Thrush? NOW? Seriously?

[haurelia]

Hi all, just looking for folks to weigh in, since we've never had thrush before;

I've had some nipple tenderness the last few days, but chalked it up to my 18 month old teething; he just got his upper canines and those jokers are SHARP!
I also just started my period, which seems to provoke a more sensitive nipple.
However:
Today, I was standing above him making him laugh, and noticed some tiny bright white dots at the back of his palate. His tongue also looks somewhat milky, but no patches. He had a butt rash last weekend, but had also been eating tons of blueberries and pooping all the livelong day. No blisters, just really red like a bad sunburn.
My nipples are tender, but no shooting pains. There are small shiny, pink patches on the top sides of each nipple that look like they could be from teeth rubbing.

Things are tolerable now, and I want to nip any thrush in the bud, if possible, without medication. Of note, DS has his 18 month WBV tomorrow, so I'll have her look, but I know she'll just write a prescription for nystatin, most likely (although, this is a new doc for us, so who knows?).

Any thoughts?
Thanks mamas!

[haurelia]

Hasn't anyone had thrush on this board? Anyone have anything to say?
I don't want to jump straight to meds, which is what our doc recommended at the WBV today. Nipples are getting more uncomfortable.
Resources? Ideas?

[mambera]

You could try vinegar rinses or gentian violet if you're uncomfortable with nystatin?

I think we're dealing with the same problem, for the first time, at 14 months (see my thread 'disposables and thrush?' in the BFing forum). Personally I'm going the medication route - I want this GONE. (I did find the vinegar rinses quite helpful for my nipples though.) I hear it's also important to boil any bottles/nipples you may be using daily until the yeast clears.

[Amanda L]

Originally Posted by haurelia

Hasn't anyone had thrush on this board? Anyone have anything to say?
I don't want to jump straight to meds, which is what our doc recommended at the WBV today. Nipples are getting more uncomfortable.
Resources? Ideas?

My stepson had a horrible yeast diaper rash and later thrush. They ended up being linked to his diabetes and didn't go away until his levels were under control.

When we last had him I asked my pediatrician what preventative/curative measures I should take since I knew we were being exposed to yeast. She said to use vinegar rinses on my nipples and if I actually saw signs of yeast to use gentian violet on both my son's mouth and my nipples. I also used vinegar in my diapers (I use cloth) to eliminate any yeast that could be in them.

So if I were you I would start with vinegar on my nipples to see if it helps before resorting to meds.

I hope it goes away quick!

[moonlight mom]

my daughter just had thrush for the first time at 17 mos. I was shocked b/c we never had a problem before. I went the medication route because I did want it gone. We did nystatin for 14 days, but we also have a naturopath and she started me on a yeast cleanse and my dd on biotin and probiotics. She seems to think it is related to heavy metal issues.
Otherwise, I have no idea why she got it so old and we never had a problem before. The only other thing I can think of is she puts everything in her mouth.