thrush/nystatin question

[mtemm]

so we have thrush, oh the joy, and the ped prescribed nystatin for Andrew and Katie. The directions say to apply 3x a day, but on kellymom she says to apply after every meal. So which should I do? which have you done and had success? I'm also wondering if we do it after every meal, we'll obviously need more medication, how much more?

TIA!!

 

[zakatak]

I did 3x's a day but had some stubborn thrush so I was told about the "purple" stuff... the name escapes me at the moment... Gentian Violet! That's it. Well, it is an over-the-counter antifungal liquid that you basically paint on all areas (lips, toungue, cheeks, nipples, etc) and when it fades you add more. This worked great! However... it stains EVERYTHING purple so use old onsies, pj's, blankets, etc... that you don't mind tossing.

One time we had it so bad and constant I ended up on the pill Diflucan and that saved us all!

Good luck! Thrush is my worst memory of breastfeeding! Stubborn little thing...

Karen

 

[disneygals]

I also did 3x a day with my third. Her case was very stubborn, too and finally I demanded something and they gave me diflucan.

Good Luck!

 

[mtemm]

thanks! regarding the diflucan...did the ped prescribe it or did you ask your dr. for it?

 

[NurseKim]

I haven't posted here in a loooong while.......

I had thrush with my son twice! It was awful.
We started on Nystatin and did it for 3 weeks with some improvement but not all. We finally switched to Diflucan and it was gone in 2 days but it was a 2wk treatment.
The 2nd time we got it, we went straight to Diflucan. I saw my GYN for the 1x dose for myself, the Ped for DS
Be sure to treat yourself too with Nystatin cream.
There are lots of websites out there with lots of natural remedies...vinegar, olive oil...you might want to try those. Be sure to boil any pump parts/nipples/pacifiers for 20 mins.
It's one of my worst BFing times too...but we got thru it and are still BFing (10 mos later!)

 

[mickeysaver]

In our office we prescribe Nystatin suspension four times a day. We suggest using it after a feeding so that the baby is not washing it away with food/liquid. We usually suggest taking a cotton swap and spreading it around the mouth.

As for Diflucan, it cost a lot more. It does the same job as the Nystatin. We usually hold out the use of Diflucan for the most stubborn thrush cases.

Don't forget to boil the nipples from the bottles as well as the pacifiers to get rid of the yeast.

I hope this helps. Maggie

 

[NurseKim]

Oh yeah, I forgot to add, we used it 4x a day. After every feeding seems excessive, especially since they could be nursing 8-12xday (sorry, I don't know old old your children are)
And the goal isn't to get them to swallow the med. They need to swish it around, so if they spit it out, it's OK.

 

[mtemm]

thanks everyone! the twins are 3 months old. the ped I talked to today just told me to use some of their oral Nystatin on my nipples so I've been doing that. good to know the goal isn't so much the swallowing as it is the swabbing it around their mouth (he certainly isn't going to swish it around! LOL!). Hoping that this will clear it up. I never had it with my older son, and I bf him for 14 months! The twins have already had an ear infection, and I'm guessing that's how it came to be. blech.

I appreciate all of your help on this! Nice to get insight from people who have btdt.

 

[disneygals]

As Mickeysaver said, the ped seemed reluctant to prescribe the diflucan,(as with any medication, I'm sure there are possible side effects) My dd is turning 8 now, so I don't remember how long we were treating, but it was a long time!

 

[Jenn Lynn]

Thrush sounds terrible. I was fortunate and never got it with DD. I did get mastisis though. I hope it clears up soon for you!

NurseKim-Your DS is adorable!