Help with masks: Masks I have developed... - Lung Conditions C...

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Help with masks

ennabell profile image
12 Replies

Masks

I have developed oral thrush. It could be caused by my daily use of antibotics but I suspect that the masks I use could be the culprit. Could anyone recommend any good masks and where I could buy them. I have looked at n95 and kn95, all very confusing.

Ennabell

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ennabell profile image
ennabell
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12 Replies
Bevvy profile image
Bevvy

No idea about face masks in relation to oral thrush but I am off the understanding that antibiotics can cause thrush issues. Are you taking probiotics and eating live yogurt? These can help to replace the “good” bacteria that is damaged due to antibiotics.Back to face masks - depending on the type you use - it can be helpful to wash frequently. Also I have a number of face masks but don’t wear the same ones on consecutive days which may help.

ennabell profile image
ennabell in reply to Bevvy

Yes I take probiotics and yogurt regularly. I just use the blue disposable ones at present but wanted to ‘upgrade’ to see if that helps.Thanks for reply

Troilus profile image
Troilus

Have you tried a cage? It’s a plastic ( soft rubbery type) frame that goes inside your normal mask to create a bit more space between your face and your mask. Might be worth a try.I got some FFP3 and N25? masks at the start of the pandemic but I found they weren’t much good for my breathing - things got a bit humid in there 😁

ennabell profile image
ennabell in reply to Troilus

Thank you, I will certainly try those. I thought that the other masks would not be much better and they are expensive, so may not bother.Thanks again

Ennabell

Troilus profile image
Troilus in reply to ennabell

Yes, they were expensive and also single use.

teddyd profile image
teddyd

Antibiotics and inhalers I think can increase the chance of thrush. I think if masks caused thrush the NHS staff would would be affected and we might have heard about it .

Sorry not really an answer to your question.

*I always wear cotton masks

Milandra17 profile image
Milandra17

Every time I take antibiotics I get thrush. I find Daktarin gel deals with oral thrush

Doggie123-UK profile image
Doggie123-UK

I have suffered oral thrush on many occasions due to using inhalers, I have only just been advised to wash, gargle and spit out using water after using an inhaler which has helped greatly, I wonder if this may be useful to you after using a fresh clean mask each time

MoyB profile image
MoyB

For the first time in my life I got oral thrush this year and it went on for months! It's gone now, thank goodness, thanks to Nystan and Yakult.

I have been using antibiotics, steroids and inhalers for years and it's the first time it got me!

However, I was also anaemic earlier in the year and developed an overgrowth of Morixella (all happened about the same time).

I felt that my immune system was compromised. My GP asked why I thought that, hummed and hahd and said she would give me a good check up in a couple of months if there was no improvement. Well there was no improvement and no check up until I developed swollen ankles to go along with my breathlessness and low peak flow.

Interestingly, my bloods all came back good, so no problem with my immune system and also, by then the thrush had gone - but I had started to take Yakult every day and also cut down on sugar intake which I think did the trick. Also, I kept the Nystan going for far longer than should have been necessary. I was determined to clear the horrible thrush!

I really don't think face masks had anything to do with the thrush. I guess my system had got low and, as my GP said to me, thrush is an opportunistic organism that thrives when there is the slightest chink in our armour!

Make sure your general health is as good as it can be.

I hope you get rid of the thrush soon. It's just horrible!

xx Moy

ennabell profile image
ennabell in reply to MoyB

Thanks you so much for your advice, much appreciated.

Lutontown profile image
Lutontown

Definitely the antibiotics, which kill the the good guy bacteria as well as the bad 'uns. The good guys keep the fungal infections in check. You may need a medication to combat the thrush; Nystan or Fluconazole. Other medications may restrict the use of the latter. Talk to your GP. Can't see face masks causing it.

Alberta56 profile image
Alberta56

i have a couple of silk masks, bought off the internet. Some people reckon they are better for warding off bugs. I don't know about that. I bought them because I can breathe more easily in them.

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