Thrush

b3t4

In a similar vain as the UTI/Cystitis thread...

I'm just over another dose of thrush. I get it about once a year and I'm contributing this dose to the two courses of anti-biotics I've had to take in the last few months.

Something I found interesting this time around was that my doctor indicated to me that there wasn't much need for my partner to be treated. I had always thought that your partner would have to be treated as well. Also, as he's circumcised he is less likely to be get it.

Thankfully, I find the canesten pesary and cream to clear things up pretty much immediately. My partner used the cream as well as the pharmacist and doctor felt it couldn't do any harm.

So who here has suffered from this and what have you found to help prevent and treat it?

A

Abi

b3t4 wrote: »

In a similar vain as the UTI/Cystitis thread...

I'm just over another dose of thrush. I get it about once a year and I'm contributing this dose to the two courses of anti-biotics I've had to take in the last few months.

Are you on the pill?

Pill = yeast. Yeast = infection. anti-biotics = yeast.

Anti-biotics work in the short term as your body has an immunity to it. Thats why doctors avoid prescribing it for this and that. Heres teh clanger. The anti-biotics are yeast based. Because you seem to get frequent bouts of infection, there is a possibility that you are becoming used to the drug. Double dosages or top-ups are bad news.

b3t4

Abigayle wrote: »

Are you on the pill?

Yup, I am and yup I know it's a factor alright.

Also, did you know that semen is a base which contributes to thrush as it changes the acidity of the vagina

Anti-biotics work in the short term as your body has an immunity to it. Thats why doctors avoid prescribing it for this and that. Heres teh clanger. The anti-biotics are yeast based. Because you seem to get frequent bouts of infection, there is a possibility that you are becoming used to the drug. Double dosages or top-ups are bad news.

Becoming used to which drug? if you mean the anti-biotics I had to get anti-biotics for two seperate infections seperated by a few months. (One was for a very nasty chest infection where I could barely breath and also needed steroids to open up the airways. The other one was due to getting a bad infection from mosquito bites where my ankle swelled to twice it's normal size) Anti-biotics were very much needed in both cases and both infections were not related to each other. I reckon it was the last dose of anti-biotics (about a month back) that contributed to the latest dose of thrush. At the time I completely forgot about my risk of getting thrush from another lot of anti-b's.

I definitely agree with you though that doctors shouldn't be handing out anti-biotics for everything. I was bit concerned myself having to go on a second lot of anti-biotics but sometimes that's just the way the cookie crumbles

A.

Abi

b3t4 wrote: »

Also, did you know that semen is a base which contributes to thrush as it changes the acidity of the vagina

Indeed I do! Been there, worn the cream

Becoming used to which drug? if you mean the anti-biotics I had to get anti-biotics for two seperate infections seperated by a few months. (One was for a very nasty chest infection where I could barely breath and also needed steroids to open up the airways.

Well there you go, did your doctor not notice that you've had a course of anti-biotics recently? This stuff is kept on file, thats pretty bad tbh.

+ add the steroids to the fact. Im going to be vague, because I've never personally been on steroids, but I heard something about the mix of the two. Someone else here will have to throw in their tuppance worth.

Why dont you go for a second opinion on it? Wouldnt do any harm for a new perspective. But I never do without a few staples.. cranberry juice in the fridge, cystipurin and canesten in the medicine cabinet. Dont wait for it to happen, because it always happens late at night / wkend / bank hol wkend..

b3t4

Why dont you go for a second opinion on it?

It's all cleared up now.

Dont wait for it to happen, because it always happens late at night / wkend / bank hol wkend..

So true. It's a bit annoying over here in New Zealand though as canesten is a controlled substance so everytime you buy it they take your name and address. Pretty hard to buy for the sake of having it around. If you have to get canesten more than twice a year then it's off to the doctor with ya. Not a bad thing I guess but if you get a thrid dose over a weekend then I'm not sure what you could do. If the pharamacist gives you treatment then going to the doctor is pretty useless as the canesten will have killed the infection.

A.

Nevyn

It depends on the which oral contraceptive pill and the effect it has on you.

Cotton underwear is meant to help.

Abigayle wrote: »

Are you on the pill?

Pill = yeast. Yeast = infection. anti-biotics = yeast.

Anti-biotics work in the short term as your body has an immunity to it. Thats why doctors avoid prescribing it for this and that. Heres teh clanger. The anti-biotics are yeast based. Because you seem to get frequent bouts of infection, there is a possibility that you are becoming used to the drug. Double dosages or top-ups are bad news.

Quality

If your taking an anti biotic, You should take it with a pro biotic drink aptimel/yakult etc.

As anti biotics kill all the bacteria, It helps if you are taking the probiotics to restore your "good" Bacteria.

Niamho!

b3t4 wrote: »

In a similar vain as the UTI/Cystitis thread...

