Don't want to give up BF for this

[belindarose]

I've posted on a couple of other threads about my problem with thrush. It's into its fifth week now, when I thought it was nearly gone. It is now excruciating (and compounded by a nasty hole under the nipple where 5 month old DD has had a few good bites). I don't know how many more feeds I can cope with. I'm treating it with Daktarin (cream me, oral gel DD) and making sure the latch is good. Unfortunately, DD is poorly with a cold and feeding more frequently than usual. I sound rational writing this, but I don't feel it.
My own GP will not prescribe fluconazole and nor would a different GP in the practice who I spoke to on the phone today, as they say it is unsuitable for BF. I know it is considered safe to use and was recommended it by BF counsellor. What else can I do? I have read up on some alternative/ complementary treatments, which I will try, but nothing is going to shift it properly without fluconazole.

huge sympathy...
only have two suggestions..
have you tried breast shields/nipple protectors/lily pads? some friends have found they work.
and have you tried just expressing for a bit to let it heal?

Thanks. I haven't tried nipple shields or anything (haven't got any). Do have some breast shells which I might wear in my bra tonight to keep the breast pad / bra off the bite (keeps scabbing over and coming off on the pad - double OW!). I can't express enough milk anymore to fully feed her, although I think I may have to resort to mixed FF/ EBM if I don't get another solution soon. VERY loathe to do this.

belinda, can you ring your local maternity ward? sounds strange I know, but when i wanted fluconazole the doctor I spoke to rang the local hospital and spoke to a midwife about it and then prescribed it for me!

it isn't licensed for breastfeeding mothers, but that doesn't mean it is unsafe to use. you might have to put your foot down big time.

i would also though, see a BFC in person. because i had a lot of problems with my first baby. I did have thrush, but in hindsight my main problem was that he was tongue tied and had a terrible latch

latch problems and thrush have such similar symptoms, so it's worth getting someone to watch you and just make sure you have an absolutely optimum latch so that you can be sure it's thrush.

um

boil washing bras. use disposable breastpads and change frequently, apply cream more frequently,

oh and i would advise against using anything that will allow the bite to dry out. all that will happen is that it will harden and then break open next time baby feeds.

try and keep it moist, lots of lansinoh etc and it will heal if you have a good latch

I did successfully treat it with Acidophilous tablets, boil washing sheets, bras, towels etc, daktarin creams and regular changing of breast pads. You have to think of killing off all of the spores in one hit. Tackle everything and keep going. It is determined.

If this fails then I would return to your GP and demand fluconozole.

Good luck.

I had thrush,AGONY,so I sympathise.I took a lot of probiotics and I saw a homoeopath and it went,took a few weeks,but it gradually improved and then I realised the last few feeds hadn't hurt at all.Using a breastshield just on the bitten nipple until it heals might help your sanity as it will hurt less.

Have you spoken to LLL? They were great when I had thrush.
Told me to bathe nipples in a cup of water with a teaspoon of vinegar in it.
You're right though you need the meds. Have you seen the info sheet for HCPs on the breastfeeding network website? If not, print it out and take it to your docs and demand that they do something for you.
My own GP spoke to 2 bf counsellors and did some research into meds to make sure she could help and I was so grateful. Your own should be prepared to do the same not just give a flat no.
Thrush is horrible, hope you get sorted soon

Thanks everyone. I have been working hard on the latch and know that it was a probable cause of the thrush getting this bad - we've had a really difficult time with BF (inverted nipples, needed to express for 4 weeks till she learned to latch on, can only latch onto one side so this breast is doing all the work!) - and I see BF counsellors so regularly they must think I've got nothing better to do with my time!
I was really disappointed with BFN when I spoke to an advisor on Friday - she just told me to throw out everything that had ever been in the baby's mouth and keep going. The info sheet is good, though my printer isn't working.
DD can't feed with nipple shield, so can't try that option. I'll get through the night, I'm sure.

My sympathies, I really struggled with thrush. Go on the BfN website and print off the thrush leaflet here. And show it to your GP.

By all means try the herbal stuff (I did, and I cut out all sugar and yeast from my diet too) but you need the fluconazole. It isn't licenced for bf women but it is fine to take. It is possible to buy it over the counter for vaginal thrush- canestan duo I think. But obv better to get a prescrption, as you should have a large loading dose and then take smaller doses over several days.

