My boob is suddenly agony

[OoohMasala]

I've had a cracked nipple from breastfeeding for a couple of weeks now. I can only feed on one side and am working on building my supply on the other side, but it's not enough at the moment. Over the last couple of days, I've been getting sharp, shooting pains in my boob as I've been feeding my son. my boob hurts in general all over and my nipple is hard. Tried booking a dr appointment but nothing for 2 weeks. Had an appointment today but could only talk about one thing so mentioned the medication I needed. Desperately wanted to talk about my sore boob! It's really painful. It's not mastitis I don't think as it doesn't match the symptoms. It's just really site stabbing pain deep in my boob and a cracked, scabby nipple (yuk I know). What can I do and what could it be? 😥

Hmmm
You need to see someone for antibiotics- ring 111
Now and get an OOH apt or maybe they can get you in with another surgery? What about your health visitor ?

Why antibiotics though? It could be something that doesn't require antibiotics. I'm really hoping it's not thrush!

I don’t know why... I decided it’s hot too lol

Hmm what about getting star flower oil and oil of evening primrose?
I genuinely had awful breast pain last year and got sent to breast clinic 2 week thingy. Absolutely nothing showed at all but still
So painful to the touch. She told me to take
Those and it’s gone!

My first thought would be thrush. Can you get in to see the practise nurse? If not GP should prioritise a breastfeeding mum.

Not at all medically qualified but it sounds like it could be thrush. It needs to be treated. Ring back and tell the receptionist you suspect either mastitis or thrush. Both need to be treated rapidly.

And for heavens sake, don’t go to the doctors again and not mention all your issues. That’s foolhardy.

It’s possible a pharmacist could help with something topical in the first instance?

PS ‘one appointment one issue’ gives me the rage! It’s unsafe! You should be able to list everything so your GP can prioritise and triage and then make additional appointments as needed. Grrrrrr

It sounds like a blocked duct, might not need an antibiotic now but if it continues it could lead to mastitis. I've no experience of the only being able to ask about one thing thing, but I'd be calling doctor to explain symptoms?

Try to work out the blockage with different feeding positions, soak a nappy in really hot water and put it on the breast, massage it well, have hot showers and massage etc. Try and get the nipple to heal a bit with multi mam compresses and lanolin and adjusting feeding position, is baby's latch okay, no?

I think his latch is fine. I mean unless it has changed! It's been fine for 9 months and suddenly my boob is really sore. It's not hot to touch. No hard Lumps etc. I am just aware that if I end up with an issue with this boob, I won't be able to feed him as my other boob doesn't produce much 😥

It might be a blocked duct. Do you have blebs?

I had one about 3 weeks into feeding and it was agony.

Kellymom and la leche league both have good articles on Thrush. If it is thrush you and baby both need treatment, you can get treatment at the pharmacy.

It could be a blocked duct or milk bleb though. I had a bleb and it was agony, it meant that i wasn't draining the breast fully so it was getting engorged.

Sounds a bit like thrush. You can buy Daktarin cream and oral gel over the counter, I think. I'd definitely be trying to get an OOH appointment to check first, though. Is the pain significantly worse when baby latches on and does it feel like a burning pain? If it is thrush you have my sympathy, I'd rather go through labour again. The Daktarin cream sorted mine out very quickly, though (after 10 weeks of battling with it due to the GP prescribing the wrong medication several times first). It's impossible for any of us to diagnose you, though. I really would try to get an OOH GP appointment, particularly if you're concerned about not being able to feed your baby. 111 should be able to get you one. Otherwise, do you have a walk-in health centre/clinic anywhere near you?

Sounds like thrush to me

I was on antibiotics last week. That can make thrush more likely can't it? I bet that's what it is. Argh! I'll try and get a docs appointment tomorrow and if not will call 111

My mastitis started with a stabbing/shooting pains in my boobs. Don't dismiss it straight away.

I feel like any issues linked to childbirth or breastfeeding are dismissed because they're 'natural' and so many people experience them. I'm in so much pain. If it was pain in my abdomen I would be in a&e, but because it is my boob and I'm breastfeeding I feel like a nuisance 🤷🏽‍♀️

I’m a health visitor and it sounds very much like thrush to me. You need treatment for you and your baby

Sorry OP but the more you say, the more it sounds like thrush. I got thrush after the antibiotics I was on for the mastitis. (and they say breastfeeding is easy....)

Even if you could possibly treat yourself with over the counter, you’d need medical advice to have the baby’s mouth treated, which is also likely to be or to get infected.

You need medical help in the very short term. Phone your GP and be demanding and clear.

Thanks @missingsilence - do you know if a pharmacy could help? I am hoping my GP will be able to get me an appointment but massively unlikely!

It definitely sounds like thrush. Me and my little boy have it at the moment.

I was told pharmacist wouldn't help but then I went to GP and she said most pharmacists will sell you what you need if baby is over 1yr and some will sell it for babies over 6 months.

Worth trying the pharmacy first if it's tricky for you to get an appointment.

If it’s not thrush it could be vasospasms? I had these out of the blue when dc was about 7 months, it was agony!

kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mother/nipple-blanching/

Thrush was my first thought too. If it is, make sure you get treatment for both you and baby

Sounds exactly like when my daughter and I got thrush through breastfeeding. If it is you both need medication and try and keep the site clean and dry as much as possible. Lots of air if you can.