A
female
age
30-35,
anonymous
writes:Hi,For almost a year now I have been struggling with long term thrush symptoms. Sounds silly but it's driving me insane and affecting my sex life. I have been to the doctors about this on more than one occasion as try just tell me to buy the pills . So I've taken the pills, the extra doses, even combined with the internal cream. It cures it, then I become re-infected and the cycle begins again!! So thinking this was my partner causing it, I told him to take one of the pills too and wash before sex and after sex not using any harsh soaps. He thinks I'm OCD but I am in agony.I've washed all my underwear/under garments/bedsheets/towels I own on boiling hot washes,I threw out all my sex toys , changed shower gels, laundry detergents, I'm even on an extreme diet now to try and tackle it (basically cut out all bad sugar, yeast , living on salad and red meat, I have a whole list of food to avoid, I find myself just fasting because I'm too afraid that anything I eat could flare it up) things seem to have settled down but I am so worried that this will flare up again.I've read online that the only cause of this re-occurring thrush could be HIV /diabetes or auto immune disorders. But the doctors just don't seem to be taking me seriously at all. I'm exhausted , weak and I have zero energy . I wish I could just have sex with my partner but I'm too afraid to spread it or get re-infected . And any sexual contact hurts me a lot as it irritates it,I used to have a very high sugar diet, not very healthy either though I'm a normal weight and my blood pressure is fine.if I don't eat sugar now though I get panicky, shakey and exhausted (almost like an addiction!)I've been tested and it came back negative for all sexual diesese, just yeast infection.I find myself constantly apologising to my boyfriend that I can't have sex with him but he very understanding and he has waited around for months. I am worried if I do make him wait around he won't be able to take much more. We have been together 6 years and we have always had a healthy sex life. Can anyone please give me any advice- I'm tearing my hair out. I'd love to be able to have sex and just enjoy myself. I'm 24 and I just want my sex life back :( has anyone on here been through anything similar and found anything that worked? I'm currently consuming natural yoghurt by the truckload! Thanks!!!
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female
reader, like I see it  +, writes (18 July 2015):
 In addition to all the fantastic advice you have been given I would suggest that your partner also be seen and tested for thrush, as men can have it and experience no symptoms whatsoever. You say your case of thrush responds to the treatments - meaning it likely IS thrush - only to come back later... so there is a good possibility you and your partner are passing it back and forth. You take the medication and are "cured" of it each time, but meanwhile he continues to harbor it without noticing and once the two of you have sex you are "exposed" to it once more. For best results, both you and he should receive treatment for it at the same time, and he needs to take the FULL course of whatever medication is prescribed.
Also, you mentioned that you've washed all your underwear, but you don't say what kind you wear... try switching to 100% cotton if you don't wear it already. Cotton creates a much healthier environment for your vagina than synthetic fabrics because it "breathes," wicks away moisture, and doesn't trap heat like some synthetics do (changes in temperature allow different bacteria than usual to proliferate.)
Hope this helps. Good luck and best wishes!
A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (16 July 2015): I am the female anon that posted earlier that had BV. I am now on my computer now so can offer more advice! The symptoms of BV are the same as thrush. It's sometimes developed after using antibiotics like canesten on and off for a prolonged period. I like you was unbearably uncomfortable and it would come and go. Here's a link to the NHS site explaining what BV is:http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bacterialvaginosis/Pages/Introduction.aspxI re-read your post and realised that you wrote that you consume the yogurt. I ate it but I also applied it onto my vagina and internally using an applicator (as I mentioned). I know it's a bit yuk but apart from the cooling affect being lovely (!) it worked for me eventually.Another thing I used to use was something called Aci-Jel. It contains acetic acid. That worked well and was a good lubricant during sex although it isn't good to use with a condom as it reduces it's effectiveness.I also live in the UK and found the medical profession most unhelpful. Although they referred me for various tests they always came back with the answer being thrush or nothing at all and they kept giving me canesten either oral or for application but you really shouldn't use it for more than a couple of months. I'm surprised they haven't learnt that by now!!! It wasn't until a family friend that's a gynecologist mentioned bacterial vaginosis that I started researching. I was never formally diagnosed with it as it was little known back then, but all the medication for it works for me.I got very depressed over it and felt very isolated as I couldn't exactly discuss it will all and sundry but I manage to lead a normal married life now! I know that what worked for me won't necessarily work for you but I sincerely hope that between all the answers from the Aunts and Uncles on here you find your own cure.
