Candida Symptoms Update

I spoke with my Lactation Consultant and she recommended I return to the strict (Stage 2) Candida Diet for 1 week and if I symptoms were gone again I could start SLOWLY reintroducing the foods recommended in Stage 3.  She suggested I maintain a high intake of probiotics for good, basically; as well as the recommended 3 doses of 250mg Grapefruit Seed Extract per day.  She figures my body just needs the extra help to stay more alkaline (yeast flourish in an acidic environment). Oh ya, she also said the pain in my breast could not have been yeast if it cleared up in less than 2 days; a yeast infection that painful would have required the Fluconazole to clear up.  She suggested it was a blocked duct or something along those lines, caused by pressure(s) on the breast (my bras have been fitting loosely from the weight loss, and I recalled adjusting one strangely one night to keep that breast from falling out, so it was probably the cause of a blockage/deep breast pain).

I did the one strict week (lost another 5lbs!) and then began eating Stage 3 foods.  First grapefruit, then beans in a chili, raspberries, blueberries, brown rice pasta, flavoured brown rice rice cakes (with no yeast), etc.  So far so good.  But...I have been doing a Canesten treatment at the same time, (my hubby thought why not help kill the yeast - at one point when I was pregnant the midwives said it couldn't hurt to do a vaginal treatment "just in case" - so that was his logic).  I have chosen to avoid major carbs like breads, baked goods, etc.  I am still staying away from anything sweet/sugary (I doubt I'll be able to handle that stuff ever again until after I stop breastfeeding)...

At this point, I want to keep breastfeeding (and so does my son!), so I've resigned myself to this new way of eating.  But it's not all that bad...and the weight keeps coming off, so that's a great encouragement.  It's taught me that what I eat really does have a consequence in regards to how I feel and how I look!

Candida Symptoms Return - Part 2

Sunday night was rough.  During the day Sunday my left breast began to hurt and last night it just got more and more sore, deep inside the breast tissue.  One side of it seems almost lumpy and extremely painful...yeast!  I have called and left a message for my LC (its a holiday here today).  I have no idea what to do about my diet (Stage 3 or back to Stage 2), and now that the symptoms are this bad, would she recommend I begin taking Fluconazole again?  This thrush/Candida thing is tough to beat!

On a more positive note, my milk blister on the right nipple seems to be mending wonderfully, I don't feel it at all anymore.

Grapefruit Seed Extract and Breastfeeding

Over the holidays I stopped into a local health food store to pick up my usual grapefruit seed extract capsules (GSE) and ask what else I could do/take to raise the pH of my body to help fight off yeast (yeast thrive in an acidic environment).  I spoke with a young woman, maybe my age, maybe even a bit younger.  When I showed her the bottle of GSE I was buying and told her I'd been taking it on and off with Fluconazole over the last year, she freaked!  Literally freaked that I was breastfeeding and taking GSE.  She told me it was awful for me to be doing that, that it transfers to the baby and harms not only my body's balance of yeast and probiotics, but also that of the baby's...(Boy, did I feel like an awful mom!)

BUT...I have been told to take GSE by my Lactation Consultant who referenced the recommendations made by Dr. Jack Newman from the International Breastfeeding Clinic in Toronto, Ontario.  He is considered Canada's "guru" on breastfeeding do's and don't's!  So, I will continue to trust the experts and not some young person who felt the need to verbally attack a horomone-ridden new mother!

I've Finally Started the Candida Diet

After over a year of suffering on and off with thrush/candida yeast infections, I've finally admitted to myself that I have no other option but to do the Candida Diet.

Our midwives suggested it way back when we were first diagnosed with thrush.  My lactation consultant has told me for about a year that this is what I need to do.  When I have asked employees at health food stores what I could do to battle yeast, they all said I need to do the Candida Diet.  On Friday, I spoke again with the doctor that prescribed me the most recent, long-term treatment of Fluconazole.  She told me that being on and off of Fluconazole for months like I have been is really not wise.  She said that if the yeast comes back again, she highly doubted another doctor will prescribe me this type of treatment with Fluconazole ever again.  The drug is very strong and extremely hard on the liver.  (And Benjamin does get some through my milk, too).  So, she said that I am really running out of options to deal with my yeast problems.  She asked how long I plan to continue breastfeeding; because she believes that if I stopped, I'd no longer have trouble with yeast.  (I have no plans to stop any time soon).  Then she conclude that doing the diet is really my last option if I want to keep breastfeeding and be thrush/candida free.

I've been reading lots about it, trying to find a list of foods to eat/avoid that I could follow.  Every website says something different.  I know the whole premise is to cut out sugars and carbs to starve the yeast and kill it off.

After my discussion with the doctor, I know the severity of the situation now, and that my breastfeeding is on the line.  I definitely don't want to give that up!

So, Saturday, January 14th I woke up determined.  I announced to my hubby that I was starting the "diet" that day.  Everyone I spoke with said I need to do it for 28 days, it's only 28 days of my life, and in jeopardy is my health, my son's health and our breastfeeding relationship.  So, I am totally on board and I will do this! 

