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Original poster

Recurrent thrush DESPERATE

20 replies

kittykat818 · 20/12/2020 13:26

I’ve been getting thrush almost every month for 3 years (since losing my virginity) I have been on two 6 month courses of fluconazole but it just returns soon after I stop taking the weekly tablets. Me and my boyfriend also make sure we are both treated and are not having sex whilst infected. I have been tested for diabetes, only wear cotton underwear, don’t use soaps down there, stopped taking the pill, tried multigyn etc. I have also previously tried the Candida diet but I lost so much weight and the thrush came back again... I am not sure what else I can do now... of course I could go on the fluconazole again but I’m worried about the long term damage this could do If I keep taking it for the rest of my life. I feel so desperate and just want to know what is going wrong in my body. Does anyone have any experience of this or any solutions. For context I am 22 and have been the same boyfriend since I was 19. Please help! I

OP posts:
Ginfordinner · 20/12/2020 13:34

Have you been checked for diabetes? Recurrent thrush can be a symptom.

Bagelsandbrie · 20/12/2020 13:38

Addison’s disease is another thing to ask the GP to check for - you need an early morning cortisol test.

Saying that I have Addison’s and lupus and a lot more autoimmune conditions and I have chronic recurrent thrush anyway...! (Despite the other things being treated). I take a Fluconazole 150mg most months. Probably not ideal but leaving the thrush untreated can be dangerous for me as I also get it in my throat and can lead to invasive candidiasis (lungs etc).

PolarnOPirate · 20/12/2020 13:40

It says in the OP that she has been tested for diabetes.

OP this was exactly me, from the age of 19, for about 7 years I'm sorry to say. Thank god I haven't had thrush for the past few years. I'm sorry to say I think I just grew out of it. It really is horrendous and really hard to find help. I was told over and over again it is a normal effect of hormones. But sorry, no, having thrush every month is not normal!!

I just stocked up on canesten soft gel pessaries (amazon subscription), used one pre-emptively every month and maybe another 3 days later. I tried everything you mentioned and more, but this is what I found was the mose effective way to manage it for me personally. I would recommend doing all you can now because for me it developed into vulvodynia too which again is hard to treat and not really very recognised.

It honestly seems to have cleared up since I had my first child 5 years ago so there is hope, although I am definitely not recommending you get pregnant.

Ginfordinner · 20/12/2020 13:54

It says in the OP that she has been tested for diabetes.

Oops Blush
I missed that. I should have read the OP more thoroughly.

PolarnOPirate · 20/12/2020 13:55

Ah sorry I shouldnt have been snappy x

TheProvincialLady · 20/12/2020 14:08

Avoid condoms and k-y jelly. If you need lube then the yes brand is much better.
Eat as little sugar as possible.

Original poster
kittykat818 · 20/12/2020 14:18

Hi,

I have not been tested for Addison’s disease but I have none of the other symptoms, don’t use lube or condoms and have tried a low sugar diet.

It just seems that I am extremely prone and it is really effecting my quality of life

OP posts:
HermioneWeasley · 20/12/2020 14:21

Try a broader spectrum anti fungal

Is it definitely thrush - have you been tested?

Have you tried a powerful pro biotic? I take lamberts 4bn. Also eating Greek yoghurt most days massively helped.

Hope it clears for you, it’s miserable

DrizzleandDamp · 20/12/2020 14:23

Is it definitely thrush? I had this and still do before every period, Dr treated for exma (can never spell that!!) instead to try it, gave me trimovate cream, now one layer of cream and like magic it’s gone in a couple of days!

Original poster
kittykat818 · 20/12/2020 14:31

Hi I’ve been tested many times and it’s thrush every time, I’ve also had the type tested and it is the sort that should be fixed by fluconazole (that’s why it goes away when I take it and comes back when I stop :( ) I try and take probiotics and eat live yog everyday but I will keep that up!

OP posts:
LiveintheNow · 20/12/2020 14:51

My friend had this, she was very low in iron and supplementing helped get rid of the thrush.

girlmummy25 · 20/12/2020 21:27

I feel your pain. Ive had this for around 2 years now about once a month, maybe a little less.
Mine does seem to go if I dont have sex - my partner doesnt have thrush but it always seems like sex kicks it off the next couple of days.
Id say mine is mild but im spending a fortune on Canesten!
Been to the doctors and im currently awaiting a referral to a gynaecologist as its affecting my sex life.
Keep going to your doctor untill you get somewhere with this

MrsRogerLima · 20/12/2020 21:40

I used to have this op it's horrible I'm sorry your having to deal with it too.

Sadly as another PP said nothing really made it better and I just grew out of it eventually. Some tips to ease things though

Is your bf definitely treating himself as thoroughly as he should be?

Is he as clean as he should be? ( it used to help if my then bf washed his bits, hands and brushed his teeth before we did anything to limit bacteria transmission - I know it's not romantic or spontaneous but it was necessary!)

Wash your under wear on a hot wash 60* minimum

Keep a small plastic water bottle in the freezer that you can wrap in a cloth and put between your legs to sooth things when it's bad (honestly a godsend that enables me to sleep some nights)

Likewise keep your canesten cream in the fridge.

Don't use tampons and buy natural fibre washable pads for periods.

Never put soap anywhere near your vulva - water only.

I know you probably know all this and I'm sorry I don't have the magic cure.

MrsRogerLima · 20/12/2020 21:40

Oh and look at your contraception as progesterone only made it so much worse for me!

mrsbyers · 20/12/2020 21:42

Tampons cause it for me every month

sproutsnbacon · 20/12/2020 21:48

I went through a few years of recurring thrush. I now know any scented laundry detergent can set it off, as can shampoo and conditioner from rinsing my hair, not rinsing the bath out thoroughly after cleaning it and I’m allergic to certain brands of loo roll.
I do still get the occasional flare up but I can now get rid of it fairly quick. Loo roll is usually the trigger.
Good luck I hope you find a solution soon

SofiaAmes · 20/12/2020 21:52

Are you sure it's not bacterial infection in addition to the thrush. I had this issue. If it is you will need antibiotics on top of the anti-fungal treatments.

Sometimes hormones can help too (either vaginal estrogen cream or birth control pills) .

tofuschnitzel · 20/12/2020 21:52

Do you take a probiotic? Some are more effective than others. I take "OptiBac for everyday" tablets, they are highly rated.

MrsRogerLima · 20/12/2020 21:53

@sproutsnbacon

I went through a few years of recurring thrush. I now know any scented laundry detergent can set it off, as can shampoo and conditioner from rinsing my hair, not rinsing the bath out thoroughly after cleaning it and I’m allergic to certain brands of loo roll. I do still get the occasional flare up but I can now get rid of it fairly quick. Loo roll is usually the trigger. Good luck I hope you find a solution soon
Oh god yes, scented loo roll! That still does it now 😳 almost instantly.
Aligeorge · 18/01/2021 21:56

Hi there.
Are you currently using any form of contraception? I suffered with horrific thrush constant for 2 years. Tried everything but nothing helped. At the time I had the more a coil, I was convinced this was the cause after doing lots of research. Had the coil out a year and not had thrush once Smile.

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