Someone make me feel better about this yeast infection in my breasts!!

[Anonymous]

I have this terrible yeast infection in my breasts and I am finally starting to feel better with Diflucan, which I will have taken a total of 14 days/200 mg a day. My doctor says it's common that these yeast infections become chronic and that it might come back. He says then I would have the choice to treat it chronically (which I would not want to do b/c the meds get into the breast milk) or to live with the pain (no way) or to stop breast feeding.

Can I hear some stories about people who treated a yeast infection successfully and were able to breast feed for at least 6 months? I am at 2 months now. It's so important for me that my baby get breast milk. I will be devastated if I have to stop.

[Anonymous]

If you have to stop, it'll be ok

What helped my persistent thrush was a homemade mix of bacitracin, tinactin, and hydrocortisone applied liberally and 2 rounds of gentian violet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you have to stop, it'll be ok

What helped my persistent thrush was a homemade mix of bacitracin, tinactin, and hydrocortisone applied liberally and 2 rounds of gentian violet.

But my thrush is deep within the breast, it's not just on the skin. I am going to begin using Dr Jack Newman's triple nipple cream (all purpose nipple cream).

[Anonymous]

Check out the Nursing Mother's Companion (book) and www.kellymom.com for more info. I would also look into seeing a lactation consultant. Don't give up! Shame on your doctor for giving you an either or choice. Congrats to you on persevering through some tough obstacles! Breastfeeding is so important.

Nursing mom of 18 month old

[Anonymous]

I also had a yeast infection (deep within the breast-just about most painful thing ever!) at about 2 months. Took two rounds of Diflucan (and a cream from the Breastfeeding Center) to clear it up but it did go away. I am now at 6 1/2 months and I just got a second case of thrush after DC was on antibiotics and I am currently on Diflucan again. I don't like the fact that my DC is getting the medication but I think the benefits of the breastmilk outweigh the risks. I am hoping the medicine clears this round up fast!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you have to stop, it'll be ok

What helped my persistent thrush was a homemade mix of bacitracin, tinactin, and hydrocortisone applied liberally and 2 rounds of gentian violet.

But my thrush is deep within the breast, it's not just on the skin. I am going to begin using Dr Jack Newman's triple nipple cream (all purpose nipple cream).

I'm the poster you're quoting. Yes, mine was also ductal and 2 rounds each of Diflucan and Nystatin did nothing to help. I think it was the gentian violet that really did the trick.

[Anonymous]

I had persistent, deep thrush at around 2-3 months which I treated with everything on the Jack Newman website. Everything helped for a while, and then the thrush would come back. What finally worked was about 3 weeks of diflucan and using Newman's triple nipple cream (prescription, mixed at a compounding pharmacy) after every feeding.

I also washed my bras in tea tree oil and dired them in the sun to kill the yeast. Also went around topless or braless as much as possible. Also eliminated most of the sugar from my diet, including limiting fruit and juice, since they have natural sugars in them that yeast love.

The pain persisted even after the yeast was gone, and I found that it went away when I upped my supply by drinking nursing tea and eating steel cut oats every day. I was able to EBF until I went back to work at 10 mos.

Best wishes, OP. It was kind of hell. I gave up breastfeeding at 2 mos w DC1 and was determined to make it work with DC2. But the truth is that DC1 and DC2 are equally healthy, so as far as I'm concerned, it is not worth making yourself crazy (and I have) to continue breastfeeding.

[Anonymous]

I also had persistant thrush in the ducts that hung around for about 6 weeks, when my baby was 3-4 months old. I took 2 fourteen day rounds of diflucan and tried GV, grapefruit seed extract, and on and on and on. I believe what finally got rid of it was a high dose of high quality probiotics--8-10 per day. After it was gone, I kept taking a normal dose of the probiotics and never had another problem. I used Nature's Way Primadophilus Bifidus from Whole Foods. Very $$$ but worth it.

