Thrush on me but not in ds mouth?

[MomToKandE]

I'm not sure if this is thrush or not. One nipple has been a little painful for a while. In the last day or so the other one started hurting. Both nipples appear normal but this morning I noticed that each has a crack along the side.

I've been treating ds for a yeasty diaper rash but I don't see anything in his mouth.

He's not a baby, he's 2.5 years old... and he's my second child, you'd think I'd know all about this by now!

Does this sound like thrush? We sometimes both fall asleep when he's nursing so maybe it's just a latch issue? That's what I thought until it spread to the other nipple and until I saw the cracks.

TIA!!!!

[MomToKandE]

Oh, another question:

If it is thrush what is the least I can get away with doing with my bras? Since ds basically only nurses morning and night I've gone back to wearing Victoria's Secret bras that won't respond well to being washed on hot and dryed in the dryer. Maybe I can just rinse them with vinegar and then wash them on cold? Please say yes!

[wubanub]

i got thrush but Aidan didnt. I took Acidophilus and kept an eye on him. As far as my bras I washed them with sportswash and GSE and then hung them to dry.

[mhr1406]

It sounds like you have thrush. The same thing happened with my ds 3 weeks ago and we are currently treating thrush. Yes you can rinse your bras in vinegar in cold water. If you can hang them to dry in the sun (maybe a sunny window.
http://www.breastfeedingonline.com/yeast.shtml
http://breastfeeding.hypermart.net/thrush.html

Here are some links to info on thrush just in case you need it.
hth

[MomToKandE]

Thanks! What is GSE?

I thought I'd beat this but over the weekend it kind of started up again so I'm not taking any chances.

You'd think that after almost 6 years combined of nursing I'd know more about this!

[canadateacher]

I have been dealing with thrush since DD was less than a week old (although it was not diagnosed until she was 2 months old:, even though I asked about it! Even the doctor told me it was just milk). Anyways, at first there was not much and sometimes not anything in DD's mouth, but I was in severe pain. Eventually her mouth was covered, since I did not treat early enough. I used Gentian Violet, Dr. Newman's APNO and Acidophilus - Acidophilus is what worked for DD. It got better, but now the pain is back and there is next to nothing in DD's mouth. I am using the APNO and the acidophilus and it is slowly getting better again (painful, but not toe-curling ). Hope things start to get better for you - it is definitely frustrating!!!! Oh, as for washing bras, I have really just washed everything normally, but I guess I'm not a good one to give advice there since I am still not over it. I look forward to reading any more advice as it comes along.

[canadateacher]

Originally Posted by MomToKandE

Thanks! What is GSE?

I thought I'd beat this but over the weekend it kind of started up again so I'm not taking any chances.

You'd think that after almost 6 years combined of nursing I'd know more about this!

GSE is Grapefruit Seed Extract? I think. Not to be confused with Grape Seed Extract. Another recommendation of Dr. Newman's, I forgot all about this - if things don't get better this will be my next line of action.

[mhr1406]

Yes GSE is grapefriut seed extract. It is really strong stuff. I used it in the laundry when I ran out of vinegar. I also tried to drink the liquid mixed with water (gross)! After that I chose to avoid the nipple treatments that icluded GSE. I did not want my ds to have to taste that.
Ds and I beat thrush finally. I treated for a full 2 weeks after symptoms were gone. I also had to treat DH .
Good luck I hope that you beat it soon. It really is no fun!!!

[Rachel J.]

I think I'm also dealing with thrush; ds has had a yeasty rash but no signs in mouth. Anyway, there's a really good article on the MDC site about natural remedies for thrush, definitely worth checking out. Right now I'm using white distilled vinegar, 1/4 c. in 1 c. water, at least 4xdaily on and around nipples. Also said going braless helps immensely. Putting olive oil on nipples can help. Probiotics for you and baby are important. I use acidophilus and have infant probiotics for ds since infants have a different make up of intestinal flora. If you pump or bottle feed at all make sure you sterilize nipples etc. after each use. It's a royal pain but you've got to make sure you destroy all yeast or else you'll just keep reinfecting.

[talk de jour]

He can have yeast in his mouth without you actually being able to see it.

[canadateacher]

That makes sense, because even after DD had no signs of it in her mouth, she would sometimes get very fussy when feeding like she did when it was there - and I was in pain again. Can they have it further back towards there throats? Just curious because her crys have been very hoarse - probably unrelated.

[talk de jour]

Yep, it can live pretty much anywhere on the mucous membranes.

[canadateacher]

Oops - I had a few spelling mistakes in my last post! Thanks for the info, that explains a lot!

[chandistar]

there is a nipple ointment made by dr. jack newman. you have to get a prescription but it works great for treating thrush nipples. ask you dr. or a lactation consultant HTH

[canadateacher]

Originally Posted by chandistar

there is a nipple ointment made by dr. jack newman. you have to get a prescription but it works great for treating thrush nipples. ask you dr. or a lactation consultant HTH

NAK

Yeah - it's called Dr. Newman's All Purpose Nipple Ointment (APNO) - I have been using it for awhile and I think it has helped a lot. Especially since I can't use Lanolin anymore.

[EastonsMom]

Dry your bras in the sun, it kills yeast and is easier on them as well! I had Thrush from hell the first five monthes and E. was asyptomatic: The fact he has yeast on his bum says he has it.