Hi.  My name is Rachel Levine.  I am a LLLLeader in NJ.  Wanted to reply to
thrush question of Dec. 11.
Honestly, I don't know about arthritis and bf, but I've had quite a bit of
experience with thrush.  I find a lot of moms need help getting Dr.s to
believe that they even have thrush because it can not always be cultured on
nipples or in milk, and often isn't visible in baby's mouth.
This can be incredibly frustrating to mom.  Makes her doubt her own
judgement, and question her ablility to bf.
I have much personal experience with this.  My first baby developed thrush at
the same time that I got my period back. (i am prone to vaginal yeast
infections and tend to get them just before my period every month, and
apparently this can be a sign that mom may be prone to thrush.)
 After trying to convince several pediatricians that baby and I had thrush,
finally found one who believed me.  Baby treated with nistatin, I was treated
with chlotrimazole 1%  cream on nipples after each feeding.  Thrush cleared
in a week.

2 months ago I had my second baby.  Noticed thrush in his mouth.  Doctor
believed me, I think because I told him I had gone through this with my
first.  Baby treated with nistatin, me with monistat cream.  Didn't work at
all.  Noticed red, mastitis-like streaks on breasts.  Did some reading in
Ruth Lawrence's guide to med prof., and some of Kay Hoover's stuff on thrush
(She's great!)
With my midwife and pediatrician, decided on this treatment:  Diflucon for 3
consecutive days. (longer may effect the liver.)  Mycelex 10 lozenges made
into paste with water, swabbed  in baby's mouth for 5 days past the time it
looks clear.  I take acidophulus with bifidus every day on an empty stomach.
  Thrush cleared in 2 weeks.  Streaks have faded to almost imperceptible.  No
more itching or deep breast pain.

This treatment may help mom if she can get Dr.s approval.  It's possible that
even though she was on diflucon, the baby's treatment was not sufficient, and
baby
continues to reinfect mom.    Ruth Lawrence also mentions something called
cryptoccul mastitis.  Similar to thrush.  Recommended treatment also
diflucon.

good luck!