Has anyone cured recurrent thrush?

[ThrushHelp]

I'm 34, had recurring thrush for years, gradually getting more frequent. I was prescribed 6 months fluconazole from Sep-Mar, only 2-3 weeks later the thrush came back. I'm now TTC so am treating with clotrimazole, but it keeps coming back exactly a week later (4 times now).

I can't not treat it, the infection will become so severe, I would just get sorer and sorer and not able to go out/exercise/concentrate on anything else. Am waiting for a referral to a specialist (it could be months).

I am adhering to all of the common advice - no soap, no baths, no wet clothes or swimming, healthy diet a lot of fruit and veg, yoghurt every day, my partner is treated (though he never had symptoms), I don’t wear any underwear working at home all day, nor synthetic clothing as much as I can, I’m not diabetic (been tested) /pregnant/immunocompromised, otherwise very healthy, not taken antibiotics for many years, not on contraception (though was for many years), don’t take any medication, don’t drink alcohol or smoke, I’m really at a loss now. It seems that whatever is growing in me is really resistant to fluconazole and clotrimazole which terrifies me as my GP only knows of these treatments.

Has anyone found something that works?

The only thing that helped mine was homeopathy even though it’s sneered at on here,

I first got intractable thrush when l was 26. I’m now 59, and it’s been pretty constant without treatment.

The likes of flucanazole, itraconazole and other anti fungals have hardly any effect. I’ve tried them all. They work once and they practically nothing.

Thank you - what in homeopathy worked for you? Has it gone for good?

The only thing that worked for me was vaginal oestrogen. Thrush was a symptom of low estrogen and even though I was treating the thrush it kept coming back as a concequence of thin vaginal walls due to low oestrogen

I really recommend optibac for women. Had terrible thrush for a year and this combined with a good dose of flucluzonal (sp) sorted it out

Absolutely no refined sugar. No cakes, biscuits, desserts, juices ( even pure fruit or veg ones). Max 2 small portions of fruit a day. No sugar substitutes like dried fruit, honey. Nothing with -ose on the end of its name. (Exception for milk, which contains lactose of course, but didn't seem to cause me any bother).

Are you 100% sure it is thrush? I had recurrent Thrush for nearly 20 years until it was re-diagnosed as Lichen sclerosis, treated and had no problems since. Apparently it's quite common for it to be misdiagnosed as thrush.

Yes - a gynaecologist prescribed me a course of pessaries. It was the only thing that worked. Is it worth trying to see a specialist? Also, do you have a sexual health clinic locally? They often take walk ins and should be able to check whether it is in fact bacterial vaginosis. I don’t think you would be able to tell the difference having had both.

I know you said that your partner has been treated but was it just with cream? My dp used the cream (although he had no symptoms) & eventually because I couldn't clear my thrush & I asked him to take a fluconazole tablet.....that seems to have done the trick.
The other thing that I think really helps is a good probiotic (one especially for vaginal issues.) I take an oral probiotic regularly & every so often also use one that you insert into your vagina (might not be ok if you're TTC so obviously check first.)
Like others have said you need to be 100% sure it's thrush though.... have you had any swabs taken?

@MarchionessOfMayhem Did we go to the same GP? (Joke)I was told for years it was thrush but no cream or pills did anything to help. It wrecked my sex life, but 5yrs ago a chance remark by my GP being consulted for something else, mentioned LS. I checked it out, was referred to a dermatologist and had a biopsy, which was positive. From then on, despite there being no actual cure, there are treatments to stop the itching - which is the main problem.

Women's probiotics. I take femdophilus (5billion fridge version) and also canesflor vaginal probiotics. Optibac women also good. I struggled with secondary infertility and one of the million tests I've had over the years showed I had low levels of good bacteria in my uterus, which is not good for conception. The treatment was the oral and vaginal probiotics, so it's worth doing anyway since you're ttc.

Hiya, I could have written this post myself about 8 months ago. I tried so many things and finally found a fix. 'wellguard vitaflora probiotics for women' and started taking one a day, I did get it again i think once or twice and thought it wasn't working but then NEVER had it again - honestly, they changed my life and couldn't recommend them enough.
Not sure if you've tried a probiotic but i would definitely give those ones a try x

Agree with this. Low fruit diet, lots of yoghurt or fermented foods, veg, salad etc.

I've also suffered with the same. Currently having a big recurrent flare up. Only thing that works for me it absolutely zero sugar including white bread etc. Salcura topida intimate hygiene spray is amazing. Also mixing coconut oil with tea tree oil and shoving it up there! Baths in cider apple cider vinegar is also good beforehand