Today is day 4 and I am doing well.  The mornings have been the toughest, because I have woken up weak, light-headed and a little nauseous (all expected symptoms resulting from candida die-off)...but still hard to deal with.  This morning was a little better, so hopefully I am on the up-swing and my mornings will get better.

Finally wrote my Breastfeeding Story

I finally got around to writing my tale.  I think that because it is a topic so precious and dear to my heart, I've been afraid to write it.  Please check out my breastfeeding story here.

The Thrush Saga Continues...

Even days after finishing my last antibiotic my breasts/nipples were still really sore.  For 4 days I applied Gentian Violet in the morning after showering (and washed it off before nursing in the afternoon when Benjamin came home from daycare).

I was told by my lactation consultant to stop using the APNO because there is a steroid in it and long-term use is not good. 

I have continued taking 200mg daily of Fluconazole and will keep this up until I am a week pain-free.  Then I'll reduce to 100mg daily for a week and then I'll reduce to 100mg every other day.  (My lactation consultant and Dr. are pretty sure I'll have to remain on this dose for as long as I am breastfeeding).

I increased my grapefruit seed extract daily intake to 250mg twice a day for the last week.  This also included a switch from a capsule brand that included oregano to a CITRICIDAL(R) GSE tablet.

I increased my probiotic daily intake from 30 Billion CU to 80 Billion CU, including a Ultimate Flora VS capsule of 50 Billion culture units.

I have greatly reduced my intake of PROCESSED sugars.  This doesn't mean I haven't had any, but instead of four cookies for dessert, I have one.  Instead of pounds of baking over the holidays, I had a piece or two here and there.  I have basically stopped drinking milk (for now).  I have switched to a low-sugar plain yogurt.  I don't eat as much bread as I use to.  I drink lots of water, mostly with lemon juice in it.  (Lemon juice becomes alkaline in your body, which yeast doesn't like).  I have reduced my coffee intake (acidic) and have stopped sweetening it with sugar - I'll either drink it black or sweeten it with Stevia (natural sweetener, but NOT sugar - will not help yeast growth).  I have stopped drinking juice and pop.

I have maintained my intake of lots of fresh fruit (which has lots of sugar, but it's natural sugar).  I am researching the "Candida Diet" more and more and will make some changes over time.  I just feel like I could never cut out ALL sweets/carbs/sugars...But I can greatly reduce and make better food and beverage choices.

My breast/nipples are feeling better and nursing isn't as painful as it has been, which is a great relief. 

Thrush - For the Last Time!

Yup, it's back.  Last night we went to bed early, Benjamin and I because he is teething and out of sorts.  He fed around 7:30pm and struggled to sleep on and off until we fed again at 9:30pm.  At that feeding I realized that yes, my nipples were sore (I've been sore for a couple of days, thinking it was just a stretching while feeding or something - I should have known!).  I applied APNO and went to bed.

I woke at 11pm with a very painful vaginal burn that any woman who's experienced an vaginal yeast infection would recognize.  I experienced relief from just one treatment, so it's confirmed, I've got an abundance of yeast again...gggrrrrrr.

Well, I guess I am willing to admit that it's never really left my system.  It's been around since before Benjamin was born because I was treating a vaginal yeast infection the week he was delivered.  The many treatments I've taken over the last year have simply reduced the amount of candida fungus, but have not eliminated it from my body, and over time it flourishes back to a quantity that causes me problems.

I managed to sneak in to see another doctor in my family doctor's practice (she's out on maternity leave, go figure).  I went armed with my 3 notebooks of our history with thrush/yeast infections and Dr. Jack Newman's book with his treatment plan.  I didn't need any of it!  The doctor I saw was a sort of kindred spirit; an experienced breastfeeding mother herself, she reviewed my file and right away suggested we consider I take Fluconazole for the remainder of my breastfeeding experience.  I have no idea when I plan to stop.  After some discussion, we settled on repeating Dr. Jack Newman's 28 day protocol followed by a slow weaning of the daily dosage to get me on the minimum amount required to keep the yeast at bay.  I will also continue using the APNO as needed and will take probiotics and grapefruit seed extract capsules daily.

She also suggested I discuss the matter with Lorraine, my Lactation Consultant, and see what her thoughts and recommendations would be about this treatment and prevention plan.

I am so thrilled!  I finally feel confident that this will be the last time I suffer from thrush while breastfeeding!!! 

Research - A parent's best bet

Before becoming a parent, it was important to me to finish my university education (my hubby and I married while I was still in school, so we waited to start our family until I graduated). From those four challenging and satisfying years, I learned that information is out there: good, bad and otherwise; you have to assess the quality of the information you find.

As parents, the one thing we receive most from those around us is advice. It is never-ending. Sometimes it's sought after, sometimes it's offered up freely (if not forcefully). In my short (11 months) experience of being a parent, I've learned that parenting advice is like the daily mail; you have to sort through it. Some of it is like bills, you have to give credit where credit is due, and some are pieces of interest while most of it is just junk.

Yes, there's advice from family and friends, even strangers and then there's advice from the "professionals" a.k.a. BOOKS. Countless books on every imaginable parenting topic, it's literally overwhelming. Which book do you choose? Who do you believe?  Start with knowing yourselves, your views on what you think is best for your child.  Find authors who fell the same why and offer advice with those same beliefs.

