Hi ladies - just wanted to share my recent (and ongoing) experience with nipple/breast thrush whilst breastfeeding for any other sufferers. Whilst google tells me it’s very uncommon my GP says otherwise but it doesn’t seem to be something anyone is well versed on for treatment purposes.
I think I got thrush following a course of antibiotics for mastitis in week 1/2 of breastfeeding (thanks tongue tie!). Due to a poor latch I had damaged nipples so the combination of that and antibiotics led to thrush taking hold in week 3. At first I thought my latch was bad so I held off on getting help for about 5 days when I called the breastfeeding support line in desperation after very painful feeds and they told me it sounded like thrush and to call the GP. That was 5 weeks ago.
As per the La Leche guidelines I was on Daktarin cream for a week with no easing of symptoms and baby was on Nystan as a preventative (thank god she never got it!). After that, I was prescribed 150mg Fluconazole x 2. The La Leche guidelines advised 150mg for 10 days + so after no improvement of the initial treatment I sent the GP those guidelines and asked for more. She gladly accepted the La Leche advice (and distributed it around the GP surgery!) and prescribed 10 days. It slowly improved with a combination of Daktarin and Fluconazole but was not gone by day 9 so I was prescribed 4 more days. It again slowly improved but did not go so I was prescribed another 10 day course, which I am currently on. The end is in sight. I also did self help measures such as washing nipples in a vinegar & water solution, regularly changing breast pads, taking grapefruit seed extract and reducing sugar & dairy in my diet.
Thrush prevents any nipples wounds from healing and despite having a great latch since week 4ish I still have an open wound on the right nipple. Until recently I also had one on the left but that was just healed and the thrush pain has gone. The thrush pain is still present for the right nipple with the wound. There is definitely a link there.
My symptoms were a burning razor sharp pain through my breasts when feeding, extremely sensitive nipples (couldn’t touch them or wear a bra) and red rings around each nipple. I wish I had known more about thrush so I could have got it sorted before it took hold as it’s been a nightmare to shift but I just thought it was a bad latch as that’s what every midwife ever told me (‘if it hurts, it’s your latch’ and I had been struggling with it at first).
I’ll link the la leche page here as definitely worth giving to your GP if you suspect thrush. I get the feeling they don’t know really how to treat it and if I had followed their advice alone I would be in the same position and pain as 3 weeks ago. https://laleche.org.uk/thrush/
If you do have nipple thrush then hang in there - I know it’s horrible.