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?

You neeed to get that seen x

111 will say go to hospital, you need antibiotics

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.

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

Agree with everyone else, A&E, sorry OP

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

I’m another who thinks A and E.

@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.

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,

I really hope you didn’t wait, op?

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 ☺️

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.

OP, I hope you're getting medical attention as I write. Abscesses are horrible things. The longer you wait, the deeper they go, and depending on where they are, they can either spread (potentially very dangerous) or encapsulate (become very hard and wickedly painful.) In the meantime, you're also feeling constitutionally unwell with a high temperature, shivering etc. I've been hospitalised a few times with abscesses that needed surgery and took months of recovery time.

On one occasion, I rang 111, who made me an appointment with urgent care and sent an ambulance to pick me up. I was able to bypass A&E and got a bed fairly quickly. But I appreciate that you may not have an urgent care centre in your area and A&E might be your only route to treatment. I hope you can get it sorted either way, as it looks very painful.

Commiserations OP, abscesses are the absolute worst. I had one that reached a similar scale even after taking course of ABs and on seeing it again my GP had me get down to the nearest minor injuries unit ASAP where I had it removed that night.
Hopefully you’ve been sent that way by 111 and are seen soon

Deffo get checked asap. I had a breast abscess from Mastitis and ended up in hospital for a week on IV antibiotics, had to have it drained and then surgically removed as there was so much of it, then the wound packed everyday for weeks 😫
My skin also opened up (holes the size of a 5p! Fascinating but gross! 😂) to naturally let the abcess come out.
Sorry tmi. Never been so ill. So I would be worried about leaving this. Although they did tell me it was rare to get to the point I was at, I wouldn't mess around.

I hope you are on your way op. It looks very sore.

Listen to this poster. I’m a surgeon too . At this point in time I would just take yourself to A and E as you sounds systemically unwell. You need admitting for IV antibiotics and then if there is an abscess it is will aspirated under ultrasound or drained in theatre tomorrow
Don’t delay please.

I had similar two years ago - almost went septic so you need antibiotics pronto. After these they can work out whether further treatment is needed - mine managed to burst through the skin whilst I was in the shower! Stung a bit...

Go get antibiotics ASAP

You are at risk of sepsis , go to a and e

Definitely a and e

Photo looks very similar to how mine was. I was very unwell - temp etc.

Please get it treated urgently. I was lucky I didn't go into full blown sepsis and was left with a very nasty wound.

Had an ultrasound/mammogram on the two week wait which were clear.

Yes, it's an emergency. Yes go to A&E if you haven't received an appointment from nhs 111 in the last two hours.
You're at risk of cellulitis, sepsis.
You need to act now and ensure you're in contact with a health professional very very swiftly.
Speed is vitally important.

Ouch OP that looks painful.
Please get antibiotics

God that looks painful, hope you are now at hospital awaiting treatment.

Never had an abcess but had mastitis in both breasts whilst breastfeeding and that was bad enough. All the best OP.

You probably need IV antibiotics. I had 5 days worth when DD was 3wks old, my breast was as ref as yours. Don’t wait