Recurring thrush

[MGJ818]

Hi everyone,

I have been struggling with thrush since Feb 2018 shortly after losing my virginity, after that, I had thrush from Feb - June 2018. I then went on a 6-month course of fluconazole and the thrush stayed away till June 2019. However, in june 2019 it returned really badly and took ages to clear up, then again this month july 2019 it has come back. I do everything advised - probiotics, cotton underwear, no soaps, etc. I even tried the candida diet with no luck. I am only 21 and feel like this is going to control my life, its already causing strain on my relationship and social life. I know I'm not a mum but I thought you ladies may be able to help. I am DESPERATE!

Thank you

Have you been tested for a diabetes?

How do you do your laundry? I would suggest pants/pyjamas etc all on a hot wash with detol.

Welcome to the club! Sorry, it’s not a very fun one.

Micro-gyn Flora Plus. It’s amazing.

Are you on the contraceptive pill?

Sounds like you’re doing everything right, I used to be a specialist GUM nurse and we saw a lot of recurrent thrush. Advice we gave: no soaps (you’ve done), loose cotton knickers (tick) and no underwear at night if possible. Keep a diary of when the thrush occurs and see whether it’s triggered by sexual inter course or periods (two common triggers) as if so prophylactic treatment can be given. You can’t really over treat thrush so buy as much OTC treatment as you need to be comfortable and use the topical cream along with the tablet but continue for 7 days with the cream after the tablet/peasant because the spores take that long to go completely. If all else fails head to a GUM service and go back on long term treatment for a while if needed. It seems never ending but I saw lots of people who had dreadful bouts of thrush and we always managed to sort it in the end!

Have you treated your partner?

Unless they have discovered something new from when I was younger, if you don't treat partner you just keep getting it back.

Don't suppose you have a mirena? That have me constant low grade thrush.

Napqueen what about treating partner, is that still advised?

@Sarahlouiseis33 Hi yes I am on the combined contraceptive pill

Are you absolutely sure it’s thrush? I was going through exactly what you were for 10 years before I was eventually referred to a specialist who diagnosed en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lichen_sclerosus. I now have a cream for flare ups but basically totally sorted now. Can’t believe it took so long to get sorted but such a relief now. Hope you get it figured out

Has the doctor sent a swab to the lab? It could be that it's not the most common species of Candida and you might just need a different antifungal medication.

@CatInADoghouse Hi, I think they have been sent to the lab but just to check if its thrush or not, no comment about the species. If this was the case though I feel as if the 6 months of fluconazole wouldn't have worked!

@Muddytoes1 Hey, yeah pretty sure it is thrush as my partner shows symptoms when I get it!

@MGJ818 I had thrush constantly when on the combined pill, since I’ve come off I’ve had no more thrush and we just use condoms

@Sarahlouiseis33 hey, I've heard this from others, how long were you on the pill before the thrush started because I think I had already been on it for just over a year, so I don't know if there is a correlation there for me as surely the thrush would have started sooner x