Thrush Issues

[tears_of_joy]

I have terrible thrush at the moment, it started over a week ago, i got really swollen down below tmi! sorry the dr gave me nilstat cream which i used till it ran out but after 2 days of not using its back to what it was and really stinging heaps especially when i go to the toilet. The dr has now told me to use canestan for 6 days.

Will i be able to clear it up before bub arrives?

and

Does any one have any tips to maybe ease it a bit?
(Other than no undies as personally i just cant do it!)

Thanks ladies.

[~clover~]

I was going to say no undies. & lots of showers. Its always worked for me.
What about the new oral things? Canesoral?? Are they ok in pregnancy?

[Junglemum]

No oral ones in preg unfortunately.

2 courses of canasten worked for me. Cleared up in about a week. It is so uncomfortable, i feel your pain.

Also, cotton undies and air time as mentioned. I also took a probitic. If you don't want to do that, you can eat loads of jalna or vaalia yoghurt.

[principessa76]

I'd get stuck into the probiotics and I've also heard getting a bit of diluted vinegar onto the area can help. Also avoiding eating yeasty and sugary things - like white bread and vegemite.

I didn't need it but my OB told me that it was ok to take the oral thrush treatments. I trust her so it must be ok - esp cos you're in the 3rd tri.

[visitor1]

Ive had it something bad this pregnancy...the worst out of all 3 now!

Only thing to worked for me was the Canestan suppostry...it worled within a day and kept it at bay for a week....i combined it with cream on the outside and worked wonders. Shame it didnt last forever though and ive accepted thrush as jsut 'one of them horrible pregnancy' things this time!

No undies never helped, showers made it worse. Cut out breads and sugars if you can.

[Cricket]

See if you can get some acidophilus from a health food store - it comes in drops or tablets. It should clear up the problem for you, and, if you keep taking it, you'll be much less likely to have trouble with thrush in your baby and on your nipples when nursing. (ouch!) And, as the others have said, cut out the white flour and white sugar as much as you can, and keep things clean and dry - cotton undies, and no soap. All the best!

[Hollybolly]

My naturopath suggests organic yogurt.... not to eat though

If you buy a tub of the organic yogurt, and wipe it around the outside of your vagina (basically the same as you would apply the canestan).

You'll need to wear liners/pad as its messy and feels a little ew... but it apparently works

I haven't had to do it myself, but I did ask her once on behalf of my cousin who suffers really badly during pregnancy.
My cousin said it worked fantastically for relief

Good luck hun

[belle75]

oh you poor thing! There's a product called ecovag which is acidophillus in a pessary form to use vaginally if you don't want to use yogurt. You may be able to use hydrozole cream ( antifungal plus cortisone ) externally only to soothe the inflamation. Or preferably resolve balm (cortisone free & has antifungal for thrush and recommended for nappy rash in babies - very soothing). Paraderm Plus may also help to relieve itching/inflammation.

[sonicallyanimated]

I have terrible thrush at the moment, it started over a week ago, i got really swollen down below tmi!

Amazing, I have had the same prob, swollen down below too. i really do feel your pain!! drs app is not for another week (doing shared care) so going to go into chemist grab some canestan tomoz.
i came on here and was going to post a new thread, just as well i searched first!

[tears_of_joy]

Thanks everyone for your help Its back to being bearable at the moment so i will see what happens after the course of cream this time.

sonicallyanimated- Its terrible isn't it! Good luck with the canestan i hope it works quickly for you.

[Cricket]

Hopefully the canesten will relieve the problems for you!
But there is a chance it will return - canesten kills the excess yeast, but since the conditions have not changed, and there is nothing to "replace" it, in a sense, you could very well end up back with the same issue. The vaginal pH changes during pregnancy, making the environment much more friendly for yeast, so it is much more likely to grow out of control. (there is always some yeast present - it's just balanced by other things too.) That's why the other measures might help more, long term. The yogourt or acidophilus provide the bacteria that can counter the yeast, and prevent it from growing out of control. The reduction in sugar and white flour lowers your blood sugar (I think!?) so that there is less for the yeast to feed on. And, staying as clean and dry as possible also prevents the environment from being too favourable for yeast growth. (It likes warm, dark, moist environments - obviously there's only so much you can do in that department, but every little bit helps! )
Wish you all the best for finding a good solution!

[belle75]

Acijel - a vaginal "acidifier" may help. Brings the vaginal pH to the correct level so good bacteria thrives and kills yeast. Don't use the applicator in pregnancy though. Also, avoid using soap and other cleansers. warm water and a pH 5.5 cleanser (Sebomed) if possible. Keeping a tube of canesten( ask for 3 day cream - it is stronger) in the loo and apply each time you go to the loo (externally without applicator) will help.

[jma]

Hi!

How horrible for you I also had it extremely bad from about 9 weeks of pregnancy until 35 weeks. I was about 3 times the size I should be down there and it was just running out of me, sorry if tmi!!

I used Nilstat and Canestan, both to no avail (about 10 courses or more of each!!). I used yoghurt even, which felt nice cause it was cold but didn't really help.

I ended up begging the chemist to give me the oral form of canestan and it cleared up. It was the only thing that helped me.

Luckily because I went into Labour at 36 weeks!!

[Midwife Melissa]

You could try calendula and hydrastis ovules, available from a naturopath or herbalist. Check with them though, to make sure it's ok to use in pregnancy.

[BellyBelly]

Check out Fast Tract - it's organic and super potent, more so than powders on the market atm. Loads of BB members swear by it too.