We are 11 wks post treatment. Thrush recurred 1 week ago, was on fluconazale, but quit taking it after 1 wk. Is there any alternative ways to deal with the thrush other than than fluco? hubby doesn't like side affects of the drug.

Drinking milkshakes, eating yogurt, soft scrambled eggs, and noodle soup. Can't eat any meat yet, and what he can eat hurts. Still have peg. follow up pet scan scheduled 11/15. Not losing any more weight but not gaining yet.

[quote=positive] Thrush recurred 1 week ago, was on fluconazale, but quit taking it after 1 wk. Is there any alternative ways to deal with the thrush other than than fluco? hubby doesn't like side affects of the drug.
[/quote]

I took Nystatin (liquid - swish then swallow). I don't recall having any side effects.

When I get thrush, I use Mycelex lozenges (generic name is Clotrimazole 10 mg troches) which dissolve on your tongue and are really effective. Unlike Diflucan which courses through your whole body and can do a number on your kidney and liver, this just hits topically on the thrush on your tongue. You might want to call his doctor for a script. You do take like five a day but it dissolves and does the trick with no side effects that I could discern.
Charm

You may have to double up and take the diflucan and nystatin (swish and spit/swallow) to knock it out. I battled it for 3 months post treatment, once they finally said do both at once it knocked it out for good.

Hi,
Gordon has had thrush a few times and has managed to eradicate it with the nystatin swish and swallow. I think it has a lot of sugar in it, though, not the best thing for the teeth of those recovering from radiation to this area, so you have to be extra diligent about the teeth cleaning and fluoride treatments.
I checked, and sucrose is listed as one of the inactive ingredients.
Anne

Hi Positive

Keep going with the yoghurt but make sure it is the kind that contains acidophilus bacteria as this will help to "normalise" things. I am not sure if this will be enough without a "...zole" medication but it may help stop recurrences of thrush in the future.

What side effects was your husband having? There are other ...zole type medications that can be substituted if need be and it will be the fastest way to get rid of it. Also, maybe the side effects weren't fluconazole - cisplatin and radiation effects can go on for weeks after they finish. My Alex only just stopped feeling nauseous in the last couple of weeks after finishing in August. He still feels just blah and continues to complain stomach upset every once in a while.

I have also read that zinc supplements help but have no experience or knowledge of why

Hi,

I think the lozenges are probably the best alternative as the nylstat has sugar in it. I dont know about everyone else but I try and avoid sugar as much as possible - I've turned into a sugar Nazi. But I'm really scared of rotting teeth and What it means for us who have had radiation.

Minh

I have my pharmacist mix a suger free Nystatin so it can be done. I'm on a daily maintenance dose to keep thrush out of my voice prosthesis. I was never able to cure a full fledged thursh infection with Nystatin alone.

Take care,
Eileen

Thanks for all the posts. The Thrush is gone now, but if it comes back will try your suggestions. Good news is Cancer Free from the pet scan on 11/15/10. But now lost hearing in other ear, and go to ear specialist 12/1. He was told the radiation is a gift that keeps giving. Hope the loss isn't permanent.

Postivie

Congratulations on your husbands clear scan. I see your husband had chemotherapy, Cisplatin is also known to cause hearing difficulties. Hope his ear specialist appointment goes well.

Karen

Congrats on the scan. Make sure things like high fructose corn syrup, sugars in general, yeasted breads, pizza, etc., are avoided as they will fuel the thrush which is actually candida or yeast infection. Probiotics are a plus and should be used daily to ease the entire digestive track with an added benefit of keeping candida in check. I drink a little bit of Lifeway organic kefir daily to help. It has the same cultures as yogurt and then a few more. I also use a powder form of the cultures when it gets real bad called Three-Lac or Five-Lac. I think it is a bit expensive to use it on an ongoing basis.

I hope this helps.

Ed