Throughout my trails and tribulations of breastfeeding my little Mister, our lactation consultant taught me that information leads to knowledge and knowledge is confidence.  If there is one thing every parent needs it's confidence!

Bottom line...Research is key. So, if you've got a question, or are facing a challenge, it never hurts to ask around, talk to professionals, and do some reading.

How to Transition from Co-sleeping to Independent Sleeping???

That is the question we have been mulling over for weeks.

We refuse to let our sensitive, lovable Mister be a victim of the heartless Cry-It-Out method.  So, since that's what most people, professionals and books advise...we've been having to really stand firm to our beliefs that it's the wrong method for our family and search for something we can feel positive about.

I have done lots of my own thinking on the matter.  I have discussed the matter with a couple of friends and family members.  I've spoken with our lactation consultant.  I've read what Dr. William Sears (one of our trusted sources of information since before Mister was born) has to say about the matter.  Although he says to make the transition slowly and offers options of a mattress on the floor at the foot of my bed, he really doesn't provide step-by-step instructions.  My brain needs to see how the process will breakdown into steps my family can see as positive and possible for all of us.

At this point, I was beginning to accept that there was NO way we would get Mister sleeping in his crib without some crying.  Dr. Sears says that a baby crying in the arms of a loving parent is NOT the same as being left alone to CIO.  So, I was preparing myself for long nights of cuddling, cradling and standing by his crib-side for as long as it took for him to fall asleep, to comfort him with voice, touch and presence while he inevitably cried, looking up at me from inside his 'cage' (that's how he'd be feeling about it). 

Today I went to Chapters see see what I could find in their baby book section.  I came across a handful of 'help baby sleep' books.  Some where immediately identifiable as CIO preachers, so I returned those to the shelf.  I found The Sleepeasy Solution and another one I can't remember the title of.  Suddenly my eyes happened upon The No-Cry Sleep Solution, and on the back cover I thrillingly noticed it was endorsed by Dr. William Sears.  I grabbed these three books and found a spot to sit and skim through them.  The Sleepeasy Solution had my attention for a while, (I believe a friend of ours had success with this method) seemingly laying out a pattern of going in to comfort baby at longer and longer intervals until he falls asleep...since I felt I was facing some crying anyway, maybe this could work?  But the more I read, the 'strictness' and rigidity of it became apparent and the more I felt in my gut/heart that this was the CIO method in sheep's clothing and definitely not for us.  I put the book back.

Could there really be a No-Cry Sleep Solution out there, as the book proclaimed?  I skimmed through it, noting that the author herself (Elizabeth Pantley) co-slept with all four of her own kids.  Cool, maybe I was onto something.  She talks about her own love of breastfeeding and co-sleeping in a manner that totally warmed my heart, as she described exactly how I felt about the experience.  At last I felt like I had found an author who understood me, my family and the connection we have with our son and that we didn't want to risk losing that connection as we transition him from co-sleeping to independent sleeping.  Naturally, I bought the book.

Thrush...again!

My left breast has been sore; I think I had a blocked duct on Monday, and my nipple's gotten sore so I finally went to the walk-in clinic today and was diagnosed with thrush...again!  (pretty sure this is bout 5 or 6).

Once again I am on Fluconazole, 400mg loading dose with up to 28 days of 100mg twice a day; until pain free for a week. (Ref. Dr. Jack Newman).  I am also using the All Purpose Nipple Ointment after each nursing and taking Grapefruit Seed Extract (1 capsule three times a day) and probiotics (10 billion cells three times a day).   For the first few days I will even treat my nipples with Gentian Violet in the morning (while Mister is at daycare all day) and simply wipe it off before nursing (he is lucky enough not to get thrush this time).

After speaking with our Lactation Consultant, I will stop all Domperidone, blessed thistle and fenugreek seed.  Blocked duct earlier in the week is probably due to too much milk and Mister not taking it all from me.

Lactation Consultant - Weigh In

Mister weighed in at 21 lbs 2 oz, 9.58 kg and measured 72.5 cm.

Lactation Medication Update

Under the direction of my lactation consultant, I will be increasing my Domperidone to 40 mg three times a day and continue with 3 capsules of both blessed thistle and fenugreek seed three times a day.

Thrush...it's back!

Last week I finished a 5 day treatment of Fluconazole for thrush and a 6-day Canesten treatment...and the symptoms are still here!!!  GRRRRR!!!!!

Today I began another round of Fluconazole treatment, as advised by my lactation consultant who referenced Dr. Jack Newman.  I'll take a 400mg loading dose and follow it with up to 28 days of 200mg; until I am pain free for a week.  I'll also take Grapefruit Seed Extract in capsule form (1 three times a day) and probiotics (10 billion cells three times a day).  And I'll be using the All Purpose Nipple Ointment after each nursing. 

You can only understand the pain of nursing when you have thrush if you've experienced it.  If you have or are going through it, I feel your pain and wish you good medical care to get the right treatment!  My Dr. would never have prescribed Fluconazole like this if the lactation consultant didn't recommend it!