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

[werebackon]

I’ve developed a huge abscess on my breast, it’s really large and swollen and hot, spreading to my nipple which is now rock hard too. I don’t think it’s ready to burst, but I’ve been feeling really poorly all day and not sure if it could be something to do with it.

Almost my entire breast is red and hot and swollen and really hurts to touch.

Not breastfeeding or recently pregnant, and I have had abscesses before but not like this one.

I’d rather go to the doctors tomorrow but my friend is saying A&E - where I don’t want to be on New Years Day!

Anyone had this experience? Would it be fine to wait? And any tips on dealing with the swelling and pain other than ibruprofen as I can’t take this?

That sounds awful for you - sympathies!

Can you contact 111? They may be able to get you seen by someone at an urgent care centre/out of hours GP service?

I'd try that first.

Hope you get sorted!

A&E does seem sensible, especially as you're feeling unwell with it.

Sounds miserable, hope you get the right treatment soon.

111 for an out of hours Gp or urgent care centre appointment - probably need antibiotics asap but you are going to be waiting serious amounts of time in a&e for that!

You’ve got a rampantly spreading infection - it sounds like it needs to be treated sooner rather than later

There’s a sepsis risk - you need to be seen today.

Poor you! The combination of the redness spreading and you feeling really Ill makes me feel it probably is an emergency. I’d want to rule out sepsis.

I don’t think that waiting for tomorrow is a good idea. But do you have a minor injuries or EmDoc facility nearby - so rather than A&E could still get medical treatment. Call 111 and do NOT play down how you’re feeling.
Breast abscesses can turn really nasty really quickly and delaying could end up being much more difficult to treat.

I think this is an emergency if it’s spreading and you feel unwell. You really need to get to A&E so they can treat it and rule out sepsis.

Sounds like you need antibiotics, possibly quite urgently especially if you are feeling unwell. I'm afraid I agree that A&E is your best bet unless you have a local walk in centre which is open.

A&E, I had the same and was told if I had left it another 24 hours I would probably have been dealing with sepsis. I need iv antibiotics, an overnight stay and a surgical aspiration the next day.

Fellow abscess sufferer here and you need to go to A&E (but I think you know that) and that's exactly where 111 will send you. Go and get a good book, a battery charger and some juice and get down there. Make a warm compress from a tea bag for while you are travelling/waiting.

I really sympathise, they are bloody awful things

Do you feel rubbish and have a high temp? If do go and get checked out. If you feel ok and no temp it could wait till tomorrow

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.

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

Nobody wants to be in A&E.

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

Go to A&E.

I’ve managed to get a picture of it to give a better idea - I’m going to call 111

This Is across most of my breast

A&E, sorry OP.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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 🤗

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.