Thrush Support Group

[ButteryJam]

Hi

I thought I'd start a thrush support group, seeing as many women are affected by it.

I've just been diagnosed with it again for the second time, and this time in really hoping it will go.

I've been given nystatin oral suspension for my little one after every feed (I don't know how I'm going to manage that at night), micatazone cream for my nipples and flucanazole (had to fight for that - lactation consultant insisted I have ductal thrush and doctor must give it).

Starting it off today and I'm really hoping it will work. Anyone else in a similar boat?

[Librarina]

We finished our course of Flucsnanzole and Nystatin today. Baby is 4 weeks tomorrow. I will actually cry if the thrush comes back, I was so close to giving up in Breastfeeding, it was my baby massage teacher who spotted it.

[PukousMucous]

I'm glad to have found you. I could cry, EBF DS who is nine months and just got thrush again for the fourth time. About three weeks ago I dared to think that I actually loved breastfeeding and was delighted to have persevered. Now I dread it and want to cry every time. It's like torture. I'd stop nursing if I could work out how without too many tears or tantrums.

[Librarina]

Well I spoke too soon! Our thrush is back one day after I finished the 10 day course, must've been lingering in the background. Got another course today (from Children's A&E of all places as all our local NHS walk in centres have closed) so I'm hoping it kicks in quickly. It's not too bad, just cocktail sticks in the nipples rather than knives!

Do any of you sufferers adjust your diet or take other measures to prevent or treat outbreaks?

[ButteryJam]

Hi labriana

Sorry to hear yours is back but at least you are nipping it ASAP. The lactation consultant I spoke to told me very clearly that she didn't think mine would shift unless I took a 28 day treatment.

I haven't adjusted my diet to no sugar though I really ought to but im really craving for sugar (apparently that is what happens when you have thrush!).

Which medications have you been taking so far? And how many days in did you feel the pain go? I've just started and can't wait for at least some of the pain to go!

[ButteryJam]

Pukous, I'm so sorry to hear it is back for you for the fourth time, that must be so dreadful! Which treatments have you had in the past? Have you taken the tablets too?

It is such a hassle putting the drops/gel in Baby's mouth after every feed (and I've just started the course), gosh four courses of pain and treatment must have been very hard.

[ButteryJam]

Librarina, the only thing the lactation consultant really emphasised was washing all clothes, bedding, towels etc at 60 to kill the thrush. I'm tempted to call the people that clear out bed bugs to disinfect the place. Has anyone done that?

I've also found that I feel like my breasts could do with a cold pad/patch but as soon as I place it it hurts even more. The only thing that helps is a warm pad, and I use the Lansinoh breast ones which heat easily in the microwave, and they offer some relief. I've also taken paracetamol for pain relief. Are any of you on pain relief?

[PukousMucous]

Sorry, after throwing my toys out of the pram and having a good rant and weep I feel a bit better.
It is oddly comforting to know I'm not the only one.
To treat I've always hit it hard with fluconazole tablets plus miconazole cream for me and gel for DS. Someone has suggested a probiotic can help and also eliminate yeast and excess sugar from your diet.

Other suggestions include bathing nipples in bicarb and vinegar, I think. But let me check that before you do it!

I've always got thrush a lot. Comes when I've been a bit run down or eating crappy food. It never really occurred to me that it would impact breastfeeding, but there you have it.

[PukousMucous]

Oh Lib, I'm sorry to hear its back. It's a bugger of a little creature, yeast!

Buttery, not got the pest control in yet! But if it works let me know. I try to take regular paracetamol which I think helps and sometime codeine at night.

[Librarina]

Right, I've washed everything that comes into contact with me or the baby at 90. My nipples have been bathed in bicarb after every feed, I've been bra-less all day and keep popping my nipples out into the sunshine (poor neighbours!) and I've been meticulous with her drops and my pills as well as reinforcing with Acidoaphilius tablets for me.

I've reduced sugar and increased the yoghurt I eat. I can't think if anything else!

I'm off to Breastfeeding group. I'll ask there and see if there are any more tips I can get.

[ButteryJam]

Librarina

You seem to be on the roll, fantastic

I've washed most things and kept up with medicine (minus nights). I'm really hoping ill start to see a difference soon. Definitely need to stick my boobs in the sunlight, as there is so much of it!

Did the drops make anyone's LO cranky? LO has been more than unsettled and I'm wondering whether its the medication or the heat!

