I was hoping someone out there has had thrush and cold give me some info on how to get rid of it. I have had it twice now. My daughter just turned one the end of July, however is still nursing. I have combined natural care with Nystatin topical. Nothing seems to work. I have also gone on a complete yeast free diet. I have heard about gesenium violet. Does anyone have info on that and/or any ideas etc..?
Oh, Sonya, I have BEEN THERE. I had a terrible case of the thrush in my breasts when my son had oral thrush. It was awful. The best way to describe it was like broken glass shattered throughout my nipples and entire breast. It was excruciating, and I think only someone who's been through that can truly understand. My son was only a month old at the time, so it was difficult enough trying to nurse without one more disaster to add to it!
I never tried the gentian violet, although I heard rave reviews about it. La Leche League was the most supportive and gave me the best ideas to FINALLY get us both through it. Nystatin helped, but healing his oral thrush at the same rate as the thrush I developed was the most help. It seemed we kept giving it back and forth to each other. So frustrating. Here's the link that may help:
http://www.llli.org/FAQ/thrush.html
Another link: http://www.breastfeedingonline.com/yeast.shtml.
Best of luck. I know what you are going through, and I wish you the fastest of recovery. Hang in there. And mucho kudos on continuing to breastfeed!
Hi Sonya, When my son and I kept trading thrush back and forth the doctor told me to put his medication on my nipples and that got rid of it for both of us. I had to put it on before and after nursing. Hope this helps.
Angela
Try Ask Dr. Sears. You can find a great deal of info on the site. The link below is to an article on thrush and how to get rid of it. It talks about Gentian Violet as being effective and what dose your Dr. should give - it also says it is difficult to use because it is quite messy. My Aunt used it almost 30 years ago and it worked very well for both her and the baby.
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/8/T083100.asp
Best of luck to you.
Hi Sonya,
I never had it, but have tons of friends who have. This is the advice I've heard from them.
Both you and the baby need to be treated at the same time..no matter if your child is showing evidence of the infection. You can pass it back and forth so easily.
Also, never use the same towel or wash cloth twice while showering or even the bath puffs. Yeast breeds on those wet surfaces. Don't use bar soap, because they can live on that as well. The best way is to put the liquid soap on a wash cloth and then use it once and wash.
The gentian violet stuff is the absolute best and will kill the infection. It may take a day or two, but it always works. You have to have it diluted at the pharmacy, though. It will turn your nipples purple and your babies mouth will get purple as well. My friends just stay home during those days and wait it out. It was worth it.
Call the Lactation consultant at Morton Plant Hospital in Clearwater name Lucille Harrington for more advice. It's all free advice and if you call on a weekday before 1pm, she will return your call the same day. Her number is 462-7749.
I'm not sure where you live, but we have a nursing moms toddler group that meets at the Sarah Walker women's center at Morton Plant, Clearwater hospital the 2nd Friday of the month from 10-12pm. It's free and located on the 2nd floor past the intake area.
Feel free to contact me for more info.
-Sara, 16 month old boy (still breastfeeding) and pregnant with second child (18 weeks along)
we dealt with this this past spring and man it was not fun (for me that is!) it didn't seem to bother my daughter too much other than tugging and pulling at the breast a lot!! I ended up getting the thrush on my nipples (so awful!) for which I had to resort to putting monistat on my nipples post-nursing each time, which with the combination of other homeopathic/natural treatments I got rid of it in about 3 days-but continues treatment for a week and 1/2 just to make sure it wouldn't come back!!
I took...
1)- acidophilus-bifidus capsules-1 cap 3x per day(natural factors brand, but no matter the brand just buy it refrigerated and keep it refrigerated)
2)Kyolic garlic capsules-2 caps 2x per day
3)_Grapefruit seed extract-1 cap 3x per day
for my daughter I did a multitude of things...here goes....
just after nursing each time I wiped her mouth out with a damp washcloth(let her chew on it too for a few minutes to make it more thorough, since she wasn't to keen on having my hand in her mouth!)
I also opened up a acidophilus capsule each day and mixed 1/2 in either a bottle of expressed milk, or in a baby puree of fruit/veggie to boost up her good flora to kill off that yeast!!
Please let me know if I can provide any more info and good luck!! Lisa
Hi, Sonya,
We had thrush a few years ago when I was nursing my 2-week old infant (I hadn't gone back to work yet, so it was not as difficult to resolve). It was very persistent...and it was awful for me. We tried everything. Nystatin worked temporarily, but gentian violet is what worked permanently in the end (I nursed her until she was 15 months, and never got it again). I also ate a lot of yoghurt and took acidophilous pills. We were living in Washington, DC at the time, where I got the gentian violet from a non-profit breastfeeding center. Not sure where to get it around here. It is a deep purple color, and your nipples will be stained for a few days. And yes, it will transfer to the baby's mouth, which will also be stained purple for a bit...but it really does work, and stops the thrush from transferring between the baby's mouth and your nipples.
I would apply it to my nipples and aerola several times a day, and try to go shirtless to prevent moisture from exacerbating the problem. Also, if you can see whiteness on the baby's tongue, you can put a bit on a Q-tip and swab her mouth.
Good luck!
