Would I know it if it was thrush?

[tribord]

I'm tandem nursing a 3-wk old and a 2 1/2 year old. My nipples had been a bit sore, thought it was from funky tandem nursing positions plus a not-so-great latch on the baby. Saw a LC on Monday who said baby's latch is actually pretty good, thought he could be clamping down b/c of oversupply and that was causing soreness.

But I've been working on the oversupply, and after a couple more days my right nipple (and only the right one) is continuing to be a bit sore and I am now having maybe a dozen or so sharp but very mild pains a day in my right nipple/breast. I don't know what else it could be besides thrush, but I always understood thrush to be really painful (never had it before) and I'm only in a tiny bit of discomfort plus I thought you would have it on both sides and I'm only having issues on my right side. No external symptoms on me or the kids except for a diaper rash on the baby (since basically birth) which may or may not be yeast but has responded pretty well to clotrimizole twice a day or so.

But I am prone to yeast issues, my diet's been in the toilet since having the baby (although getting better this last week or so and I have been taking probiotics), and I just finished a week of abx for a finger infection.

Called the LC back today, told her I thought it maybe was thrush, she prescribed nystatin drops for the kids and Lotrimin cream for me, both 4x day. Don't want to start treating for thrush (especially giving antifungals orally to a newborn) if I don't have to, but certainly don't want things to get worse if they are thrush. Also, the thought of treating thrush and all the time and effort it takes when I am trying to take care of a newborn and a toddler is enough to send me over the edge. I *so* don't want it to be thrush. Any thoughts?

[mamaw/two]

I'm sorry to say, but it sounds similar to what I experienced with thrush. When ds was about a week old, I started noticing shooting pains every few hours or so. I didn't really have any other symptoms. I was also tandem nursing a 2 1/2yr old. We were into the ped and I asked her if there was any sign of thrush in his mouth, she said no. Within a week he had a rash anywhere he had creases, it was really bad under his neck and in his underarms. We went back and she said he did have thrush in his mouth and it was a yeasty rash. We treated it with gentian violet for about 4 days, I had to paint it on all of his rash and in his mouth as well as on myself 2x a day (he earned the nickname "Purple Patrick"!). I got it in the toddlers mouth once (I guess the stuff tastes horrible, because he wouldn't let me put it in again), and he also got some in his mouth while nursing at other times. It can really stain, so we had to be very careful with it (although oxyclean will take it out of clothes). GL to you.

[tribord]

Thanks for the reply. My instincts are saying it is thrush. I'm wondering if nystatin for the kids and clotrimizole for me will be enough or if I should also do the gentian violet? I'd like to knock this out before it gets out of control.

I am also thinking DD won't take well to the oral treatment. I guess you were able to get yours cleared up with your toddler not agreeing to the oral treatment?

[mamaw/two]

We got rid of it easily with just the gentian violet. The ped was willing to prescribe other stuff, but I guess I just went the cheap route (the bottle cost $1.77 and it's still way over half full), also I thought it might be the more natural route. We were rid of it in 4 days using it 2x a day. I would nurse the toddler after painting it on me, so he in turn got it in his mouth. The baby is 16 monthes old now and we have not ever had any trouble since.

[tribord]

Feeling pain in my left breast now, too, and more confident it is thrush. I tracked down some GV today. Plan to use that and GSE (and some of Newman's APNO if I can get an rx) to add to the probiotics, garlic, and olive leaf I was already taking. And give the kids some probiotics. I'll start the GV tomorrow after DD comes back from a.m. preschool. A purple mouth at school is something I'll try to avoid if possible.

I may not do the nystatin.... reading online it is ineffective in a lot of cases anyway.

[mamaw/two]

I'm glad you have a plan of action! I've read that GSE is very effective for yeast. I also wanted to add that the purple takes several days to wear off, so hopefully it's gone by Monday!!

[tribord]

Yikes! Well then it is very likely she will be going to school on Monday with a purple mouth..... she can tell everyone mama is doing Halloween a month early

[winstonterr]

Hi,
Natural remedy for yeast infection is boric acid. Boric acid is a chemical substance with mild antiseptic and antifungal properties. A small Italian study examined the effectiveness of a topical treatment with boric acid compared to oral treatment with the antifungal drug itraconazole (Sporanox) in 22 women with recurrent yeast infection. The topical boric acid was found to be as effective as itraconazole.
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yeast infection