Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask about mastitis

26 replies

Dhalandchips · 09/02/2019 17:28

I haven't breastfed since about 2012 but I've suddenly developed a hot, hard right breast. It's been about 36 hours since I first noticed it was tender around the nipple. It's got hotter, bigger and more sore as the day has gone on. I've just looked at both of them in the mirror after a hot bath to soothe it. The right one is definitely bigger, the blood vessels are more noticeable, but the thing that's worrying me most is I've got some new dimples... seriously, breast cancer doesn't present as mastitis in 36 hours, does it? (I had a hospital admission for mastitis about 23 years ago, but that was both sides). I'm going to try and get a GP appointment first thing on Monday but if I'm honest, I'm quite concerned! Any thoughts?

OP posts:
kitkatsky · 09/02/2019 17:34

I think it's far more likely to be an infection/ lymph nodes swelling because of an unrelated infection but you should see a doc on Monday as sounds like you need antibiotics. How do you feel in yourself? Fever etc? If you're feeling really rough I'd be inclined to call OOH

Original poster
Dhalandchips · 09/02/2019 17:37

Thanks for replying. I'm feeling mostly ok. When I had the mastitis years ago, I felt bloody awful; fever, aching, flu type symptoms. I don't feel anywhere near as bad as that. I'veen some paracetamol for the pain but it's only taken the edge off a bit. My armpit is a little tender too actually...

OP posts:
silkpyjamasallday · 09/02/2019 17:39

I think GP as soon as possible is the best course of action, it sounds very worrying.

Original poster
Dhalandchips · 09/02/2019 17:43

I'm not a worrier and I'm fairly certain it's nothing sinister but the dimples have troubled me a little! My friend who has recently been given the all clear said her first symptom was 'tethering' and this is what the dimples look like.

OP posts:
Yogagirl123 · 09/02/2019 17:45

See GP, it may be a breast abscess, I had a few years ago. Good luck OP, try not to worry.

marvellousnightforamooncup · 09/02/2019 17:52

I had dimples with mastitis. Hard, blocked ducts, hot inflamed areas and normal areas. Don't worry too much but do see a doctor. Mastitis is absolute misery.

Original poster
Dhalandchips · 09/02/2019 17:56

It's just weirdly out of the blue!

OP posts:
agnurse · 09/02/2019 17:59

Not trying to scare you, but there is such a thing as inflammatory breast cancer. Definitely go get checked out.

OhTheRoses · 09/02/2019 18:03

I had dimples with a breast abscess after mastitis.

I think I'd get it checked via out of hours I felt fluey with mastitis but not with tbe abscess which was just v v painful.

Get seen. If it's an abscess they'll drain and sort tonight; if not you will be in the system faster.

Original poster
Dhalandchips · 09/02/2019 18:10

I'm away for the weekend with my dd, a treat as she's had a shitty time lately. Because it f this, I won't go to OOO but I will go to doc first thing Monday morning!! Actually, if it gets worse, I may have to do something sooner. We're in the middle of nowhere!

OP posts:
kitkatsky · 09/02/2019 18:21

Bless you OP. I'd be worried too, but the honest truth is that even if it's cancer (and I think far more likely to not be) OOH would prob refer you to your doc on Monday unless critical symptoms and there won't be much difference waiting til Mon. Try to concentrate on DD and put it out of your head if you can x

Original poster
Dhalandchips · 09/02/2019 18:50

Thanks everyone x

OP posts:
marvellousnightforamooncup · 09/02/2019 18:52

I agree to stay at home until Monday but if you feel fluey or it feels like it's getting more inflamed then I'd phone OOH.

bobstersmum · 09/02/2019 19:07

I have had mastitis a few times and ibuprofen and paracetamol taken together really helped, as well as massaging the sore area in a hot bath, from behind the bump towards the nipple. That's if it is mastitis though. Hope you're OK op.

WellVersedInEtiquette · 09/02/2019 19:33

I went to the docs with a sore spot deep in my breast. Doc thought it was probably a blocked milk duct despite me stopping nursing my son a year previously. The pain was the same as I'd had before but I didn't think about it being that with not breastfeeding anymore.

KillerSpider · 11/02/2019 18:30

Hi @Dhalandchips
Did you see your GP? Hope you have got it sorted.

Original poster
Dhalandchips · 12/02/2019 06:37

Hi, saw the practice nurse who gave me flucloxacillin . I'm feeling rather sorry for myself. My back hurts, I've got a headache and my poor right breast is a big red hard lump. She did say if I wasn't 'turning the corner' by Wednesday then to get an emergency GP appointment. I'll see how it goes.

OP posts:
KillerSpider · 12/02/2019 06:50

I hope the meds sort it out for you.
I was so worried about you. You were on my mind all weekend.

Original poster
Dhalandchips · 12/02/2019 21:54

Thanks killer. I think the 'corner has been turned' (dramatic phrase, I know) I am definitely starting to feel much better after two whole days in bed. My poor breast purple and bruised looking now. The solid lump is getting smaller, although it is still quite hot!

OP posts:
SuperSleepyBaby · 12/02/2019 22:08

I had these exact symptoms and it did turn out to be cancer - don’t mean to scare you. It was mastitis a few years after I had finished breastfeeding. I was initially treated with antibiotics by my GP but as a precaution he referred me to a breast clinic - a mamo and a biopsy showed cancer. Luckily I was fine as it was caught early and treated.

Original poster
Dhalandchips · 12/02/2019 22:24

Oh crap. I just googled inflammatory breast cancer. The word 'purple' crops up. My breast is purple. And I didn't realise that mastitis is fairly uncommon in non-breastfeeding women. I'll go back to GP in the morning for reassurance if nothing else. I don't have time for this!

OP posts:
Original poster
Dhalandchips · 12/02/2019 22:25

Bollocks!

OP posts:
SuperSleepyBaby · 12/02/2019 22:37

I would definitely want to be referred to a breast clinic asap if I were you - hopefully just to rule out anything serious.

Original poster
Dhalandchips · 12/02/2019 22:44

You know when you shouldn't look at something (bastard Dr Google) well I've bloody gone and looked. There's a couple of images that could be my right breast right now.
Bollocks.

OP posts:
jackstini · 12/02/2019 22:53

Def docs tomorrow but I had an abscess once and it looked and acted extremely similar - v purple and hot breast