Thrush for nearly three months

[Minime85]

I can go six months with no issues and then if I get it, that's it for months. I've now taken three oral tablets, used natural treatment of multi-gyn twice and used one gyno-daktarin pessary to try and get rid of it. All of the above ease symbols but never quite go.

If I eat any sugar it creates a pretty much instant itch down below and this includes fruit too. So I've tried to cut as much out as possible. I've been to doctors in past who basically just tell me to live with it.

Please any alternative ideas? I have been tested for diabetes about a year ago and was clear.

[BendydickCuminsnatch]

*years

[Sugarwork]

I have suffered miserably with thrush for years. Many years ago i went to the gum clinic and was prescribed flucanozole 50mg, to take daily for 4 days at start of period. This has been on repeat prescription for years and I still struggle with it! Sometimes it will take a couple of weeks to get rid and I get it every single month, without fail.
a question for the gum experts here. How much flucanazole can I take? Would it be better to take it consistently for a longer period of time?
I went sugar free for 12 weeks and still got it.
Not great for I intimacy with dh

[MunchyMunchkin]

Sugarwork - you might be better off trying a 6 month programme.
150mg fluconazole every 72hrs x 3 as induction then one dose a week maintenance.

Details on page 7 of this guideline in case you want to speak to your GP.
www.bashh.org/documents/1798.pdf

[Minime85]

Munchy I might just do that myself. Why can't they just prescribe me something like that after two years of going backwards and forwards and making me feel like a pain in the arse. Thanks for your help

[Cakescakescakes]

I'm just starting the 6 month fluconazole programme after months of persistent thrush. It started after I stopped breastfeeding ds2 last summer. I'm at my wits end with the whole thing.

[BIWI]

No sugar means a very low carb diet, not just cutting out sugar. Have you tried doing that?

Also, are you on the pill? That made my candida worse, definitely.

Has your husband/partner been tested? With us, we found that we were passing it backwards and forwards, so I'd be clear and then he'd infect me, and so on!

[NinjaTwat]

What sanpro are you using?

There has been a few threads recently about the scented and the odour neutralising pads, causing thrush and cystitis.

[Sugarwork]

Thanks munchy - I will read and go to Gp and ask about it- sounds like there is now a protocol for treatment (6 month dose). I'm crossing my fingers (legs??) that it may be the solution.
Biwi - I didn't low carb, just no processed or fruit sugar. It was tough as I like my treats. We use condoms as they seem to irritate me less than seamen.
Ninja - I use unscented sanpro - so pissed off with Alwyays for secretly scenting all.pads. am considering trying mooncup or eco brands.
It would change my life to get rid of it.

[Sugarwork]

Semen ha ha - spell check (am not averse to men of the sea)

[MunchyMunchkin]

Anecdotally patients have told me that low sugar has helped but I don't think there is much research to back that up. If I were you I'd take the fluconazole and eat the cake!

[glintwithpersperation]

I have struggled terribly with thrush in the past (on and off for years). I have discovered that if I take a largish dose of zinc it kicks my immune system into touch and it deals with the infection. I will take until the infection has gone. Also will use generic pessaries (strong ones) at least twice and sometimes upto 4 times in a row. Take acidophilus. For symptom relief Have warm (not hot) baths with bicarbonate of soda. Dry area really well (dabbing not rubbing) and them apply anti fungal cream. Spend time knicker less at home. Get lots of sleep, avoid sugar and dairy. It's fucking shit, really feel for you.

[glintwithpersperation]

Oh and I've also been told to just live with it by twat GP. also told that there were no clinical signs yet every single time I've been swabbed when I think I've got an infection it's been raging candida. Most GPs haven't got a fucking clue and aren't interested in vaginal yeast infections at all. However I met one amazing GP who had done a lot of reading and was versed in the current research. She was the one who got me on the concurrent pessaries. I found the oral medication didn't work
Also found that need to keep area clean but no soap. No to condoms or tampons, make sure you're well lubrcated before having sex.
Sorry for essay it's all coming back to me now!

[Minime85]

Yeah I don't use any scented pads I too am cross at always, wasted money on a whole load to open and find they were scented. I've moved to body form. I was thinking of trying a moon cup but would be really difficult at work and not sure I'm brave enough.

I'm cutting back on carbs too and taking a complete woman multi vitamin which was to try and help periods be less heavy and painful but has iron and zinc in as PP have mentioned.

I'm going to send everyone I know to pharmacy for 6 months worth of tablets I have only do the gyno dakartin pessary as other one burn me. And I find for days afterwards it just all comes back out and irritated the area.

Have treated DP too just in case!! And no condoms or pill. We have jokes before that it is him as I've never had it before other than when I had implant when I was red raw with it although doctors then said no link!! Even then they just let me self medicate. Yesterday was a lovely lady doctor and I think that's the difference, men just don't get how uncomfortable and lowering it is. Sorry to be sexist but I'm feeling that to be a factor in my situation.

[BendydickCuminsnatch]

glint it's fucking infuriating isn't it. I CANT just live with it for another 30 years until menopause, maybe longer, who knows. It's NOT normal, and there must be a cause, something making me thrushy, so why don't they fucking find it and fix it I've had this since I was 19, so I had thrush on my wedding day, on my honeymoon, the day we got engaged, so many birthdays etc. I'm not really up for 'living with it'
The latest consultant I was referred to didn't even swab me, just had a look

But happily my maintenance routine seems to be keeping it in check :) all through my own research and trial and error, literally no thanks at all to anyone professional.

[BIWI]

MunchyMunchkin displays the same attitude though

Just brushing it off with 'take the drugs and eat the cake anyway' without any real concern for dealing with the cause. Such a cavalier attitude.

[MunchyMunchkin]

Erm BIWI I was only presenting what is scientifically backed to help, I did mention that some patients do find low sugar helpful. I can't recommend something that isn't backed by research and yes if it was me I wouldn't be doing no sugar and I would take the fluconazole.
It's more important to be properly diagnosed and ensure you don't have a skin condition rather than chronic thrush as well as ensuring you don't have a strain that is resistant to fluconazole.
After that if you want to try other things then go ahead.

[BIWI]

It was the throwaway comment about the cake, as well as the general tone of your post.

I totally appreciate that data isn't the plural of anecdote, or whatever the saying is, but you were pretty dismissive of stuff that others had posted. And then to just tell people to eat the cake anyway really isn't helpful.

Have you ever suffered from thrush at all? Have you ever suffered from continual, repeating bouts of thrush? Maybe if you have (as I'm assuming that you haven't from your comments) you might not be so casual about it.

[MunchyMunchkin]

Was only trying to lighten the mood a little, perhaps that didn't read as I meant it.
I myself suffer from a genital skin condition that causes unbearable itching when uncontrolled. So yes I do sympathise with how awful it is.
As far as I'm concerned do whatever works for you and the medical therapies are there to work alongside if needs be.
Perhaps someone needs to do a study of recurrent vaginal candida and its relation to sugar intake.

[yourmothernotyourfriend]

Hi - I have suffered from this on and off for years until I discovered that it was a named side effect of the contraceptive pill I was on. I therefore changed my pill. I also noticed that it was aggravated by eating bread/ toast and marmite (feel such a fool for not really thinking about the yeast content!) It was also aggravated by processed meats such as salami and chorizo. Once I had cut these out (along with excess sugar and cut back on my alcohol consumption to 4-6 units a week) it has largely gone. However, if I have a major social event, with a day of social drinking, it recurs until I go alcohol/ bread/ sugar free again for the following week. This is not a solution but I certainly feel more in control of the symptoms than before.

[BeatBoxBroadway]

Are you sure it is actually thrush? After years of unbearable suffering I discovered it was lichen sclerosis. Not exactly happy about it but a few days of using the steroid cream and it cleared up like magic! I actually feel 'normal' again...

[Branleuse]

if you have recurring thrush you might need to do a pessary a week for a month. Thats what my doctor told me and prescribed me, but its sometimes cheaper to buy OTC generic version than get a prescription, such as
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Clotrimazole-Pessary-5-Vaginal-Tablets-100mg-Antifungal-Agent-CANESTEN-EQUIV-/161939164648?hash=item25b4538de8:g:el4AAOSw5dNWjV8i

[Heyheyheygoodbye]

I did the 6 months flucanazole and it worked for me. I still have to watch my sugar intake around my period but it's much better.

[Minime85]

I'm not sure beyond what doctors have told me so far and swabs last year said wasn't that or BV or that trisomasis (not correct spelling I know). But all symptoms suggest it is and fact it does clear up. Hopefully swab from yesterday and ones in two weeks can confirm and then I can get the treatment. I can't use those canestan ones as they burn me inside. Had one when pregnant.

I've gone and got a moon cup and cotton tampons today to see if that also helps. Thank you everyone for some really helpful advice .

[hiphophippity]

Following this thread with interest as have same problem & at my wit's end. glint can you tell me what pesaaries you mean, and at what dose? Thank you!

[BendydickCuminsnatch]

You can buy clotrimazole pessaries OTC (own brand canesten). If I'm really sore and dry and cut up down there during a bout, I splash out on the Canesten Gel Pessary (what a treat ) - the regular pessaries are too chalky at that point, the gel is much ore soothing and effective IMO. But generally, for long term use, £15 a pop is not sustainable.