Help I have an abscess ...........

[tron]

I stoppped bf 12 weeks ago as I got a blister which was unbeliveably painful. I was fine until I went for my post natal check and my GP felt a lump. A week later it was painful so she gave me antibiotics. Another week later it was worse, she gave me more antibiotics and referred my to the breast clinic at the local hospital. I went and saw the consultant and had a scan, they said an abscess. I've had it drained 3 times in as many week, which really hurts and each time it fills back up. Is there anything I can do to help relieve the pain and get rid of this as it seems to be dragging on - DD is now 16 weeks. GP said she hadn't seen an abscess for a couple of years and I've never even heard of it, neither has anyone I know

[Frizbe]

Yikes no experience of this personally thankfully as it sounds horrible, hope this bump will get you some more advice.

[moondog]

OMG,sounds horrid.
Hope Tiktok or Pupuce or Mears will be along to help.You need expert advice.

[tiktok]

Abscess is really rare - I hear from very few mothers with one, less than one a year. You are very, very unlucky, tron. I have never heard of anyone having it drained 3 times....poor you.

There are other methods to get rid - aspiration with a syringe, and also ultrasound, but I have no knowledge whether these are more effective. Are you sure it is filling up with pus each time, and not milk?

[tron]

yes definately pus according to consultant - they sent it off to the lab and it grew a bacteria but they are reluctant to give me antibiotics, I've tried 3 different ones already but none of them really did much. Have you any idea what happens if aspirating it and antibiotics haven't helped. I want rid as picking up DD on that side is getting more painful as she is getting bigger and is a real wriggler.
No one I ask knows and it's really getting me down and I've no idea how I got it as I shower at least once every day and made sure breast pads were changed and everything. I really wanted to BF and if I have anymore I would want to try again but I don't know how likely it would be to get it again

[tiktok]

Talk to them about really zapping it with heavy-duty antibiotics - why are they worried about giving you these, I wonder? Ask about alternative methods, too (no, not herbs or aromatherapy ;) but u'sound and aspiration). Sorry can't really give you much info on these as abscess is so unusual I have not come across many women who have had one.

Usually abscess starts with blocked duct which progresses to mastitis. But yours seems to have started on the outside with your blister - infection has then had a chance to enter.

[KTeepee]

When I had an abscess the consultant decided that it was so bad that if he just drained it, it was likely to recurr so I had an op under general anesthetic, not to be undertaken lightly obviously but I was in so much pain at the time I would have gladly let them cut the whole thing off! It probably took a couple of months for the scar to heal totally but the abscess did not come back.

[tron]

oh god that sounds scary - i have an appointment this pm with consultant, i'll ask about alternatives cos the cutting out sounds awful!!!

[Piffle]

I had this when I fed ds oh about 12 years ago
Also had recurrent mastitis.
I had mine drained after anti b's failed to work
I then had to have a local anaethetic and have it surgically lanced - I managed to feed off the other breast for a few days, and expressed when pain allowed off the infected breast to maintain supply, topped up ds with previously frozen expressed breastmilk.
It was agony, but have to say within 3 days was feeding normally again

[mummysmilk]

I had an abscess when my ds was 3 weeks which was surgically removed. I have had 3 smaller ones since but the only antibiotics that has worked in co-amoxiclav.Its horrible I know and I dont think the pain can be described. To relive the pain I was prescribed diclofenac at home and morphine when I was in hospital with it!!!!At home I just tried to massage it as much as possible and have plenty of baths and warm flannels! Good luck x

[tron]

thankss - i've had co-amoxiclax and co-fluoxicilin (spelling). I had another scan which showed more fluid again, aspirated with a needle ooooowwwwwwww - am waiting for another appointment with consultant - why won't it just go away!!!!!!!!

PS how likely is it it will come back ???

[Peggotty]

Hi Tron,
Just wanted to add I had an abscess in each breast when I was 14 and 15 (obviously not connected to breast-feeding, was some kind of weird condition) and they had to lance both of them after anti-b's didn't work. But they left the area they lanced open and packed it with some kind of dressing which was changed daily (ouch) until it gradually closed up. I was told by consultant at the time I would not be able to breastfeed because of this, which I didn't with DD. Just wondering if your doc has mentioned anything about future breastfeeding to you? (Sorry if my description made you wince, hopefully won't come to that with you!!) I know how painful they are, you have my sympathy.