I was recently contacted by a woman breastfeeding a 2 month old infant.  The
baby had symtpoms of thrush and a candidal diaper rash and was successfully
treated for both.  The mother also treated her nipples.
The babies symptoms and disappeared.  However, the mother has developed what
seems to be a ductal yeast infection.  This was not helped by the fact that
her OB put her on an antibiotic thinking she had a breast infection when she
went to her with pink, irritated nipples.
This mother has tried everything we can think of.  She has eliminated foods
that promote the growth of yeast (sugar, high mold foods, dairy, peanuts,
etc.), she has started garlic, zinc, latibacillus supplements per the Yeast
Connection.  She is using very careful handwashing, soaks her bras in vinegar
and water, the washes them, then irons them dry.  None of this seems to be
helping.  Yesterday she was perscribed Diflucan which has not yet seemed to
produce any results.  She also reports classic shooting pains through her
breasts following nursing.
I am at a loss as to what else this mom can do.  She has contacted several
consultants in our city but no other great ideas.  She is very close to
giving up nursing altogether.  As far as I know, her own health background is
uncomplicated, without any predispositions to candical infections.
Does anyone have experience with persistant yeast or ductal yeast?  What
about how long a drug like diflucan takes to be effective?
Any and all suggestions would be appreciated, either here on lactnet, or
through my personal e-mail at:  [log in to unmask]
TYI,
Elaine Webber