We have been fighting thrush for MONTHS!!! The pain and itching is intolerable - I swear I'm going out of my mind!!! We've tried everything - nystatin for him, silver solution for both of us, the yeast free diet, lotrimin cream, monistat cream, homeopathic/herbal drops, Diflucan. The only thing we haven't used is Gentian Violet, and that's just because I can't find it anywhere! Please, please, help us if you have successfully rid yourself of thrush, or have any advice! Thank you!!!

This is going to sound strange and you may have tried it, but the best way is to not wear a bra/or breast pads as much as possible and air them, also letting the sun onto them LOL Otherwise we never had any more problems once I used the thrush cream properly on my nipples, and then he would feed and effectively get the treatment also, I don't know if that is how you administered the cream in the first place.

You (and him) could also take probiotics and that may help also.

Thanks! I will try to go 'au natural' more often. I'm not sure if I'm using the cream properly. Doc said use the monistat only twice a day, so I tried that for a week with no luck, which is why she put me on the oral Diflucan. My nipples started healing while I was on it, but got worse as soon as I stopped taking it. As for the creams (lotrimin and monistat), they are a pain because she told me to wipe them off before nursing, so I'm constantly wiping my already raw nipples and then re-applying meds after every feed. And the oral Nystatin for Roman has to be given 4 times daily 30 minutes or so before feeding so it doesn't get washed out right away, and not after feeding so he doesn't throw up his meal. So it's really difficult to get 4 doses in around feedings and prilosec and sleeping!!! So FRUSTRATING!

Oh, I also tried acidophilus bifidus tablets (these are probiotics right?) twice a day while I was giving him Nystatin, using lotrimin, taking silver solution orally and applying it to my nipples, but I had NO improvement!!! I really don't know what else to do! Do you have any experience with Gentian Violet?

ACK!!! I had a nasty thrush infection while nursing B and we passed it back and forth for what seemed like an eternity. Like you, I was on the topical cream and she was on oral Nystatin, we were taking Acidophilus (she was on Babydophilus), etc.

I did get better with Diflucan; however, I was on a bit larger dose. It's hard to deal with and it takes forever, but here's what you might try to do:

1. Stay on the Acidophilus. It can only help and even after your infection does clear up, it can help stave off new ones.
2. Call your doc and let him/her know that this is still a problem. Let him/her know that you were improving on the Diflucan but that the effects wore off once you stopped taking it.
3. Like Rachel said, try to go bra-less/let your nipples air dry and be exposed to the air as much as possible. Wearing nursing pads/slathering in lanolin 24/7 provides the perfect breeding ground for more yeast. :-( (Just be sure you close the curtains; otherwise, your neighbors will get quite a show!)
4. We did use gentian violet; however, I didn't see any results. I think by the time I was told about it, we were so far into the yeast infection that it just wasn't going to work. I don't think it's a bad idea; however, I"d get in touch with your doc first, then go hunting for the stuff. I got mine at the local natural foods store. You might also try online to see if any places have it.

Ugh--I do not envy you and I really hope this clears up. The itching/burning is an AWFUL feeling--one you never quite forget. :-( :hug:

We've had thrush twice...and I know how you feel!!! I agree with everything that's been suggested...especially the braless thing!!! I also never wash my nipples with anything (I know...MAJOR TMI)...but it's really helped. This last time I used the Gentian Violet (from Wal-Mart) after the Nystatin didn't work...and it did finally clear up. Talk about messy though!!! Anyway...I hope it clears up for you both!!! Whenever I get the slightest itch in that area I cringe now because I'm SO scared it's thrush again!!!

Oh I had thrush with Broderick and man was that awful! We tried Nysatin and Diflucan, yet we continued to pass it back in forth! I was told to wash bra's daily in hot water make sure that your not recontaminating yourself!Good Luck that is the worst!