Im sure this isnt right.... should i see my GP, or will a BF help line be more helpful?

[nannyl]

My baby is nearly 4months old and EBF.

For quite a long time, but not since the very beginning, i have had a bit of pain after feeding. (NOT my nipple but right inside my breast)

Her latch seems fine and I have no pain or discomfort or anything during feeding.

For quite a while it was happening in both breasts... certainly uncomfortable but only lasting 5 - 10mins and i could ignore it, and it seemed to get less and less, and doesnt seem to happen in my right breast at all any more.

Since Christmas it has got much more painful in my left breast, although it only happens some times, perhaps once or maybe 3 times a day. Definitely not after every feed.

It now feels like im being burnt /scalded in my breast, or like some-one is putting cigarettes out IN my breast.
At times it is unbearably painful, and really takes my breath away and brings tears to my eyes for about 10-15mins then it fades away all by itself to nothing.

I dont think i can put up with it any more.

It is more painful than giving birth (which i did with just TENs on level 4).

I have no idea what it is, or if there is anything the doctor can do.

Does anyone on here have an ideas?

Its not normal is it?

My breast looks normal, and most of the time feels fine and pain free, and as i say feeding my baby doesnt hurt at all either, but when it does hurt, OMG it sure does hurt.

thank you for that link

i have read it all and it certainly doesnt jump out as being "bling, yes thats it", though based on this thread i can see how one might think it was.

thank you though, very helpful

truthsweet this staph thing that you've mentioned a few times, any info on best treatment? Should a milk test be done before treatment? I for one am aaaalways extraordinarily reluctant to take antibs for anything as I'm personally very prone to damned candida but I'm really interested in this potential (um) possibility for breast pain.

You come across anything else about it?

OCC - I've not found anything else and while the study mentions the preliminary study is to be followed up I can't find it!

I've no idea about staph. treatment but I'd guess you'd pick the most effective yet most compatible with bfing drug available (well hopefully).

I might ask about....

Sorry missed the milk test q. I think the women in the test were diagnosed with thrush, selected for the study based on the diagnosis then the various samples/swabs were taken and cultured before any treatment was embarked upon.

I think I'll get my milk cultured. Have been thinking about it for a while.

As much as anything for the giggle of asking a GP to do this .

No, but seriously, it's an interesting test given my chronic breast pain problems and a good opportunity while I can't take Fluc while diffed (and as I'm not sure it's thrush that I've got). Well, I could take it, but I don't want to if I can avoid it. It's just with what Tiktok pointed out and with the staph option I want to see what comes of it. Interesting to see whether the OP's pain clears up, too, as that would indicate that something like this may be involved. I just worry about anti-bs with it making thrush worse.

Sorry OP, for sort of highjacking :) I'm really keen to see whether the meds you've got do help.

no worries about high-jacking

interesting debate

i started ABs last night and have had 2 doses so far.... will let you know what happens...

:)

well I have been on ABs for a day and a half.

the pain isnt quite so extreme / unbearable but is still coming and going and im not convinced that ABs are fixing the problem .

Yesturday it seemed quite a bit better during the day but has been coming and going again since yesturday evening...

Hmm, OP I'm wondering if this may be of any reassurance to you. My dc is 5 months and I had problems from day 1 including cracked/bleeding nipples, diagnosis of thrush, (which I never believed it could be), mastitis, blocked ducts, bleeding from inside the breast tissue- pretty much everything.
Been seeing bf specialist from week 2 but after bleeding came back 3 weeks ago, infant feeding referred me to a breast surgeon.
Saw her this morning and had an examination of both breasts and lymphatic area. She explained that whilst of course bf is the natural thing, it can be traumatic for the tissue. Producing lots of milk and having a baby suckle efficiently (like is meant to happen) can take a bit of a toll and vascular damage is not uncommon. This CAN cause the pain you are describing OP, especially if one breast has more vigorous let down or is preferred by baby. None of this had ever been explained to me, but makes sense. I wouldnt ever suggest that a bf ing woman shouldn't do everything to get most pain free situation but even knowing why there can be pain has been a big reassurance ( to me, anyway).

onto day 5 of ABs

has not be as extreamly painful to make me cry since i posted, but it still most definitely painful, and i doubt the ABs are going to work magic in the next 2 days.

Spoke to HV who said it sounds like i have thrush in my breast and to go to a different dr