how long can a duct be blocked for?

[schipo]

I'm breastfeeding DS1 who is nearly 10 weeks.

I developed what I thought was a blocked duct two evenings ago. I've had them before - really painful but they went within 24 hours after a combination of hot flanels, hot water bottles, massage and persistent feeding.

One of the lumps that appeared the other night is still there. It isn't half as sore or as big as it was, but feels like nothing is going to move it now. Also I'm worried because GP recently told me that as long as a lump disappeared within 24 hours there was no need to worry. I forgot to ask what happens if they don't disappear.

Any ideas much appreciated.

Should I keep on massaging it and using hot water bottles? Should I go back to GP? Will savoy cabbage help me?

Is it hot/red? I'd go to GP, I had mastitis recently (went after about 48 hours) but I learnt in that time about abcesses (sp?). Why do you keep getting them? Are you wearing quite a tight bra? My mastitis was caused by a sleeping nursing bra that pushed my boobs abit too much.

It isn't hot or red (just checked)
It is quite large though - about two inches across just above the nipple.

Good question about why I keep getting them
I guess my bras could be too tight. I have now removed it but I guess I may be too late.

I'll have to wait until Monday to see GP now.

Interesting that when I told GP I'd been worried about these lumps turning into mastitis he said that mastitis wasn't caused by blocked ducts but from infection entering from outside via cracked nipples.

Do you feel at all unwell? Is that breast quite hard?

I had one recently that took days and days to clear,in the end I had an ultrasound,i'm in my 40's so any lump has to be checked,and there was a small milk cyst there,probably caused by the blocked up duct according to the consultant.I've found that only a really long feed shifts them,after warm flannels,and combing gently with an afro comb towards the block,I also tried postioning dd differently.I would get it checked out if it goes on and on but they can take days to go sometimes.

I wouldn't say I really felt unwell.
I've felt ever so slightly dizzy over the last two days a couple of times but I'd put that down to sleep deprivation.

Above the nipple the breast feels hard (at least where the lump is it feels hard), below the nipple and at the side the breast feels normal.

I would go to out of hours GP - I don't know if you can have mastitis without the unwellness, and in turn an abscess without mastitis I combed my breast, lay in the bath sideways so breast was under warm water and poked and prodded and massaged it, put the shower head spraying on it,

ok thanks for your help
i've discovered that there is an out of hours service here. I spoke to them and they told me to call back if symptoms get worse.
good to know there's somewhere to go if i do get mastitis over weekend

With masitis you would feel fluey and rough,and there would be inflamation.Hopefully you will shift it before it gets to that,feed,feed feed,and try feeding with your babies chin pointing to the block as that can help too.

I had a few that took about 3 days to go, slowly went down and down with persistent expressing, rubbing, lying in a warm bath with them under the water twice a day for a while.

hellymelly, when you say have the baby's chin pointing at the block do you mean from the opposite side of the nipple or should the chin be on top of the block? (I'd have to lie down and have him over my shoulder facing down if latter)

the chin should be like a clockhand pointing at the block,so as you say if the block is at the top it can be tricky,but if you can lie down and feed him like that it might help.My block was in a slightly easier position but my dd is a toddler so not as easy to manouver!Have you checked your nipple to see if the duct is blocked at that end rather than up in the duct? (you would see a white lump,like a thickened skin,which you would need to pop.)

Well I tried feeding in all sorts of positions. Poor baby didn't know what was going on. The lump did gradually get smaller and less painful over the weekend. It's still there though but I don't think it's a blocked duct after all. I just noticed it when there was a blocked duct nearby I guess. Anyway I had it looked at by my GP this morning. I've have been referred to the breast clinic Hoping its just a cyst.

hellymelly it was a blocked duct after all - blocked at the nipple just as you said! I saw a white mark on today after I'd ruled out that possibility because milk no longer seemed to be building up.

Anyway, a couple of feeds later and there's no lump to be felt at all.

I'll probably still go to breast clinic though when appt comes through. Just in case. I guess I better had since I'm 40.

Thanks for all your help