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[Snowcat]

Hi everyone. My battle with thrush continues despite trying some Econazole pessaries that apparently the rare infection (Candida Krusei) was sensitive to when tested.  Having to wait a week to even speak to the GP.  All I asked for was to do another test!

My question is how do fellow sufferers cope with the irritation and, even worse, the itching please? It’s driving me nuts and making me very tearful.  No-one my GP has spoken to has any experience in treating this particular Candida species.  I feel like I want to dab some steroid cream there but as I’ve vulval atrophy too I’m very nervous about doing that.  I’m just using estriol cream and hydromol at the moment.  Plus the patches.  Everything was improving until this started and I’m feeling really down right now … just feel like I’ll have this forever and can’t bear the thought of that.  The lab suggested nystatin pessaries but they are no longer being manufactured … any advice very much appreciated- thank you.

[Fianna]

I feel your pain (and itch). I definitely wouldn't use steriod cream down there unless instructed to by a doctor, it could make it worse and cause other problems. Would canestan cream offer relief, even though it's not the right antifungal? I slap it on several times a day and it does help with the burning and itching. Alternatively live yoghurt straight from the fridge would be very soothing but I find added moisture causes soreness, but some say it helps. Are you boosting your good microbes with probiotic yoghurts, kefir or supplements?  I'm finding this keeps it in check ( but doesn't cure it for me).

[CLKD]

Perhaps read back through your threads and make notes of responses and advice? 

[Snowcat]

I feel your pain (and itch). I definitely wouldn't use steriod cream down there unless instructed to by a doctor, it could make it worse and cause other problems. Would canestan cream offer relief, even though it's not the right antifungal? I slap it on several times a day and it does help with the burning and itching. Alternatively live yoghurt straight from the fridge would be very soothing but I find added moisture causes soreness, but some say it helps. Are you boosting your good microbes with probiotic yoghurts, kefir or supplements?  I'm finding this keeps it in check ( but doesn't cure it for me).

I can’t use Canestan or clotrimazole as it burns too much.  Yes I’m taking optibac for women and having kefir.  They might help when I eventually get rid of it.  Gynae advised not to use yoghurt down there though.  I’m already using Ovestin cream and hydromol ointment so maybe a bit of a soup! 😂 I’m now waiting for advice on next step re treatment as nystatin is longer manufactured.  That was the only suggestion the lab had. Thanks for replying.  I’ll carry on with the probiotics etc x

[dangermouse]

You could also try a PH vaginal wash to make things more alkaline which yeast doesn’t like. This could counteract the higher acidity that the vaginal oestrogen causes.

You can also get the Nystatin online from Europe yourself, as already mentioned.

[dangermouse]

On that logic, you may find that a bath with bicarbonate (baking soda) added will give you some immediate relief.

By making the tissues drier and less hospitable will also make the yeast leave of its own accord!

[CLKD]

What reason did your GP give U for not using LIVE yoghurt?    Thrush lives in the back passage and thrives on sugars and I, plus 5 other ladies, have used regular applications in the vagina with good success as well as eating it several times a day.

Bicarb of soda or epsom salts baths ............

[Snowcat]

You could also try a PH vaginal wash to make things more alkaline which yeast doesn’t like. This could counteract the higher acidity that the vaginal oestrogen causes.

You can also get the Nystatin online from Europe yourself, as already mentioned.

I don’t have a bath, just a shower- and my doctor said that nystatin isn’t manufactured anywhere anymore.  Here or abroad - he didn’t enlarge on that though.

[Snowcat]

What reason did your GP give U for not using LIVE yoghurt?    Thrush lives in the back passage and thrives on sugars and I, plus 5 other ladies, have used regular applications in the vagina with good success as well as eating it several times a day.

The reason was that it’s not been proven to help and could introduce unhelpful bacteria.  I suppose because I’m already using Ovestin and vagifem and hydromol it might not be a good idea to introduce something like that - I don’t know really!

Bicarb of soda or epsom salts baths ............

[dangermouse]

If you Google ‘buy Nystatin stada’ you will see lots of websites selling it from about 23 euros, depending on how big a pack you want to buy.

[sheila99]

You need to google it. It's some time since I looked it up but I think it's still sold for oral thrush but not for vaginal so check you're getting the right thing. I don't think (not certain) you can use the oral one with a suitable applicator. It also suggests something else instead of nystatin but I can't remember what it was now.

[Fuzzwhizzer]

I agree with CLKD live yoghurt always been a winner.

[CLKD]

NHS has advice on the use of Nystatin for oral use. .......... worth reading for information.

[CLKD]

7.02.02 - Nottinghamshire Area Prescribing Committee



100,000u pessaries (unlicensed)

For use only when imidazoles are inappropriate.

Nystatin pessaries and nystatin vaginal cream discontinued. If pessaries needed, an unlicensed version may be imported from abroad and available in secondary care.


Usual dose 100,000 at night for ~2 weeks

(See BASHH guidelines)

LIVE yoghurt will not do any harm, it cleanses the digestive system top to bottom when eaten - I usually swallow a large spoonful 3 times a day; my dog benefitted when she had heartburn caused by chemotherapy - as well as inserting into the vagina to ease itching.

It really is Trial and Error and there will be a reason why thrush is persistent.  I think that somewhere on the Forum is a thread  about diagnosing etc.? but I can't remember the subject title 

[Snowcat]

Thank you everyone for your replies.  I will discuss with gynae - they said they’d phone me next week.  I’m not happy about buying stuff from abroad unless I know it’s the right thing so hoping doc will do another culture & sensitivity test first to see if nystatin is the right one- then I can ask them - I had a call from my GP to say that they have sourced a small supply from a local hospital if my sample is sensitive to it which was a nice surprise but I think they want to hold fire and see if the Econazole has worked first as that did show sensitivity even though when I googled it, it said it wouldn’t work! I’ll keep on eating the kefir and probiotics too.  No sugar in my diet and see what happens.  I suspect that when my atrophic skin has healed and things are healthy again it might not keep occurring.  I’ve read that both low and high estrogen can cause thrush which to me means they don’t really know! I was on HRT for years and didn’t have a problem with it - the only difference this time is the use of estriol cream …