mastitis with no lumps?

[Haggisfish]

Hello
I have had sore breasts for about two weeks - was only in left one first, but nw in right, too. The pain is not too bad when just sitting around, but if I knock my breast, it is really sore.

I went to the doc two weeks ago whe it first appeared - he had a good prod and said it was neither thrush nor mastitis, just general inflammation and to take ibuprofen. I have done this and it helps slightly, but I don't want to just keep on and on taking it.

My breasts themselves are a little itchy at times, and I have had a fever over the last few days - it peaks at around 38 degrees C in the night. My joints are aching and I feel crap, but have no other fluey symptoms like blocked nose or sore throat.

Erm, baby is 18 weeks old and ebf. Have tried expressing out any excess milk, but my breasts are not engorged to start with - they are soft and just more so after expressing!

the best way I can describe it is they are sore like they get before your period, but I am stil bf every three to four hours, so don't think it will be my period.

Any ideas? I am fretting slightly as I know there is a type of breast cancer associated with inflammation and breast feeding - any reassurance that I am panicking over nothing?! I'll go back to my GP on monday.

it sounds similar to when I had mastitis. I've always assumed by fluey symptons it was aching and temp (not nose/throat). Some people report nauseau as well. My breast was also red hot and tender (but no lup)

I'd push for the anti-b's (make sure it's a long cause) and stress how crap your feeling.

I'd also try an out of hours GP, I hear they're pretty good if you mention mastitis. A different GP might be more willing to prescribe.

A midwife or breast feeding counsellor will be better at diagnosing mastitis than a GP. Can you see/talk to one? Or find a GP who knows more about bf or who has bfed their own babies.

I've had mastitis with no lump - intense pain in breast, bright red patch of skin, high temp, shivery, achy, sick.

Sounds like you might have a mildish case (though still crap!) but as it hasn't cleared up by itself then you'll need antibiotics (for at least 10 days) if it is mastitis.