[Anonymous]

Ok. 1 weird thing I have to add: on the last day of my diflucan, I had the worst of symptoms and the next day, I was totally symptom free. Weird. That happened in nov. I fought yeast all of nov. I am still nursing. 13months total so far. I also used nystatin on nips and baby got nystatin orally.

[Anonymous]

Diflucan didn't really help me, and I didn't want to do multiple rounds of it. What ended up working for me was grapefruit seed extract - used it topically, ingested (pill form), and used the liquid drops during laundry. Also used the Dr. Newsman's ointment. I found his website and the Kelly Mom website both helpful for dealing with this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I also had persistant thrush in the ducts that hung around for about 6 weeks, when my baby was 3-4 months old. I took 2 fourteen day rounds of diflucan and tried GV, grapefruit seed extract, and on and on and on. I believe what finally got rid of it was a high dose of high quality probiotics--8-10 per day. After it was gone, I kept taking a normal dose of the probiotics and never had another problem. I used Nature's Way Primadophilus Bifidus from Whole Foods. Very $$$ but worth it.

I got some probiotics at Whole Foods with 12 Billion cells in each pill. It was hard to tell which probiotic was the best.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had persistent, deep thrush at around 2-3 months which I treated with everything on the Jack Newman website. Everything helped for a while, and then the thrush would come back. What finally worked was about 3 weeks of diflucan and using Newman's triple nipple cream (prescription, mixed at a compounding pharmacy) after every feeding.

I also washed my bras in tea tree oil and dired them in the sun to kill the yeast. Also went around topless or braless as much as possible. Also eliminated most of the sugar from my diet, including limiting fruit and juice, since they have natural sugars in them that yeast love.

The pain persisted even after the yeast was gone, and I found that it went away when I upped my supply by drinking nursing tea and eating steel cut oats every day. I was able to EBF until I went back to work at 10 mos.

Best wishes, OP. It was kind of hell. I gave up breastfeeding at 2 mos w DC1 and was determined to make it work with DC2. But the truth is that DC1 and DC2 are equally healthy, so as far as I'm concerned, it is not worth making yourself crazy (and I have) to continue breastfeeding.

Thanks for the info. I just picked up the All Purpose Nipple cream and my doc gave me 4 more days of diflucan. I am going to get some oral grapefruit seed extract tomorrow.

[Anonymous]

I tried it all...Diflucan (baby & me), Grapefruit seed extract, Gentian Violet, Probiotics (orally & powder on nipples before nursing), the nipple cream...Ultimately taking a few days off of nursing was the only thing that worked. I just pumped (sterilizing parts) & fed baby milk from pre-thrush days--breaking the cycle where we passed it back & forth. Treatment can be effective, but I found treatment to be more effective by taking a break from breastfeeding.

[Anonymous]

OP don't forget to stay topless as much asyou can and get some sun on your boobs. Ditch the pads and change your bra at least 3x a day. Wear only cotton bras and wash in the hottest setting between uses. Dry them in the sun.

Wipe your nipples with vinegar before and after every feed and between applications of topical meds. And after your daily shower. always let it air dry. Don't blow in it!

Sterilize EVERYTHING that touches your breast, milk or your child's mouth every night. Be super serious about it. Thrush is like a weed and you must be very very careful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP don't forget to stay topless as much asyou can and get some sun on your boobs. Ditch the pads and change your bra at least 3x a day. Wear only cotton bras and wash in the hottest setting between uses. Dry them in the sun.

Wipe your nipples with vinegar before and after every feed and between applications of topical meds. And after your daily shower. always let it air dry. Don't blow in it!

Sterilize EVERYTHING that touches your breast, milk or your child's mouth every night. Be super serious about it. Thrush is like a weed and you must be very very careful.

where can I get a cotton bra?? I can't find one! My baby does not have thrush and it might be b/c I pump exclusively. I pump 6 times a day and I have sterlized my pump parts once a day. Do I need to sterlize after each use?