Can you talk to me about mastitis please?

[TheDudess]

I've had mastitis for about a week and have a few questions but I don't know anyone in RL who has had any experience of it, so am hoping you can help me.

Thankfully it was caught early and I managed to get a diagnosis and antibiotics before I started to feel like death. It started with a deep stabbing pain in each breast and became painful to feed. I also felt a bit like I had a cold but nothing major. Persevered with the feeding and started expressing a bit more to help. Had some nice hot baths, took some paracetamol. After a few days on the antibiotics felt considerably better and kept taking the pills as directed.

However today I feel worse again and now have that florrid red blotchy rash on each breast. I am a week into the antibiotics and every fibre of my being just wants to rest. I'm exhausted and ache all over.

Does this sound about right? I am planning to continue feeding/expressing, taking the antibiotics as prescribed and resting. I just don't understand why I am feeling worse once I started to feel better?

Thanks for reading.

[Youdontneedacriminallawyer]

That's about right.

I felt just like you, but I ended up having an emergency op whilst away for the weekend at DPs and when DD was about 2 months old because I'd developed an abcess in one breast, despite a course of ABs, then a second course of stronger ABs.

DM took me to her GP because I came downstairs crying because of the pain - couldn't even hold baby DD. I'd given up bf-ing by then because it hurt too much, and also had dreadfully bleeding nipples which caused DD to puke up pink sick , but another issue.

So my advice would be to keep on to GP and ask for stronger ABs.

[TheDudess]

That sounds awful! You poor thing!

I'm really worried about abscesses, could you feel it to touch?

Think I'll give the GP a ring.

[Gowaygoway]

Yes, go back to GP if you're feeling worse. I had it in one breast, really sudden onset and felt like hell. Ended up in A&E on Bank Holiday Monday after OOH GP referred me. It might be an abscess so you need super strength ABs and a scan to check it out.

Mine wasn't an abscess thankfully, but they doubled the strength of the ABs the GP had prescribed and gave me the first dose straight into my vein to kick start it. I felt massively better 2 days later but washed out and knackered for about a week. Hope it clears up soon...it's horrid!

[Youdontneedacriminallawyer]

I couldn't feel an abcess as such, but my breast was very hot and hard to touch.
At the point where my DM took me to her GP it had started to "point" (break through the skin). DM is a doctor (not GP), so knew something had to be done and got me an emergency appt within a couple of hours.
That was early afternoon. I went straight from GP surgery to the hospital, and they operated that evening. Most of that time I was in absolute agony, and I don't use the word lightly. Pain killers hardly touched the pain.
I was in hospital for 3 or 4 days I think, and DM looked after DD at home for me. They wouldn't let her stay in hospital with me because I was on a surgical ward, and they were worried about her picking up an infection.
I stayed with DM for a couple of weeks after the op whilst DH came home so he could go to work. I wasn't able to pick up baby DD very well because I was pretty tender for a few weeks.

[TheDudess]

Oh my goodness! That sounds awful!

I've just rung the GP practice and I'll have a telephone apt shortly.

Strangely my breasts don't feel too bad as long as I keep feeding/expressing. They always have a bit of a stabby feel to them but not the engorged feeling I would have expected. Not that I'm complaining! It's the rest of me that feels horrific.

[TheDudess]

Just had a y telephone assessment and got a face to face appointment for later this afternoon. No messing, just straight in. Am so thankful to have such a good practice at times like this!

[FrankelandFilly]

Hope the Drs have sorted you out.

I had mastitis which developed into an abscess. Unfortunately it was undiagnosed despite me seeing 3 different GPs about the swelling - they all told me it was normal for mastitis. It was only when the abscess ruptured through the skin (in the shower thankfully) that I saw yet another GP who phoned the local breast unit and sent me to A&E. I spent a night in hospital and thankfully I didn't need surgery, they aspirated the rest of the abscess and gave me mega-strength ABs. I'm still under the breast clinic now 2 weeks later and am having weekly scans to make sure it is healing.

[Youdontneedacriminallawyer]

Frankle thstsy awful! Hope things are improving now.

I have a lovely scar right through my left areola .

[TheDudess]

That sounds awful :(

I'm much better thankyou. Was advised to stickk with the anti biotics and come back first thing on Monday if no better. I feel so much better today!

Am so thankful not to have an Abscess, it sounds horrific.

Thank you all for your help, I wouldn't have gone to the drs on Fri if it wasn't for you lot and it really helped