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Original poster

Thrush medicine not working

34 replies

kittykat818 · 13/12/2021 16:39

Hi all, I have been getting thrush frequently for about 4 years now (ever since losing my virginity to my current boyfriend). I have done three long-term courses of fluconazole and this cures the thrush while I am on the medication and for a few months after I stop, however it always returns. When it returns I am usually able to treat it using fluconazole before it returns again the next month. However, my thrush returned in October and it has still not cleared, I have taken quite a few fluconazole tablets and pessaries but it won't budge. I know it is definitely thrush as I had a swab taken by my doctor. For reference, I am 23 and have been suffering since I was 19. I have already been tested for diabetes and HIV, have tried lowering the sugar in my diet, have tried using multigyn gel after intercourse, have switched to non-scented pads and 100% cotton knickers and I take probiotics daily. Has anyone experiences resistance to thrush medication. I also know my thrush is caused by Candida Albicans as I have had this tested as well. Are there any other tests I could do to see why I am suffering so badly with this issue? My boyfriend is also treated for thrush whenever I get it. It is really impacting my mental health, social life and relationship so any advise would be HUGELY appreicated.

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Arucanafeather · 13/12/2021 16:43

I would ask the GP for a gyanea refer in your situation. I’ve had lots of thrush and it can take a few goes to get rid of it. I also get an allergic reaction to the thrush and it’s treatment which I think makes it more susceptible to getting thrush again. It can be really miserable at times. I’ve done repeat treatment - including every month for six months. But only in discussion with my GP. I also have a steroid cream for the allergy but that can make thrush worse so it’s a balancing act. I would ask for a referral in your shoes. You’ll be a more unusual case for GP potentially but I’m sure a referral consultant will have seen this lots of times. Good luck getting it sorted.

Original poster
kittykat818 · 13/12/2021 16:52

@Arucanafeather Hi, thanks for your reply. So did you take fluconazole once a month rather than once a week for those 6 months? I have tried to do that before and it worked. I am just worried about the long-term impact all this medication will have on my body and now if I have taken so much that my body has become almost resistant to the effects!

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Original poster
kittykat818 · 13/12/2021 18:28

bump

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Arucanafeather · 13/12/2021 18:42

I think you need to get a referral as I said. For me, half the soreness and irritation was coming from an allergic reaction so nothing worked completely till the GO picked that up. What’s stopping you from asking for a referral?

ABitOfAShitShow · 13/12/2021 18:58

I have to use the pessaries for 3 nights in a row at least when I’m in a bad phase of it. Sometimes throw in the course of floragyn stuff afterwards and a fluconazole tablet for good luck. I am not a doctor.

Original poster
kittykat818 · 13/12/2021 19:06

@Arucanafeather Hi, I have been referred to two different gynecologists, both put me on the extended fluconazole courses I mentioned. I just wanted to see if there were any tips I had missed/anyone else had experienced fluconazole resistance and how they overcame this

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Arucanafeather · 13/12/2021 19:40

Did either of them discuss possible allergy reactions too?

Arucanafeather · 13/12/2021 20:14

The other thing the GP who explored possibility of allergy as well as thrush also said he recommended internal cream as the most effective way to treat stubborn, recurrent thrush

Roseandgeranium · 13/12/2021 20:21

Are you on the pill? I had horrific chronic thrush while I was on the pill, to the point where I developed an allergy both to the candida itself and to clotrimazole creams and pessaries. Came off the pill and what do you know, no more thrush.

fulltimedogmum · 13/12/2021 20:39

Many years ago I had a similar problem. I got into the habit of bypassing my GP and going straight to the GUM clinic as they could diagnose and treat straight away. After a couple of visits the consultant asked to look at my feet (which seemed really weird) and advised me to use an over the counter athlete's foot treatment at the same time as the thrush treatment. He said he had found that if you had a fungal infection in one area it made it much more difficult to eradicate one elsewhere. I thought this sounded really odd especially as I had no sign of athlete's foot, but what did I have to lose? So I gave it a try, the thrush cleared up and I had no more problems for years.

Original poster
kittykat818 · 13/12/2021 20:41

@Arucanafeather No mention of allergies at any of my appointments, what was your allergic reaction too? I have previously thought I may be allergic to my boyfriend lol as my thrush problems did begin when we began sleeping together

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Original poster
kittykat818 · 13/12/2021 20:42

@Roseandgeranium Hey, I was on the pill but I came off it a year or so ago to see if it would help with the thrush, but no luck!

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Original poster
kittykat818 · 13/12/2021 20:43

@fulltimedogmum That's really interesting, did you have any symptoms of athlete's foot?

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Arucanafeather · 13/12/2021 20:44

Same as other pp - allergic to both thrush and the treatment. When I get thrush now. I do thrush treatment and then a couple of days later I use allergy treatment.

Roseandgeranium · 13/12/2021 23:15

[quote kittykat818]@Roseandgeranium Hey, I was on the pill but I came off it a year or so ago to see if it would help with the thrush, but no luck![/quote]
Not that then! My only other advice is to ask your GP to prescribe Nystatin. My cousin had persistent thrush that didn’t respond to the usual treatments but nystatin cleared it right up, apparently. Good luck!

fulltimedogmum · 14/12/2021 12:28

[quote kittykat818]@fulltimedogmum That's really interesting, did you have any symptoms of athlete's foot?[/quote]
None at all - the consultant said it was quite common to have it but not realise.

toxitears181 · 18/10/2024 13:02

fulltimedogmum · 13/12/2021 20:39

Many years ago I had a similar problem. I got into the habit of bypassing my GP and going straight to the GUM clinic as they could diagnose and treat straight away. After a couple of visits the consultant asked to look at my feet (which seemed really weird) and advised me to use an over the counter athlete's foot treatment at the same time as the thrush treatment. He said he had found that if you had a fungal infection in one area it made it much more difficult to eradicate one elsewhere. I thought this sounded really odd especially as I had no sign of athlete's foot, but what did I have to lose? So I gave it a try, the thrush cleared up and I had no more problems for years.

Hello may I ask what athletes foot treatment you used please I'm having trouble atm with thrush so thought ide give this a go x

fulltimedogmum · 18/10/2024 13:18

@toxitears181 sorry I can't remember but I honestly don't think it matters. Good luck.

toxitears181 · 18/10/2024 13:19

Ok thanks was it a cream or a spray x

fulltimedogmum · 18/10/2024 15:10

I don't remember, sorry

Original poster
kittykat818 · 18/10/2024 16:06

@toxitears181 What have you tried so far?

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toxitears181 · 18/10/2024 16:11

kittykat818 · 18/10/2024 16:06

@toxitears181 What have you tried so far?

Caneston pessary that didn't work
Canneston internal cream
And fluconazole
All swabs came back no action needed

Original poster
kittykat818 · 18/10/2024 16:15

@toxitears181 No action needed as in negative for thrush? What are your symptoms?

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toxitears181 · 18/10/2024 17:28

kittykat818 · 18/10/2024 16:15

@toxitears181 No action needed as in negative for thrush? What are your symptoms?

My docs did say canidia albicans but they took swab after I had treatment and said no action needed but I still have the soreness

Original poster
kittykat818 · 18/10/2024 17:30

Ah so the treatment probably took away the bulk so you tested negatively ! When I had a hard to shift case where symptoms remained I was recommended a fluconazole tablet every 72 hours for 3 tablets worth and that seemed to help. If you are not itchy and just sore it might just be damage to the skin that will take a little white to heal.

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