Yeast infection and Urso: I've been on Urso... - PBC Foundation

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Yeast infection and Urso

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52 Replies

I've been on Urso since last November (2016). Somewhere in May, I've acquired vaginal itch and burning. Finally went to see a primary doctor by mid-June. Was diagnosed with the yeast infection. I took two (5 days apart) prescription fluconazole 150mg pills. Didn't help. Went to see a gynecologist this time. Still had in infection. She put me on additional 4 pills of fluconazole, 150 mg, (once a week for 4 weeks). Today I took the second pill. I am not getting better. The gynecologist thinks it is a chronic yeast infection that was a result of antibiotics I took back in October for dental work. Maybe. But, it's not getting better with the treatment. I even think that I have a little bit of it in my mouth (common for babies, but, happens to adults too). Anyone has an on-going vaginal yeast infection since starting taking Urso? If you do, how do you treat it? What helps?

I'd appreciate your input!

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52 Replies
SheepJane profile image
SheepJane

Poor you. Expect the treatment will work eventually but you could consider probiotics too? Plus look up foods that contain yeast and avoid them, eat natural/live yoghurt first thing in the morning or last thing at night.

iagra profile image
iagra in reply to SheepJane

Thanks for your advise, Jane! I'll try the live yogurt. Not sure about probiotics. I'd need to research which one. My doctor mentioned sometime ago - Align.

bartholomewpatri profile image
bartholomewpatri in reply to iagra

Probiotics are the good for you bacteria that manufacturers put into yogurt...

marianne349 profile image
marianne349 in reply to SheepJane

Proberen kefir

0137kaz45 profile image
0137kaz45

Hi I also suffer with thrush every month but did not relate it to the Urso , my GP just gives me the thrush combo to use every month , I just accept it but maybe I should look into it more now I have read your post , good luck

iagra profile image
iagra in reply to 0137kaz45

Thanks for your comment! Can you tell me, what is the "thrush combo"? A prescription medicine? I'm in the US.

vicary profile image
vicary in reply to iagra

You can get the thrush combo over the counter or on prescription, it is cheaper for us to buy it over the counter rather than on prescription as it's 2 charges here not sure how prescriptions work in the US ! The combo can either be Oral tab and cream or pessary and cream down to personal preference .

Hope that helps .

iagra profile image
iagra in reply to vicary

Thanks so much!

Wocket profile image
Wocket

I don't have a yeast infection but I do get dry and unbalanced. I take a probiotics everyday, Optibac is just for women. It balances the bacteria in the vagina and bladder. I also use vagifem as I am post menapause.

iagra profile image
iagra in reply to Wocket

Thank you very much! I'll definitely look into the things you suggested.

butterflyEi profile image
butterflyEi

Hi iagra

How horrid for you and uncomfortable. I have not suffered with this for many years but in the past have used Canestan cream, they also produce Canestan duo. SheepJane has suggested probiotics which is a great idea as our gut bacteria needs to be healthy to keep the rest of our system in working order. I use

bodykind.com/product/125-pr...

As I am an "itcher" and to help control this I am given Rifampicin which is an antibiotic so when I started Rifampicin I also started the probiotic just in case.

This part is not so nice so for the delicate of mind please read no further

Years ago after a particularly bad bout of thrush a friend suggested using a live yoghurt as a direct application into the vaginal cavity (I used a spoon) and an external sanitary towel worn. As it was cold it was soothing but I do not remember it being a miracle cure.

Just as a quick thought I did a search for it on Mum's net here is a link to a thread on thrush

mumsnet.com/Talk/general_he...

Hope this is of some help - if you choose the Canestan or similar then I think you might like to run it past your doctor.

best wishes

iagra profile image
iagra in reply to butterflyEi

Thanks so much for your advice! I'll try the things you recommend.

kandiepat profile image
kandiepat in reply to iagra

Hi Iagra, I never connected mine with Urso. After a year of a painful, burning itch which I knew wasn't thrush,( although I had it in my mouth one time), Anyway, I finally got an appointment with the Clinic, had a biopsy done and it wasn't cancerous. I was given Dermovate steroid cream to apply every day for a month. That cleared it but I have to use it occasionally because I can feel it coming back. My thoughts about it are, when I was glutenfree, it went but would come back when I came off my diet. and I think keeping that area moist is important - Vaseline is good. That's my story anyway, I hope it helps in some way. Big Hug. Kandiepat

iagra profile image
iagra in reply to kandiepat

Thank you so much! I hope you are well!

