To ask if breast abscess is an emergency or can wait?

Oh gosh you poor thing.

don’t wait - I absolutely sympathise that you don’t want to be in A&E on NYD but there is a sepsis risk with an abscess. Call 111 as they may be able to get you an out of hours appointment.

GP out of hours via 111 and a direct referral to surgeons would be ideal route here if available to you, but if you are systemically unwell (fever, increased heart rate etc) then I agree A&E is reasonable.

You have oedema to the skin as well as the redness which is why your nipple seems hard. Collection looks very superficial so likely easy to manage, but you will likely
be offered a breast ultrasound to exclude deeper collection requiring aspiration, and possibly a mammogram (either immediately or on a delayed basis) depending on clinical findings, your age and how recently you last had one (if at all). If the same as in our trust, this will likely be done via breast clinic on an urgent outpatient basis over next day or two, but you will be commenced on antibiotics in meantime, and any superficial collection can be drained by the surgeons if they feel it’s appropriate. Most breast abscesses can be treated without going to theatre.

DOI: This is my job ☺️

I really hope you didn’t wait, op?

111 may be better. It needs antibiotics which you can get with an out of hours gp appointment, possibly quicker and less of an inconvenience than A&E. I have found the online form for 111 quite quick for a similar thing. Didn’t even have to go to the out of hours appointment, they just sent a prescription to a pharmacy,

@werebackon when I had a breast abscess I was going going for a scheduled post-natal appointment with the ob-gyn. When she saw it she was immediately on the phone treating it like an emergency.

I my case I was given antibiotics (it was a Friday) and told to return to A&E on Monday morning at 8am (not the UK) but not to hesitate to go during the weekend if getting worse.

I went back Monday morning and had day surgery that day under GA. An incision was made, everything cleared out and then it was packed. Then I had a nurse come every day to replace the packing in the wound until it healed.

Wishing you the best and don't hesitate to get it seen to.

I’m another who thinks A and E.

I had an infected abcess some years ago. It was so painful, it hurt to put clothes on or have anything even lightly brush it. I ended up with a high temp and fever and was on antibiotics

Agree with everyone else, A&E, sorry OP

Infections that’s making you feel poorly needs urgent care. 111 at the least.

Yes, you need to go to A&E. When my DD was 13 she had one, evolved into a high temp, abscess grew very quickly, pain increased etc. She was in hospital for 2-3 days, on IV antibiotics and had to have it aspirated when it did not respond. You need to be assessed.

111 will say go to hospital, you need antibiotics

You neeed to get that seen x

My daughter had an abscess in her armpit recently. It was black and the size of a golf ball. I called 111 and they said not an emergency so call the GP in the morning. GP gave antibiotics, it still didn't go. Went back to GP and they sent us to the hospital who gave more antibiotics. When we went for a check up the doctor we saw said that if we had seen him originally he would have operated to clean it out. I would go to A&E, you need antibiotics straight away and possibly lancing and cleaning out.

That looks so sore and painful. I’m not one for fussing and hate going to A&E, been there many times with our daughter over the years, so accident prone. But I’d definitely go with this, you’ll likely require some antibiotics and the sooner you get them all the better.

Take your phone charger and some money or card for snacks, dinks etc, you never know how long the wait is. I was once told by a paramedic who came to see my daughter to bypass 111, he didn’t rate them at all, go straight to A&E. Not really what you want to do, but it’s a necessary evil, wishing you all the best 🤗

Call 111 and if they say go to A&E you'll have to go but totally get why you wouldn't want to

If you go take a book, snacks and a phone charger

Bypass 111 and go straight to A&E. I promise you won't be waiting very long with that.

I used to have an abscess come back repeatedly in the same spot as yours. The redness would spread just the same. I'd always be issued with antibiotics & dressings. Sometimes, the antibiotics wouldn't work & I'd be admitted to the hospital for IV antibiotics. My advice would be go to a&e

Right, I’m the biggest “wait and see” woman that exists but having seen that photo do not wait any longer!

A&E is entirely appropriate in this scenario. By tomorrow you could be seriously ill.

Please goto A&E op. Especially as you're feeling poorly too.

I went through months of recurring breast abscesses had every antibiotic had them drained and they came back.In the end they operated on mine and cut it out and left an open wound where they put antibiotic beads in it every day and dressed it . Never had one again after that . I would go to A n E if I was you they may drain it

A&E, sorry OP.

Nobody wants to be in A&E.

You have an infection, and you're ill with it.

Go to A&E.

Emergency. I had 2 at once and was in hospital for 3 weeks, get well soon and pack a bag to take with you

Yikes, that sounds horrible and I really think you should get seen today. You probably need antibiotics, the sooner the better.

I've had mastitis while breastfeeding, it didn't develop into an absess thankfully, but I couldn't believe how unwell I felt so quickly.