Getting rid of thrush during breastfeeding

[duchess001]

As you can see I am very new to this site and was hoping for help.
I am currently suffering thrush and can't seem to shift it at all. Daughter is 12 weeks and have had it since week 4. I fed my first daughter for about 7 months and enjoyed it so really don't want to give up yet but getting close to it now.
My baby girl has been prescribed Nystatin drops then miconazole gel. The spots don't seem to have gone but my doc isn't convinced it is thrush spots when she scrapes them!
I have been on miconazole (Daktarin) cream and clotrimazole initially. Then my doc who has been very good prescribed me fluconazole which I took on medium dose for about 10 days. Also gave me antibiotics 2 weeks ago in case it was an infection but after 6 days I stopped taking them on Saturday as the feeding seemed to be hurting like hell. I am now back on the cream and bought some acidophilus, can I do that along with the gentian violet and where would I get that from (Holland and Barrett too)?
I am grasping at straws now and just wondering anybody has any other suggestions?? Did nipple shields help anyone? Has anybody used a homeopath and the remedy worked? If you give up without clearing it do you have issues after?
Another thing... as part of the symptoms does your nipples go white after feeding for a while?
If somebody can help by giving me some ideas. Also, has fluconazole failed for others as I was so happy when doc prescribed and then v sad when it didn't work.
Thanks ladies x

 

[amymarx]

I'm in the same boat as u Hun, I also have been on flucanazole I'm taking nystatin oral solution and so is LO. I'm also taking acidophilus and I'm still in serious agony with the breast feeding! I've had thrush for at least two weeks and it's worse then ever. Hope someone can help!

 

[Katt]

Thrush is a horrible beast that can be a pain in the backside to treat! We suffered for about 12 weeks in total. You have the right medication, fluconazole is very effective at treating thrush, the problem is reinfection.

Some tips to help you beat it-
* apply miconazole gel to lo and cream to you every 90 minutes. This is how long it takes for the thrush to start growing back so it can help stop reinfection
* take acidophilus 3 times daily and give some to baby too (this is what finally killed it for us!)
* go topless wherever possible, sunbathe if y can (heatwave due this weekend!) as uv kills it.
* steam sterilise or boil everything baby uses (bottles dummies etc) and replace frequently.
* ask the doc about a higher first dose of flucanozole. There is some info in the bfn leaflet here https://www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/pdfs/BfN_Thrush_leaflet_Feb_2009.pdf
*eat well, sleep well and be good to yourself- thrush tends to thrive when we are run down.

Finally, hang in there! It will go!

And remember that if you take e fluconazole and use the creams, and the gel on baby, yr symptoms should be lessened drastically after about 3 days. Even if it takes a while to get rid of it fully you should be able to control it.

Good luck x

 

[DextersMummy]

im wondering if it really is thrush on my nipples? they are red just on the nipple, really bright red and itchy and sometimes they drive me mad if they are against my clothes doctor never looked he perscribes over the phone 0_0.

 

[Katt]

That does sound like thrush. Classic symptoms - red nipples, itching, sensetive to clothes.

Thankfully, if you dont have shooting pains too it is probably just nipple thrush not ductal. Should be easier to treat if you get to it quick!

Go topless! The air helps, and no clothes to irritate and also if you get sweaty it can make it worse.

Good luck!

 

[DextersMummy]

ty katt sorry to hyjack the post I did post my own question on it then saw this xx

 

[Katt]

No problem! Ask away Feel free to PM me if you like. We thrush survivors need to stick together!

 

[svetayasofiya]

I've been suffering from thrush now for five weeks. Nothing is working. I first got it when baby was a week old. My Dr. Prescribed Jack Newman's all purpose nipple ointment (apno). It worjed within dats and the burning went away. Then a week later I had to go on a hgh dose antibiotic for another health reason and within 24 hrs the burning was back. My Dr. Told me to continue using the apno. It never went away but got worse. Now five weeks later, I have tried gentian violet but it didn't work. I have been on 150mg diflucan for 7 days (will continue fr 7 more).... with absolutely no relief. I have been taking a high concentration of acidofillus morning and night for ten days. Nothing is working. If I don't take pain killers I cry through feedings. I have shooting severe pain in my breasts after feeding that keeps me from sleeping at night. I am so depressed from this and am a misery to be around. When is enough enough? I'm ready to throw in the towel.

 

[dacosta]

thrush will get worse as time goes on and any sore nipples will not heal and will eventually crack, bleed and cause a lot of pain.

the antibiotics course you were on may have stopped the fluconazole from working - you need to take fluconazole for at least 10 days for it to work and treat baby as well. i'd ask to have another two week course to be honest, just to be sure.

antibiotics can worsen thrush, so try and stay away from that whilst you're treating thrush.

you might find you and doctor find this link helpful; https://www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/pdfs/BfN_Thrush_leaflet_Feb_2009.pdf

 

[svetayasofiya]

Thx dacosta but I have been off antibiotics for two weeks. The diflucan and antibiotics were never taken simultaneously. Yet it's still not working.