[Librarina]

I think it's the heat Buttery, my little weirdo loves her medicine! Laps it off the spoon like its sweets!

[ButteryJam]

Librarina, that made me

How often do you give the drops? I'm in a bit of a pickle as pharmacists said 0.5ml after every feed but it says on the leaflet that newborns shouldn't be given more than 1ml a day! So I'm giving her 0.25ml 4 times a day.

[lem31]

Great idea to set up this thread. I'm just battling it myself with daktarin.p for me and baby. It's a nightmare, but creams are helping. I wanted to scream every time anything touched my nipples, let alone baby feeding. But persevered through it. Unfortunately I got it after antibiotics for mastitis and a uti, then this all before lo was 4 weeks! Now he has bad reflux so cries when he feeds...have to admit that formula feeding sounds a darn site easier.
Trying to persevere though. Hate that thrush is so hard to get rid of. Good luck with your treatments.
X

[ButteryJam]

Lem31, your experience sounds like mine. I got it after mastitis too. And I have a feeling LO has got reflux (but I'm not sure). How far are you into your treatment? And has it got better? I have felt like giving up so many times but just can't, and I really hope it doesn't come to that.

[lem31]

I'm about a week in and it's improved a lot. Taking probiotics too which help.
Bigger issue now is babys reflux. Need to get gaviscon down him and he won't take it except in milk so xpressing as much as I can, but in reality who has the time?? So after persevering for so long, looks like I'm gonna have to give up anyway! So frustrating and upsetting.
You been to the docs about your thrush or babys reflux?

[ButteryJam]

Lem31, sounds awful, poor you re gaviscon I'd recommend you get advice from your local breastfeeding support group or la lache league. They were the ones that finally diagnosed me with the ductal thrush.

The thing with me is that one breast is perfectly fine and its so nice to breastfeed from that side, that I'm really hoping the other side will be similar to that once the thrush is clear. I'm around 5 days in but no improvement yet, but then again I suspect I have had it for almost two months but was misdiagnosed sadly , so it will take longer to get rid of!

[ButteryJam]

Which probiotics are you taking?

[lem31]

Antiphilis I think they were called. Lots if ladies on here recommending them. From holland and Barrett. Think they are helping as much as the creams.
Good luck! X

[ButteryJam]

Lem31, thanks! I've just ordered them. Hoping they will work

[ButteryJam]

I've just managed to sunbathe my breasts and then fed LO, and the pain had decreased considerably. I hope it lasts and will try again

[lem31]

Really? Incredible! I don't have a garden so without being very inappropriate that may not be an option!
Fingers crossed it keeps working for you. X

[ButteryJam]

How's everyone doing? I've come down with mastitis so I'm trying to battle that alongside thrush anyone been through that?

[BonaDea]

Hello ladies!

I just wanted to post a little ray of hope for those suffering.

My DS and I had thrush for nearly 4 weeks from weeks 3-7 of his life. Those were the darkest days for me of my entire life. I had never heard of thrush like this before and the pain was indescribable. It sucked the joy out of feeding and made me despair. I hated feeding my baby and contemplated running away in the night, checking into a hotel and just sleeping.

I used nystatin oral suspension which worked well initially but although his thrush cleared, the daktarin didn't clear my thrush. I then switched him to daktarin gel and tool courses of fluconazole. I had to fight the GP for it and at one point was ordering it from online pharmacies when I ran out. I was also boil washing my bras, tops, muslins and ds's clothes, taking probiotic and was about to start on grapefruit seed extract. I was bathing nipples in bi carb after each feed.

The whole thing was hellish. It felt so unnatural to have to do all this stuff and apply creams and gel after each feed. I thought bf'ing was supposed to be easy and fuss free. I certainly didn't think it was meant to be agony.

But, BUT. It did go. We have now been thrush free for 11 weeks and no sign of return. You can do it ladies, it is horrible but hang on in there. Good luck!

[lem31]

Well done bonadea. Anyone who said bf was easy was cLearly lying!

Butteryjam, yes I had mastitis too. It sucked. I had it week 2, and I think it was the antibiotics that then led to me having the thrush! Antibiotics were the only think to clear it for me I'm afraid. And sleep (easier said than done). Lots of hot showers, boob massage and expressing or feeding through it. Good luck - hope you feel better soon. X

[ButteryJam]

Lem31, thanks!