Aimee
My kids are alittle older but I did have the same problem years ago. The Gelitain of violet (ask the pharasist-over the counter)works great, cheap but looks horrible. Do you have the thrush or your child? Coat the babies mouth as recommended by Pharm. but also coat your nipples and if you have it do your mouth too. When the baby has thrush do not kiss the baby on the mouth. You will get it! Not fun, my mouth swelled up and I couldn't eat for 2 days it was soo painful. Makes you wonder how the baby goes without screaming 24/7. Hope this helps.
Optiflora does the trick. It's natural and works very well. You can order it on-line at www.shaklee.net/vitalizeyourlife. Save yourself some shipping and get 2 Optiflora systems. It's 100% money back guaranteed.
Hi, I know there is a prescription for thrush but not sure if it is alright with breastfeeding. It works quickly, but check with your doctor. I think that is probably the quickest treatment with a presciption. Good luck!
My OB put me on an oral anti-fungal. It's much stronger. Wish I could remember the name. Your OB or lactation consultant should know. Call the hospital you delivered at, and ask for lactation.
I sooo feel for you!!!!!!!! I've nursed 3 boys and third times a charm! The first two they got thrush and I got mastitis as a result!!!! After the last second one and nystatin not working I went to the midwife.
She told me to do the yeast free diet which I've followed for 3yrs now - it's in every flippin thing and always been a lable reader so that was just one more thing to cross off -
anyway I dont have a big budget for clothing - so the staining you get with genetian voilet was not an option.
I started taking "GSE" GRAPEFRUIT SEED EXTRACT. I took 20 drops 2x a day. granted I got cramps (gas from the dying yeast) but in two days we were both better!!!!!
I'd put it in about 5-6oz of oj to help it go down - it's nasty tasting but it killsd yeast, other fungi, parasites, basically everything bad!!! It's the #1 thing used in 3rd world countries where they don't have access to pharm's.
It's 15.99 for a small bottle which would last for 1.5 years of weekly use. Being on the yeast free diet - as soon as you have anything with yeast you get bloated and gassey! so just do a dose of GSE and knock it right out and continue on . . .
I give you props for doing the yeast free diet - having done it for so long it's hard - especially since I've started to make bread from scratch - - anyway thats a different story for another time - email me anytime you want to chat.
I got three kidlins too all boys, 8, 5, 13mo.
good luck!
You might want to read the book The Yeast Connection, and TOTALLY stop ALL sugar, honey, cane syrup, high fructose corn syrup ( read all labels - it is even in bread and cereal) to starve the little critters to death. A constant yeast infection also is indicative of a suppressed immune system, and sugar can be the culprit there, as well. You might also want to read The Sugar Blues... sorry I cannot remember the authors' names. Have you consulted with a Naturopathic Dietician?
I had thrush (an over production of yeast in my throat) and the only thing that worked for me was diflucan - the one dose treatment for vaginal yeast infections, however I had to take it every day for a week - 2/ day for the first 2 days and one a day thereafter. My throat cultures came back normal after that. That was the only way to get rid of it.
I would definately recommend talking directly to the lactation consultant at Morton Plant. There is also a great Yahoo group put out by Morton Plant Nursing Moms and I also like another Yahoo group that is specifically for nursing moms of children over 1 year. I find it very supportive for lots of different issues related to breastfeeding, especially older kids.
I find it best to avoid using any cloth hand towels (just use paper till the problem goes away) and only use bath towels or washcloths once before washing in HOT. Change bras and tops frequently, and even the baby's clothes if your breast touched it. Be fanatic about cross-contamination and you will seriously reduce the transfer back and forth. I believe a quality probiotic from a health food or vitamin store for both you and the baby would be great. I use them and my kids take Baby Flora. Drinking Kefir may be helpful, but they are sometimes sugary if flavored. Best wishes!!!
I haven't had it on my breasts before, but my oldest had it real bad and I had trouble getting rid of it. I ended up using genenium violet. The stuff is messy and will ruin whatever it touches, but it works!! If you are at your last straw, I suggest putting it on. But, word to the wise, wear something that you do not mind ruining during the time you are wearing it. I can't remember, though, how long she had to take it.
Sonya,
Everyone responding about the Genitian Violet is right. The stuff is an OLD remedy, my grandma actually told me about it. I had a hard time finding it, Walgreens had 1 bottle but it was behind the counter of the pharmacy and I had to ask for it, not sure why.
But I can tell you from getting LOTS of yeast infections over the years that Yogurt is your friend! It fights the battle of the yeast and it really does work. So, try eating a few cups of that a day, it WILL help!
Good luck!
Thrush is hell. I have had it recurring and still get it from time to time (I'm still nursing my 18 month old).
If I use Nystatin cream consistently for 2+ weeks, it will go away.
I also know some people who have had luck with Grapefruit Seed Extract.
I think thrush is really hard to kick. Good luck.
Thank you all for your wonderful advice. I can’t say that I am yeast free yet, but after a visit to my natural doc, I am told I am detoxing big time. That would explain the aches and swollen lymph nodes. She says it is because I am on the yeast free diet. Oh well, that at least should be temporary. The baby should be weaned soon also. Thanks again.