those with thrush

[amybw]

I have come across a few other posts here that others have thrush.

Can you all share what you have done or are doing to treat it?

I am pretty sure we got it from the antibiotics i had at delivery OR the antibx i took for mastitis.

Nathan didnt get it in his mouth, only on his bottom and his ped gave us a cream for his bottom ( it is cleared up now) and i can use it on my breast too. nystatan (sp?)

My OB gave me a 1 day dose of Diflucan. That was over a week ago. I am wondering if they misunderstood what i was talking about. They really seemed confused when i told them i thought i had thrush. (It was over the phone.)

I am taking probiotics to try to help- will that help DS too?

So anyway, what are you doing for relief?

Sometimes I have to look down and make sure my right nip isnt really on fire or being gouged with a hot knife.

thanks!

Amy

[blairinargentina]

oh thrush... what a pain!

i got lots of antibiotics post c-section and for mastitis as well, no doubt that is the cause.

isabel doesn't seem to have any spots that i can see, though i think her mouth may be bothering her because she has started doing this weird, almost chewing, thing when she nurses. she does it with the corner of her mouth like she is trying to massage her cheek. hmmm?
we started the nystatin drops for her (no rash yet), which are nearly impossible to keep in her mouth! and i am supposed to be putting it on my nipples as well. i am washing them well with hot water post feeding and will try to do a vinegar/water wash from now on. also getting some acidpophilus (my mw said to actually sprinkle it on my nipples too).

the ped nurse was less than helpful with this issue, and also seems confused that i would be treated as well. i had to explain it to her and then she seemed to (somewhat) understand.

as far as pain management... can't find much relief from the stinging. the deep breast pain gets a little better with advil but i haven't used it much. i have noticed that a really hot shower and a laying with a heating pad on my chest seems to help some.

happy healing!

[marymamma]

We are battling thrush here too. What a pain! Fiona has it all over her tongue, a rash on her bottom, and I have the stabbing breast pain. My midwife told me to take probiotics/acidopholis capsules (the kind that has to be refrigerated) and swab Fiona's tongue with a baking soda/water mixture with a Qtip after every nursing session. I also opened a capsule of the acidopholis and put a tiny bit on a qtip and swab her tongue with that a couple times a day.

I suppose if I don't see any improvement I will call the ped for something stonger. We have only been doing this for a few days.

[BirthFree]

Ah yes, thrush, my hated enemy.

I have deal with this each child - first baby it was 3+ months we battled it (talk about infuriating) and with my second it was a few short times that gentian violet took care of just fine.

This time I have (we have) it again - though to be honest I have NO idea how we got it. Esp. because it showed up about 2 weeks ago (so week 3 of his outside-life). Hmmm.

Anyways, what we're doing (since where I live over 60% of thrush cases are resistant to nystatin): We did 4 days of gentian violet (painted on my nipples) and on his tongue twice a day (usually mid-day and before bed) - then we're taking 5 days off and doing it again (same thing as above). I also took Diflucan because the yeast is in my milk ducts (yipee) but I didn't take enough of it. It's really supposed to be a 14 day cycle (14 pills) rather than just one that you'd take to get rid of a yeast infection vaginally.

My regular doctor didn't know what I was talking about when I told him I had thrush - because I guess it's called something different when it's not in your mouth. Anyways, he doesn't deal with it much so I am going to our LC who is also a ARNP and can prescribe me the 14 day cycle. I guess Diflucan doesn't go into breastmilk very well so that's why the long cycle of taking it.

DS hasn't shown any signs at all of having thrush but if you look back where he swallows you can see some patches (seriously, the LC had to practically go down his throat to see them) and right by his anus you can see the rash - but no where else. Kind of hard to tell. But the rule is that if YOU have it, THEY have it even if you can't see it.

I am also boiling any nipples, droppers, pacifiers, pump parts, etc. for 10 min. with some vinegar in the water. I am also washing our clothes and his diapers in the same (and a bit of detergent of course).

Taking a probiotic too.

Thrush is nasty and long lasting - I hate dealing with it.

[BetsyS]

Gentian violet! We had thrush, but three days of gentian violet, and it was gone.

I also washed my nipples with vinegar water (50% vinegar) and air dryed after each feeding, washed all our towels, sheets, bras, etc in hot water with a vinegar rinse, and I started taking grapefruit seed extract.

Gentian violet is really messy, but it works great.

I like Dr. Jack Newman's stuff, and if the gv wasn't enough, I would have gotten my midwife to call in the all purpose nipple cream for me.

http://www.breastfeedingonline.com/candidaprotocol.html

[marymamma]

Originally Posted by BetsyS

Gentian violet! We had thrush, but three days of gentian violet, and it was gone.

