Torture

I can't take it anymore. I have been battling itchy, red, flaky nips for months and it is not getting any better. I use lanolin at least twice a day, I try to let them air dry after nursing... I just don't know what to do anymore. The itching is terrible sometimes - especially when I'm at work and can't do anything about it

I don't think it's thrush, though I don't know anything about the symptoms of thrush other than baby might have white spots in her mouth and she doesn't have any.

Anyone have a suggestion for me??

I had nipple thrush twice while breastfeeding Claudia. The symptoms you are describing are exactly what I went through! I would go and see your doctor or if it's really bad go to the ER! I think I was prescribed something similar to what you what get if you had a yeast infection.

You can still have thrush even if your daughter doesn't. Call your Dr or Ped and as for difflucan. Also, there is extensive discussion about thrush on the BF boards between Karen and I. Lots of good info there!

Sounds like it could certainly be thrush. Mine itched like crazy and most of the time Jama didn't have any --or any signs at least. My doctor had me put Lotramin Cream (Athlete's foot cream) on them twice a day--safe for baby. I even had to put it on her mouth per the pediatrician. Sounds crazy but it is all a fungus--it's over the counter. I also use it on any yeast diaper rashes so I always have it handy.

Yep, definitely sounds like thrush to me hun. You or Nora take any antibiotics lately? Has she had any abnormal bum rashes lately? She doesn't have to have any signs of sores in her mouth, both my girls never had them in their mouth when we got thrush.

Let me know answers to above questions and we can go from there on treatment. Obviously you can research past topics for treatments, but I'm more than happy to list some here as well.

No antibiotics, no rashes. I've never had a yeast infection in my life.

I do have some lotrimin at home though. Should I start using that? I'm off to research kellymom now.

You can. I've never heard of being able to use it in baby's mouth though and was always told to wipe it off nips before baby nurses. So not sure about that.

Could it be some sort of eczema maybe? That was actually my first thought but the symptoms you are having are textbook thrush.

Let me know if you need any thoughts on treatment. It seems very odd that you've never dealt w/thrush before (after nursing 2) and no antibiotics or rashes........I really want to lean toward some sort of eczema. Have you changed detergents, lotions, soaps, etc?

Nora did go through a biting phase a few months back and I had deep gashes for a while. That's when the itching started. No new lotions, soaps or detergents. Strange.

That's how I got my thrush back after it had finally gone away - Andrew bit me and then it all came back. Sorry you're dealing with this, itchy nips are the biggest pain!

One trick that really helped relieve it for me (I learned this from Karen ) was to dip them in a half vinegar half water mix for like 20 seconds each, after every time you nurse and whenever it's driving you crazy.

Ooh yeah cracks not healed quickly can bring about yeast. RATS!!!!

Well you need to at least do the following IMO to get rid of it:

1. Use vinegar in the wash and on nips (after each feeding)
2. No anti-bacterial soaps
3. Wash bras and towels daily
4. Use paper towels to dry hands
5. Sterilize bottles, toys, etc- you can spray toys that can't be washed with a vinegar/water mixture.
6. Start taking probiotics - both of you and stay on them for at least 2 weeks after thrush has gone.
7. Use the clotrimizole (APNO) on your nips and on any diaper rashes she gets

You can do many different treatments:

1. Gentian Violet on nips and in Nora's mouth - lots of purple people eater going on here.

2. Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE)

3. Diflucan (400 mg first dose, at least 100 mg 2x daily for at least a week, preferably 10 days) No other dose will work, trust me.

IMO you've been dealing with this for awhile.....many don't like to recommend this until after all other treatments are explored, but I say go for the diflucan if you can get your OB/GYN to prescribe it. If she/he won't have a LC call them. This will be fastest, painless way to get rid of it. KMP

Some links below:

Thrush Treatments (GV, APNO and GSE)

Diflucan

So sorry you are going through that. *knock on wood* we haven't had to deal with that yet. I hope it heals soon.