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (16 July 2015): I so sympathise. I had recurrent thrush in my early 20s and it took over my life. I managed to find a way of keeping on top of it.'I didn't and still don't have diabetes or any kind of auto immune disease and I am now in my early 50s.I eventually realised that the prescription cream and pessary weren't working and seemed to make things worse!I too used bio yoghurt in the way you'd use the cream and pessary and applied it internally too, twice a day.I now have flare ups very occasionally and have also discovered multi-gyn floraplus prebiotic vaginal gel. You can buy it online. That is a smell free alternative! I use it after sex to preempt any problems.I was told eventually that using canesten long term isn't good. It destroys the good as well as the bad bacteria causing reinfection. I needed to build up my flora again to get better. The condition is called bacterial vaginosis (BV). As I said earlier I have occasional flare ups but I deal with them promptly.Good luck! I know how soul destroying it is!
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (16 July 2015): My daughter was diagnosed with diabetes type 1 at the age of 24 - with no one in my or her Dad's family ever having had it. I have coeliac disease, but this has taken years for me and doctor's to fathom and for a long time I was mis-diagnosed with chronic fatigue. When I was younger I got recurrent cystitis and sometimes thrush. I grew up thinking stomach aches were just normal, not realising I was unable to process lots of foods. My daughter is plagued with cystitis, mainly because it's very hard for her to regulate her blood sugar exactly as it should be, and this puts a constant strain on her immune system, leaving no reserves to fight off other illnesses. Whether there's a link between both of our diseases or not, we don't really know - maybe in future more scientific research will reveal links between different auto-immune diseases.Very basically speaking, if you have some form of auto-immune disease, or are suffering from extreme and prolonged stress, this means that your body cannot process certain foods - sugar is one of the worst (but certain types of sugars are better than others, often depending on the ration of fructose to glucose eg. maple syrup is usually easier for a lot of people to digest) - BUT having an auto-immune disease also means that your body simply doesn't have the reserves to fight off other viruses, infections, illnesses etc. Overall, you are very prone to repeatedly suffering from a certain infection or condition, on top of what is very often an undiagnosed condition that goes hidden for years. Sometimes, it's only through someone repeatedly getting this other condition - like cystitis or thrush or ear infections or whatever - that they begin to realise there's a more serious underlying condition at play in the background. In my daughter's case, it may have been that she was pre-diabetic for several years as she was craving sugary drinks and sweet stuff for a long time before being diagnosed. In my case, as I say, I was often absolutely exhausted, usually always had stomach ache, constant colds and flues and craved carbs, but it took decades for doctors to diagnose me and only then because I got so fed up I kind of began directing my health care, beginning by insisting on seeing a dietician, by which time I'd actually 'burnt out'.In your case, I really would strongly recommend that you get lots of blood tests done - especially for iron, B12 and thyroid AND get your doctor to refer you to a proper NHS dietician who will probably put you on an elimination diet until you find out if anything you are eating is stressing your system.On the other hand, it could be that your partner is infected and keeps re-infecting you- and you really should get him checked out just in case this is the simple answer. Somehow, though, I tend to think you have an underlying condition and the thrush is happening because of that, but I'm no expert. Do bear in mind though, that a great many doctors will NOT bother to do much investigation into your condition unless you direct it. Do as much research as you can online and demonstrate to your doctor that you have got an informed opinion about what's wrong and need to be taken seriously.Good luck!
