Who should I contact now?

Ok, so following on from my post from a few weeks ago, I now am suffering from a side effect of the steroids I was on. I now have oral thrush. I called back the dr who prescribed the steroids and he's out on holiday. In the US, I'd call either my primary care doctor, or possibly my gyno. I'm not sure who to contact here. Should I go back to my husbands' GP again or possibly contact a Sexual Health clinic? Can I go to a sexual health clinic as a visitor?

I'm just very nervous about using NHS services again as I don't want to rack up any debt prior to applying for my visa in a few weeks. I guess I could wait til I return back to the US in 2 weeks, but my mouth is feeling all kinds of gross and I'd like to get it sorted. Thanks for any advice!

Sounds like a GP type of question to me.

Ouchies!!!   

Call NHS direct and they can let you know what you can do.

Might be able to get it sorted with a vist to a pharmacy. Worth a try anyway.

I did go to the local pharmacy, but all they had was a gel that I could use. I've been using it and it hasn't helped much, if at all.  That's all they could do for me without a prescription unfortunately.

I've had this issue before after taking antibiotics, and have discovered if I don't take probiotics at the same time, I get this problem. Never having been on steroids, I didn't realize that they could cause it too. So my only plan at the mo is take some probiotics and hope it 'resets' my chemical balance.

I bet you would be able to clear this up with the Canisten Duo...

It come with a pill and a tube of cream. You wouldn't be able to use the cream obviously but the pill would kill the thrush.

Last time I bought it..it cost about £14.00 but well worth it! It is sold at most major chemist...and you don't need a prescription for it either..

Thank you for the info MeShell! I will go to a different chemist tomorrow (I just found a Boots pharm. when I was out walking today) and see if they carry it.

Thank you for the info MeShell! I will go to a different chemist tomorrow (I just found a Boots pharm. when I was out walking today) and see if they carry it.

All pharmacies should carry it - however I'm not sure if they are legally licenced to sell the Canesten tablet for oral thrush (it may need to be prescribed by a doctor instead - there are various laws that dictate what can be sold over the counter to treat certain symptoms and when it has to be prescribed instead).

I worked in a Boots Pharmacy on-and-off for 9 years (2001-2010) and I don't remember ever selling the Canesten tablet for oral thrush... I have a feeling that the only product that pharmacies can legally sell to treat it is the gel you already have (Daktarin Oral Gel, I believe).

I was able to purchase the Canesten Duo from Boots without an Rx. I think the lady was confused why I would want both the cream and the tablet, since it's only effecting me orally at the moment. I just told her I'd like to have the cream too, just in case the thrush spreads.

I wouldn't have thought getting a yeast infection treatment over the counter would be that big of a deal, considering all the different treatments available off the shelf back in the US. What else do they think I'm going to use it for besides what its meant to be used for? 

I wouldn't have thought getting a yeast infection treatment over the counter would be that big of a deal, considering all the different treatments available off the shelf back in the US. What else do they think I'm going to use it for besides what its meant to be used for? 

It's not so much what they think you will use it for, but what the law allows them to sell it for.

For example, if you want some 1% hydrocortisone cream to use on your arm, you can buy it from a pharmacy. However, if you want to use it on your face, the pharmacy is not legally allowed to sell it to you - it must be prescribed by a doctor instead (due to the fact that it can thin the skin and your face is more sensitive than your arm). The silly thing is though, that you can buy 1% hydrocortisone off the shelf in the US!

With the Canesten, if the licencing law on Canesten states that it can be sold for oral thrush, then that's fine, but if it states it can only be sold for vaginal thrush, then they are breaking licencing laws if they sell it to you for oral thrush instead.

This was one of the things it took me awhile to understand when I moved here. I initially thought I would have to get a prescription for hydrocortisone cream as it wasn't available on the shelf. In the states it has always been pretty much- completely available or prescription.

I personally think the middle ground of having it at the pharmacy and having to answer a few questions for some medication makes a lot of sense. It does make me stop and think how I use things.