4pjx__ profile image
4pjx__

Odd you should bring this up because I have been fighting a yeast infection for 3 weeks now. I haven't had one in 30 years. I guess there is a pill you can take but the gp didn't think it would be a good thing for my liver. She ordered some anti fungal for me from the pharmacy. It's a little messy but oh well! I hope it works. I think I feel better. I did try the yogurt...it was useless. Then the Monostat from the drug store. That was also useless. My yeast issues started a few weeks after starting Urso. I don't know if this was much help.

Pam

iagra profile image
iagra in reply to 4pjx__

Thanks Pam. I also haven't had an yeast infection for 30 years. The fluconazole pill haven't helped so far and I don't know if I should take the remaining 2 pills. I may see yet another doctor. Even though my gastro doctor said it's OK to take these pills, as it is a small doze (150mg), I am still concerned about how it effects the liver. I hope your vaginal treatment works for you! If you don't mind telling me after you are done with it, if it helped, I'd appreciate it. Perhaps, I should do the same.

Thanks!

4pjx__ profile image
4pjx__ in reply to iagra

Okay, I will let you know if this works.

4pjx__ profile image
4pjx__ in reply to iagra

Just thought I'd let you know my results. Imtried the cream the doctor prescribed and I did feel bettee for a couple of days. Then the yeast came back. So the doctor said I had to go to the pills and that seems to be working. I feel a lot better but my doctor wanted me to have liver function tests when I was done with the pills. I'm to see the hepatologist early August so I'll have my blood tests then. I hope I haven't hurt my liver but a person has to live.

Pam

iagra profile image
iagra in reply to 4pjx__

Thank you, Pam. I hope your yeast is gone. I am still struggling with it. After 4 pills of fluconazole, I wasn't better. Yesterday, I started on Clotrimazole 2% cream. It's a 3-day vaginal treatment. I hope it helps. I must have a very stubborn yeast infection or my body doesn't fight it like before. I have blood tests coming up in early august. I hope a few pills don't do whole lot of damage to the liver.

4pjx__ profile image
4pjx__ in reply to iagra

That's what I'm taking now , the flucanazole. 2 pills so far. I think I have a pretty stubborn one as well. I have blood tests also second week of August. I'm getting tired of all these blood tests. I don't seem to be very good at passing them. Haha! Give me any kind of test I'm sure to fail it. The whole idea of a test kind of freaks me out. Let me know how your blood tests come out. Good luck!

Pam

iagra profile image
iagra in reply to 4pjx__

I hope your tests come back good. I'll let you know about mine in a couple of weeks, as I took 4 fluconazole pills with no result. I hope they work for you. Everybody is different. I hope the cream will help me. I am tired of this new problem.

All the best to you!

4pjx__ profile image
4pjx__ in reply to iagra

Thank you

4pjx__ profile image
4pjx__ in reply to iagra

Let me know if the cream works for you. I have not seen any improvement with the flucanazole pills. I took the 3rd one today.

iagra profile image
iagra in reply to 4pjx__

Sorry that pills are not working for you so far. Still, wait a few days, maybe it'll clear up. This medicine stays in the system for several days. But, I am on the same boat. Four pills of flucanazole nothing for me. I have one more dose of Clotrimazole 2% vaginal cream, but, after two doses I have no relief. I think I'll be back to the drawing board after I am done with the cream. I am going to see a different gynecologist. Don't yet who, but, not the one I've seen so far. She gave me one bad advice, to use cortisone 1% cream on the vaginal fissures (which, my guess, are result of the yeast infection). But, it only made yeast infection worse. I googled it, and yes, steroids are bad for yeast (or, maybe I should say, good for yeast, because it likes it). I feel like I am chasing my own tail. I'll let you know in a couple of days if the cream helped in the end, since I have one more dose tonight.

Cheers,

Inna

bartholomewpatri profile image
bartholomewpatri

Probiotics can help immensely at keeping fungus in check and they are safe

iagra profile image
iagra in reply to bartholomewpatri

Thanks so much! I will look into it. Any particular probiotic that you prefer and take?

I'd appreciate your input.

bartholomewpatri profile image
bartholomewpatri in reply to iagra

Yes any that has 25 million active cultures is good at keeping mild yeast fungus under control.

iagra profile image
iagra in reply to bartholomewpatri

Thanks!!

Elanie profile image
Elanie

Hi are you sure it's a yeast infection. I have PBC diagnosed in February but also have lichen sclerosis which is also auto immune. When I first had this itch , both my practice nurse and I thought it was thrush and treated as such, nothing soothed. Finally a doctor thought it was lichen and sent me to a dermatologist at the local hospital. Eventually had a biopsy and was diagnosed in 2014 It's not a nice auto immune but with right treatment is manageable.

iagra profile image
iagra in reply to Elanie

Hi Elanie, sorry about the illness you have. I just read about lichen sclerosis. One of the symptoms are white spots. Do you have that? I've been examined by two doctors (one of the gynecologist), but, they said that the vaginal skin is completely clean. Maybe discoloration develops later?

