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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 1/19/2009 1:30 AM (GMT 0)
Great, another problem to add to the list. My daughter has a clear oral thrush issue going on. Her tongue is coated white. I know that's it's likely from the Prednisone, or the antibiotics she's been on. I vaguely recall that she had this 2 yrs. ago while on Prednisone as well, so that is likely the culprit. 

Has anyone had this annoying problem, and have ideas on the best way to get rid of it. I bought her a tongue scraper/brush, and I think that did the trick last time. Don't really want to add any more meds to the fray if it can be avoided.

Tom.

Posted 1/19/2009 1:41 AM (GMT 0)
I got oral thrush last year, after taking a course of antibiotics. I went and talked to my pharmacist, who advised me to go to the local urgent care center and get a prescription for Nystatin. (She did not recommend gentian violet, the folk remedy that my mom used to use--no matter how tiny a drop you use, it stains your whole mouth and all your teeth bright purple, gets on everything, and isn't recommended for internal use.) The Nystatin is a liquid. You use it like mouthwash--take the required dose, swush it around in your mouth vigorously (and it tastes just fine), and then spit it out. It got rid of the thrush completely within 48 hours.
Posted 1/19/2009 1:44 AM (GMT 0)
Tom,

I had severe problems with this while I was in the hospital and not able to take my probiotic. (I was on TPN with no food intkae for weeks). I even had it in my throat. Once I got back on my probiotic I was fine.
Being a girl she may have trouble with vaginal yeast too. Try to get her to take a probiotic or atleast accidoupholus. I take Primadophilus Reuteri by natures way. Just one a day. You can get probiotics at any health food store. I never have any troubles with yeast as long as I take it. If I stop the yeast comes on like wild fire.

Even yogurt with live bacteria cultures is helpful. Better than nothing. You should take her to the dr. They can give her an antifungal rinse to help take the yeast away.

Tanya
Posted 1/19/2009 1:44 AM (GMT 0)
Yep, Nystatin is good. In the meantime, try gargling several times a day with salty walter.
Posted 1/19/2009 1:58 AM (GMT 0)
I googled "oral thrush" and found a website from Mayo:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/oral-thrush/DS00408/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs
Posted 1/19/2009 3:05 AM (GMT 0)
I had that pretty severely. My GI prescribed diflucan which I took for three days and it cleared up. I haven't had a problem with it since.
Posted 1/19/2009 4:03 AM (GMT 0)
I had oral thrush after antibiotics once. My doctor also put me on diflucan for about a week, and haven't had a problem since either :).
Posted 1/19/2009 8:56 AM (GMT 0)
Word of warning about the diflucan though... some crohnies have a serious bacterial melt-down after a diflucan. It will do an awesome job of killing the thrush and any lingering yeast issues of the feminine sort, but it can also wipe out the good flora of the gut, so make sure to counter it with a good probiotic. Otherwise, you might have a whole different set of problems to deal with.
Posted 1/19/2009 7:49 PM (GMT 0)
I had thrush a couple of years ago while in the hospital. They gave me Nystatin. I couldn't tolerate the taste. Finally they gave me the Diflucan. So much better. Either one should work. But you should also be doing the probiotics too.
Posted 1/20/2009 2:26 AM (GMT 0)
I have had the white coating on my tongue almost since December. In December I tried the Nystatin for about a week and it didn't help...I had also been taking alot of meds at the time...It never really went away..I have just learned how to deal with it. I had another flair up and I am now taking the medicine again and the white coating is still there but maybe worse...It has messed up my taste buds really bad. Everything taste really horrible or different. My family doctor said it was from a lack of B vitamins..so he had me taking B-Complex vitamins...in never helped...So I am sorry that I can't help you any but thought I would give you my experience with it. I have it right now and I just hate it...if you find out anything that has helped please let me know...email me at [email protected] so much...hope your daughter gets some relief....
Posted 1/20/2009 2:58 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Angela,

I would suggest trying the tongue scraper. I seem to remember that when my daughter had it the first time, it actually got rid of it. Maybe it wasn't as severe, it was 2 yrs. ago and I can't remember it well. I think you do have to be vigilant with it though, a couple of times a day.

Tom.

Posted 1/20/2009 3:00 AM (GMT 0)
I was going to try a probiotic, but I figured that since she's still taking antibiotics, (Flagyl), that it would wipe out the probiotic with all the other bacteria, rendering it ineffective. Does this make sense?
Posted 1/20/2009 3:27 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Tom,

I forgot to tell you that I am taking the sam medicine that she is taking right now. I am taking Flagyl and Predinsone. I think you said she is taking this also. I had a flare up and had to go to the ER. this past Friday night..This is the medicine they gave me to take but only for 10 days...I am also taking Levaquin and Reglan for 10 days also....

I did buy me a tongue scraper when I had it in December, it didn't help then...I did it all the time, brused my teeth like crazy and used listerine mouth wash...I don't know what else to do...I was researching it again since I posted the last post to you and one thing might be the cause if you don't drink enough water...they said that could be one of the reasons for it.....i know i don't drink water like I should so i will start with that I guess....if anyone knows anything please help....thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted 1/20/2009 3:48 AM (GMT 0)
You are right about the antibiotic killing the probiotic, but there is still benefit in taking them!!! Everything I've read says take them two hours before or two hours after taking the antibiotic. I've known people on powerful antibiotics like Flagyl who increased their probiotic up to 3 to 4 times the usual amount while they're on the anti. Also, consider having her eat a high-quality organic yogurt. You just can't have too many good guys in there--especially right now while she's on antibiotics!

about a year ago my son got bronchitis and we had to put him on an antibiotic. We started VSL#3 at the same time and continued it with his usual probiotic until about a month after he finished his antibiotic. One capsule of VSL has something like 10 times the beneficial bacteria than his usual probiotic. Thankfully, he experienced no adverse effects from his antibiotic (which is what we were trying to avoid).

Probiotics from supplements (capsules) and foods like yogurt will be helpful for her for the rest of her life! They have the potential to keep her from getting thrush and yeast infections, and just may help her Crohn's as well!!! Experts say NONE of us--even normal, healthy people--has enough beneficial bacteria in our intestines because our diet is sorely lacking them.
Posted 1/20/2009 4:22 AM (GMT 0)
Besides probiotics, I've read that Saccharomyces Boulardii is also very good to treat a yeast infection. It is a yeast as well, but a good one. The description at GI Pro Health says:

As a transient yeast organism that passes through the intestines after ingestion, S boulardii does not attach to the mucosal cells lining the intestinal lumen, but exerts its beneficial effects on the host as it moves through the gastrointestinal tract. S boulardii is completely unrelated to Candida albicans, C. tropicalas, C. kruise and other Candida species that cause disease and overgrowth species decrease the acidity of the gastrointestinal mucosal membrane susceptible to invasion by disease-causing bacteria and yeast. S boulardii exerts the opposite effect. It produces lactic and other acids know to inhibit disease causing Candida yeast species. Animal studies have shown that S boulardii actually plays a role in preventing the Candida yeast from reproducing in the gut.
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