Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Thrush aaaaarrrrghhh...

35 replies

FrayedKnot · 20/05/2006 19:27

It's driving me nuts!

I had a course of antibiotics a couple of weeks ago and of course I got thrush almost straight away (not had it for years). I've had one dose of diflucan and a pessary, and it moreorless cleared up, and now it's back again.

I'm using canesten cream but teh itching is driving me insane.

Has anyone got any selfhelp tips?

OP posts:
TambaTheDragonSlayer · 20/05/2006 19:29

Lots of sympathy!!

spinach · 20/05/2006 19:31

tried yogurt?

SaintGeorge · 20/05/2006 19:33

For now:

Use a baby wipe or moist toilet tissue whenever you go to the loo.
Use live yoghurt on a tampon whilst you have an attack.
Sit in a bath of shallow warm water with some salt and tea tree oil added.

For prevention:

Cotton only underwear.
No tights or tight trousers.
Tea tree oil in the bath.
No scented products in the bath - so no bath bombs, oils, foam etc ONLY tea tree oil and unscented soaps allowed.
A regular does of a probiotic supplement or diary drink.
Cut down on bread and other yeast containing products.

Original poster
FrayedKnot · 20/05/2006 19:36

That's very comprehensive SG, thanks. Do you know why the babywipe is recommended?

I have unperfumed ones for DS so will try them.

I am already taking a probiotic and have cut out bread / yeast as of today.

Might try the bath too.

Thanks all for your tips (and your sympathy tamba!)

OP posts:
Gloworm · 20/05/2006 19:38

ditto everything stG said, especially the good bacteria. if you take a good quality (oral) capsule, you should be clear in a couple of days. Solgar is hard to beat, higher nature is great, and quest are good too. you can get them in health shops or online.
they are much much better than the yogurts.

SaintGeorge · 20/05/2006 19:39

My own list, compiled after 20 odd years of bloody suffering on and off.

Baby wipe/moist tissue just to ensure regular (quick) solution to cleanliness and ensure minimum discharge is, errmmmmm, sitting around down there.

Oh and the biggie - get partner treated.

Gloworm · 20/05/2006 19:40

what brand are you using? as it can make a huge difference

for example, solgar are excellent and holland barret are rubbish (imo)

spinach · 20/05/2006 19:41

i had thrush a few months back... the doctor told me the best thing i could do was walk in the garden with no undies on (presumably no lower half clothes either) as thrush doesnt like the cold.... i have to say i didnt try it!

Original poster
FrayedKnot · 20/05/2006 20:21

Gloworm, they are Country Life? I got them from a health food shop.

SG there's no way DH is going anywhere near while it's like this Grin

But I take your point though. What treatment should he have?

OP posts:
Original poster
FrayedKnot · 20/05/2006 20:22

Spinach my garden is rather overlooked I'm afraid..!

OP posts:
SaintGeorge · 20/05/2006 20:23

The diflucan tablet is the best treatment for blokes.

Don't let him refuse because he says he has no symptoms, blokes rarely do but they can still be the cause of repeated infections.

Gloworm · 20/05/2006 20:27

country life are a good brand Grin

your dh could take them too

frodofitz · 20/05/2006 21:32

Sorry to butt in but SG have the docs or pharmasists said anything about blokes using the diflucan? Me and dh have suffered constantly-it's a miracle we got pregnant!- and used diflucan for both of us however after 2 attempts and £12.50 x 4 went to G.P who said diflucan not for males...
Hence we still have the problem..

Country life? Is it a cream/pessary?

SaintGeorge · 20/05/2006 22:33

My GP prescribed Diflucan for DH - and in the dim and distant past before it was available under that name he was prescribed fluconazole which is the active ingredient.

SaintGeorge · 20/05/2006 22:36

Better ask your GP to check his facts or give you a reason.

\link{http://www.mypharmacy.co.uk/medicines/medicines/d/diflucan/diflucan_one.htm\Product advert} says men can take it.

Gloworm · 21/05/2006 08:24

frodofitz, country life is a brand of herbal remedies. its the probiotic/good bacteria capsules that frayedknot is using.

you can use them alongside the gp/chemist's medication.

Finbar · 21/05/2006 08:29

can anyone explain why proboitcs would help? I thought Thrush was a fungal based thingy - different animal to bacteria.

juuule · 21/05/2006 08:37

Reduce your sugar intake. Drink lemon juice (I use PLJ) in hot water. Wipe with a dilute vinegar solution after toilet. Apply Canestan (or other anti-fungal).

Thrush is a yeast. It does't like acidic environments. The lemon drink will make urine more acidic so attacking it from the inside out every time you go to the loo.

Gloworm · 21/05/2006 08:39

when there are very few good bacteria in the body, the bad bacteria thrive and take over. This leaves the body prone to all sorts of infections, including thrush.

this isnt making much sense...its toooo early! I'll try to find a more scientific explanation later, or at work tomorrow.

I had a customer last year who had suffered from thrush on and off for 25years. The Solgar multi-billion dophilus we sell was the first thing she had ever tried that helped her, if she changed to any other brand the trush came back. she was taking them for about a year (i think) before she was totally fine and able to stop using them. I have loads of other stories of them working too, not proof as such, I know.

I find an explanation laterGrin

Gloworm · 21/05/2006 08:48

finbar, this should explain it (it a reputable site btw)

\link{http://www.whatreallyworks.co.uk/start/articles.asp?article_ID=184\here}

cheltenhamgal · 21/05/2006 08:49

when I suffered from thrush years ago, I tried everything, and managed to work out that it was eating blue cheese which quite often caused it and being stressed at work. I have since changed jobs and use tea tree oil in the bath which relieves any itchy symptoms immediately

Carmenere · 21/05/2006 08:53

Just to add a bit more sympathy and more anecdotal evidence that taking probiotic capsules really work (Solgar), aviod the probiotic drinks because they are full of sugar and yeast thrives on it. Cutting out wine and beer as well as bread helps too, unfortunately Grin.

Finbar · 21/05/2006 13:38

Gloworm...huge th\nks for this _I've tried everything over the years - never thought about probiotics. I did take some in capsule form for some other reason for a while nad they upset my stomach more! Perhaps I should try another brand.

Gloworm · 21/05/2006 13:51

what brand did you use finbar? do you remember? perhaps there was some other ingredient in the capsule you reacted to.
(you're not irish by any chance? i've never heard finbar in uk before?)

frodofitz · 22/05/2006 13:36

Don't know if this discussion well and truly over but need to add went to chemist for pessary today who said i shouldn't use them without seeing my doc. Now i've had to make emergency appointment as used one before bed last night and the stupid woman wouldn't tell me if i had done the wrong thig and could have potentially harmed my baby!
AND read suggestions on tea tree but on instructions says not to use without consulting doctor...well annoyed now and not feeling much relief, if you know what i mean!

Swipe left for the next trending thread