Thrush Woes

MominMD · #1 (**permalink**) 10-11-2006, 04:14 AM

I am starting to get desperate...maybe someone here has been there and/or has some advice I haven't heard.

I have been dealing with thrush since I delivered 6 weeks ago. I have been on Diflucan now for 5 weeks and an all purpose ointment (triple nipple cream) for 3 weeks. My daughter was taking Nystatin drops 4x a day for 2 weeks even though she had no signs of thrush. At the end of the 2 weeks of Nystatin the doctor found patches in her mouth and put her on Diflucan.

Well, my nipples are still red and sore, a little peeling even today. What the heck is going on???? Is it possible an oral medication can not cure this??? I almost thought maybe I was allergic to something in the triple nipple cream but at my six week check up Monday the midwife said that is unlikely. Has anyone ever had this experience??

Plus we are boiling pacifers (though she rarely takes it anyway), washing everything in hot water, replacing disposable nursing pads at each feeding---everything we are supposed to do. We've seen the lactaction consultant. I feel like I am doing everything I can but not getting better.

To top things off I now have a UTI so I am on antibiotics. The midwife didn;t want to give me the antibiotics because of the thrush problems but I really needed it. So I am continuing the Diflucan also.

Anyone have any advice for me???

I really want to keep up the breastfeeding---the baby is doing great (she weighed 10 1/2 lbs. at her 1 month check up!) but it is so annoying being in pain all the time. I also feel concerned about all the medicines. I know they are all "safe" for nuring mothers but I hope the benefits of breastfeeding still outweigh all the medicine.

If you made it this far in my message, thank you!

Scottyjsmom · #2 (**permalink**) 10-11-2006, 04:50 AM

Suggestions:

1. Genetian Violet(not sure I spelled that correctly). You literally paint your nipples purple and it transfers to the baby when they nurse. Don't panic, the baby will get purple inside and out of the mouth and it will stay for about a week on both of you. However, everyone I know that has done GV has gotten rid of the thrush. You use a q-tip to paint yourself with the GV. I got mine at the pharmacy at our local Walmart, it is not prescription, but they keep it back with the prescription medications, so you have to ask for it. It was about $1 for the bottle.
2. Vinegar 1/4 cup to 1 cup water mix. Clean your breasts everytime after you nurse. Use a fresh mixture every 24 hours.
3. Go topless as much as possible. Yeast like the dark, warmth of a bra and shirt.
4. Take as much sugar as possible out of your diet. Yeast love, love them some sugar. Get rid of it for 3-4 weeks. As much as you can- no bread, etc.
5. Take some acidophilis or eat a bunch of yogart.

Also, I have read and been told that when the mom takes oral meds for a nursing yeast infection that you have to do so for 4+ weeks in order to get rid of it and that most doctors don't prescribe for long enough.........that the majority of docs prescribe long enough to make it decrease, but then after the mom has been done for 3-4 days taking the meds it flairs up again. My LC doesn't recommend mom taking oral meds b/c taking them for such a long stretch of time is hard on your liver.

I hope some of this helps you. You can overcome this!!!!!

House of Blue · #3 (**permalink**) 10-11-2006, 08:17 AM

When I dealt w/ thrush recently I also washed everything that Reece or my breasts came in contact w/ (that includes sheets, PJ's blankets, bouncy/swing seat covers... Wash in really hot water and do a vinigar rinse.

I hope you two can get over this soon

mbdiamond · #4 (**permalink**) 10-13-2006, 07:42 PM

I agree with the taking acidofilous (sp?) - they're live <friendly> bacertial cultures in capsule form......you can usually find them at health food stores or even a place like GNC...some pharmacies may carry them too. The only other suggestion I didn't see hear was ironing your bras (apparently even after hot washing not all yeast will be killed off - the heat from the iron is supposed to do it). And yes, try the Gentian Violet (it's ugly but it works!).

Good Luck and way to hang in there!

amallicoat · #5 (**permalink**) 10-19-2006, 09:07 PM

Yeah, Thrush, I hate it!!! I have had it with each of the kids and it is awful!

Do a combo of everything, diflucan, gentian violet, and I run vinegar through my rinse water of every load of laundry I do. It kills the yeast, even when you don't use hot water to wash. When we have an active case of thrush, I use the gentian violet 2x's a day for the first 2-3 days, 1x a day for the next 2-3 days and then continue until you are clear of any pain, it could take a week or two. When you use the gentian violet, use a fresh q-tip and dip it in, wipe around your daughters mouth and then discard the q-tip. Make sure you don't double dip it back into the bottle. Also it stains EVERYTHING it comes in contact with. I would wrap an old towel around my kids and then apply it. Rubbing alcohol will get it off some if applied to the spot immediately. I also put vaseline around my babies mouths to keep it from getting all over their chin. The other way you can apply it is to use the q-tip and apply it to your nipple and areola and then have her nurse. Make sure you have something to wipe up any leakage, it will have some of the gv in it and can stain.

The other thing that was recommended to me that helped was to only use paper towels when you have an active infection. The yeast can live on hand towels for hours and sometimes days and you can reinfect yourself easily. Even changing out your hand towels daily is not enough. Also wash your bath towel after every use.

I hope you get some relief soon!