Red breast ...and nothing to do with robins (! ...sorry long one)

[floraflora]

From the mummy who brought you 'white nipple tip' we now have 'red breast'
... am hoping I don't add any more colours to this particularly part of my anatomy. Anyway, here's my query - I'm pretty sure I've had mastitis:
... almost delirious from sleep deprivation (1st time away with DS, 7 mths, without DP) I slept on my front on Thursday night (well morning by then actually), woke feeling bruised on outside and below right breast. Felt okay 1st thing, then by lunchtime was feeling pretty awful, very flu-ey, achy etc. By 5pm phoned homeopath to check it wasn't a side effect of the remedy she'd given for thrush. Described symptons, she prescribed remedy for flu. Started taking her remedy mid-evening, by this time was really hot and cold. Feverish during night, very wakeful (with DS as well as 'flu') so took remedy as prescribed. Next morning had shower and tried to get rid of milk blister on right nipple (see white nipple tip thread a few weeks ago - yes, been through the BF mill a bit recently), so had decent look at boob - which looked otherwise fine. Felt much better after shower. By lunchtime boob felt odd, had a quick look and to my horror found about a quarter was bright red and angry looking.
I'd already suspected mastitis rather than flu, but medicine seemed to be helping (possibly the immune system booster was). I couldn't find any obvious single lump like last time I got a blocked duct. Tried to get DS to have really good feed off it but he was only interested in snacking. It was still red, though less angry looking yesterday morning (Sunday) so massaged and stroked with hairbrush and pumped then plugged DS in. Pressure did definitely seem to ease. Today I feel better and I don't have quite the same tenderness but it's still a bit pink.
[Sigh emoticon, as Flora finally comes to point]
SO QUESTION:
When would you expect redness to go if you've had mastitis and other symptons have passed? Have to go away for work taking DS with me again later in week and I'm anxious that it might come back. Last time I was meant to have a meeting for this project DS kindly spent all the night before projectile vomiting, so I couldn't go, now I absolutely can't miss this one.

[shonaspurtle]

I've got this at the moment . It's not mastitis - don't know what it is tbh. I've had it 3 times and it goes away if you feed/express. I had the chills/sweats last night but I'm just sore today (I think it;s been brought on by unresolved problems with excess fluid - not milk - in my right nipple/breast so a sort of engorgement).

I got antibs the first time but the other times (so far) have resolved themselves fairly quickly. Hope you feel better soon.

Will be interested to read other responses because it's really getting me down as there don't seem to be any obvous triggers for me.

[floraflora]

Glad there's someone out there, and good to hear someone with similar prob (IYKWIM). Hmmm, not mastits (or even mastitis!!!)eh? I don't want to take antibiotics because of the thrush and my GP is a lovely man but just plain useless on BF (surprise, surprise) so don't see point in going to Dr unless have to - can just hear him saying, what's the point now DS is 7 mo.
I await response from others with bated (sp?) breath... and a little impatience due to the going away thing.

[shonaspurtle]

My abs were primarily for a nipple infection the first time and I'd assumed the red breast was linked or was mastitis. There was no lump though so the bf'ding counsellor I was seeing at the time said not.

With me, the redness has stayed for about a week but stopped hurting long before it went away.

I self-treated last time with hot baths and expressing off a bit in the bath, ibuprofen, cold compresses to the affected breast.

Last time I was able to continue feeding from that breast and normal feeds seemed to sort it. This time my nipple is too sore (massive crack which ds was sucking directly on ) so I'm expressing regularly and that seems to be working too.

[floraflora]

Oooooo, poor you.
I've had just pain in that breat for some weeks - assumed it was thrush and/or what seemed to be a milk blister a little below the surface. Think I've cleared that now, but still have burning sensation in nipple. Going to have to get it out to express in a mo, so will inspect again. Not looking forward to it cos its very cold in our house - oil tank too low to have heating on until we get more, though will risk it when DS gets home from childminder later. Off to sit on hands and try to warm now!

[floraflora]

aaaaargh, don't seem to be able to get much milk out of it today either... and its normally my better expressing breast.


HELP... starting to panic now. [pulling out hair emoticon]

[floraflora]

bump...

HELP... really worrying about this now (probably being neurotic)

[shonaspurtle]

bumping for flora - anyone?

[floraflora]

thank you shona...
fingers crossed for some help from the sleepless-ones, or perhaps tomorrow. I'm off to bed now as all is quiet on the western front. (just spent last hour washing bottles and food pots and prepping grub from small one for tomorrow while DP zzzzs, grrr!)