Thrush and yeast infections

[mistygirl]

Has anyone had problems with thrush and vaginal yeast infections? I have been on vancomycin for 20 days now and have also been on diflucan for the last 5 days. It doesn't seem to be helping. I drink kefir, eat yogurt and take culturelle. My tongue has gone from white to yellow. Any suggestions?

[Bobbie]

See FAQ-Anti-Fungal Medications (Yeast Infections)

[mommy2maddi]

along with a live culture yogurt try getting acidophillus tablets that you swish around in your mouth. You find them at a natural food store, natural pharmacy. They have really helped me. Good luck!

Nicole

Mommy to Maddi

8 months pregnant

[paulah]

For the thrush in the mouth, my doctor told me to gargle with listerine. It worked for me.

[sks001]

Hi -

Does anyone know the difference between Oral Thrush, Oral Yeast and Candida?

I've been having problems with spitting up foamy saliva most of the day off and on after having Endoscopy back in October (refer to other post on this subject).

Went to my Pulmonologist and took a sample and he said it had nothing to do with my condition.

Went to regular doctor last week with a sample. He had an emergency so saw a new associate. She had absolutely no idea about what could be causing the gross spitting up, but she did keep the sample and sent it for a culture.

She called yesterday and said the culture showed an oral yeast infection which she said is often seen in people who use inhalers, and prescribed Mycelex lozenges which is an azole antifungal agent used to treat fungal infections of the mouth or throat. It works by stopping the growth of fungus. I about cried when I read the side effects - nausea (which I already have 24/7), vomiting, mild itching or an unpleasant sensation in the mouth.

Haven't started it yet. Supposed to suck on one 4 times a day evenly spaced and let slowly dissolve (takes 15 to 30 minutes) and not eat or drink anything.

Being so paranoid about antibiotics or any medication, I called 3 different drugstore pharmacists to make sure this wasn't an antibiotic - ha ha.

So here I am with an Oral Yeast Infection and still no answer about the spitting up.

Sandy
Southeast Michigan

[Nancy1]

Sandy,
I surely hope that the mycelex helps your spitting up, in addition to treating the fungal infection. And without making your nausea worse. Did your doc have any info about the difference between oral thrush, oral yeast, and candida? If not, maybe you can find something helpful on the web. Good luck.

[ClDif]

Hi Sandy, I agree with Roy, think they are all one and the same. Candida is a form of yeast.

I would't worry so much about the side effects. Just go for it and try the lozenges. The concentration of clotrimazole which is the effective agent in Mycelex that reaches your blood stream can't be that high with this form of medication. If you do get side effects, you can always stop then but in most cases people are probably fine. I would eat something prior to taking them. Yeast infections can cause a whole lot of trouble, I would go for it if I were you.

I have been on diflucan for 4 days now myself as have high antibodies for candida in my bloodwork and white patches on my tongue (and was feeling really bad). Am also worried as diflucan has been linked to causing c diff. But I am taking florastor at the same time spaced well apart from the diflucan, which is a begnin yeast that is apparantly not targeted by fluconazole. I hope I am not working against the diflucan here, but I am figuring I am protection my intestines. This stuff is quite invasive though and I have been feeling as if hit over the head with a baseball bat since taking it. Cried non-stop for the first 2 days. Great ;-). Better now. I've been on it before and then, too, the side effects subsided after a few days.

[nsewell]

I have never heard of diflucan causing cdiff. My gi doctor said its ok to take??

[ClDif]

A connection hasn't been proven but I have found the suspicion in quite a few articles, can't remember where though... I guess it upsets the GI tract quite a bit, so I would think it possible. Wouldn't worry too much though, it's not targeted at bacteria but at yeasts after all (although some articles have also suggested that it might work for lyme patients, ie for borellia which are also bacteria, but this too was only the result of observation, not of clinical trials). I'll be your guinea pig and let you all know what happens ;-). Are you on it too right now nsewell? And how are you coping mistygirl, do you notice side effects? Today is considerably better than the last few were, so I am hoping that I am over the worst bit.

[nsewell]

No I ended up not needing it, the regular stuff you insert worked. I hant had it of the mouth although when I first got cdiff I noticed my tongue was white with kinda thick stuff. I just started brushing it alot and using a mouth wash. Good luck..

[sks001]

Hi All - Thanks for your comments.

I was just being inquisitive as to the difference between Oral Thrush, Oral Yeast and Candida as I've seen it mentioned so much on the site and never knew exactly what they were.

When I was in the hospital for C-Diff (believe it was the 2nd time for nine days), nurse brought me in this liquid to swish and swallow for 3 or 4 days that she said was for thrush. I looked in the mirror in the bathroom & didn't see anything different in my mouth, but I was so sick & so out of it most of the time from anti-nausea shots every 4 hours, at the time I kept forgetting to ask the nurse or doc about what thrush was & what it looked like & how did they know I had it.

