O my fiery vagina

[Pussyfoot]

I was placed on a round of antibiotics to fend off an infection while in hospital. As a result, I've copped a roaring case of thrush in my vagina and nipples. It's like sitting on a pile of crushed glass..by far the worst case I've ever had. Sitting in the bath gives me temporary relief.

As I've been breastfeeding, I've immediately stopped (but continue to express 'pump and dump') and am using 'clean' supplies and formula as back up for the next few days as I wait for the stuff to leave my system.

In addition to topical cream and Nystatin drops (for nipples and child if necessary), I was given Difflucane as a tablet but it says it's contraindicative for breastfeeders and can harm baby. I was then given Femezole but that says the same thing.

I'm really keen to nip this in the bud. Do I take the tablet while not technically breastfeeding? Or is there another solution? I'm off sugars etc.

[MamaC]

*bump* I don't know, but maybe someone else does?

Help Pussyfoot please, her description of the pain made me squeak! :cantbelieveit:

[saremc]

Youhgurt is aparently good

[bellalika]

Oh my. That description made me try and squeeze everything up inside.

I hope you get an answer soon!


Sent from my iPhone using Bub Hub

[Phyllis Stein]

A tampon dipped in good quality live yogurt and placed in the vagina can help. Otherwise, I'd get on a daily dose of *quality* probiotic. And call the ABA regarding BF.

[Pussyfoot]

ABA didn't know and referred me to my GP.
So I went and did the obvious thing - saw my GP.
Despite being recommended by the pharmacist, my GP felt I shouldn't have been given the tablet as a breastfeeder.
So I can't feed for a few days.
Probiotics were also recommended by the pharmacist but at $56 a bottle I had to pass.
Presently eating an organic natural yoghurt, bathing and applying the cream.
Am permitted to take a Panadeine Forte and this is helping.

Thanks for your help, ladies.

[Bubmum]

Honey..just give your ginie big hugs from me..poor thing.

[MamaC]

Honey..just give your ginie big hugs from me..poor thing.

:laughing: I thought the same thing!

Pussyfoot, I hope you start to feel better tomorrow :(
How's your supply coping with the pumping? How's bub going with the formula? :hugs:

[Ruby Sneakers]

Apparently diflucan is actually safe for BF. I had the pharmacist check the medication book and it is apparently safe. I took it when bub was about 4 weeks old, she told me to take it when ur about to feed as it wont enter the milk until after the feed and would be gone before the next one

Daktarin on the nips is a good way to go and yes natural yoghurt soaked tampon is a good natural remedy too

Don't forget to wash all ur things in hot water and/or use a sanitizing rinse :)

[Borealis]

Antenatal clinic said for me to use natural yogurt.. Just lather it up and shove it in there.. Lol... Or vinegar. I think she said 10 to 1 water vs vinegar although I'm not sure how you get it in there and keep it in there. Yogurt did help me.

[Daydream Believer]

Im not sure, just putting it out there, but when I was pregnant I got case after case of thrush and it just got worse and worse. My skin was peeling like all things unholy.

After all the natural remedies, including the million dollar probiotics, i was given a cream that you inserted with a 'pesery' type thing. It worked within 3 days, and I kept using it til it was all gone.
I have no idea if it would be safe for BF, but I checked with the doctor and two different pharmacists that it was ok for pregnancy.

I wish I knew what it was called, but it was just an over the counter anti fungal thing.

You poor thing. I went from never having had it in 24 years, and then BAM! Pregnancy gave it to me bad.

I hates the thrush! It's an evil curse!

[Alexander Beetle]

Oh god that sounds painful. I wish I could give you a remedy but all I can do is give you my sympathy.

[Pussyfoot]

Oh dear god, no hugging my vagina. Bits of it are starting to fall off. It's not a good look.


I went from never having had it in 24 years, and then BAM! Pregnancy gave it to me bad. I hates the thrush! It's an evil curse!

I don't reckon I got it from pregnancy. I think someone on BubHub pointed the bone at me. *LOL*

Alas, I've been advised not to use the pessary as I'm post natal which means nothing up the hoohah for six weeks. [That includes my husband :hissy:]

As for Difflucan, the stuff remains in the system for 48 hours and does have side effects for mother and baby. It's a question of whether you want to take that risk and I don't.

Meanwhile, I'm like a Jersey cow pumping for king and country. Bub is coping well on formula and it's interesting to note the difference in his behaviour. As soon as this curse has lifted, he'll be back on the boob.

[BigRedV]

I got really bad thrush from antibiotics once and the only thing that got rid of it for me was not wearing any undies for a few days. Instant relief.

