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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Thrush :(

16 replies

Cookiesandcream06 · 23/05/2012 19:37

Has anyone ever used a pesserie (spelling?!) whilst they were pregnant? At the docs I was told to just go and buy something over the counter.. And then in Boots they refused to sell me anything once I had told them I was pregnant? And I needed a prescription? I have used a bit of an old tube of cream I found in the drawer, but it's not really doing very much?! Any advice out there ladies ?!? What can I use?!

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Bobkins · 23/05/2012 19:44

This us exactly what happened to me last week. I mentioned I has thrush to the midwife who said I should just buy it over the counter but tesco refused to sell it to me. I went to the doctor who gave me a prescription x

Spiritedwolf · 23/05/2012 19:52

Hi CookiesandCream,

I had a UTI a couple of weeks ago, and began to wonder if the antibiotics hadn't worked as I started getting uncomfortable again. However, although my midwife retested my urine, she also got me to do a swab because apparently thrush is common after antibiotics.

She was right. When she got the results back on Sunday she got an on-call doctor to prescribe me 3 pesseries and some cream. This prescription was faxed straight to a local pharmacy and I would have been able to pick it up that day if the pharmacy had it in stock.

So yes, there are pesserie treatments that are safe to use during pregnancy, but it is possible that they need to be on prescription, and its possible that it needs a definate diagnosis (like my swab). I'd phone your midwife and let her know the situation and see what she suggests (she might manage to get the doctor to sort out a prescription for you, or recommend something that will be over the counter). Otherwise, get back to your doctor by phone/appointment and tell him/her that the pharmacy won't give you anything without a prescription.

The leaflet with my medication says that you should consult doctor/midwife before taking it if you are pregnant and that they may give you different instructions, but it doesn't say it shouldn't be used.

Hope that helps xx Its awful isn't it? Blush

mmmmsleep · 23/05/2012 19:58

Hi, canesten (clotrimazole) pessaries are safe in pregnancy. use your fingers to insert rather than the applicator.fluconazole (diflucan) tablets are not safe in pregnancy thrush often. needs more than one treatment in pregnancy though and you get free prescriptions as you are pregnant so you could call gp and ask for script for canesten pessary. other option is buy it but don't mention pregnancy...or say for someone else if big bump! see gp if doesn't clear after treatment.I'm a gp. patient.co.UK has leaflets online on thrush if you'd like more info. poor thing thrush is horrid...had it with mine too.

GwendolineMaryLacey · 23/05/2012 20:02

Sainsburys had them on the shelf and I went to the self service checkout. Job done :)

GwendolineMaryLacey · 23/05/2012 20:03

The pessaries that is...when I was pregnant. Sorry, the crap posting is down to trying to type and settle product of said pregnancy in her cot.

goingmadtrying · 23/05/2012 20:12

you shouldn't have to buy it over the counter being as you are entitled to free prescriptions and thrush is common in pregnancy, speak to your gp again if not does your chemist do pharmacy first? this is where you get prescription drugs without paying :)

ellangirl · 23/05/2012 20:20

Pessaries are fine. I think your doctors surgery is being cheeky- pregnant women are entitled to free prescriptions and as spiritedwolf said, the docs should be able to fax through a prescription straight to pharmacy for you to to pick up.

ellangirl · 23/05/2012 20:21

Cross post with goingmad!

AKMD · 23/05/2012 20:45

I have recurring thrush when I'm pg and get doctors' prescriptions for Canesten pessaries x 3 and creams with no problems. I'd go back to your GP because as ellan says they are being cheeky.

Original poster
Cookiesandcream06 · 23/05/2012 20:52

Thank you everyone so much for your replies. Yeh I thought the surgery was 'mugging me off' the other day - I want my free prescription please!! I've paid enough tax in my time. Angry Grr. I have just come to the end of a course on antibiotics (gets me every time in this way!!) after your advice I just drove up to Tesco, and just lied to the pharmacist! For the sake of £8 I had to- in the scheme of things a small price to pay for how uncomfortable I am!

So I am to use my fingers ? Blush oh the glamorous life of pregnancy ...

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AKMD · 23/05/2012 20:54

I just used the applicator. Has to be cleaner than my fingers :o Just read the instructions and don't push it too far up.

faintpinkline · 23/05/2012 21:09

I share your misery. I have also developed thrush. The chemist refused to sell me anything but tolde to go to the GP who should give me a prescription. So I went this morning and came out with prescription for exactly what I was trying to buy. Going to fiddle about with the pessary just before bed.

I'm so sore and swollen so really hoping it works quickly

iloveholidays · 23/05/2012 21:12

I used 2 pessaries - one my midwife prescribed. The other was in hospital, which a midwife inserted as still had thrush and started having lots of braxton hicks (which were fairly regular so they thought they were contractions!!)

I was told that it can cause lots of braxton hicks which I had, but may have been coincidence!

gigglewizz · 23/05/2012 21:16

Hi ladies, thankfully recovered from thrush and UTI and still getting white cells in urine each test. I found loose clothes, cotton underwear and sometimes going commando helped. A few drops tea tree oil in the bath too. All the best it will clear up soon!

zoobaby · 24/05/2012 18:13

Midwife advice line said over-the-counter pessary and cream were safe, and pharmacist at Sainsburys had some kind of database on the computer which she checked. But, silly me had to go and read the instruction leaflet and scare myself Confused so didn't end up using. After a bit of googling decided to go for the option of eating copious amounts of yogurt (the one with the live bacteria stuff in it). Eaten under protest, but suddenly became my favourite food in the world when it cleared it up overnight. Phew! I find that I have to keep eating yogurt to keep it at bay, but just shove it down quickly like vitamins. When I saw the midwife she said some ladies actually apply yogurt to the problem area Shock.

Original poster
Cookiesandcream06 · 24/05/2012 20:28

Oo zoobaby good idea on the yogurt! I'd heard of urm applying it to the area- that is what I thought you did, didn't realise you could eat it for same effect. I'm quite the fan of a yogurt right now anyway.

Well did the pessary- used clean hand. I'm still cross with the docs. And with my DM- she just said 'oh it'll go away on its own!' well I'm several days in and in this heat it's just not what the doc ordered mother!

Sorry for the tangent rant- what did I do before I had you ladies on here?! How did I survive my first pregnancy!?

Hope everyone who is also suffering is on the road to recovery..

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