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (15 July 2015): Well,I'm no doctor,but I can give you recommendations on the practical side of things.First of all-the NHS is falling apart (as demonstrated by protests just today). The GPs don't have time. They simply don't-10min per patient with all the paperwork they have to do is nothing.Book a double-slot if you want to be listened to OR change your GP practice. I know coz I had to go through this (recurrent UTIs though, not thrushes). I did everything as well! Was a bit younger than you at the time and was feeling sooo inadequate for not being able to do something that should come as natural and normal part of life. I also just wanted to go back to a happy sex life.So, when you go through the GP options (and politely refuse to leave unless they refer you to an urologist/gyno whatever you need), then may I ask a question?Does your bf feel "too big" in any way? The size of my then fella hadn't changed in any way,but somehow sex was suddenly painful. I haven't had this problem in a while now (no longer with the same guy) and basically my urologist even insinuated that (sooo? You are no longer with so and so?I am sorry to suggest this but is it possible that whatever interactions you had, if the problems are no longer recurring with other partners, might have been based entirely on the interaction with your ex-long-tterm partner?)It was phrased more or less like that :P He also recommended cranberry juice (freshly squeezed one,not the sugary option. The only one I could find was priceeeeyyyy and from a health shop.). But my urine's acidity was tested and I can't remember if it was high or low, but whichever one it was this is helping me get it back to normal.I think testing your urine's acidity and then regulating it would be very useful to you. I used to develop thrushes as a follow up to the UTIs and now I'm better. Also, you should get the basic cream that's day + night (apply thinly morning and evening) and if you can't have sex after a week of that -ggrrrrr. Go back to you GP and complain.ps: Oh,I forgot, the gyno prescribed some super helpful tree+plant based pills that helped immensely as well, but see the thing is- it should be investigated by doctors and you should get advice tailored to your situation by them!pps:meanwhile, if SURE that bf doesn't have it-reward the poor guy with some BJs :P
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (15 July 2015): Absolutely don't want to worry you any more than you already are and im pretty sure it's thrush from the sounds of it . However, I know you said you have had the full Sti testing and its all clear . Are you aware ( most people are not ) that herpes is not included in any routine sti test and must be specifically requested . The virus ( types one and two ) is just so common that most people would throw up some kind of result and drs simply don't test unless the rest is asked for. I mentiom this because the symptoms are very similar and it would explain the recurrence .Perhaps check you your tested for herpes simplex types 1 and 2 as either can infect the genital area. If it's thrush which it most lilely is , then perhaps an alternative therpist may odfee some other ideas to try ir herbs or other therapies
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A
female
reader, Honeypie +, writes (15 July 2015):
 Does your partner have it too? Because it IS common that it's transferred back and forth if not BOTH partners gets the treatment.
Cutting sugar is hard. And it will take a good 3-4 weeks before you feel like you don't HAVE to have it.
You need to talk to your doctor if this is constantly reucurring AND your partner (as HE might be giving it to you IF yo uare sexually active) there are troches (antifungal lozenges) or pills such as fluconazole (Diflucan), to help clear the infection in addition to nystatin.
Have you been tested for Candida? (it's a bit more resistant/tough type of vaginal yeast infection/fungus)
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A
female
reader, So_Very_Confused +, writes (15 July 2015):
 I had a friend years ago who was a breastfeeding mom who had thrush in her throat. Peanuts were the issue. It was an allergy.
My son had oral thrush and I had it on my nipples...that is very painful Cream cleared that up.
IF you have taken the pills and done the whole cream thing, I think it's time for a visit to a specialist or a second opinion with another doctor.
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A
male
reader, Garbo +, writes (15 July 2015):
 Thrush is a form of a fungus and it feeds primarily on sugar. Antibiotics also cause flare ups. Taking meds treats the symptom but you need to treat the cause. The cause is inside your stomach where you have an imbalance of good bacteria which allows the fungus to grow. There are 2 things you should do: restore the balance and attempt at killing the fungus.
To restore the balance you must take probiotics like basic acidophilus. Also drink non-sugar yogurt which adds more of the acidophilus. Drinking yogurt is not enough tho so take the acidophilus.
To reduce the size of the fungus you must take Olive Leaf Extract twice daily and in your case probably for the rest of your life. Additional supplements that kill yeast fungus are monolaurin and caprylic acid.
Acidophilus and olive leaf extract are minimum you need to do daily. None of them have any negative effects so you can increase the dose as need be. Both have additional health benefits which you can research.
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