seemed to slot into place.

@Ibizababyy yes still going, baby is 11 weeks this week he transition really well between formula, expressed milk and back to boob which was good. I tried to be relaxed about things but then felt as though I wanted to have control over when I stopped bf, rather than having to because of the ‘thrush’. My gp was useless too and would only prescribe me nystatin. My health visitor was more helpful and was able to write me a prescription, so might be worth checking if yours can too.

Ok so HV rang after peer supporter referred back into them and just advised to push for face to face appt with doctor. I’ve got phone appt tomorrow with female doc who I’m hoping will be more sympathetic if not more knowledgeable! Going to request swab and go from there.

Soya Lethicin tablets!!! I swear by them. I had horrendous trouble breast feeding until I started taking them. Stringy milk clogging the ducts, one boob when bright red and I was in agony. Hot shower and massage with a spiky massage ball, then feeding straight after for a couple of days cleared the existing blockage, and the tablets keep my milk from clogging. They work like an emulsifier and keep the fatty part mixed in so it doesn't get left behind and hardens causing a blockage.

I take two tablets everyday. One day I missed a dose and breast pain started coming straight back!

How are you doing OP?

@Heygirlheyboy thanks for checking in! So the female doctor was ace she suggested a course of flucanazole straight away without me even needing to point out the NICE/ bfn etc guidelines on treatment of thrush. Only issue being when I picked prescription up it was for 50mg tablets once a day for 14 days. Now I probably shouldn’t have but I’d already bought some 150mg tablets and everything id read suggested that was the dose needed so I’ve been taking them- I’ve enough for one more day of 150mg tomorrow and then I’ll have to drop to the 50mg once daily. It’s made a HUGE difference- the crack to the worst nipple is healing slowly but surely and I fed yesterday all day with no pain even managing to feed in the garden and at the kitchen table whilst doing work with DS1- this is unheard of!!! The pain is usually so much that I have to be positioned exactly so on the couch with 3 cushions just to endure it. DS2 has more nystatin to ensure we don’t pass back and forth and I’m continuing the daktarin. I’m just praying that when I drop to the 50mg it doesn’t creep back! My nipples also look so much better I hadn’t realised what a state they were in- looked kind of like when your skin has been wet too long and it’s white and soggy so thinking it defo is thrush.

You don't have to if it hurts so much. Don't feel like it's failure. It's life sometimes it's great - sometimes not.

That's great things have improved. Could you ring the doc and see was prescription right or if it could be changed to allow proper healing and get you back.on track?