Recurrent thrush impacting my mental health

[kittykat818]

I have been plagued with thrush for over 4 years (started when I was 19 and I am 24 next month) - it all started once I started when I lost my virginity with my current partner. I tried treating it with Canesten but it returned every months so I eventually got put on a 6 months fluconazole treatment which cleared it while I took the tablets but it returned when I stopped (I have done this 6 month treatment three times now). My thrush tends to appear the week before my period - I came of the combined pill to see if this would help but the thrush still comes back every month. I have tried changing to natural toilet paper and pads (stopped using tampons) only was with an emollient and always make sure I shower after sex. I have tried dozens of different expensive probiotics and natural antifungals but nothing works. I have also tried to do the anti candida diet a few times - but I always stop around the 1-2 month mark as it makes me so miserable and I already have a few existing issues around eating. I have also had blood tests to check diabetes, thyroid, vitamin issues but they all come back saying I am in good health. The thrush makes me utterly miserable and I find myself shutting of from everyone around me including my very understanding partner who also always treats himself with the tablet and cream. The fluconazole is clearly not working and in fact is probably leading to more gut issues as it also kills good yeasts so I am terrified of taking it long term again, all I want is to live the normal life of a 23 year old!

Not to sound rude but are you sure it isn't an STD?

Maybe it's BV and not actually thrush which will require antibiotics x

Hey, no it's not rude at all! That was my first through when my symptoms began. I have been tested for every STD known to man at this point (and many times), so has my partner, so definitely just the thrush!

Sounds silly, but have you tried different clothes or underwear? Eg wearing bamboo knickers, with no seams (I recommend Boody, but only the bikins or thongs, as some of the other styles have seams). And no trousers/jeans/tights that rub anywhere at all.
Have you had a blood test? I used to get a lot of yeast infections and mouth ulcers. Not so bad with them now, but I still get what I think are related issues, like peri-oral dermatitis, which I have to take antibiotics for on a regular basis (doxycycline) normally for a month, at least once a year. When I was a child I had eczema, and I suspect that all these issues are related.

Recurrent thrush is just awful. Sorry, this is no help, but mine only cleared up once I'd come off the pill. But I see you've already tried that. Are you on any other medication that could be doing it? Can the doctor refer you to gynae? Sending sympathy! Mine was the worst and the six month anti fungal regime did nothing to help

Is your partner treating himself at the same time as you too?? He could be giving it back to you.

also white bread, AVOID it completely

I used coconut oil and it helped me massively, whereas canesten etc didn't. You make shape small amounts of coconut oil into a pessary using cling film and freezing, or just apply some topically using clean fingers. Use a panty liner or it will ruin your knickers.

Op you mentioned washing with an emoliant. Lots of people are allergic to emollients. Id wash just with water for the time being if I were you.

Sorry op, it really is grim to be in this situation. There was another thread on this a few weeks ago. A lot of posters agreed that their partner not ejaculating inside them made a big difference. Probiotics for me have been life changing. I use physis trio biotics.

Another tip I was given Is to iron the gusset of your knickers. Apparently this kills bacteria that can cause thrush.

@namechangerqwerty Hey, thanks for your message! My partner actually stopped ejaculating in me a few years ago but it didn't seem to help! Probiotics don't seem to help either, I have tried washing all my knickers on a hot wash but I will ironing a go too!

@thinkfast Hey, I have tried just water for months at a time but still get thrush sadly!

@3luckystars Yes, always treat ourselves at the same time and avoid sex for a few weeks after I've had symptoms too! I've tried to minimise how much yeast is in my diet so I've kicked the white bread.

@Needaholidayplease I hear that is the case for a lot of people and I was really hoping coming off my pill would do the trick! I have actually been considering maybe trying the progesterone only pill in case that helps as it should stop my period and that seems to be a trigger for me recently.

@Purpleavocado I have switched too 100% cotton knickers and stopped wearing thongs but maybe I need something else! I have had a blood test to check for vitamins/HIV/Diabetes/Thyroid but I am pushing for one to check hormone levels, are there any tests you would suggest? I also had eczema but it has cleared as I got older!

Swapping to cloth pads reduced (though didn't get rid of) my recurring thrush - I was using canesten pessaries after every period too, now I get about 3-4 months of thrush-free bliss haha! Not ideal but we're ttc so it makes a big difference. Sorry you're going through this, it's truly miserable.

Hey OP,

I'm not sure if you have been getting regular positive swabs for thrush or not?

But if you haven't it might be worth researching Cytolytic Vaginosis. It's not very well understood so you might need to go armed with internet research to persuade your GP to investigate.

Skim read the thread but do you have a coil/iud fitted OP?

Not sure. I ended up with a 3 night stay in hospital a few years ago with an infection. I had pelvic pain, some diverticulitis and had the dermatitis. They could never tell me what caused it. I've felt it flaring up several times since, hence the doxy which always gets rid of it. I'd ask your gp to refer you, and use private health care if you have that available

You have my sympathies. I used to have this problem (for 4 years) but I solved it with a lactulose protocol that a naturopath gave me. It's the only solution I have found

been there myself this is what I have done and it seems to have worked! some it sounds like you have tried but are always worth trying together,
kept sugary items like sweets, cakes etc white bread etc to a minimum if I break this rule I pay for it with thrush.
wee before sex is often said for water infections but works for me with thrush too and wee afterwards
A lot of people will say don't use it but I find showering daily washing with an intimate wash as femfresh does help me.
make sure your partner keeps treating himself
Go to a std clinic and they are really helpful

Oh god I’ve had this and it’s the worst. It’s so common to, the moment you start confiding in people in real life they will say “oh that happened to me”…

toilet paper was a biggy for me and also sanitary pads- I can never use always or anything plasticky.

i know this will sound OTT but is your partner also using an emollient? I do worry about perfumed shower gels like lynx leaving some trace on the man…

weirdly ejaluate seemed to help me but also a womens prebiotic

honestly taking endless flucozanole doesn’t seem to help and starts to just make your guts feel awful

i swear if this happened to men there would be a cure…

I went through something similar several years ago, the one thing that really helped was a women's health probiotic. Reasonably sure it was Optibac but it's been a while, thank goodness!

Tea tree essential oil - few drops in oil in your bath. Avoid anything scented in bath. Australian tea tree soap is good.

Oh, and it turned out DH had it too, he must have be passing it back to me every time after I thought I'd been treated.

@Kindofcrunchy Was your thrush usually occurring after your period, mine is before usually so I am not sure if my sanitary products are the issue but it might still be worth a try!