Best of luck.

I found the plastic-backed breastpads made things worse, as did anything that kept the area moist and sweet (shells, lansinoh, kamillosan). I had a bad crack from a poor latch thatr would not heal due to the thrush and the only thing that allowed it to start healing was Silverette nipple thingys. Bit odd- but for me, they worked.

My sympathy to you I had recurring thrush with DD and as well as being agonising i found it really upsetting - felt a bit like i was going mad with it all.

Print out this leaflet from the breast feeding network and take it along to your GP, this is what persuaded mine to give me fluconazole.

If you definitely can't get the fluconazole (which is obviously best) then you could go down the homeopathic route. I ended up using colloidal silver spray to help the healing of my damaged nipples (still have scars today) and i found it really worked for me. I would just add a disclaimer, i know a lot of people think it's absolute rubbish and of course it could just be coincidence and my nipples healed by themselves but at the time i was prepared to try anything!

I took so long typing that I ended up cross posting with MrsMotMot - sorry!

Oh no, don't be sympathetic, now I'm crying as well!
I'll take on board your ideas tomorrow. Need to find a working printer to get that leaflet printed, although surely the GPs have access to the internet in their rooms.

I spoke to a brilliant NCT counsellor who told me, if the GP wouldn't prescribe Fluconozole, to quote Hale who is the leading authority on drugs and breastfeeding. Try this if your printer fails you.

Further to leggymambo's link to the bfn here is the NHS UKMI (UK medicines information). drugs in breast milk quick reference guide. Scroll down to antifungals.

Thanks everyone. I managed to get the GP to prescribe fluconazole today, after speaking to him on the phone (have vaginal symptoms now too - this convinced him). But, he's only given me a really low dose, not that recommended by BFN. 50mg per day for 7 days, not the high loading dose and continuing for 10 days. I've now made an appointment with a different Dr (female, not that it should make a difference) tomorrow. Should I take 50mg now as prescribed, or the 150 - 300mg loading dose (or the 400mg recommended by my BF counsellor but I can't get hold of her to check)? I really thought I'd got this sorted once he agreed to prescribe. Feeling really low now.

Hi sorry I know the thread is about thrush but is it possible you have an infection in your boob that needs antibiotics? I thought I had thrush when DD3 was a week old, I was in agony and boob so scabbed and sore could not feed. Midwife took a swab and it was an infection so antibiotics, hired a electric breast pump to give boob rest for a week, and used nipple shields. Don't know much about inverted nipples but nipple shields have been my saviour for all three children as they draw the nipple out..... Sorry maybe completely unhelpful but just a few thoughts! Good luck I hope you get it sorted.

I am a bit concerned that the bite might be/ become infected, but there is definitely thrush there too. If only GP was interested enough to take a swab! He hasn't even looked at the breast since 3 weeks ago!

If it is definately thrush then you don't want antibiotics as that will make it worse. Be assertive with the GP's as you know your own body. All you can do is to try and stop bite getting infected, good luck.

Ugh. Similar hapened to me- my DH went to collect my prescription and came home with only cream and drops for DS and advice from the pharmacist to wash my breasts with soap and water before and after each feed. I was distraught, just wanting the fucking drugs! (Sorry for swearing, this area of MN is usually very clean isn't it! but that is how I felt!)

I'd wait til you see the new GP tomorrow before comencing meds, and make sure you get the full whack. (un-MN hug)

Oh and although I had thrush for months and thought it would never go, that the crack would never heal and that I would never feed pain-free. But it did and I'm still feeding DS now (14m)

You can beat it! (oooh, came over all American there!)

Canasten once (cream and oral capsule) can be bought over the counter. The capsule has 150mg fluclonazole.
I took a couple of these when I couldn't get it prescribed (had to send DH though as they won't give it to you if they know you are bf.)

I'll look into grapefruitseed extract, thanks. Survived the rest of the day although am expecting a few night feeds!
I bought acidophilus but am confused about how much to take. The label says 1-2 tablets per day, but BFC said 2-3 capsules 3 times a day (no mention of dose of each capsule though).
And does anyone have any idea how to keep the thrush area dry and the bite moist??