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Original poster

Thrush that always returns

20 replies

kittykat818 · 03/05/2022 17:05

Hi all, long story short I have been getting monthly thrush for about 4 years now. I have tried long term fluconazole and this usually gets rid of it but it always come back once I stop taking it. I only started get thrush after I became sexually active and I am still with same partner. I have tried probiotics, have been tested for diabetes, thyroid problems, vitamins etc but everything comes back totally normal. I don't use soaps down there, use non fragrances toilet rolls and sanitary pads and I even tried coming off the combined pill but nothing has worked! :( I have noticed recently that my thrush comes a week before my period - not sure why and if this could mean it is hormone related. I have such a poor quality of life currently, I either have thrush or spend my time worrying that I am getting it! I could try flucoznole again but I have done 3 long term courses now and I am worried about the long term impact this could have on my health or that I will be come resistant to it. I was 19 when this all started and I am nearly 24, I feel like the years I should be enjoying most are being taken over by constant thrush.

OP posts:
hamdden12 · 03/05/2022 18:00

Is your partner taking anything to treat it? If not you'll keep passing it to each other.

Original poster
kittykat818 · 03/05/2022 19:26

Hi, yes he always take fluconazole when I have had a thrush positive test and then uses the Canesten cream for 2 weeks! It clears for both of us and then just comes back for me the next month

OP posts:
tothemoonandbackbuses · 03/05/2022 19:33

It was toilet roll and sanitary towels that caused my on off long term thrush. It wasn’t the scent it was the roughness and once my skin became slightly sore the thrush took hold.
I select toilet roll very carefully these days!

MontyDonsBlueScarf · 03/05/2022 19:35

I had recurrent thrush for many, many months. A GUM consultant suggested I try using athlete's foot powder on my feet at the same time as the next thrush treatment, despite having no obvious signs of athlete's foot. He said that he'd found that if you have a fungal infection in one place it makes it very hard to get rid of any other fungal infection elsewhere. I was highly sceptical but desperate and thought it was a simple thing to try. Much to my surprise it worked. I know it sounds unlikely but at this stage you don't have a lot to lose.

Original poster
kittykat818 · 03/05/2022 19:35

@tothemoonandbackbuses that's interesting! Mine seems pretty soft! I also stay thrush for months at time but I have had it every month since October and I haven't changed toilet roll brands! Happy you figured out your trigger!

OP posts:
Original poster
kittykat818 · 03/05/2022 19:36

@MontyDonsBlueScarf Thanks! I have seen someone else say this on here too. I will give it a go, I will give anything a go at this stage :(

OP posts:
Original poster
kittykat818 · 03/05/2022 21:07

@MontyDonsBlueScarf Could I ask how long you used the cream and how long it took for you to stop getting the thrush. I know I had athletes foot as a child when I did a lot of swimming but I don't seem to have any symptoms

OP posts:
Sidge · 03/05/2022 21:09

Are you 100% sure it’s thrush? Have you done vaginal swabs?

tanqueray10 · 03/05/2022 21:19

I can sympathise @kittykat818 . I used to get recurrent thrush every month always after my period. I tried probiotics on and off but never had much luck. Then I saw on here that somebody suggested Optibac probiotics especially for women and they have made such a difference. It took 3 months of taking them daily to see any difference but now I haven’t had thrush in over a year. Have to stick with them though x

Original poster
kittykat818 · 03/05/2022 21:21

Hey yes, dozens! Always come back positive for thrush - including the one today. They are all candida albicans that come back as sensitive to flucoznole - which makes sense as the flucoznole does work it just doesn't work long term!

OP posts:
Original poster
kittykat818 · 03/05/2022 21:23

I have tried optibac probiotics but no luck :( but SO happy to hear that you found your solution! On tests I have had done my doctor has said I actually have a really good about of the good bacteria - it just so happens I also have the candida, he has advised me to stop probiotics for the moment as I may actually have too much good bacteria and this could be harmful to my vaginal microbiome and the balance

OP posts:
MontyDonsBlueScarf · 04/05/2022 12:02

kittykat818 · 03/05/2022 21:07

@MontyDonsBlueScarf Could I ask how long you used the cream and how long it took for you to stop getting the thrush. I know I had athletes foot as a child when I did a lot of swimming but I don't seem to have any symptoms

Sorry it was so long ago I don't remember. I think it was probably about a week. I didn't have any symptoms either so don't be put off by that. Good luck!

KindPombear · 16/10/2024 18:32

OP did you ever solve the issue? Struggling over here too!

Original poster
kittykat818 · 18/10/2024 16:05

@KindPombear I am still investigating it! But what has stopped it is my partner using condoms - not ideal long term but working for the last year! What have you tried so far - I know it's very frustrating!

OP posts:
KindPombear · 18/10/2024 16:09

@kittykat818 thats so interesting on the condom front, my partner and I were using them whilst this has all been going on. We haven’t actually had sex for a long time, but when we did it was with condoms. I’ve ended up buying myself a microbiome test to do as the GP has given me 6 months of clotrimazole (wanted to TTC but we don’t even have sex at the minute!) I’m cutting out sugar too to see if that helps. When was your last flare up? I hope it’s the condoms that are the cause so you can just cut them out!

KindPombear · 18/10/2024 16:10

@kittykat818 eek sorry I read that wrong! Maybe he was passing it back to you? That’s not the case for me unfortunately.

Original poster
kittykat818 · 18/10/2024 16:13

@KindPombear No sorry I meant the opposite, starting to use condoms is what has helped me! I just did a microbiome test which highlighted a type of bacteria that me and my partner both have that can cause recurrent infections so trying to get that handled and then will see what the next steps are! I havent had a flare in over a year, I was getting it most months for around 5 years! I tried the 6 months treatment and did seem to work but then stopped after about a year off of it - but I know some women it has worked long term for. I also did not sugar or carbs for months but it was seriously miserable and don't think it actually worked

OP posts:
KindPombear · 19/10/2024 13:42

I’ve just bought a microbiome test too so I’m going to get that done to see what it is. My swabs come back for Candida and Group B Strep but they won’t treat the Strep, it’s “normal” apparently. Hopefully will also get some insights into what’s causing it all too. I hope you don’t have any additional flare ups! It sounds like your husband may have been reinfecting you?

Patcherdog · 20/10/2024 09:11

I used to keep.getting thrush and got diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

KindPombear · 20/10/2024 13:32

I’ve had a hba1c test which has come back as normal, so it’s not diabetes for me. I’ve asked for a test to see which kind of candida I have as I think it could be resistant to the treatment.

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