However, I am concerned that the standard treatment for an yeast infection has not helped so far. So, it could be a combination of yeast with something else. The culture tests did point to the yeast infection.

Thanks

Elanie profile image
Elanie in reply to iagra

Hi Lagra ,. Discoleration came later. I was firstly referred to a gynocologist, then to a dematologist as its a skin condition just in a delicate area! It was the dermatologist who did the biopsy. Now I'm back with the gynocologist. I really hope you get to the reason for your itch soon.

iagra profile image
iagra in reply to Elanie

Hi Elanie, when you were diagnosed with lichen sclerosis, did the test also show yeast infection? I had vaginal culture tests done twice and both came back positive for yeast infection. I wonder if lichen sclerosis and yeast infection travel together, so to speak.

Thanks

Sachin1234 profile image
Sachin1234

When I had yeast infection 3 years ago same year I was diagnosed with pbc as well..I was surprised at that time when I had yeast infection cause I'm a male then I realized it might be due to pbc which makes my skin dry and suppress immune system..

now wether I have yeast infection or not I always use nystatin cream which is working for me.

Good luck and let me know if I can help

iagra profile image
iagra in reply to Sachin1234

Thanks so much! I'll try nystatin cream.

Be well!

Sachin1234 profile image
Sachin1234 in reply to iagra

Once you have chronic yeast infection oral medicine won't work unless it is in your bladder or inside urethra.. use nystatin cream for genital area and nystatin mouth wash for mouth.. I also heard organic apple cider also work well for yeast infection

iagra profile image
iagra in reply to Sachin1234

Thanks so much!

badpiglet profile image
badpiglet

Hi Iagra,

Over the years I've had several episodes of chronic Thrush. Awful, really pulls you down & difficult to get rid of. It can make you yearn for the very things like sugary and yeast based foods/drink that can make it worse.

There are some doctors that are getting a bit more switched on about it now but frustratingly there are still some that forget to tell you that it is essential that your sexual partner gets treated at the same time. Otherwise you can pass it back and forth for years without realising. If a man has it very mildly, he may not even realise there's anything wrong.

I'd make sure that you've had a swab analyzed and that it is definitely thrush. Your treatment will need to go on for much longer than acute thrush and if you have a partner, get them treated too. As soon as the treatment is finished, start getting your system back into balance with healthy eating and if possible both pro and prebiotics. Look for a brand of probiotics that have a wide range of microbiotics strains, not just one or two. Udo's choice is one brand, Biokult is another.

There's some over the counter probiotic capsules by Canasten that you you can put into your vagina. Just a warning about them, if you use them as directed, they can alter your balance too far the other way and give you the same symptoms as thrush! I've used one but no more for several days or more.

Be careful with soap. It's tempting to clean yourself too much and many soaps and wipes can irritate further. Gentle soap free washes and not too hot baths. Watch out for toothpastes that irritate as well. Maybe get one that doesn't have foaming agents in it. There's a brand over here called UltraDex that's good.

Finally, not sure how old you are, but perimenopause can lead to vaginal dryness which in turn can lead to an increased chance of getting infections. There's several vaginal moisturisers on the market (not lubricants) that are very helpful. Great to pop one in once or twice a week overnight. There's a brand over here called Replens but there's others.

Thrush is a really horrible infection, I hope you can sort it soon.

iagra profile image
iagra in reply to badpiglet

Thank you so much for valuable advice! I'll check on those probiotics. I had many yeast infections in my 30s, but, now I am 63 and it is so surprising to have it at my age. It is also so persistent and different from before (no white discharge, just dry and itchy). I have it now for more than 2 months and so far medication didn't help. I am checking back with the doctor as well. I had a full hysterectomy when I was 39 and have been on estrogen since then. But, this has never been a problem for me until now.

Thanks again and all the best to you!

JaneIng profile image
JaneIng

I had yeast infection a couple of years ago. My doctor prescribed Nystatin for 2 months and high dose Probiotics (460 billion). In addition I had to be on Candida diet. ( no sugar, no dairy, no starchy food). By the way, Fluconazole is not good for the liver.

To maintain yeast free, keep the low carb/sugar diet, continue with the Probiotics, take Grapefruit seed extract supplement.

Best luck to you.

