Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Infant feeding

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

Anyone managed to get rid of recurrent thrush eventually?

17 replies

Kitsilano · 10/02/2008 20:30

I have had thrush in my breasts for about 3 weeks now. Did a week with juts the creams and gel, then Dr gave me Fluconazole whohc seemed to work initially but I am towards the end of the course and it feels like it is still lingering. I am also taking acidophillus, exspore (read about these on here) and trying to be careful about hot washing bras etc. Alos using milton for sterillsing the beast pump.

I juts don't know how much longer I can carry on bresatfeeding if it doesn't go away. My dd is 12 weeks tomorrow and so far exclusively breastfed so far. I really wanted to make it to 6 months but 3 more months of pain just seems so long.

She doesn't sleep very well and I have a toddler too so I am just so tired and down atm and the thrush just seems the final straw.

I'm so afraid that I will really regret it if I stop bf now. Can anyone help? Can I just keep taking fluconazole? Arer there any stronger drugs?

OP posts:
Kitsilano · 10/02/2008 20:30

Sorry for all the typos. Awake since 3.30am so v tired

OP posts:
Kitsilano · 10/02/2008 21:02

Anyone?

OP posts:
loc · 10/02/2008 21:13

Are you treating baby for oral thrush too?

lulurose · 10/02/2008 21:15

You must treat your baby too, otherwise she will keep reinfecting you...I had this with dd2 and gave up bf at 6 weeks..sadly.

morocco · 10/02/2008 21:15

poor you
thrush is the pits. I had it for 4 weeks before it was even diagnosed, 4 weeks of utter awfulness. even after the treatment it did take a while for all the pain to go so perhaps this will be the case for you. but it did go in the end, took maybe 2 weeks after the treatment started for all the pain to go.
are they treating you both? otherwise you will be reinfecting each other, even if your dd doesn't have any signs of thrush she should still be treated. also make sure dummies etc are really well sterilised

fingerwoman · 10/02/2008 21:17

ditto what everyone else has said re treating baby, and being v careful about dummies etc etc.

I also wanted to add another thought though, which is that perhaps the pain isn't (or not all) thrush.
It's very easy to get a bit sloppy with your latch- I certainly did once we cracked the breastfeeding, and have since ended up with very painful breasts from not making sure ds2 was latching on properly.
So, do make sure you are really scrupulous with latching her on as well

Kitsilano · 10/02/2008 22:43

she is having the mouth gel. I will keep trying.

OP posts:
morocco · 10/02/2008 23:09

good point fingerwoman

casting my mind back the many years since ds was born, I seem to remember I was treating my nips after every feed (since that was when reinfection was happening) with a thin layer of ds' gel as well as using my own treatment maybe twice daily. I think that was my own idea rather than recommended.
did you try that gentian violet stuff? that is supposed to be good.
I've just cut and paste a bit from LLL about recurrent thrush, maybe it is helpful?it's a bit long, sorry

Points to Consider with Recurrent Yeast

Avoid sugar, including fruit and artificial sweeteners, anything with yeast including breads, anything fermented, like wine and vinegar, and dairy products, except yogurt with live cultures. Cut back on high carbohydrate foods.

Set your dishwasher to heat the water hot enough to kill yeast on glasses, dishes and utensils for oral yeast in family members using these dishes. If you handwash, dip the dishes and utensils in a bleach solution first.

Eliminate the use of Natural B vitamins such as Brewer's Yeast for a time.

Brush your tongue as well as your teeth.

Replace toothbrushes regularly. Boil or soak in a 10% bleach solution after each bout of thrush.

Disinfect dental or orthodontic appliances each and every time they are removed from the mouth.

Discard roll-on or solid deodorant after the initial yeast outbreak has cleared.

Use regular, rather than antibacterial soap.
Killing bacteria can make yeast overgrowth more likely.

Check for yeast growing in or under/around finger or toenails, under arms or breasts, in the groin or baby's diaper area. Does baby suck thumb, finger or knuckles? Check them carefully. Wash baby's hands frequently. Also check the finger and toenail beds and where skin touches skin for the entire family.

