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[Emzib0b]

Hello Ladies,

I haven’t posted for a while. I’ve just been prescribed a six month course of Fluconazole tablets as I’ve got thrush for the third time in six months (the first and third were confirmed following a swab, the second I self-treated with OTC Canestan).

I’m 42 (peri since 38) and had never had thrush before until December last year. I’ve been on HRT for two years and haven’t changed anything in my lifestyle so could it be hormonal ups and downs? I’m also having a blood test next week to check for diabetes.

Has anyone else had to do the six month Fluconazole protocol? Did you have any more episodes of thrush after stopping the treatment?

Thanks x

[CLKD]

How is your diet overall?  Candida thrives on sugars.  How is the acidity in your vagina as this may impact on 'thrush'.

Canestan - pessaries made me burn++ and I had to sit in a cooling bath for hours.  Never again.

There have been a few members with similar threads on the Forum.  I suffered when I stopped taking The Pill as well as when I had emergency surgery and was starved for several days! 

Have U tried LIVE yoghurt: eaten and applied?  It worked for me during those times stated above but do keep the pots separate ;-).  I also gave table spoons to my dog when she had heartburn.  Licked off the spoon it did the trick.

[Emzib0b]

How is your diet overall?  Candida thrives on sugars.  How is the acidity in your vagina as this may impact on 'thrush'.

Canestan - pessaries made me burn++ and I had to sit in a cooling bath for hours.  Never again.

There have been a few members with similar threads on the Forum.  I suffered when I stopped taking The Pill as well as when I had emergency surgery and was starved for several days! 

Have U tried LIVE yoghurt: eaten and applied?  It worked for me during those times stated above but do keep the pots separate ;-).  I also gave table spoons to my dog when she had heartburn.  Licked off the spoon it did the trick.

  for all the suggestions CLKD  I’ll have a look for the other threads.

I’ve not thought to check the pH, but come to think of it, this kicked off a couple of days after my period started, and the itching/burning has calmed down quite a lot since my period ended.

Diet is pretty good for the most part. Whole foods, minimally processed. I try to avoid sugar as much as I can but my downfall is the occasions where I comfort eat (cake, desserts, etc) when my mood plummets - it’s usually brought on by hormones but can be related to other things. This can happen between 1 - 3 x a week, but then I can have good spells and not touch sugar for a couple of weeks!

I try to eat a portion of live yoghurt and Sauerkraut (not together! ) each day and started taking Optibac Probiotics for Women in the hope they might help!

[sheila99]

Have you been tested for diabetes as that can cause it? I had recurring thrush some years ago, always just before a period. Can't remember the treatment now but think it was 3 Treatments with fluconazole a fortnight apart. It got rid of it. It had to be oral. There's a thread on a strain that's resistant to fluconazole just in case yours is. If you're buying it yourself generic fluconazole is much cheaper than canaston.

[CLKD]

If this is cyclical it's probably hormone related.   2 days after my bleed stopped I would itch high up with a brown show.  Never at any other time.  I know when it's thrush!

[Emzib0b]

Have you been tested for diabetes as that can cause it? I had recurring thrush some years ago, always just before a period. Can't remember the treatment now but think it was 3 Treatments with fluconazole a fortnight apart. It got rid of it. It had to be oral. There's a thread on a strain that's resistant to fluconazole just in case yours is. If you're buying it yourself generic fluconazole is much cheaper than canaston.

Hi Sheila, I’m booked in for bloods on Tuesday to check for diabetes. Both grandparents on my Mum’s side had it in their later years and my Mum was pre-diabetic for a while but fixed it with some lifestyle tweaks. I’ve been prescribed Fluconazole to take every three days for the first week, then every week for six months! I’d much rather do the regime you did!

[Emzib0b]

If this is cyclical it's probably hormone related.   2 days after my bleed stopped I would itch high up with a brown show.  Never at any other time.  I know when it's thrush!

My cycles have been really irregular for the last two years with some long gaps, then oddly have been much more regular since December, which is when I had the first bout of thrush.

[Emzib0b]

Hi Ladies, thought I’d give an update.

HbA1c was normal.

Symptoms cleared up toward the end of the week of 72 hourly Fluconazole. A week later (last Sunday), on the day I was due to take my first weekly maintenance tablet, I noticed I was a little sore and itchy again, and this had got worse, despite taking the medication. I’m back at the GPs next week for another swab. I’ve asked the surgery on three separate occasions if I’m meant to continue taking the weekly Fluconazole and I can’t get a straight answer!