Of course, I'm going to try the Mycelex, but I was more nauseous than usual Tuesday & Wednesday, and had bad cramps for the 1st time that I've heard so many of you talk about that I never had during & after C-Diff (only mild abdominal discomfort). So tried the heating pad I've seen so many suggest - didn't work. Only had tea, a piece of toast and a package of Lipton cup of soup for those 2 days hoping to get better so I could get to a long scheduled appt. with GI Thursday. Will start it Friday or Saturday. Still can't see or feel anything different in my mouth though. Hope whoever the tech was that did the culture knew what he/she was doing.

Sandy
Southeast Michigan

[sks001]

Well I started the Mycelex yesterday and half of today. Couldn't take it any more. It was worse than Flagyl. Couldn't get the metallic taste out of my mouth no matter what I did afterward (brushed, scrubbed tongue, tried every kind of juice/liquid). Made me even more nauseous and very dizzy.

Called Dr.'s office to see if there was something else I could take, but she's not in until late tomorrow afternoon, so will just have to wait.

Sandy
Southeast Michigan

[Bobbie]

Sandy,
Sorry you are still suffering. Have never heard of Mycelex.

To find out differences in yeast infections (if there are any), Google.

When I was really miserable, I used to curl up in fetal position with heating pad on my stomach. Sorry it didn't help you. Another relief was to slowly bring one knee at a time up to stomach. I was fortunate to not have much nausea altho. I had C. diff. 4 yrs. lst time. (Extenuating circumstances.) Have you tried soda crackers for nausea?

Do call doc. - Be insistent! A holiday is coming, & who knows where she will be then!

Good luck with GI appointment. Let's hope he/she is a winner! Have list of questions ready. Also have medical history typed -- concise as possible. See FAQ-Doctors' Visits (Including Med. Forms)

I put all my info. on computer years ago & rotate problems according to specialist I am seeing (& I have a bunch). I don't fill out forms in doc's office -- only name & date at top & questions I haven't answered on my computerized history; write "see attached form." This is helpful with meds. & other health issues. (I list problems in red; meds. in blue -- quite colorful). Most docs. are grateful not to have to read my handwriting, & it's saved me hours filling out their d.... forms.

Check Mycelex with GI.

[cindym]

Mistygirl- As a LONG TIME cdiff sufferer I can tell you that as long as you are on vanco you are fighting a losing battle with thrush. I finally just realized that as long as it does not bother me (pain or going into my throat) just to deal with it. I use nystatin liquid on occasion when it seems to get pretty bad but IT COMES RIGHT BACK and will as long as vanco is in the picture. I have also taken diflucan when it went into my throat and almost into my esophagus for 2 weeks. Diflucan can make you feel HORRIBLE and can actually make your systems worse. And you know what else? It comes right back again if you are still taking vanco. My experience with thrush is to IGNORE it unless it starts to act up. As far as vaginal yeast I have kept it under control with over the counter monistat used infrequently. Good luck.......it is a nuisance!

[sks001]

Called doctor's office 3 times and left messages about those awful Mycolex lozenges for oral yeast infection (from inhalers) and she (or anyone in office) never called me back.

Bobbie - My GI appt. already took place on Thursday, May 15th, the same day I posted and he is not a winner - very abrupt with very little time. Guess I should have said today rather then Thursday so it would have been clearer. I took a stool sample in because they smell so foul (not like active C-Diff), but nowhere near normal. He made me feel like a fool for bringing it. Looked at me like I was crazy and said there was no way he would test it to see if there was anything else I might have as I asked to have done. Said if he wanted one, he would have told me. Said for me to throw it in the trash on the way out. Believe me, I was this close to opening the bag, take the top off and throw it on him!!! I'm so fed up - I've lost count, but think it's now 7 or 8 GI and 1 ID - and not a nice one in the mix.

He's the one I first saw in late Feb. from a different hospital than the one I had been going to for the past 1-1/2 years & he sent me for Ct Scan w/contrast of abdomen & pelvis that showed I now have Chronic (not the milder once in a while Acute) Pancreatitis and was very cavalier about it. I had never heard of that, so I was shocked when I got home & looked it up at Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, U of Mich, etc. and found out how serious it is and there's no cure for it, and as it progresses, the pain becomes unbearable. Said he wants me to get reports of all the many, many Ct Scans & Ultrasounds from other hospital & send to him. Said it was easier for me to do it than his office! Also upped Viokase pancreatic enzymes to 9 per day, and switched me from Zantac 150 twice a day to Prilosec OTC which is a PPI that I wasn't at all happy about.

I do the same things you do (took the good advice you gave to someone else last year that I had read since had never been sick before). I use colored paper. History on one color, meds with dosages, ones I'm allergic or had bad reactions to & OTC vitamins, etc. on a different color, & 2 copies of questions on yet another color. I also take latest blood tests and results of any other tests like Ct Scan, etc.

Sure wish there was a member of this site in my area that listed a great one under the Doctors Forum.

Sandy
Southeast Michigan