My period arrived a few days early and so rather than cancel my day of bookings, I thought I’d use a sponge just for the couple of hours I’d be working.
I have used a sponge before but I did actually start leaking through it so I thought it would be best to work with two up there... bad idea.

Worked fine for the couple hours, took them out, replaced with a tampon, thought nothing of it.

2 days later I started to get really itchy down there, the usual symptoms (I think) of thrush and so I went to get the tablet you insert up.
Being in the middle of my period I suppose I bled a little of the medicine out, but I did also get the cream to use to try soothe me.
Day 3, oh my god, i am the most swollen I’ve ever been. I’m so uncomfortable, stinging, sore, awful. The itch inside seems to have subdued a little bit but I’m SO SWOLLEN on the outside. It’s very sore and the cream isn’t doing much at all.

I stopped using a tampon as soon as I began to feel itchy, fearing it was thrush, so it’s been days since I’ve had one of those up and I should be done on my period within another day or two.

I always use protection in my bookings, in all services, but I can’t help but be really paranoid that I’ve caught something.
I will get tested again in another two weeks when something would show up, if I have got anything. But for the time being, I’m worried and very sore.

Ladies who have had a bad case of thrush, have you had painful swelling too? I don’t think it’s “bumps” I have, but it just feels like parts of my lips are more swollen that other bits.
I’m miserable!
I’ve had thrush once before about ten years ago and I was very swollen then but this just seems super sore

(Ps - I’m on holiday with family at the moment so can’t nip by a doctors until I’m home)

What kind of sponge was it? Maybe a reaction to the dye or something if you are swelling up. Tampon sponges are the best. I use a German brand, get them on amazon.  Like the other poster says it's best to rinse out every hour or so. Using a pessary is not a good idea when menstruating.

Get some tea tree oil & put a few drops in the bath to soothe.

The pharmacist didn’t tell me not to use the pessary while on my period, and I had mentioned I was on, so I thought it would be ok - I have the oral tablet to take in a week if it’s not cleared by then.

I think I’m going to go back to not working on my period - I feel so stupid for not taking the sponges out - it was probably 4 hours in total that I had them in for..
I’m just hoping in a few days my swelling goes down a bit and I’m not so sore and tender.

This was only the second time using sponges, I was given them by the sexual health clinic - I actually didn’t know about them until they told me

When you switched to tampons did you have symptoms of thrush then? Because at the first signs of thrush you need to not insert anything and treat. Also it should have said on the treatment box not to use during your period. I am on my 4th case of it this year and it’s very annoying. Always been sensitive to thrush so now I don’t use tampons full stop and switched to a cup. Never worked during my period and never will personally.

I feel for you!! Thrush has been an on-going issue for me my entire working life thus far (a few years now) and it sounds like you've developed a really bad dose of it. I've found personally that it can be mild (so feeling uncomfortable, itchy and some discharge but can clear in 3-5 days) to quite severe (which can take up to 2 weeks to clear). A few months back I had such a nasty case of it I was sure it was something sinister (even the doctor at the clinic wasn't sure until my tests came back) which consisted of a very angry looking vagina (hot, red and swollen vulva (it hurt to sit!!) and lots of discharge) so sounds similar to you? 😣
When it's I've had a bad case of it, I always take the flucanazole tablet and the canesten cream together to try and knock it over asap. I'd be inclined to get to a Drs tho for a checkup (you don't have to tell your family what for... Ie a prescription or something?) in case it's some other type of infection or allergic reaction, so it doesn't get worse.. Good luck and hope you feel better soon x

Yes - it definitely hurts to sit too! Very swollen and angry looking!
I’ve taken the oral tablet a few hours ago and it feels a tiny bit better so perhaps the tablet is working already  - If it’s not gone by the time I get home in a week, I’ll be straight to the doctors but I’m hoping I don’t have to endure this the whole time I’m away “relaxing”.

In my experience and from the information leaflet fluconazole capsules take 48 hours or more to work, I take it at the slightest indication of thrush so the fungus doesn't get chance to get hold along with a smear of clomtrimazole cream on labia and vaginal entrance.

I usually use Beppy sponges and had no problems. But I tried a cheaper version and got mild thrush. Very annoying! Although a tablet and cream cleared it up in a couple days and wasn’t too bad.

However I have had thrush before where I got very swollen down there, so much so that I thought I had warts because when looking in the mirror I thought I could see bumps I’d not seen before. Went straight to doctors and a nurse had a look and advised that everything was just very swollen due to the thrush and nothing else to worry about.

As for soothing thrush, just take all the usual meds (oral tablet, vaginal tablet and cream)
Try not to irritate the area. No soap etc. Just warm water to wash. If it’s itchy and you can’t resist I found a cold flannel to be soothing

What were the symptoms of your infection? I’m hoping I’ve not got an infection as it seems I’m more swollen and sore on the outside, rather than inside now..
Never using them again!

Hot flushes, feeling light headed and headaches etc.
It happened with the sponge and a seperate time when i had put another tampon in on another as thought i had taken first one out as string went up. The tampon was in for several days and the smell was awful. You can get different symtoms though and a internal infection like smell or irritation etc.