I'm just over another dose of thrush. I get it about once a year and I'm contributing this dose to the two courses of anti-biotics I've had to take in the last few months.

Something I found interesting this time around was that my doctor indicated to me that there wasn't much need for my partner to be treated. I had always thought that your partner would have to be treated as well. Also, as he's circumcised he is less likely to be get it.

Thankfully, I find the canesten pesary and cream to clear things up pretty much immediately. My partner used the cream as well as the pharmacist and doctor felt it couldn't do any harm.

So who here has suffered from this and what have you found to help prevent and treat it?

A

its AWFUL!!
Got it Terrible for a few months when i was on an anti-biotic for my skin. i used to get it every month or so.... it was awful!! so i ended up using the Pessary and it was the best thing. flushed it right outta me really...(Sorry) the cream was only tiding me over really...
then i started on a Pill for my skin. so far so good!

hairymolly

Ladies I'm a great beliver in old cures so here goes. When on antibiotics always take natural organic yogurt. It helps the stomach among other things, like preventing thrush. Though somewhat messy, treat that area with same natural yogurt by night with a protective pad, it actually works. Take a trip to your local health food shop or google the benefits of natural yogurt.

Nevyn

Voilet soap or soap with voilets in it is wonderful for any ladies lady garden when it's well and not suffering thrush.

Lush Gratuitous Violets Soap or Stenders have a Jasmine soap which had enough voilets in them. Both soaps are oraganic and hand made.

Oryx

Tight jeans dont help with thrush either, and tights are best avoided.

When it got particularly bad I even stopped buying coloured loo roll, in case it was provoking a reaction.:) Since I came off the pill its no longer a problem.

Nevyn

Some formulas of the oral contraceptive pill can cause some women to well dry up,
the vagain stops making as much of it's natural lube which contains the friendly bacteria that look after it.

Maple

If you're very bad with thrush ask your doc to prescribe Diflucan. Its a tablet taken orally and will really clear up thrush. I had 4 rounds of antibiotics & a steroid inhaler at the end of last year (pneumonia) and this really worked. Found it much better than Canesten.

Also I'm with Hairymolly on the natural yoghurt front. Especially if you leave it in the fridge beforehand, so lovely and cooling.

Pythia

Diflucon (sp?) is the only answer for quick removal of thrush. I get a repeat prescription so I don't have to keep going back. Also try Acidophilus supplement.

jos28

+1 for the natural yogurt. It really works.

tinkerbell

Defo take acidophilus while on antibiotics - you'll never get thrush again!

Susannahmia

I haven't read the whole thread so apologies if this has already been said. Acidophillius is really great for preventing it, especially the proper stuff that has to be refrigerated. When on antibiotics I just double the dose.

smcgui

Quick related question for you ladies, I used the pessary for the first time and now the chalk is coming *ahem*... out of me. I know this is normal, but my question is how long does this last?

Morgase

smcgui wrote: »

Quick related question for you ladies, I used the pessary for the first time and now the chalk is coming *ahem*... out of me. I know this is normal, but my question is how long does this last?

It was a few hours with me. I found it best to use a pessary before going to bed. Hope that helps!

Pythia

Not more than a day anyway. It's horrible isn't it!

smcgui

Yep!

LightningBolt

Quality wrote: »

If your taking an anti biotic, You should take it with a pro biotic drink aptimel/yakult etc.

As anti biotics kill all the bacteria, It helps if you are taking the probiotics to restore your "good" Bacteria.

Or natural yoghurt does the exact same thing without having to pay twice as much;)

Eviledna

Used to get thrush all the time, even without antibiotics. The pill was defo the cause for me, and the solution, without a shadow of a doubt, was acidophilus. It's brillo. Yoghurt just doesn't have enough of the good bacteria in it to treat a really bad dose of thrush, but my oh my does acidophilus work.

I recommend the Sona range, fresh is better, keep it in the fridge and take the max dose for as long as you can.(read instructions on packet)

Cutting down on the sugar, cakes and yeasty bread really helps too.

Best of luck in the getting rid.

Stench Blossoms

Sorry if this has been mentioned but where can you get acidophilus?

JP Liz

Yes i suffer from Thrush from time to time

I use garlic and believe me it works

Piste

orla wrote: »

Sorry if this has been mentioned but where can you get acidophilus?

Any pharmacy should have it in the vitamins and supplements section.

GirlInterrupted

tinkerbell wrote: »

Defo take acidophilus while on antibiotics - you'll never get thrush again!

Definitely take this. Also natural live yoghurt applied to the whole vulva and, if you aren't squeamish - into your vagina via a soaked tampon - may remove the need for the anti fungal treatment.

Garlic is also good, eating live yoghurt regularly and very importantly don't wear any underwear made of synthetic fibres, or habitually use pantyliners with plastic backing.

