>Hi Bunee, this does sound like a very persistent case of breast thrush, but
>I would be wary of using the label "systemic yeast". Systemic candida
>infection implies that it is the blood stream and so on. I think of thrush
>in the milk ducts as an extension of the nipple environment.

Lisa, I am keenly interested in your information that systemic implies that
it is in the blood stream and that intraductal and nipple yeast are not of
systemic yeast overgrowth. I routinely say that yeast on nipples and in the
milk ducts are part of a systemic yeast overgrowth beginning in the GI
tract. I have also assumed that Diflucan works so well because it
interferes with the yeast development in the GI tract and, since it is
absorbed into the blood stream, it will reach the breast and nipple site.
And Nystatin is less effective because it is not absorbed into the blood
stream, but could work on the yeast overgrowth in the GI tract.

I know that you have been studying yeast much longer than I have and I
don't want the basic premise of my yeast treatment plan to be based on a
false understanding of the process.

Last week on the Athlete's Foot question, I wrote:

"And I work under the premise that any yeast/bacterial imbalance is
basically systemic, and topical treatments are best accompanied by systemic
treatments (GI)."

So, am I dead wrong about this? Will all knowledgeable people out there
please inlighten me.

Patricia Gima, IBCLC
Milwaukee


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