Where do you get genitan violet?

[BirthFree]

Most pharmacies have it - just ask (no prescription needed).

[KarmaChameleon]

Hello fellow thrushers I battled the yeasties with my middle dd, it was well over 5 months before i beat it. I was psycho by the time I finally kicked it.

This time I am so tired of the fight. I just don't freaking care anymore. I use Candex supplement for myself to keep it under control so I have very little breast pain, but I do have red nipples.

For the baby, her tongue is coated in white and i just overlook it -- when I hear her suck changing or notice patchy areas, I do the gentian violet and it takes care of it.

I just don't have it in me to go thru all hte hoops right now. Too tired and overwhelemd :cry

[amybw]

thanks everyone!

[taradt]

I think that is what we have as well. I get the shotting pains when Kienan nurses but I can't see any signs in his mouth (though he did have a yeast rash a few weeks ago)

I have been trying to up the probiotics

tara

[JenMidwife]

I'm still in thrush-land too, I think. Honestly, I have no idea what's normal for me (what my nipples are supposed to look/feel like, how sensitive my breast tissue is supposed to be, etc), since I've either had mastitis or thrush pretty much ever since my milk came in.

Erin has always been asymptomatic. We tried to Grapefruit Seed Oil extract regimine, but you're supposed to swab her & me HOURLY while awake. Well she nurses so freakin' often, that was impossible.

We've just completed a course of Nystatin (drops for her, ointment for me) & while my symptoms have decreased, my nips are still red (one sore, the other not) & breast tissue still sensitive (though no more stabbing pain).

My OB has just perscribed Diflucan for me- her course is 2 tabs 4 days apart. We'll see if that makes any difference.

Have been diligent about hand, pacifier, breast pump, etc washing.

Honestly, I haven't found my midwives or OB to be particularly helpful. Maybe it's time to spring for an LC.

[marymamma]

I broke down and took Fiona to the ped and she prescribed a 14 day course of diflucan for me and Nystatin for the baby. I hope it works. I am ready for my breasts to feel normal again!

[JenMidwife]

Mary, that's great that the ped knew what to do! Mine was freakin' clueless.

I forgot to mention how hard it is to keep my breasts dry &/or air them out w/ the constant leaking. Sigh...

[amybw]

I went to the health food store today to buy gentian violet.

Can someone tell me what it is supposed to look like? All they had was a bottle of liquid that was an oral supplement

called gentiana lutea
ingredients:
dried wildcrafted Gentian lutea root
filtered water
organic grape alcohol

mix 15-30 drops in warm water and take this tea 1-3 times daily



I dont think this is it.

okay, that's not it

here's a good resource
http://www.bflrc.com/newman/breastfeeding/gentviol.htm

[BetsyS]

Gentian violet isn't really a health foods type thing; more like an old fashioned remedy.

I had a hard time finding it. I found it at a locally owned, small pharmacy. She had one bottle, way in the back, with dust on it. She told me that she can't remember the last bottle she sold. So, try those small pharmacies next.

[amybw]

Originally Posted by BetsyS

Gentian violet isn't really a health foods type thing; more like an old fashioned remedy.

I had a hard time finding it. I found it at a locally owned, small pharmacy. She had one bottle, way in the back, with dust on it. She told me that she can't remember the last bottle she sold. So, try those small pharmacies next.

thanks!

dumb question-
how is it pronounced?

Is gentian like jenshun?

I washed my nip with vinegar last night. tell you what- it INSTANTLY felt better!

[blairinargentina]

I think this thrush thing is one step forward, two steps back! Isa is almost done with her bottle of nystatin but I have to admit, i have been slacking on giving it to her... i don't think it's working and i can't get it to stay in her mouth anyway. My symptoms seem to go away for a day or so and then come back. I was being diligent with vinegar washes for a while but I just cant see that anything is actually working.

My MW said to try putting acidophilus on my nipples and on her tongue, guess we'll give it a shot.

[aries girl]

I saw a LC yesterday for thrush and she told me to put Lotriman Ultra on my nipples and areola bteween feedings. She also said to wash them with apple cidar vinegar. After just 1.5 days I do feel better.

[BirthFree]

Blair,
If it's not gone and you want to do the Rx again, do another bottle and split the nystatin into two doses 3 hours apart and use a baby toothbrush to brush around in her mouth - it will better contact the thrush. Just be sure to boil that toothbrush in vinegar/water for 10 min. before re-use.

Honestly, where I live 60% of the thrush cases are resistant to nystatin so maybe that is the case for you?

[amybw]

my local pharmacy has the gentian violet! for only $2.53
figures the best remedy is the cheapest!

will get it tomorrow! (at least that's the plan!)