help! mastitis :(

[Poppytime]

I seem to have got mastitis - DS is 6.5 months so unexpected. Saturday had hard sore lump in boob then woke up Sunday and it was worse, streaky red and I had a temp. Got to out of hours doc and got out on 500g penicillin (fluoxo something) 4 x a day, but i still don't feel better yet. Top section of boob is all red now and a bit purple :( I'm trying to feed but I started giving DS a bottle of formula mid morning for the past month so it's quite a chunk of the day I'm not feeding for. How long until I should start to feel better? I've got a 2 yo DD the look after too and it's been really tough today as I'm shivering and feeling sht. Ask scaring myself that it's actually inflammatory breast cancer, misdiagnosed as mastitis so getting a bit teary! Help! How long should I give it before i call docs?

[ArsePicker]

Mastitis is SHIT. Sorry you're suffering. You really need to feed or express through it. Also warm compresses; the Lansinoh therapearl ones are amazing. Take painkillers and rest as much as possible.

[ArsePicker]

(I realise how hard it is to rest. But you must, even if it requires hours of tv and other bribery for your toddler)

[Poppytime]

Thanks arse, I'm trying! CBeebies has been a saviour today along with floor puzzles with me helping from sofa while DS rolls around on his playmat. Still feeling very red and sore

[ArsePicker]

You poor thing. I really do empathise. It will pass. Do you have anyone at home to help this evening? DH? The anti bs may take a little while to kick in but if you start feeling worse, call OOH

[squeezed]

Mastitis is awful. I only had to manage with the one child and that was bad enough. Best things are rest, keeping feeding or expressing and fluids. Mine developed into abscesses and took a while to go, but I'd keep checking with doctors so they will keep ontop of it. Hope you feel better quickly.

[TiredOfSleep]

I never got so bad I needed antibiotics, but I found sitting in a hot bath with a comb and hot flanel on your boob and um combing your boob from the sore lumpy point out to the nipple did help.

[Cakescakescakes]

Antibiotics will take three days to kick in fully. It's grim. I had it twice and it's the sickest I've ever been. If no improvement by day four/five of abx then ring your dr. You should be improving by then. Keep feeding from that boob. That is essential. And keep going with paracetamol and ibuprofen too.

[creamoftomato]

Same advice as everyone else. Keep feeding from that boob - your baby is the best person to help clear the blockage. Have you tried dangle feeding? I also think getting into a very hot bath and expressing under water is good.

[Poppytime]

Thanks for all the advice. Just got everyone to bed (and fed DS off the bad side - ouch) and will have a hot bath later when DH gets home from work. I have tried massaging etc but it's just so sore :( sorry and for everyone who has experienced this, it's just so horrid!

[ArsePicker]

How are you feeling, OP?

[Poppytime]

Hi arse - not great, been in a&e most of the day, and whilst I support the junior doctors, this was not conducive to me getting anything resolved! Basically they wanted to do a scan and maybe drain if needed but by the time they sent me up to the breast clinic it had closed and docs one home - as he nurse put it 'we thought you weren't coming so we threw tie details in the bin'. Great. Why no one called down to a&e if they were ready for me or why I didn't get sent up sooner were apparently questions no one could answer. Oh well. I am home now with new stronger antibiotics and to go in tomorrow morning for a scan. They will call me - doc wrote my mobile number on a bit of scrap paper so not highly confident! Just shows how stretched they are I guess - and I'm not even a medical emergency...anyway sorry for the rant, thanks for asking though!

[squeezed]

I had to go back a few times a week to the breast clinic to drain the abscesses away. It wasn't very painful and made a huge difference.