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 and again on September 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 am DESPERATE! Also, I have been tested for diabetes, HIV etc, and I am pretty certain it is thrush rather than another condition as my boyfriend displays symptoms too before we both get treated. I have now been put on another 6 months course of fluconazole but the thrush has come back AGAIN (September) I really don't know what else I can do. Please help if you can.

Thank you

Thrush can be so frustrating, while you have it are you avoiding sex? It can be just being passed to each other over and over again

Hi @kellyw1989 yeah we have tried abstaining and treating both of us during this time but it just seems to keep coming back.

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Have you both been to the actual GUM clinic and had a full screen?

Tbh they're the best people to help you as it's their area.

do you wear cotton knickers and wash them hot enough?

I was like you OP but I eventually worked out that I have to use non biological washing liquid tablet things but the supermarket own brand ones that are just one liquid as the combined ones set me off, as well as organic cotton sanitary products - I use a brand you can buy online and in some Tescos called TOTM (Time of The Month). As soon as I use something like Tampax I'm off again.

I get the occasional flair up and find only Itraconazole tablets and the Canesten 10% Internal Cream is the only thing that works on to get rid of it for me. I do have the 6 month course of fluconazole in the summer months though and it does help me stop getting the infection.

It's awful and you have my full sympathy

Hi OP. You might read up on Balance Active BV pessaries. I found them great (fixes your PH balance instead of wiping everything out, both good and bad flora, the way canestan does). Also, just a small thing, but you could add some sweet almond oil to the loo paper. It soothes and moisturises.

@gamerchick Hi we have not both been together, maybe this would be worth a try but we have been checked since meeting and both came back clear for everything but this was a while ago.

@redchocolatebutton Yeah I have started doing this in the last few months with not much success

@Sforsh49 Hi yeah I use all organic washing tablets and the last few months have started using all organic cotton sanitary products and stopped using tampons completely

@nearlynermal Hi I have tried using the pessaries with no luck unfortunately

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What I mean is have you went and told them about this problem you're having? They'll check it's actually that and might be able to offer some more in depth help.

@gamerchick Oh yeah I have a few times, they've been pretty useless but might just be the shc ive been going to

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I got recurrent thrush when I had thyroid problems. Did you have blood tests for that?

@79andnotout wow, I never made the connection with thyroid! I wonder if that's what was going on with me. Didn't know it was a thing.

I had recurrent thrush. I had to give up eating sugar, using soap or bubble bath and tampons.

Low carb diet gets rid of it for me and it stays away until I’m stupid enough to fall off the wagon and stop Low carbing.

Apple cider vinegar is supposed to get rid of the Candida in your body. It needs to be one that states ‘with the mother’ on the bottle. You MUST dilute it before drinking it

Start with 1 table spoon in water and increase by 1 table spoon each day. 6 seems to be the max they suggest. Most people stick at about 2. It’s apparently better in warm/hit water than cold

I can’t lie, I really don’t like it, but I’m
Persevering for weight loss & blood sugar levels reducing as well as it clearing out any remaining Candida in my body.

But I’m blissfully thrush free when low carbing.

You definitely need to find other ways to amuse yourselves and not keep passing it back & forth to each other!!

@nearlynermal seems to happen to me each time I've had thyroid out of control, otherwise I've been thrush free. I think I looked into it at the time and it was a thing.

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Hey, I got it too when I lost my V and I’ve tried five different types of treatment and nothings working! It’s a real strain on relationships and now I’m at uni I feel scared to try an unknown doctors etc especially when I feel like the answers will come back the same! So I get where you’re coming from!

@Hobbes2019 Hi I am the same and it's very annoying always having to come from uni to the doctor back at home! What treatments have you tried? Assuming your partner has been treated as well?

I can’t remember all the names sadly but I’ve used canesten, an oral tablet and pessaries etc. My partner and I are no longer together and I’m not having sex at the moment!

@Hobbes2019 maybe try the 6 month course of fluconazole (the oral tablet) which I did, that kept me clear for a year and work permanently for a lot of people!

Hi thankyou. I’m starting to run out of ideas because all of the stuff I’ve used hasn’t even sent it away for a short amount of time but It’s done literally nothing! When would I see improvement if that worked?

@Hobbes2019 they first put you on fluconazole every 72 hours for just over a week, this usually clears it and then weekly for 6 months and this keeps it away. Have you had a positive swab culture done which has told you which kind of candida it is? If the medicine isn't working it may be a different strain to Candida Albicans - the most common type.