$500 for thrush treatment??!! Please help!

[BabyQ]

I've been through a pretty crazy ride since having my first baby, ds in late jan. Had attachment issues which led to cracked nipples, then thrush (on my nipples and baby's mouth). Was told to take Diflucan 3 times over a 6 day period. In that time mastitis got me. Just finished mastitis treatment and as thrush hadn't gone (and was now on my nipples and my mouth), i went to fill a different prescription (2 week treatment) for the thrush only to have my heart stop when chemist said it would cost $500!!!! I'm almost in tears as I know I can't afford that! Is it true that I can go back to the doctor and ask for it to be given a PBS authorisation number? (is that what it's called? and why wouldn't have dr. done that in the first place instead of warning me with "it may be a little expensive" grr..) I'm a little edgy anyway because I know it's something I'm not supposed to take long term as I'm breastfeeding. Extra info: also on daktarin for baby's mouth and my nipples.

Another question: Do I need to disinfect everything my milk and mouth comes into contact with? i.e. bed linen, glasses/cups as well? I use canesten and napisan plus normal detergents for clothes/linen.

Thank you in advance for all advice/suggestions!!

[Kitt3n]

ggez hun - get some po biotic, fast track - that should help, not a $500 script?!!

[AnyDream]

I think you need to go back to the doctor, they can either get it through for you as a PBS or prescribe something more affordable!!!

In the meantime, definitely get yourself onto a good probiotic.

Here are some things that I have learnt about thrush/mastitis:
Absolutely do not use disposable breast pads - get some cloth ones or even just make do with squares of clean flannelette folded over a few times. Change them rigorously often and wash them in hot hot water. Same goes for bras.

Watch how much cream you put on your nipples, sometimes it just keeps the skin soft and makes the cracks worse.

If the thrush treatment is not working, use antibiotics AND thrush treatment at the same time. Sometimes the symptoms are similar and you need to do both at the same time to "kill" it.

Get your dr to take swabs/cultures - you may need a different medication. I found the daktarin really irritated my nipples and ended up using a cream called NIlstat (washed off before feeds).

Most of all, if you haven't already, speak to someone who can give you good attachment & positioning advice. This might be a lactation consultant, a breastfeeding counsellor from the Australian Breastfeeding Association, or a trusted midwife. They may be able to give you more tips re the thrush as well.

Most of all, give yourself a big pat on the back! You are doing an awesome job to keep feeding even though you've had troubles with it! It's one of those things, suddenly one day you realise it's not hard and it doesn't hurt any more! Good luck, let us know how you get on.

[Yael]

I also had severe nipple thrush with my first, was on diflucan for a month. My GP got me an authorisation number, so i think it was around $50, not $400 - $500.

It was 3 years ago, so i can't remember all the advice i was given from the GP and LC at the time (def. go and see a LC - it really helped!), but i'm sure if you search for threads you can find it. There is that purple staining paste (had a mental blank of them name) you can get which is incredible for getting rid of thrush. I think you can still get at the RCH in Melb from memory.

Also RayRay had a similar experience to me with bad thrush, so i'm sure she can help out also.

[Crystalwings]

I've also used Diflucan for thrush and got it for $38 but it was at the discretion of my doctor and apparently they aren't really supposed to as Diflucan is for life threatening cases of thrush in immunocompromised people. You could go back and ask though, he/she the worst they can do is say no.

Some other things I found were diet. This plays a huge part in the thrush cycle. Cut out refined sugar and yeast as these are things that thrush needs to survive. I also agree with the other girls about probiotics. As well as taking these orally I also put Inner Health Plus powder on my nipples, alternating between this and the Daktarin gel.

Definatly agree with Marydean on getting a swab done as I ended up having a staph infection, the symptoms are the same.
I was the opposite to Marydean with treatment though and couldn't stand the nilstat as it was to sticky and my nipples kept getting stuck to my breast pads.

Anyway good luck. There is another thread in the bf section about thrush ATM with heaps more suggestions.

[AnyDream]

Olive'sMum, I used the Nilstat cream and not the oral drops - agree 100% the oral drops just shouldn't go near the BBs at all!! (I think we talked about this in a thread around that time...I had sticking issues as well - not noice LOL).

[BabyQ]

Thank you all very much for your replies. I've decided to try the no meds option and just using suggested natural yogurts, inner health capsules, daktarin, and vinegar and water wash to try and rebalance things. not quite sure how long i should be using it for though. Bubs mouth looks good but i'm still getting shooting pain in my back, and i'm not convinced it's gone from my mouth either..maybe another week of treatment? will see how things go. But if anyone has any other ideas please share!

Thanks again!

[boobaloo]

i have a really stange cure for nipple thrush. daktarin athletes foot cream. i had it really bad and that's what my lactation consultant recommended and it worked brilliantly. for mouth thrush, nilstat is really good and can be used on newborns. it's cheap and you need a prescription.

[jackrose]

All excellent advice here, it is sooo nice to be armed with a battery of things to do to hit this frustration on the head.

I suffered a terrible bout of thrush also complicated by having to take a course of antibiotics for an infected c-scar . It is so depressing but as Marydean said after working on it.....

It's one of those things, suddenly one day you realise it's not hard and it doesn't hurt any more!

....and when you come out the other end and breastfeeding is easy, you appreciate you newly found breastfeeding ease more than you can imagine!!

One other little hint, SUN.

Sun you boobs, your clothes and all things in touch with your nipples. The sun works wonders in killing off the thrush and it feels good too!