Thrush (grrrr.....)- any suggestions?

[Helzapoppin]

Help!....

I am 28 weeks pregnant and I've had a thrush infection that comes and goes (and consequently, not much sex and itchy bits) for about five weeks. It seems to calm down then I stop using the cream or foolishly attempt to shag (foolish in so many ways, given the unnatural size of my bump) and it comes back again. The hot weather and long drives to work don't help I suspect.

I've tried one pessary and obsetrician has just prescribed me another and suggested I use one each week (although I'll have to get a prescription each time as they are not licensed in pregnant women) to shake it off. I don't want to use thrush cream and pessaries all the time as I know that this can cause it's own irritation.

Any suggestions gratefully received! Thanks :)

I often suffered thrush before pregnancy although gave been reasonably clear until this week. Much sympathy!

Have you treated your partner yet? Sounds like you might be being reinfected? Have you cut out trigger foods - for me, marmite is the main one, but I also found highly sugary diet could be a trigger.

Are you generally well? Thrush often indicates I'm under the weather. Could be that you need to have a few days off to get up to full strength again.

Have you tried the usual - loose clothing, no soap ever, wearing nothing at all when at home (easier when it's warm). Sorry if you tried all this already, just ignore me! Your post doesn't really say what you've tried already.

Thanks for the suggestions, they are really useful. I've tried lots of knickers off time but it didn't occur to me to think about trigger foods. I suspect I've eaten much more sugar than normal (have a sweet tooth this pregnancy and a fondness for cordial) and should probably cut out the shower gel (have stopped bubble bath).

I am generally well but take immunosuppresant medication for Crohn's disease, which I think is why I am generally a bit prone to thrush.

If treating a partner, can he just take the Canestan Once pill? Think he might be more amenable to this than dipping his bits in lotions and potions!

I always treated my partner with the cream. Twice a day for a week. No idea if he could take a tablet, that would be 'tidier' I suppose. Check with your GP on that.

Definitely stay off shower gel, that on it's own would trigger an outbreak for me! You can shower often, but just use water.

Good luck!

Hey
I keep being told natural yogurt can help - though no-one's every said if that meant 'applying it' or eating it! hehe

Yea defo sounds like your partner's infected (men often don't show symptoms) I would ask the pharmecist - I know men can just apply the cream, which is probably easiest if you already have some...

I found washing with Carex hand wash to be light enough to not aggitate it (had very little perfumes and no moisturiser in it etc) if that's worth a try? (or something similar)

Eat natural bio yogurt everyday as the thrush may be moving back down from your gut where it thrives too. Also insert some up your vajayjay before bed using a small tampon to stop it from coming out.

Yogurt contains bacteria that you need to balance out the overgrowth of bad bacteria that is causing the thrush.

I have suffered with terrible thrush since I was a teenager and this has always helped me. Eating the yogurt cleanses the body from the inside which is very important as the bacteria that causes thrush is not just located in your vaj as most people think.

Hope you are wearing big cotton panties, this helps too. And I sleep with no knickers at all to keep down there from getting over heated which is not good either.

Definitely cut down on the sugary and yeast based foods and the pill is fine for your DP though it would be nice of him to also rub the cream down there daily too. Wait at least five days after he starts treatment to start having sex again.

And lastly, no washing down below with soap.

After years of having this problem I am somewhat of an expert now. Unfortunately I am one of the few women who is prone to getting this when run down.

I thought I would have it in my pregnancy but (touch wood) have not had it. I thank my Bridget Jones style big knickers for that

I can highly recommend biofem active gel - can get it in boots. Once your cleared up use it as a preventative. It's safe in pregnancy (well was last time i looked) and helpsed me loads. Also second treating your partner with thrush cream.

You should wash all your pants at 60 degrees and then iron them all when dry too as you need lots of heat to kill the fungus.
Cutting out certain things from your diet helps, usually sugar is the main culprit. Google candida diet or similar for tips

Mine was never bad enough to need the doctors, but it was still gross and uncomfy! I made sure i used femfresh twice a day in the shower to keep clean that really alleviated symptoms!!!

All I can say is that I was exactly the same. SUCH a hassle!! But it vanished overnight once I had my baby :)

Pro biotics from the fridge of a good health store - Acidopholas (i think that show it is spelt). Safe in PG. I took two a day through both PG.

Down below - you can open the capsual and apply the power round the outside TMI!! Will completely cure instantly.

Don't eat sugar/cakes/chocolate/biscuits as it all feeds candida (i know, boring)

I had it badly when pg with my DD - was so bad that during labour they couldn't see how dilated I was, and I had to be on a antibiotic drip. I was really nervous of going to the docs and didn't want to use chemicals so tried to self treat with yoghurt, etc, wish I had just bitten the bullet and got it sorted properly.
My advice would be as others have said, treat your partner and take what the doctor told you. You can use the Acidopholous afterwards to grow back the good bacteria.