Recurrent thrush😭😭

[Roat2022]

I hadn’t had thrush in YEARS then back in September I got it once and I haven’t been able to properly get rid of it I don’t think. I am getting at most a week of feeling normal and then it starts again. I went to the doctors a few weeks ago and they prescribed me fluconazole and I finally thought this had fixed it as I managed just over a week with no symptoms then bang Iv had it maybe 2/3 times since. I even got my husband to treat himself even though he had no symptoms in case we were just passing it back and forth and it’s still happening. I bought fluconazole from the pharmacy on Monday 26/01 and today 29/01 the pain and itching seems to have died down but but still there and the other horrid symptom just seems to be getting worse😭 I am at my absolute wits end with it. Iv even started the past month taking intimate probiotics to see if that helps and still nothing! Bits of my skin is cracking and because I’m getting it so constant they aren’t able to heal meaning it’s an absolute no go down there for anything😭! I don’t use anything scented down there (lately iv been trying just water in case iv became THAT sensitive), I changed fabric softener then tried stopping it all together, I only wear cotton pants, I feel like Iv tried it all😭

has anyone any advice on what I can do moving forward or any idea why this is happening? Iv spent now months researching and im worried either I have diabetes (I had gestational diabetes while pregnant which significantly increases the chances of developing diabetes so could be possible), I have the copper coil fitted and saw it could be that but I can’t be on any hormonal contraceptive and condoms seem to make the thrush come back 1000x worse as of recent so I’m really not hoping it’s that or I’m worried it isn’t even thrush at all and it’s something else (definitely not an STD). I will be making another gp appointment as soon as I can but my gp surgery only let you phone at 8.30am for on the day appointments and it’s pot luck if you actually get through before all the appointments have been taken so just jumping on here for some advice to see what I can do to help in the meantime time😭😭

Could it be party down to diet?

I know mine is always worst just after Christmas- due to the alcohol, sugary treats etc. in fact I have even made a note in my calendar for this to try and eat less of those foods because of this. I think bananas also feed it?

@Nomoreink im not sure, I haven’t really changed my diet apart from eating better than I usually would but that’s just been from the start of the year. Anything I drink is sugar free if it’s not water and I like a little something sweet after dinner so apart from that I wouldn’t say my diet is high sugar wise😭 and I’m not much of a drinker, only on occasion. My 18 month old likes to make sure I don’t get to eat the bananas in my house🤣🤣 or much fruit for that matter lol

This happened to me a couple of years ago. Suddenly I was getting thrush monthly! What finally controlled/cured it for me was boric acid pessaries. You can buy them online.

Wonder would oestrogen cream in the vagina help? Also any probiotic you take should have l casei rhamanous in it as that’s the one that kills candida… https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5658588/

@Mullaghanish it’s these ones Iv been taking and they contain lactobacillus rhamanous

@midwalker thank you so much! I’ll have a look, I’ll try anything at this point😭😭

What do you use for periods? For years I suffered with thrush then stopped using disposable pads and haven't had it since. Must have been the plastic of synthetic something in the pads.

You say you've switched fabric softener, have you tried no fabric softener and only a delicate washing liquid like fairy non-bio?

When you say you only use water, do you wash the area daily? Washing can actually strip all the positives away (good bacteria, changes ph, any healing that might have started). As long as you're showering daily, you don't need to specifically wash there. Also make sure it's showers not baths.
However, slightly hypocritically, it might be better to use water than toilet paper as your less inclined to itch.

Has the dr just prescribed the cream, or the pessary too? You need the pessary to actually get rid of it.

Don't know if any of that will help but hopefully some will be helpful. Sending sympathy, I know it's horrible.

I think discussing with a doctor is far safer than any suggested home remedies. Also make sure your partner is treated too.

I had issues and followed a regime I saw on here , and then checked with pharmacist, of using fluconazole tablets for a prolonged period

I get like this since starting peri, and sugar/carbs are definitely a trigger. Which is boring, because those things bring me joy! I am struggling to get rid of this bout, I'm currently trying topical manuka honey (dreading the sticky shower in the morning, but at this point I'll try anything...)

My GP recently prescribed oral fluconazole tablets for me for painful recurrent thrush. Is this what you got from the pharmacy? If not, then I'd recommend it as it was very effective.

I was in so much pain and discomfort beforehand. Hope you get yours sorted.

Also, sex. I get thrush almost every time I have sex, though less likely if doing missionary. Anything with an interesting angle is guaranteed to trigger it!

The GP also told me to use sudocream as a barrier to reduce soreness.

You may be reinfecting yourself from your knickers. You need to tumble dry them on hot or iron them before you wear them again. Honestly. Thrush is very persistent.

If you use pads, are they scented? That sets me off. A lot have changed recently to include scent which just isn’t fair!

Have you changed your loo roll? The ultra soft padded stuff is evil for thrush. The shreds it leaves behind seem to trigger it somehow though I’ve no idea how.

Or you may just be stressed and run down, especially with the time of year, weather plus the news!

Friction during sex can cause it.

More detailed tests can be done by a local GUM clinic. They can also refer onto dermatology and gynaecology. I find GPs are quite limited in their response

Oh, and if someone recommends neat lavender oil…. Don’t. Just don’t. It burns. And the raw clove of garlic thing? Whole ones don’t work and halved ones also burn. I’m not over the horror of garlic pants even a decade later.

(I was desperate after 9 months of thrush after DS. I’d have tried literally anything)

I was ion Flucozonale for 9 months in total and it didn’t clear. At 6 months I was referred to Gynaecology and to have a coil change. The coil change worked and it stopped the thrush almost instantly but I paid for a private consultation as didn’t (couldn’t wait that long).

It was horrific though. It really got me down.

I really hope you get sorted soon. I would push for investigation.

Get tested for ureaplasma and mycoplasma

I've found that the Canesten (or cheaper equivalent) oral capsule helped more than the pessary did. Seemed to blast away the thrush that had become systemic.

Also Optibac probiotics called 'For Women' help clear it from the gut.

How about trying a sexual health clinic to see if anything else needs ruling out and who also might test to see if you have one of the less usual non albicans strains of thrush which might need different treatment.
I’d also increase probiotics naturally in diet like plain yoghurt, kefir, kombucha, sauerkraut etc.

Boric acid is an astringent and might be advised as treatment for infection that does not respond to conventional treatment. https://vajenda.substack.com/p/what-the-vaginal-boric-acid-profiteers

I had reoccurring thrush started about 5 years ago, tried everything to clear it, cotton underwear etc and it turned out I was actually Type 1 Diabetic!
Interesting that you had diabetes during pregnancy, get your blood sugars checked?

I had unexplained thrush suddenly a couple of years ago. After speaking with a pharmacist, who suggested improving my gut health - I was desperate - I starting drinking yakult or activimel every morning (so nothing fancy). It may or may not be connected but I haven't had symptoms since.

Also treatment for bacterial vaginosis after sex helped me… you can get it in boots or online

So you mean every time? Because if you have to get treated for a bacterial infection after every time just to prevent thrush occurring, I'd suggest your partner needs to have a thorough wash of the area before sex. If it's going anywhere near you, it should be clean! 😁