[CLKD]

It may well be vaginal atrophy!   Get some appropriate treatment on Tuesday: U don't need an exam or appt., a call to your GP Surgery should be enough: to use for at least 3 weeks to see if symptoms ease.  I had intense itching at the end of each period so high that I was unable to reach to scratch   

If the Surgery are stubborn then go to 'boots' and buy some Gina ......... U may have to tell them that you are over 50 ;-).  I believe that 1 can buy 'vagifem' on line, some1 hopefully will be along to advise. 

[Emzib0b]

It may well be vaginal atrophy!   Get some appropriate treatment on Tuesday: U don't need an exam or appt., a call to your GP Surgery should be enough: to use for at least 3 weeks to see if symptoms ease.  I had intense itching at the end of each period so high that I was unable to reach to scratch   

If the Surgery are stubborn then go to 'boots' and buy some Gina ......... U may have to tell them that you are over 50 ;-).  I believe that 1 can buy 'vagifem' on line, some1 hopefully will be along to advise.

Hi CLKD, I was using vaginal oestrogen tablets (generic version of Vagifem) for about seven months prior to the first bout of thrush (prescribed for urinary frequency/overactive bladder but had no dryness/signs of VA). I paused the vaginal oestrogen while treating the thrush at the end of December and had a break for a few weeks. Restarted at the end of Jan and had thrush again three days later, so there were concerns there could be a link. The nurse practitioner who examined me a couple of weeks ago after bout number 3 said everything looks healthy there. Without being too graphic everything feels lubricated both inside and at the entrance, but I do have to apply a vaginal moisturiser to the outer areas after showering otherwise they feel irritated (I still had to do this even while using vaginal oestrogen). The entrance never feels dry though, and I’ve felt fine between each episode of thrush. I won’t discount the possibility though, and I really appreciate your advice!

[CLKD]

Let us know how you get on.   Any idea what is causing the thrush, which thrives on sugars.  There are always reasons for these issues but GPs/Nurses often continue with treatments rather than referring 'on' for appropriate advice. 

Has a change in diet been suggested?   Also LIVE yoghurt eaten and applied eases any symptoms that I used to intermittently suffer with, fortunately not for several years since the VA is under control. 

Takes up far too much headspace these issues 

[Ayesha]

Have you tried an oestrogen cream to smear on the outside as well as using the pessary? For some women including myself, Vagifem doesn't touch the outside area, I use a smear of Estriol cream twice day. 

[NightNurse]

The national guidelines for the treatment of thrush (vulvo-vaginal candidiasis) can be found here https://www.bashh.org/resources/22/vulvovaginal_candidiasis_2019

Getting the thrush treated AND getting extra oestrogen into the vagina at the same time might be the way to go. The oestrogen helps reduce symptoms of VA and also helps protect from fungal infection. You may not need to continue with the thrush treatment for the whole 6 months if the symptoms start to reduce or resolve altogether. Check whether the fluconazole (for treating thrush) could interact with any other medicines you are prescribed.

[Emzib0b]

Let us know how you get on.   Any idea what is causing the thrush, which thrives on sugars.  There are always reasons for these issues but GPs/Nurses often continue with treatments rather than referring 'on' for appropriate advice. 

Has a change in diet been suggested?   Also LIVE yoghurt eaten and applied eases any symptoms that I used to intermittently suffer with, fortunately not for several years since the VA is under control. 

Takes up far too much headspace these issues 

I’ve been racking my brain trying to think of anything that’s changed in the last 5-6 months and the only thing I can think of is hormones. I mentioned in my earlier post I do have something sugary 1 - 3 x a week when I’m low (sometimes less often) but I’ve had that habit for years and it’s better than it used to be.

Which brand of live yoghurt did you use? I’ve been eating Yeo for the last year or so.  It’s the only one I’ve found in Asda that has live cultures.

The NP asked if I’d recently taken antibiotics (nope) could I be diabetic (just ruled out) and if I could be going through the menopause. I’ve also got an appt with a GP in three weeks time to discuss.

[Emzib0b]

Have you tried an oestrogen cream to smear on the outside as well as using the pessary? For some women including myself, Vagifem doesn't touch the outside area, I use a smear of Estriol cream twice day.

Thanks, Ayesha. I’ve not tried the cream but I think I’m going to ask if I can switch or try both if I resume treatment. It seems to make more sense. I hope I don’t have to jump through too many hoops this time!