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General health

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Original poster

Thrush help please!

19 replies

Pachonga · 13/10/2021 18:13

Mild case of thrush (triggered by a sugary lube as far as I can tell ) coming and going for weeks now and I’m thoroughly fed up of it. Just when I think it has gone, it rears it’s ugly head again.

I’ve tried the GP twice and can’t get an in-person appointment. I was nurse triaged by phone both times and she told me to use the OTC stuff, which I can’t as there is something in the pessaries and creams that makes my fanny and surrounding are feel like they’re on fire. I did explain this but got fobbed off. Also, if I did get an appointment, is there anything I could be prescribed that isn’t the same as I can but from the pharmacy?

I’ve had a few cases of thrush in the past (last one about 5 years ago) and I’ve mostly let them be and they have usually gone away. I tried the OTC oral tablet and it did help but it’s come back. I’ve also cut right back on my carbs and this appears to help but I had some birthday cake last night and now my flaps are dry and uncomfortable. I’m not diabetic ( routine fasting blood glucose test came back normal last month).

Any tips greatly appreciated. Is yoghurt worth a try?

OP posts:

bumpertobumper · 13/10/2021 18:29

There is an oral tablet you can get OTC, and it seems to actually work!
I have been struggling with thrush for a few months now, pessary and cream not really working.
Spoke to GP (had phone appt about something else) and she suggested the tablet - only took it a few days ago, and after about 24 hours no itching so far 🤞

bumpertobumper · 13/10/2021 18:36

Sorry, didn't read op properly a d see you tried the tablet.
Yes go to gp and get them to do a swab in case it is something else.
Yoghurt is soothing, but apparently the wrong bacteria to actually cure it. Worth a try. A midwife suggested putting a tampon in yoghurt when I had awful thrush all through pregnancy a few years ago. only thing that cured that bout was birth. So can be hormonal too.
Lots of air, lots of rinsing, no soap at all of course. Good luck!!!

bumpertobumper · 13/10/2021 18:38

And they can prescribe canesten with steroid in it for extra strength, but not sure how you'd tolerate that. Worth getting an appointment...

Original poster

Pachonga · 13/10/2021 18:49

Thank you so much @bumpertobumper

I need to push more for an appointment and get it sorted, I suppose. I’m pretty sure it is thrush but it wouldn’t hurt to make sure and then push for some treatment. I just hope they listen this time, fed up of being fobbed off with OTC pessaries when I have said one minute before that they irritate me far worse than the thrush itself

OP posts:

dizzydizzydizzy · 13/10/2021 19:30

Also: remember the spores will remain in your underwear, jeans etc so could be reinfecting you. Wash your knickers at 60C or more and dry outside.

Original poster

Pachonga · 13/10/2021 20:08

Thank you @dizzydizzydizzy I will do that.

I’m going to try (again) and push for a GP appointment tomorrow but is there actually anything taken orally they can prescribe me that isn’t available OTC. I can’t risk they creams and pessaries, the last two times I thought my flaps were going to burst into flames.

OP posts:

Piapiano · 13/10/2021 20:10

I have the same thing with the creams. I think the GP would prescribe the same oral tablet but at higher strength or more than one dose so it would be worth persevering.

Gladioli23 · 13/10/2021 20:12

I am thrush veteran.

I can't cope with canisten as I have the same reaction as you.

I take fluconazole, which it sounds like you have. You can also do a 7 days X 50mg course but I think this has to be prescribed not OTC.

Alternatively it might be bacterial vaginosis, which despite the gross name is basically just an equivalent bacterial imbalance instead of the yeast imbalance.

You might get away with a telephone appointment if they'll let you pick up, do and drop off a swab which I think will need doing to determine if it's thrush or bacterial at this point.

Gladioli23 · 13/10/2021 20:13

As well, be clear about the problems with the pessaries and creams - I did, they've noted it as some sort of weird allergy and they no longer try to prescribe them.

Babymamamama · 13/10/2021 20:14

Cut out all sugar and wheat for a week. Take another tablet. And hot/boil wash all your underwear.

Babymamamama · 13/10/2021 20:15

Oh and treat your partner too if you are DTD. They may be reinfecting you.

smileyotter · 13/10/2021 20:15

My sister used to get recurring thrush and she was eventually prescribed a 7 day course of the OTC tablets by her GP. She hasn’t had any issues since as far as I’m aware

MC68 · 13/10/2021 20:16

Fluconozole is an oral treatment that you can get in prescription or buy from Chemists/online Chemists.
A good way to use them is get 3 or 4 150mg tablets & take one every other day/nigh; I’ve taken them at night the last time & found it shops way to use them.
These are a really good way to treat thrush. Hope this helps

Dangermouse80 · 13/10/2021 20:19

Extended course of tablets. I would try the cream as well - I found it burns the first night but complete relief after.

changedusername190 · 13/10/2021 20:22

My friend had this and was really fed up as she couldn't shift it despite doing all the usual treatments.She found out she was diabetic so definitely worth asking your gp to check.

Original poster

Pachonga · 13/10/2021 21:47

Thanks for all your advice everyone. I will definitely keep pushing for an appointment. Sounds like there are some options which will work for me, just need to speak to someone who will listen and/ or make myself heard.

I’ve not got diabetes as had a recent test but thanks for flagging that for anyone who might be reading this thread in the future

Just had a diabetes check so no issues there

OP posts:

Original poster

Pachonga · 16/10/2021 22:01

Just a quick update -managed to see a GP in person by saying I was very sore (true) and wasn’t sure it was thrush at all (well, not untrue, I’m not a doctor) and she took a quick look and said it was definitely thrush and prescribed me an oral tablet, which I’ve taken. I asked if it could be BV or anything else like an STD and she said no, they present differently and it was a classic yeast infection.

I did mention the OTC tablet I had already had that had not made much difference but she said this was a “good opener” at trying to combat it and there are other options if it doesn’t go away, as occasionally she does see a thrush that is caused by a different sort of imbalance.

Happy I persisted and didn’t just wait it out. Even if this doesn’t work, I’m “in”. Thanks all.

OP posts:

allsorts1 · 20/10/2021 23:05

Great that you've been seen OP, a few years ago I had recurring thrush - my GP prescribed so much flucanazole the pharmacy didn't have enough. I had to take 1 every 2 days for 2 weeks and then one a week for 6 weeks or so. Really zap it. Didn't get thrush again for 7+ years but now it's back! So think I'll just do that again.

Mossstitch · 20/10/2021 23:26

I can vouch for the live yoghurt method (used yeo organic natural) but as well as using on tampon eat some. Many years ago i used to get it recurring at the same time of the month so must have been hormonal, sugar made it worse, but that worked just as well as pessaries. Sympathies it's awful!

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