Surely this is a ridiculous reason to go to A&E but what do I do?!

[ColourfulHairbands]

I know there’s men on here but I don’t care anymore! I have to post on here for traffic and to see if anyone has ever experienced similar.

For nearly two weeks I’ve had extreme pain in my nipples. The pain doesn’t come and go, it’s there constantly and the best way to describe it is that I have shooting pains directly from my nipple going into my breast.

My nipples have been hard for two weeks non stop. You know the feeling of having hard nipples when you’re quite cold and eventually it gets a bit uncomfortable, that’s my life.

I have no clue what’s going on. I haven’t stopped breastfeeding or anything like that. I don’t know if it’s a hormonal thing (I have the implant so not a side effect of my period). I called the GP and he was none the wiser bless him. He booked me in for a blood test this Wednesday but he did say that he doubts anything will show up. I called 111 and they said go to your GP or A&E.

I’m seriously considering going to A&E. I don’t know how they can help me (they probably can’t) but I think I may need to be examined at the very least. Has anyone experienced anything like this? The pain is bringing me to tears daily and I’m starting to worry that this may be somewhat serious

You’re breastfeeding? That should have been in your opener as relevant!

Both nipples? Baby changed latch?

I had shooting pains. Still remember. 9 years ago!

I'd call the GP again and request to see someone different. It sounds good that theyve referred you for a test so havent been dismissive, but you need a second opinion. A&E probably wont do much as theyre very much get someone out of immediate pain and danger and that's that.

Once you have the bloods back, and have a follow up with the gp ask them to refer you to someone more specialist.

Daft question as you have probably already considered this but have you switched laundry detergents? Have you tested for pregnancy?

Sorry also missed that you were breastfeeding! Guessing you told the initial GP that? Maybe try the local children's centre/HV/bfing support?

Sorry this is happening. But you are correct; this would be a ridiculous reason to go to A and E.

Babies mouths change as they grow and so does their latch. Given it’s both nipples, occams razor and all that…

I don’t think OP said she was breastfeeding, just that there was no issue of having just stopped breastfeeding to take into consideration. Maybe she could clarify.

OP, this sounds very uncomfortable.

Sounds like vasospasm to me. Just you seem to have a really severe case of it. If you call your gp this morning they can prescribe something (nifepridine off the top of my head) to help with it.

A warm compress can help, and keeping nipples out of cold air as well.

I had this when breastfeeding. It sounds like nipple vasospasm.

I don't think she's breastfeeding, OP is saying it's not as if she has stopped/was as a reason.

Thrush? Severe vasospasm?

See your GP about this, this is not an A&E issue.

It could be thrush. I had this when breastfeeding and it gave me horrible shooting pains just as you describe. The nipples looked normal, just had constant shooting pain.

She says she hasn't stopped breastfeeding

This is exactly what I meant, thank you

Thrush

A&E probably wont do much as theyre very much get someone out of immediate pain and danger and that's that

I completely understand what you mean but I’ve been in immediate pain for two weeks now. It isn’t like the pain comes and goes. It’s there constantly and the pain is unbearable. I doubt A&E would do anything anyway. They’d probably just say that it’ll go away on it’s own.

@Ostryga @Gettingfleeced thank you, I’ll look into vasospasm as I’ve never heard of it before. Did it take a long time to disappear?

Sounds like thrush to me.

The mention of breastfeeding was in the opener. That's what you replied to. You did however misread what OP was saying.

OP I have no idea what I would do but it sounds bloody horrid, I hope you get some relief soon

Could you be pregnant?

I genuinely didn’t know you can have thrush on your nipples! If this is the case, would Lansinoh nipple cream help fix this do you think?

I bloody hope I’m not pregnant (I already have a 1 and a 2 year old!). I’ll buy a pregnancy test today from Boots just to make sure

@ColourfulHairbands you need a cream for thrush like Canestan, not just sore nipples. I had thrush when I was bf my first baby and it felt like needles going into my nipples when she fed. It hurt so much I dreaded feeding time. But it didn't hurt between feeds.

Lansinoh won’t help nipple thrush - it’s just lanolin for soreness and dryness / lubrication.

I’d thrush then GP needs to prescribe anti fungal and treat both yourself and infant if you are still feeding.

Heat on the nipple / boob for vasospasm - do you have Raynauds? If not thrush and is this then ask for medications to treat this as there are some out there.

Try contacting your local breast feeding network as they have experience with many boob related things - whilst not there for medical advice they may have a clue(!)

Is this solely for mothers who are breastfeeding because I’m not! I’ll have a look at both creams and buy whichever sounds best

Guys seriously I’m not breastfeeding😂 I said ‘I haven’t stopped breastfeeding or anything’ so that people would know my issue wasn’t related to breastfeeding. That clearly didn’t work out