--Jane

iagra profile image
iagra in reply to JaneIng

Thanks so much, Jane! Your doctor put on Nystatin cream or oral pills?

JaneIng profile image
JaneIng in reply to iagra

It's is oral, specially made by compounding pharmacy. Your doctor has to specify the strength and dosage.

iagra profile image
iagra in reply to JaneIng

Thanks, I'll ask my doctor. Is it not bad for liver like Fluconazole?

Sam1121 profile image
Sam1121

Hi! A few years ago I had thrush (yeast infection in my mouth) due to antibiotics for MRSA. The whole inside of my mouth was white pockets of yeast. You would know you have it because it hurt more than anything I had ever experienced and I have a very high pain threshold. The dr did tell me that yeast LOVES sugar so to stop eating it until it was all cleared up. I was given a pill as well as a mouthwash to swish and swallow in case any was in my throat or esophagus. Good luck!

iagra profile image
iagra in reply to Sam1121

Thanks so much, Sam! I will stop eating sugar, though I love sweets.

Sam1121 profile image
Sam1121 in reply to iagra

I was told you crave sugar when you have a yeast infection or at least thrush since the yeast lives on it!

iagra profile image
iagra in reply to Sam1121

OMG! Thanks for letting me know. I'll be strong. :)

badpiglet profile image
badpiglet

Forgot to say, IF it's definitely thrush, you may be or have become sensitive/reactive to fluconozole. I did and had to change to a different drug.

Or reaction to the sulphates/foaming agents in soap & toothpaste? Changing to sulphate free can't do any harm at all & is worth trying.

Have you ever tried oestrogen pessaries? I wonder if it's extreme menopausal vaginal dryness. They call it a really horrible name: vaginal atrophy.

I'd go back to your doctor and talk through it all again.

iagra profile image
iagra in reply to badpiglet

Thanks so much. I'll be checking with my doctor on other options. You are right, fluconzole must be not working. I'll check on vaginal atrophy too. Because it maybe two different things happening, not just the yeast infection.

Elanie profile image
Elanie

Hi, my culture results were not reported back to me, by the time I asked for them they had moved me on to possible itchin so I think they must have been negative for thrush.having suffered from thrush in the past I can say that in the early stages the symptoms are so similar, however with litchins the skin splits as well as the itch so you burn! The key for both is to keep the area moist with none scented moisturiser. Never use soap in this area. The doctor will be able to prescribe a wash solution. If it is lichen then the treatment is steroid cream dermovate or bentovate on top of moisturiser. My advice is that if the treatment for the yeast infection doesn't work then mention litchins and ask for someone to investiagte if this may be the cause.

iagra profile image
iagra in reply to Elanie

I will. Thanks so much for all this information, Elanie. I wish you all the best!

littysgirl profile image
littysgirl

I see that you have had many comments but I'll still jump in here because I had this problem recently. I think if the yeast problem keeps coming back, it's probably not a localized problem but more of a systemic problem. I also may have been flirting with yeast issues throughout my digestive system for years but it came to a head about two months ago when I had to start using a steroid inhaler for asthma. I was told to rinse out my mouth immediately after using the inhaler because thrush could be a result. I was faithful in rinsing but I got thrush anyway. I called the doctor and described what was happening and they called in a prescription for an antifungal syrup that I took for 8 days. It seemed to work but three days after I stopped taking the medicine, the white spots were back in my mouth and throat. I was frustrated because I take enough medicine. I looked on line for other solutions, particularly since I suspected my problem might be more than just in my mouth. There were all kinds of solutions, most of which I really didn't want to try or didn't think I could sustain. One thing that I saw repeatedly was using Apple Cider Vinegar - raw and "with the mother" whatever that is - but it does say exactly that on the label. I think it might be the sediment on the bottom of the bottle. At any rate, I started taking the apple cider vinegar - they suggest a tablespoon a day. I found that to be a lot at once so I take a half tablespoon twice a day. I mix it in about 3-4 ounces of warm water to dilute it and then just chug it down. I don't mind the taste. I don't love it but I can certainly tolerate it. And, I'm almost afraid to say it out loud, but it's working. I'm still using the inhaler, still rinsing my mouth afterwards but there has been no return, at all, of the thrush - and I'm doing better with the diarrhea that I was also experiencing. It makes me suspect that I had the problem system wide. Anyway, the vinegar is cheap and easy - might work - can't hurt. Good luck!

iagra profile image
iagra in reply to littysgirl

Thank you for an excellent advice! I like that it is a more natural way of treatment. I'll definitely try that.

I hope things are under control with you.

God bless!

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