Does Thrush Ever Go Away?!!!

[kcamelia]

I have had thrush for weeks now, and after using gentian violet for two one week periods, the burning and itching symptoms came back with a vengeance within two days, along with shooting pains.  I imagine I've had it in my ducts the whole time because I don't think I recontaminated myself from my lo's mouth or clothing, etc.  I have been very careful about laundry and such.

So, I'm just looking for advice from those of you have dealt with thrush while breastfeeding.  My midwife prescribed two weeks of diflucan (fluconazole), but she said it's a "shot in the dark."  Not what I wanted to hear!  She said lots of moms just choose to live with it.  Has ANYONE been able to get rid of it?  Has anyone decided just to live with it?  Is there anything I can do for relief even if it doesn't clear it up?  Will changing my diet really help?

I'm looking for any and all advice/experiences/input.  Thanks!

[sophiems]

Until reading experiences on these boards I had no idea it was so hard to get rid of it!  I had it with my first, but just took diflucan and nystatin for the lo and it was over in less than a week!  I know, not what you wanted to hear. 

I truly think that increasing yogurt intake and additional acidophilous caplets (what is found in yogurt) is beneficial.  I am so prone to yeast infections normally and so whenever I have to take antibiotics I eat yogurt like crazy and take the caplets and I'm usually able to avoid one.  I don't know what other diet changes, other than avoiding bread products for a while that have yeast in them.   

Hopefully some other wise women will be along to offer some help...

[~S~]

I had it for wks/mnths, well the pain lingered for months.  Here is what I did that may have helped-used Grapefruit Seed Extract (I googled it), I split my diflucan tablets in half again found on internet b/c it is supposed to not let the organisms have as much time to multiply and I had had several rounds of diflucan at this point, also finally got some gel pads from LC that were soothing, finally used a nipple shield when the pain still lingered.  Did you use the GV on lo as well?  I also did that.  I was desperate, so that is why I did the split pills, not under my GP's advice.  I really hope you find some relief.

[hturk]

I was surprised that moms could get this! Stick in there! It *will* go away. I used Nystatin, also ate yogurt and took Acidophilis caplets every morning. My friendly neighbourhood pharmacist also warned me away from refined sugar and alcohol. To go even further, I changed my breast pads every hour for the first few days when I thought the itching would drive me insane - DH came up with the brilliant idea of putting some pads in the freezer and it worked like a charm. I still have flare ups but the itching is manageable. Hope this helps!!

[Samuel's mum]

"choose to live with it"
Only someone who has never breastfed through thrush could say that!!!
Fluconazole is actually very effective (see the thrush FAQ). Certainly no shot in the dark.

Diet/ probiotics do make a difference for sure.

[Purplecattypants]

I agree Emma, what a rubbish midwife to say that boo hiss boo! (I wouldnt have told you that kcamelia!) 

[kcamelia]

~S~, did you take grapefruit seed extract tablets or use the drops topically?  I've been taking the tablets for at least a week now.  Why did you split your diflucan tablets?  Is it better to take a lower dose for longer?

Thanks for all of the input so far; I want to be positive.

What did you all do as far as laundry and trying not to recontaminate yourself?  My lo spits up a lot, and I'm still in that spraying/dripping breastmilk everywhere phase, so it seems difficult to completely eradicate it in the house.

[~S~]

I used the GSE tablets and oil drops, took the tablets and used the oil in water topically and in laundry.  I split the tablets diflucan tablets b/c I had read to do that, I think, b/c it keeps some in your system to keep the critters down in number.  I just had to try anything that made sense.  Also if there is somewhere that you could be in a window or out in your yard in the sun topless, that is supposed to help.  HTH

[Samuel's mum]

With laundry vinegar is also handy. In the states with top loading machines literally put in 3 tablespoons of white vinegar on a pre-wash. In the UK have a bucket with a vinegar solution and rinse underwear before washing. Sun/ air drying clothes and linens.

[hayes]

It will go away I felt the same way after having it for 6 weeks.

Not sure what worked for me but these are the things I tried.

cotton nursing pads
drank vinegar dilluted with water (only two time couldn't take the taste)

cut down on cheese and sweets

drank lots of water

used prescription ointment for weeks

went braless

washed a heck of a lot of towels, shirts and sheets

treated LO

prayed!!!!

Thinking of you and sending you anti thrush hugs.

[cbald1976]

I'm also battling Candida in my ducts.  I'm on Diflucan (only a few days so far) & wondering how you're doing.  Have you felt relief yet?  I'm trying the vinegar in laundry...boiling all Nuks, pumps, etc for 20 min at least once a day.  Also I'm changing his crib sheets & changing table cover every day.  I know that I can put up with a lot, but I would NEVER be able to "just live with it" as your midwife mentioned.   Hope things are getting better for you. 

[kcamelia]

Well, I'm on diflucan now for about the same (a few days), and I definitely feel relief in the itching and burning.  I didn't have much deep breast pain; do you?  I'm also taking GSE tablets, applying the diluted GSE drops and All-Purpose Nipple Ointment like Dr. Newman suggests, and Nystatin drops for the baby.

I feel the same way!  I have already put up with numerous breastfeeding problems, and now this!  I hope it gets better for you, too.  Let me know!

[marensmama]

I had thrush and mastitis at the same time with DD1.  Ouch!  Anyways, what I did was use gentian violet and then i took acidophilous (sp?) caplets.  I also broke apart the acidophilous caplets and rolled my wet finger in the granules and then spread the granules in my lo's mouth (even though she showed no signs of thrush) and it was gone within a few days.

Good luck, it's sooooo uncomfortable!

[cbald1976]

Unfortunately I have quite a bit of tenderness all the way into my armpit & into my shoulder blade.  Finally called my midwife when it was shooting down my arm!!  ugh.  I am so stubborn.  Shouldn't have waited as long as I did.  I started itching about 3 weeks ago.  I've learned my lesson.   

I've had some relief already.  Right side is doing great!  Still painful burning after he eats, but not the intense pain during the feed, Thank Goodness!  The left side is another story.  2 very sore & tender clogged ducts this weekend, so that's not helping anything     I need to find my APNO.  Had some made up in December for sore nipples, but looked for it this weekend & couldn't find it -- ugh.

Glad to hear that you are feeling relief from the itching & burning.  sounds like the meds are working    What dose Diflucan are you on?