I used to be cursed with thrush whenever I'd eat too much bread or sweet things, I'm not entirely sure what the relation is, but I'm sure there's something in it, for me anyway. All the above measures have kept me free from the 'fire down below' for years now.

Its a miserable experience, especially the first bout!

wasabi

GirlInterrupted wrote: »

I used to be cursed with thrush whenever I'd eat too much bread or sweet things, I'm not entirely sure what the relation is, but I'm sure there's something in it, for me anyway. All the above measures have kept me free from the 'fire down below' for years now.

Eating sugar or a lot of refined carbohydrate like bread (which will raise your blood sugar in basically the same way as eating sugar itself) will increase your general blood sugar levels and thereby the sugar levels in your, eh, secretions. As yeast lives on sugars, so more sugar can lead to more yeast which can mean an outbreak of thrush (thrush is a yeast).

Lots of thrush outbreaks can be a warning sign for diabetes too, because diabetes means lots of sugar in the blood. As well as that you have sugar in your urine and hence plenty of sugar in the genital area. That's why the chemist sends you to the doctor when you need thrush meds multiple times.

GirlInterrupted

wasabi wrote: »

Eating sugar or a lot of refined carbohydrate like bread (which will raise your blood sugar in basically the same way as eating sugar itself) will increase your general blood sugar levels and thereby the sugar levels in your, eh, secretions. As yeast lives on sugars, so more sugar can lead to more yeast which can mean an outbreak of thrush (thrush is a yeast).

Lots of thrush outbreaks can be a warning sign for diabetes too, because diabetes means lots of sugar in the blood. As well as that you have sugar in your urine and hence plenty of sugar in the genital area. That's why the chemist sends you to the doctor when you need thrush meds multiple times.

Oooh! Sweet secretions, who knew?

I had a feeling it was something along those lines, but the funny thing is I actually eat very few sweet things, so the reaction when I do is all the more extreme.

Glad I haven't been on antibiotics in the last few years too, thats a guarenteed bout.

tannytantans

The advice is great here.

I'm suffering pretty badly with thrush at the minute. Its my first time having it. To make matters worse I moved to south korea 6 weeks ago - and i got it the day after i arrived!I left it 2 weeks before taking anything for it which i think is why i cant seem to shift it.

I used canestan first but it had no effect. Then i went to the doctor - he gave me oral tablets, a pessary type thing to use for 7 days and a cream. I haven't improved though so I think I'll have to go back next week...i use natural yoghurt everynight too.

Just wondering if anyone else has had stubborn thrush like this??How long can it take to clear up?It's horrible!!!

FockRoysh

I have a stubborn dose of it at the minute, very annoying. I have gotten it on a few occasions before and canestan worked but not this time

tinkerbell

I've found that cannestan sometimes doesn't work - you might be best off going to the doctor and getting the antibiotic for thrush which usually clears it up straight away.

Or if you don't want to try that just yet, buy a big pack of Yakult, natural yoghurt and a tub of Sona Acidophilus (ask your pharmacist how much you should take when you already have thrush) - it might go away then.

I actually take acidophilus daily now and it really prevents thrush, thrush is one of the worst things ever! Ugh! Ladies get on the acidophilus!!

smiley_colly

Okay im after reading this thread ans i hate to be a ninny but

What is Thrush??

Nevyn

http://www.vhi.ie/hfiles/hf-040.jsp

What is thrush?

Thrush is a vaginal yeast infection that affects approximately 75 percent of women at some time in their lives. Many women suffer recurring attacks. Although easily treated, thrush can be very unpleasant and uncomfortable for a woman, affecting her sex life and her confidence.

Yeast (candida) is a fungus that occurs naturally in the vagina, mouth, digestive system and other parts of the body. Symptoms only appear with over growth. Yeast growth is normally kept under control by the friendly bacteria in your body. However, if the balance of bacteria is upset and the yeast cells are allowed to overproduce, a yeast infection (candidiasis) can occur.

Infections are most common in premature babies, in adults who are debilitated by general ill health and in those with a suppressed immune system - either by the nature of their disease e.g. HIV, or by treatment such as chemotherap

Jeapy

I always take acidophilus with antibiotics and it never works for me! Still always get the damned thrush! Ill def try the natural yoghurt thing if it happens again though! Sounds soothing! Whats a pessery by the way?

Nevyn

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pessary

Piste

I'm surprised I dont get this, my immune system is awful. I suppose I make up for it by my constant coldsores.

smeedyova

The single dose tablet for treating vaginal thrush is prescription only in the Republic of Ireland. You can buy it over the counter in the North. It costs £4.99 for the generic (called "Fluconazole") or £9.99 for the same ingredients from the Canestan brand. This should not be a prescription tablet. This is a classic example of GP's trying to rip us off. For shame!

Maple

Thanks for the information however thread is over 2 years old now so am locking it.

Lots of great information on lady bits to be found here. http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055995073

Maple.