[ICanDream]

You could try something like Blackmores Acidophilius tablets. I think they are maybe $29 a bottle and you can take 2 or 3 if having a bad bad episode like you are and then either take one a day for maintenance or just stop.

Sounds truly horrendous what you are experiencing and I send you hugs but I think I'll give them to your body not your giny, it sounds so terribly sore!

[Phyllis Stein]

Inner Health do an average probiotic for around $25, or health food shops sell better ones for around $30.

I'm surprised the ABA didn't give you better advice, sounds like you struck a dud.

[Ruby Sneakers]

Hope it's ok to post this.

http://www.breastfeedingfacts.com/Diflucan-Fluconazole-Treatment.php

Everything is a matter of weighing up the risks (eg I was on zofran my entire pregnancy but if I didn't I doubt me or bubby would have survived)

Best wishes hun!! Hope u get some relief soon!!

[Tam-I-Am]

As for Difflucan, the stuff remains in the system for 48 hours and does have side effects for mother and baby. It's a question of whether you want to take that risk and I don't.

Diflucan is used in neonatal intensive care units as a means of preventing babies from contracting thrush from their feeding tubes. These are usually premature infants. The amount that comes through the breastmilk is startlingly small...much lower doses than is well tolerated in NICU patients.

http://www.nbci.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=18:fluconazole&catid=5:information&Itemid=17


Fluconazole in the milk
Fluconazole does appear in the milk, and this is as it should be, since the idea is to treat infection in the breasts and nipples. It is thus superior to ketoconazole, which gets into the milk in only tiny amounts. The baby will obviously get some, but this drug is now being promoted for use in babies for the treatment of simple thrush. There have been no complications in the baby reported from exposure to fluconazole in the breastmilk. Continue breastfeeding while taking fluconazole, even if you are told that you should stop.

I'm sorry you're going through this, it sounds horrific. There are more resources, and ideas for treating thrush that are safe for you and your baby, at the link above.

:hugs:

[2boybubs]

The best thing is get some probiotics, Phyllis Stein is right about the health food shops, they have good probiotics for around $30. Take them orally AND pop one up there before you go to bed at night, I had a fantastic midwife who told me that trick. There's a product called Kefir that some health food shops sell, its basically a dairy product like yogurt but with much stronger probiotics and a lot more types than just the ABC. That works beautifully as well and is cheaper than a bottle of probiotics. I'm guessing you just had bub and are using pads for the bleeding, I got thrush from using them as well because most contain plastic and create a great environment for thrush. You could switch to reusable cotton ones, or at the very least try and change them really frequently. Good luck!

[~Temet Nosce~]

You could try getting some Yokult, you can just get it from the supermarket and it's alot cheaper (and probably safe for breastfeeding) I've only ever had one yeast infection (thanks to antibiotics too) and that helped clear it up, as well as clotrimazole cream (antifungal cream).

[TinyLittleTootsies]

I don't reckon I got it from pregnancy. I think someone on BubHub pointed the bone at me. *LOL*




HAHAHAHAHA.... I had to wait until I had stopped dying from choking on my coffee after I read this to even be able to see to type. That is so funny. It seems to have been very effective on their behalf!

I also had thrush with bits hanging off me (no I didn't leave it to fester, this happened within days plus treating) I was also breatfeeding and refusing to take the tablet. I ended up taking it as nothing else was working and I was losing sleep with all the itching and bleeding and crying at night etc Take the tablet then pump for a few days.

[Witchypoo]

Not sure as far as advice goes but lots of sympathy and :hugs:. I've felt your pain and it was SHOCKING!! Oh...and the name of your thread should win you a Bubhub award!

[Pussyfoot]

Thanks for your advices everyone.

I went and 'splurged' on a bottle of probiotic capsules at $19 and doubled the dosage. Went back to the doctor and got a cream pessary (Nilstat) and dosed up straight away. Continued to down water and bathe and while I still have it, the pain has marginally lessened, allowing me to sleep.


I'm guessing you just had bub and are using pads for the bleeding, I got thrush from using them as well because most contain plastic and create a great environment for thrush.

I have just had bub and but am using cloth (cotton) pads. The thrush came from the use of antibiotics.

While I do appreciate the link for Difflucan, testing in Australia cannot confirm the efficacy of this substance nor its safety in breast milk. It is for this reason I did not want to take the tablet. This was backed by my doctor.

Hopefully, I'll be rid of this scourge in the next few days. But thanks for the suggestions - they seem to have worked. My vagina thanks you. :smiliedance: