Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Other Health Discussion => Topic started by: SGNW on October 28, 2024, 07:25:33 PM
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Hello!
I've been treated for recurrent thrush for 6 months, had a clear swab but not I'm a week or so away from my period I have the most horrendously painful vulva/vagina opening and discharge that is white eith some 'bits' though wouldn't describe them as curdled.
No clue if its thrush again or not, or VA or normal discharge?! When I had thrush before it was watery so didn't present as the norm.
Has anything else had this - if it is thrush, every cycle before their period coming back?
Anxious, upset, in pain and just so so fed up here :(
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That triggered a memory as to how my vaginal area ached at 'certain' times of the month as well as my bottom feeling as though it would drop out prior to a bleed. :o
Has your GP suggested vaginal atrophy treatment? Do read the threads here, there are plenty: make notes ;-).
After a period ended I would itchy high up towards the back of my belly button and after I stopped The Pill I had thrush 4 which the Gynae Registrar gave me a pessary. The other time that I had thrush was following emergency surgery ::)
There is a rare possibility that you have a different strain of thrush is present = continuing symptoms. If I can find it, I'll bounce the thread.
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Bacterial vaginosis is another condition to be discussed. Also if these symptoms are B4 or after a bleed, it may be that your vagina is dry = itchiness
Do U take pain relief?
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Thanks, I've had swabs taken and no BV has come back.
I've had a recent one and results Thursday, not feeling optimistic! Based on how it feels anyway.
I've not taken pain relief no, I should! I noticed the middle of my cycle around ovulation it's OK, but right after my period it's awful and also this week or so before it starts again.
So miserable, I know I'm not alone in feeling this way I had no idea when I was younger how things would change!
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I was never aware of ovulating ::)
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Have you been tested for diabetes? It can cause recurrent thrush.
I had similar years ago, it kept coming back before a period. Gp said it can live in the bloodstream so I was treated with 3 doses of oral fluconazole.
There is a strain of thrush that's resistant to fluconazole so if it is thrush it might be worth seeing if you havre the resistant one.
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I was treated with pessary, how do you know if bloodstream isn't that very serious?
I will see what they say after thus swab, just wanted some other experiences and to essentially vent as this is a safe space! :)
Thank you!
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Don't worry about what lives in the blood stream, the body is well able to keep us in the main healthy, i.e. the chickenpox virus remains dormant and when the body is stressed, may develop shingles.
I can't remember the strain of thrush that was discussed here earlier this year :-\
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Swab came back high yeast infection :( again.
Now on fluconazole twice a week. I have requested a culture swab though and waiting to hear back.
Any tricks of tips people have used alongside this? Taking probiotics, kefir/good gut things.
Any advice! At a loss and feel down, all my tests show no reason why it keeps returning
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Yeast/candida thrives on sugars. When I suffered following emergency surgery I ate LIVE Greek yoghurt several times a day to cleanse the digestive tract from top to bottom. I believe that some yeast lives in the back passage so can easily be transferred.
I also found that applying the yoghurt into the vagina whilst laying on a thick towel and reading, really eased the itchiness. Cooling and soothing but do keep the tubs separate ;-)
Is the 'fluconazole' a pessary?
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Hi SGNW....I've got the same problem, although I'm post menopause. I've had numerous treatments of Canister and Fluconazole that haven't worked. I've done the 3 Fluconazole over 6 days and thats seems to work but as soon as I stop it the thrush comes back. I'm now on a 6 month dose of Fluconazole once a week but already feeling the tell tale signs that the thrush is still there.
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Hi SGNW....I've got the same problem, although I'm post menopause. I've had numerous treatments of Canister and Fluconazole that haven't worked. I've done the 3 Fluconazole over 6 days and thats seems to work but as soon as I stop it the thrush comes back. I'm now on a 6 month dose of Fluconazole once a week but already feeling the tell tale signs that the thrush is still there.
Sorry to hear that Dotty! It's miserable isn't it.
Do you use anything to ease the itch or soreness too such as a moisturiser?
I've not tried before but might do. I'm getting a culture back next week to check fluconizole is right. If it come back after this I'm not sure what to do!
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Yeast/candida thrives on sugars. When I suffered following emergency surgery I ate LIVE Greek yoghurt several times a day to cleanse the digestive tract from top to bottom. I believe that some yeast lives in the back passage so can easily be transferred.
I also found that applying the yoghurt into the vagina whilst laying on a thick towel and reading, really eased the itchiness. Cooling and soothing but do keep the tubs separate ;-)
Is the 'fluconazole' a pessary?
I don't have sugar really, apart from the odd glass of wine or two. Fruit yes but no sweets or cake etc, as know they love sugar! That said I also cut out all caffeine and really lowered breads etc. It's so hard to cut everything though, and to know how much difference that makes!
It's oral fluconazole
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Try taking ibuprofen alongside. There is research that shows this can be effective. It seemed to work for me alongside flucozanle every 3 days over about 3 weeks.
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The body needs sugars and salts. Cutting out fruit/veg doesn't always help the body as it processes natural foods differently to sugars ingested through added via sweets, cakes, puddings .......... in that the gut doesn't rid itself of 'hidden' sugar/salt in the same way.
It's certainly a miserable condition, I remember the itch high up really well >:(. There has to be a reason, mayB stool samples for testing should be next?
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I have read somewhere that there is such a thing as cyclical thrush, that runs alongside periods. Maybe a thought would be to stop the cycle? Perhaps take the combined pill continuously or the mini pill so you no longer have a cycle and bleed.
VA treatment will not hurt if you are offered it. I would have taken it as a preventive for VA if I’d known it existed before I was diagnosed.
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Below are some things that can cause thrush, I used to get it loads when I was younger.
Do you wear non cotton underwear, thongs, tights or tight fitting trousers?
Are your knickers gusset warm/hot before wearing, eg: from a radiator, or ironing?
Do you use Scented and perfumed products?
Do you wash your underwear in harsh products?
Do you eat a lot of sugary foods?
Are you sexually active? Are you 'wet' and aroused enough?
Are you on hrt?
I know diabetes has been mentioned, but what about a weakened immune system?
Does your gp keep giving you the same medication? If so, ask to try a different one, that one might work better for you.
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Try taking ibuprofen alongside. There is research that shows this can be effective. It seemed to work for me alongside flucozanle every 3 days over about 3 weeks.
This worked for me also, had recurring thrush for 6 months last year. It kept coming back every month although I'm postmenopausal so not hormonal. One treatment just didn't do it and by the time I'd got another appointment and swab it was back with a vengeance. The chemist refused treatment because I was over 60. In the end I gave up with the doctors and ordered 3 fluconazole tables on line and took one every 72 hours (NHS guidelines for recurring thrush) and ibuprofen 3 times a day after seeing this research. Not had it since. I recommended this to my niece who was having the same problem and it was successful for her too.
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I got a message with my cultures swab, it said it showed thrush but 'antimicrobial sensitivity testing has been withdrawn from reference lab'
Does that mean the lab withdrew it or they don't do it anymore? Bit confused. Also feel deflated, I wanted to at least know whether I was on the right treatment or not.
My period also finishes yesterday and immediate dry soreness was back!
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Below are some things that can cause thrush, I used to get it loads when I was younger.
Do you wear non cotton underwear, thongs, tights or tight fitting trousers?
Are your knickers gusset warm/hot before wearing, eg: from a radiator, or ironing?
Do you use Scented and perfumed products?
Do you wash your underwear in harsh products?
Do you eat a lot of sugary foods?
Are you sexually active? Are you 'wet' and aroused enough?
Are you on hrt?
I know diabetes has been mentioned, but what about a weakened immune system?
Does your gp keep giving you the same medication? If so, ask to try a different one, that one might work better for you.
Thank you, how would I know if I had a weak immune system? I've had so many bloods looking at all sorts of things and nothing stands out, but don't know if I am missing requesting something else
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[/quote]Thank you, how would I know if I had a weak immune system? I've had so many bloods looking at all sorts of things and nothing stands out, but don't know if I am missing requesting something else
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I'm not really sure, though i think our immune system does get lower as we age, and I think if you are always catching colds, or fund it hard to shake them off, you may have a low immune system.
I'm not sure but I think certain medication, diseases, a poor diet, smoking & drinking can lower it as well.
Infections or surgery can temporary effect it as well I believe.
Someone else maybe along to correct me if I'm wrong.
I'm not sure if there's any kind of test to test for it, but if there is, and it came back that you were low it would be a case of trying to find out what's causing it.
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Just when I feel 'normal' I get discharge and just feel different :( 7 lots of fluconazole now and thought I'd not be regressing backwards.
Aroubd the time of ovulation but doesn't look like that to me. Also tender breasts, aching pelvis all points to ovulation but who knows - can't see the wood for the trees now with this and just feel constantly down :'(
Not sure where thumbs post is going apart from solidarity and reassurance ;D
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'antimicrobial sensitivity testing has been withdrawn from reference lab'
. did U ring the Lab to find out?
There are several threads relating to continue problems with candida .......... I wonder whether it's our Ultra processed foods that might be part of the causation. Candida thrives on sugar and there are many food stuffs with hidden sugars, fats, salts included.
Is there a UK support group?
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Swab came back high yeast infection :( again.
Now on fluconazole twice a week. I have requested a culture swab though and waiting to hear back.
Any tricks of tips people have used alongside this? Taking probiotics, kefir/good gut things.
Any advice! At a loss and feel down, all my tests show no reason why it keeps returning
Hormonal changes around your period can change the pH of the vagina, making it more alkaline. The normal acidity of the vagina helps to keep thrush at bay.
You asked about probiotics and there are products designed for women, with particular strains of bacteria that help to keep the vagina in it's normal acidic state, with the aim of reducing the likelihood of thrush and also UTIs.
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Hi SGNW,
I was in a similar situation to you. I had 10 months of recurrent thrush that kept coming back even while on the six month course of Fluconazole. I had to use a Canesten pessary every month in addition to the weekly tablets.
It’s hard to say if this is actually what helped me or it was just coincidence and good timing, but I started taking two different brands of oral probiotics in July (containing strains found in the vaginal microbiome). In August I did a week long course of vaginal Probiotics (I kept the new style applicator that came with the Canesten pessary to get them as high up as possible).
I had three clear swabs in September/October (smear test/GP appointment/Gynae appointment). I finished my course of Fluconazole earlier this month so it’s early days! I’m still taking the oral probiotics for the time being.
Oral Probiotics:
‘Perfect V’ by VJJ Health (I think they’ve recently renamed them to ‘Ultimate V’)
Optibac ‘For Women’.
The vaginal probiotics were Vagisan ProbioFlora. I had to order them from a German Pharmacy as they’re not available in the UK.
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I know this is an old post, but did you ever get this sorted? I’ve had recurrent thrush for about 10 months now and am really fed up with it. Had my last course of fluconazole after Christmas which seemed to clear it but after my last period the unbearable itching and watery discharge is back. I’m reluctant to just take more medication as it doesn’t seem to be working :'(
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How are you now?