argh - what's the longest you've had a blocked duct for?

[pregnabrain]

hello

I developed mastitis on Thursday last week and started antibiotics the same day. Fever and aches etc have disappeared but I just can't get rid of the blockage.

have tried feeding in all sorts of ludicrous positions, and massaging the boob but it just won't unplug. The blockage feels really deep inside.

Just spoke to La Leche League lady who worried me by saying "if you don't get rid of it it will become an abcess". Yikes.

Is it ok to have a blockage for this long? should i be contacting the doc?

[papaya]

i couldnt shift my blocked duct depsite evrything i did, and it turned into an abscess which antibiotics eventually cleared it up, but it took 3 weeks for my anitbiotics to get rid of the lump xx sorry quick post cooking tea

[pregnabrain]

blimey. three weeks of antibiotics?? that's such a long time.

[poppy34]

have had one for 6 weeks..about to go to the consultant to have it lanced (again!).. and no its not turned into an abscess but milk is building up behind it forming a lovely lump. Might be worth goign to doc to check that not happenign with you

[pregnabrain]

6 weeks! Poor you. have you been on antibiotics all that time?

are you able to feed off that breast?

I can't locate where the actual blockage is with mine. it's more like a whole network of small lumpy bits, quite deep in.

did a whole feeding rigmarole tonight - hot shower with massaging, then feeding in all sorts of positions - but no change at all, other than that i've now also got a very sore nipple.

not sure what else i can do.

[Fingerbobs]

I used one of those snap heat packs that you get from outdoor shops, hand-warmer type thing - it's a bag of gel stuff and you snap it and it goes solid and gets hot, appears magic but actually chemistry of some sort - and put that on the place whilst massaging before feeding. I just stuck my fingers in among it, like you it felt like lots of little lumps along tube-type bits. Lots of tears and faint-making pain but it did get rid of the blockage. Good luck - poor you, it's agony.

[fishie]

have you seen the thread about unblocking pore on nipple / aureola? look for a really small sort of pimple, the theory is it goes back into the duct.

i never had mastitis but nasty blocked ducts. wide tooth comb in shower was best. and bursting spot-like thing when it arrived outside, which is why i think the nipple theory could be good.

[SilverSixpence]

how do you know when it turns into an abscess? i had mastitis week before last week and took antibiotics but my breast is still a bit tender esp first thing in the morning for some reason. don't want too go back to my gp

[poppy34]

i am not sure you can tell silver.. had same thing and had to have ultrasound/tests at clinic which revealed it was just a build up of milk... that was still red and painful though