Diagnose me please - have I got nipple thrush?

[Gingerandcocoa]

GPs / Health visitors / lactant consultants will all tell me something different, so would like to hear people's opinions of my situation!!

DS born 11 weeks ago. Had tongue tie which midwives said was not an issue as he was feeding well. My nipples were REALLY sore, started cracking and bleeding. Then had tongue tie snipped privately, and nipples started to heal, but continued to be sore. Symptoms are:

• pink nipples
• very sensitive to touch (eg if towel brushes against them)
• REALLY painful when he latches on, like a knife is going through my aureola, but pain stops after a few seconds

No pain in between feeds and DS doesn't seem to have anything in his mouth.

I have used canesten, daktarin, and DS used Nystan for ages now. I've also had a course of (low dosage) fluconazole. Nothing has worked. GP did swab of nipples which came back clear. Second GP said swabs often don't work so told me to go back on canesten and nystan. Pain got slightly worse since I started the treatment again.

Any ideas??? I don't know whether to carry on with the treatment...

You don't have thrush symptoms. Did gp swop for bacterial infections too? Get that done but your latch doesn't sound right yet.

How long ago did your DS have his tt snipped? From my own experience I was diagnosed with thrush but it was DS latch (he had tt too).
How does your nipple look after a feed? Mine used to come out squashed on one side like a lipstick and lactation consultant told me the pain was due to nerve endings coming back to life when it became unsquashed. Much better after some further work on latch.
So I'd check his tt and latch again

Could this be a straightforward painful let-down. I had it until 12-13 weeks. The relief was immense when it went! Coupled with a latch that still isn't totally right... Doesn't sound like thrush.

Ow. I had painful boobs and thrush. Afaicr thrush is slightly hot feeling.

This put me off bf and I gave s2 a bottle. Alleluia. Way better

Sometimes my left nipple comes out looking like a lipstick, exactly! Sometimes it comes out nice and round.

I'm not sure what the GP swabbed for... I might ask them next week!

I do think DS's latch isn't right, but when he's crying of hunger I'm just relieved he latches on... I guess I should be more patient and try to get him to latch on properly! I'll try that this week...

Chatenoeuf I'll have to read up on this, never thought it could be that!!!

I think the solution might just be moving him on to the bottle....... I feel awfully guilty for saying this but at this stage I wanted to continue breastfeeding to see if I can lose some weight faster...! I think he would be much happier with the bottle now...

God yes. It's not on their CV. I bottled one, bf two. All still alive

I also had the lipstick shape, and intense pain very briefly at the start of a feed, and sensitive nipples.

It did pass though.

Lots of Lansinoh and soft breast pads in the meantime (and teeth clenching).