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Pregnancy

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

Original poster

Thrush

10 replies

Carebear99 · 26/02/2022 02:18

Hi everyone.
I mentioned in another post that I've got a nasty thrush infection. I went to the gp who refused to help telling me it's nhs policy not to prescribe canesten.... what nonsense.

I went into Superdrug and was looking at the canesten pessary and gel which only contains clotrimazole which the NHS website says is safe. However the packaging says not to use in pregnancy and the pharmacist wouldn't sell it to me.

I don't know what to do, I've been calling back my GP but I can't get through and now they are closed for the weekend. I could call 111 but they were useless last time I called about something else.

Does anyone have any experience and can help? I'm 12 weeks and it was so bad the other day I was bleeding as it was inflamed down below.

OP posts:
Steamedhams · 26/02/2022 03:59

Oh my god! OP that's awful. I'm sorry you've had such rubbish care. I went to a GUM clinic before to remove an IUD. They were lovely. I had the early stages of thrush at the time and the lady just reached into a cabinet and pulled out a box of canisten for me, no prescription or anything. Maybe they may be worth a try.

I haven't been lucky enough to have thrush during pregnancy yet so cannot tell you what to use but I thought the GUM people were delightful.

Kaw10 · 26/02/2022 04:29

Oh how annoying. My gyn immediately gave me a prescription for a 6 day pessary course of Clotrimazol. It's fine to use in pregnancy. If you're noticeably pregnant get your DH/DP to get some for you.

loulou2021 · 26/02/2022 06:57

That's terrible OP. I'm 23 weeks pregnant and had unexplained bleeding last week. My midwife told me to go to hospital and when they did an examination, the dr could see that the bleeding was being caused by thrush (I didn't actually notice any other symptoms). The dr immediately gave me a prescription for Canesten. When I picked it up the pharmacist told me that it was safe for pregnant women to use except that we shouldn't use the applicator and should insert the pessary manually instead. It might be worth speaking to your midwife at the hospital. I really hope you get it sorted soon.

Original poster
Carebear99 · 26/02/2022 07:12

Thank you so much everyone. It is so uncomfortable and when I saw blood on the evening before my 12w scan I was in bits. It's only when I examined myself with a mirror I could see the area was inflamed.

I will get the clotrimazole pessary and cream today. I'm only 12w. It's stupid the packaging says it isn't suitable for pregnant women as the NHS website says it is.

OP posts:
Fleur405 · 26/02/2022 07:27

I have been prescribed canesten pessary and cream 4 or 5 times while pregnant (I’m
In Scotland so don’t know if that makes a difference). Anyway it takes forever to get a prescription so I started to get it over the counter - first time I was able to after speaking to the actual pharmacist, second time I wasn’t so I just send my other half to get it now! My consultant assured me it’s completely safe to use and to use repeatedly. Mine is finally gone. Taking a probiotic definitely seemed to help but maybe it was just the 7th or 8th dose of medication that did the trick.

I would also complain to your GP - do they honestly expect you just to put up with the thrush? I can only assume they’ve never had it themselves!!

Original poster
Carebear99 · 26/02/2022 07:34

Thank you. The gp was male....

When I saw blood I thought I was losing my baby, he was so dismissive. Thrush is really horrible.

OP posts:
Kaw10 · 26/02/2022 08:31

@Carebear99 if you're only 12 weeks you're probably not showing yet, or you can at least hide it well under a coat! Don't mention pregnancy and if they ask, say you're not. One thing my gynaecologist does always advise is the slightly longer course of the pessaries, not just the one pessary pack. So try to get maybe a 6 pessary dose pack or at least a 3 dose pack. Note, only the pessaries, not the oral tablets for pregnancy!!!!

Somerandomgirl · 27/02/2022 22:02

Dont tell youre pregnant at the pharmacy and get yourself the pessary xx

Ive had thrush constantly this pregnancy and already had probably 20 pessaries+cream (aaaand stil have it..but at least helps for a week after treatment and removes the sore feeling)... .gp prescribes the 7 days doses now when i ask him and always said its safe. Dont know why yours wont prescribe!! Its horrible without treatment

Mummyme87 · 27/02/2022 22:09

Go to a different chemist and don’t tell them you’re pregnant…. Get someone else to buy it fort out….

This is very common, I’m a midwife and have to pre warn women that pharmacy will refuse to sell it but it’s safe. Need the pessaries aswell

Original poster
Carebear99 · 28/02/2022 03:07

Thanks everyone. I got the pessary and cream containing only clotrimazole but thy thrush seems to be going on it's own so I haven't taken it. It's strange as I was so uncomfortable last week and was bleeding from the irritated skin

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