Back and forth thrush/PH imbalance

[L0ngg0ne]

24+5 weeks and really struggling with thrush/PH imbalance. I was prescribed canesten pessary just over a week ago for what was diagnosed by a midwife as thrush - the canesten cleared it. It presented as thrush, visually, but I didn't have any physical (feeling) symptoms (no irritation, itching, swelling, or soreness). Felt fine, just looked like a mess.

I was thrush-free for a few days.

This week, I AM irritated and I AM experiencing itching, swelling and soreness - along with thrush-like discharge. Looks less of a mess than last time, but feels unpleasant. This started a few days ago, when I came down with a cold.

Am I really going to have to take the canesten pessary AGAIN, so soon after I last took it?

Generally throughout this pregnancy, I've struggled with on and off vaginal irritation and discomfort and I have put this down to general PH imbalance. It's meant that my partner and I haven't been able to be that intimate since I've been pregnant, which is a shame.

I'd love to get this under control, and feel normal again in the intimate area.

I'd just like to add that when I visited the midwife (the one who diagnosed the initial bout of thrush), she took and swab and tested it - results came back negative, so no strep b or other infections.

Anyone have any advice for me?

I'd really appreciate it, and this is no fun! ☹️

Thank you!

There's a great and safe gel you can use to help balance the ph called multi gyn actigel, it's technically for Bv but I've found it useful for general discomfort doon there. They do one called multi gyn flora plus for thrush but I'm not sure if that's a cream or probiotic. I think canesten also do a cream for the bv (which is caused by ph imbalance) and it has a ph tester too.

I'd try eating a lot more natural yoghurt (eg plain Yeo valley) and perhaps getting some oral probiotics on top (I like bio kult in boots.) to see if it helps too.

You could try to cut back on sugar as well I couldn't.

Don't use any soap just water down there as well and lots of cotton/ airy things, perhaps sleep with no pants etc.

Hope it clears soon; it's a nightmare!

I've had to have antibiotics twice and both times it looked like thrush started but I was able to balance it out with the gel. It's actually mostly Aloe Vera from what I can tell!

@Ekphrasis thank you for your detailed response. I'll look into the gel!is the ph tester the device that tells you whether you have thrush or BV? I was thinking of buying that, actually.

As I'm plant-based (and respond terribly to dairy - growling gut, loose stool, acne (TMI, sorry) ), natural yogurt isn't an option for me :( I will try to get a good probiotic, though!

The only soaps I can use down there are Simple and Sanex (this has been the case for years), but you're right - water, alone, is better than even mild soaps!

The plant-based diet has meant that I also don't consume that much sugar either, actually (refined, anyway) - unless fruit counts, in this respect?

I can pretty much only sleep naked, but I am guilty of thongs! Granny panties it is! ☺️

The ph tester I think tells you if your vagina is too acid or alkali which is when bv starts to develop (it's just a bacteria that gets out of balance due to the ph, can't remember which sort) ironically I think thrush goes the other way ph wise but I did notice everything was just balanced with that stuff. It can sting a bit at first but that's when it's not quite balanced. I've never bothered with the ph thing, just noticed it recently in the ad.

If I thought there was a bit of thrush I used the topical cream (5% I think is ok in pregnancy) for a couple of days with the gel.

To be fair, you probably are best of getting checked out again, but I must say it was a mner who put me onto that gel and I've been ok since.

Definitely lots of probiotics - biokult say it has some dairy in but not enough if you've lactose issues.

I was prescribed the 5% cream by the way.

Could you try cutting out sugar completely for two weeks+ to see whether this starves the yeast and thus reduces yourbthrush recurrence?

Rather than eating the yoghurt could you apply some down there?

I've always been told to apply it down there and does the trick (by mw)

Only if you are ok with skin contact with dairy

Not massive help thought I would just say I sympathise during my first pregnancy I got thrush about 6/8 weeks and literally spent the next 7months fighting it constantly I used so many of those bloody pessary things, natural bio yoghurt up in my bits, slept with no knickers, used basic simple soaps etc and I would have a week or so free then back again. It drove me insane!! I didn't manage to get rid of it properly until I had given birth, I took the tablets which you shouldn't take during pregnancy and went straight away! I was breastfeeding as well and I know they say it's all hormonal and can come and go through pregnancy and breastfeeding but once I had the tablets it completely went. I am currently 34 weeks and haven't had a single bout this time round thank god!!! Sorry not to give you any good advise but just to let you know you aren't alone and I know how much it sucked!!

@Ekphrasis Thanks for all the info! is the gel something I can get on prescription? Went to the pharmacy today, told the pharmacist I was pregnant and having recurrent thrush and was told that I can't just buy anything for thush over the counter as it would have to go through my gp or midwife. I have a feeling the gp will just want to prescribe canesten again, which I'm not thrilled about as I feel it doesn't work well enough!

@Harebellmeadow I think I'll have to try that. Would fruit count as sugar, in this case?

@LostMyBaubles I'd have no problem doing that (I've heard about it, actually), but I usually hear that the way to do it is to dip a tampon in natural yogurt and then wear the tampon overnight. From what I understand, we're not supposed to be wearing tampons during pregnancy?

I was just told to apply it to the sides in the outside and that was it? It usually cleared it up for me (I suppose some would find it's way in?) .

The gel is so innocuous I bought it on amazon. Safe in pregnancy.

To be fair it's for bv. But I've found when I'm itchy and uncomfortable down there it really helps. You do have to be prescribed things for thrush in pregnancy as it must be a certain level.

It may not work for you but has been for me.

www.multi-gyn.co.uk/content/uploads/2015/12/MG-Actigel-INSERT-BC110I.3-web.pdf

Fruit sugar would count as would potentially High gi foods.

I think i would go to the gp but they won't know about the gel thing.

I was always told yoghurt too but maybe check with mw.

Has anyone ever has thrush symptoms of vaginal swelling and irritation to the uretha and frequent urination?

I know it sounds a bit weird but iron all your knickers after washing them. It shouldn't help but did!

I think I did once chilli. It was crazy I was hopping about. That could be a uti though too, so maybe get checked.

Like the ironing of the underwear!

I think/ I hope thrush has finally gone I am 30 weeks and easily done about 7 pessarys this pregnancy. Here are changes I made:

Natracare pads / panty liners (can buy in waitrose) Always pads were making me so sore!
All towels on a hot wash
Cut refined sugar- Hardest bit. I am still eating chocolate but have cut all sauces/ condiments/ bread etc
2 yakults a day
Coconut oil down there if sore.
I really upped my water intake too. Easily 2.5L a day.