Chemo question - oral thrush

[sunglassesonthetable]

My husband has developed oral thrush whilst undergoing chemo. It is bothering him so much. And really works against trying to eat.

He has a mouth gel, Daktarin, which is non prescription. Doesn't seem to be doing anything.

Any suggestions lovely people?

DDad struggled awfully with this whilst having chemo and like your poor DH it meant he didn’t feel like eating. He was prescribed a mouthwash but I can’t remember the name - it was a green colour? Hopefully someone will come along who can identify but I will try to find out for you OP.

DH has cancer but not chemo and is suffering with viral thrush, which is being put down tot he steroids.

GP has prescribed Nystan which is helping a lot

I suffer recurrent oral thrush due to lupus medication (low dose chemo). I use Daktarin every single night and also corsodyl mouth wash twice a day (it does stain teeth but this can be removed by a dentist). You can also get Nystatin on prescription as an alternative to Daktarin although I think Daktarin is better as the gel consistency sticks more. If all else fails he may need a course of Fluconazole- I take 150mg once a month as a tablet but have been known to have courses of 50mg a day for 2/3 weeks at a time.

Also sounds funny but gargling with salt water is almost as effective as many of the thrush treatments I’ve found.

Swilling/gargling with saltwater will help the feeling/pain/discomfort- I usually do that four times a day. Keep going with the daktarin, I have found it takes longer than suggested to work, but as a previous poster says, the gel is good because you can properly coat the area.

I also find avoiding chocolate/sweet foods alleviates it.

Thank you so much for these replies. So appreciated. It's a good place to start.

Has there been any improvement for him @sunglassesonthetable?

Hi @haba thank you for asking. He's been going with the Daktarin for about 2 weeks but now has had a prescription for Nyastan🤞 Hoping it will do something. Electric toothbrush for increased mouth hygiene and I want to try and get him to do the gargling. Tbh he is so low and tired It's quite hard to sweep in with more.

It puzzled me because the Daktarin came in a 15 ml tube and specified 2.5ml each dose, x4 a day so each tube was a day and a half...He got through 3 tubes and no change but only actually about Mon - Fri. Perhaps needed longer.

( The first week of Daktarin was being taken incorrectly- too little at a time) 🙁

Sorry to hear that- I hope the nystan works better.
It's not surprising he's tired and down- I don't imagine the warmer weather makes it any comfier for him either.
Thinking of you both