Take precautions to avoid the spread of yeast with family underwear, bras and towels.
Wear pantyhose with a cotton crotch, cut the crotch out of the panty or wear thigh-high hose.
Avoid synthetic underwear and tight jeans.
Change quickly out of sweaty exercise clothes or wet swimsuits.
Notice any correlation between your menstrual cycle and thrush reoccurence, particularly a few days before menses starts.

Ask your partner to be checked for a yeast infection.

Wash your hands every time you use the toilet, handle your breasts or milk, put your fingers in your own or your baby's mouth, change diapers (nappies).

Treat every single thing possible that you put in your mouth or your children put in theirs to kill yeast.
Disinfect inhalers or breathing treatment machines for asthma or other conditions between uses.
Replace makeup after clearing up a yeast infestation. Yeast can live on lipsticks, lip and eye liners, eye shadows, mascaras, foundations and powders. Disinfect or replace makeup applicators.
Check everyone in the family for cracks in the corner of the mouth.
Have a veterinarian check animals for yeast. Pets with fur can harbor yeast, particularly in their ears. Feathered pets can have yeast overgrowths, too

Kitsilano · 11/02/2008 10:43

wow! thanks.
I'll try those things

OP posts:
TheBlonde · 11/02/2008 10:54

I took grapefruit seed extract - it worked v quickly

naturelover · 11/02/2008 12:47

I had thrush which (probably) recurred because the initial dose wasn't strong enough. Three weeks later I got the full recommended dose and it did clear up HOWEVER the pain did take a few weeks to go completely, and I did have latch issues as well. To cut a long story short, a BF counsellor helped me sort the latch once and for all (but I had to be vigilant at every feed, to "train" DD to open her mouth wide enough) and after a few weeks there was no more pain. I'm glad the bfc warned me the pain could linger, because I was convinced the thrush was still there.

I did pay reasonable attention to my diet (and still do a bit) and hygiene to avoid re-infection. I'm happy to say that DD is now almost 6 months old and I've been completely pain-free for over 3 months. It was bloody painful so I do sympathise.

Good luck.

Lovelove · 11/02/2008 15:53

You poor thing, its a nightmare, but you can beat it. My thrush wasn't even diagnosed until I'd had it for 4 or 5 weeks, and probably didn't go completely until DS was about 11 weeks, I had to have 2 courses of fluconezole. Are you taking it in the recommended dosage? Can't remember what that is but the Breastfeeding Network website has loads of info. Worth a look because if your GP is anything like mine, he/she won't know (I was desperate but it did seem to help after a while )and I did the anti -thrush diet, see morrocco's post above or just google it! Good luck.

estobi1 · 11/02/2008 21:27

Wow Kitsilano - I could have written your post!

I am thinking about giving up breast feeding as my dd is 4 months old tomorrow and I am fed up with us getting recurrent thrush.

I have tried daktarin nystatin and fluconezole and nothing has worked for us (yet). But thanks to your post and the advice given by everyone, we might just make it a bit longer. Good luck and thanks for posting!

Kitsilano · 11/02/2008 22:09

Good luck estobi1. I will definitely try the anti-thrush diet (not much fun!) and try at least one more course of fluconazole. I think I have had the right dose as I checked on the bfn. Interested in your experience naturelover - I assumed the pain would go quite quickly so maybe it is on its way out. I'll also try to see a breastfeeding counsellor if things don't improve. I thought my latch was ok but maybe as she gets older I have been careless.

I am determined to keep trying for at least a bit longer - thanks for all your advice.

OP posts:
TheBlonde · 11/02/2008 22:27

I don't really get the whole infection/boiling everything business. If it is just a balance thing then how is in an infection?

Kitsilano · 11/02/2008 22:49

i think boiling kills the fungus but i see your point

OP posts:
TheBlonde · 11/02/2008 22:51

I couldn't ever face the diet thing plus I only ever had breast thrush iykwim

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread