Hi MGJ,
I’ve been there, I really feel for you. I suffered for about 6 years on and off. Visited the doctors a million times, felt like I tried everything! And I mean everything, I had every possible test done (std swabs, blood tests, hormone tests) cut out all sugar, carbs and alcohol - for very long periods of time.
I must have spent hundreds trying out every recommended supplement, different types of probiotic, bone broth... I chewed raw garlic everyday one month, and even tried garlic as a pessary (I was desperate for something to work).
People can get thrush for many reasons, some like me, are just prone to it, where slapping a bit of yogurt on and ‘cutting down on sugar’ won’t help in the slightest.
The Candida diet didn’t work for me either.. maybe they have for others, but not me.
It felt like I was getting no where with my gp too, I would be put on maintenance treatments, but the minute I’d come off it would come straight back. I’d often get referred to gynaecologists, who also had no answers.
Eventually I came across a news article by chance, that was a written by a doctor that specialises in reoccurring Candida infections. The clinic wasn’t local but I managed to get my doctor to refer me. It has seriously been life changing.
Hearing that I wasn’t responding to fluconazol or itraconazol they started me on a different drug, which was a pessary called nystatin (which isn’t widely available in the U.K. only specialists can prescribe it). That helped the immediate infection while they waited to get my swab results back, as the treatment they give you depends on strain of thrush you have.
When the results came back it actually said it was the really common strain of thrush that fluconazol should have cured. They then pointed out that the reason it seemed like it hadn’t worked previously could be one of 2 reasons - 1. I needed to be on it longer and weened off it slower over a longer length of time, or 2. (what I think happened) I was prescribed it along side clotrimozle cream and pessaries. These actually burn the skin and the side effects are very similar to thrush, feeling super uncomfortable! So the thrush is gone, but you still have the irritation and think you still have the infection.
Sorry for the essay! I just related to your post so much and wish I had found the solution years ago. It is often underestimated how emotionally draining it is when you are suffering, worrying and just can’t find anything that works.
I really hope this helps! Try not to let it worry you, it is more common than you think, you are not alone x