Possible breast abscess - been referred to breast clinic. Worried :'(

[Tamashii]

I have been referred to the hospital's breast clinic so see a consultant to arrange for "further investigation" into a breast lump that has grown really fast after recurring bouts of mastitis and I am terrified.

This is my second baby and I had no problem with mastitis the first time round. However, this time I just got mastitis over and over until it was just too much and the pain meant I was BFing less frequently. Then I developed a small lump MW advised to massage as usual during feeding but after a day or so LO just refused to feed from that breast and eventually the milk supply started to dwindle. Sadly I became so disheartened and fed up of constant mastitis that I tried to slowly stop BFing and was expressing less and less. The lump therefore had no real way of getting out since LO would no longer nurse on that breast and after pumping it would just slowly return.

Anyway, it is now 2 months since the last antibiotics and my milk supply has completely dried up. I now have a really large golf ball size (well it feels like a golf ball to me but could be more like a small egg) which is agony - feels like a massive bruise under the skin. Unusually for me, it's on the top side of my breast too which was making it really difficult to massage out when LO was initially nursing from that breast. Other lumps from mastitis were underneath and would subside when feeding LO but not this one.

I have read some horror stories due to stupidly googling of course - it is nigh impossible not to - so am now really worried. It was really only over the Christmas holidays that the lump suddenly began to grow really quickly and I can see it in the mirror when I stand sideways without my bra on.

Has anyone else got any words of advice? I have seen other threads on this but decided to get it off my mind on here as I don't want to mention "breast lump" to my family as I don't want them to worry. I would like to find out what exactly it is first. So, thanks in advance for any replies. I feel quite sick and am trying hard not to worry as I have my appt at the breast clinic so there is nothing I can do until then.

What are they likely to do when I go for my consultant appt? I am concerned they will just examine me again and then send me away to wait for an appt letter for an appt to follow up whatever the consultant advised and I will be waiting for another few weeks for that. I have read cases of the abscess (if that's what it is) bursting and blood poisoning etc. Oh why did I google???

Don't google!!!
I can only tell you my own experience of a lump that appeared on my left breast just after (ie 2 days) I had dd. like you I suspected it was tied to bf but had all sorts of horror thoughts.

I got referral pretty quickly to specialist where they did an ultra sound of breast (to see what was in the lump) and also did a biopsy on it. It was what is called a galactaceole which is sort of like a blocked duct but isn't (mine didnt respond to any of the tips on it).

The thing that rang a bell with you is that it was golf ball size and uncomfy but not sore. The dr also thought it might be mastitis related but it wasnt .

Also it kept coming back - they would aspirate it (think lancing a blister with a needle - its not that bad as you are so happy to lose swelling). Then it would Build up again even though I wasn't feeding . Gave up feeding dd at about 2 months old but kept on going with aspiration for another 15 months until decided to have an op to remove offending but.

Op was fine- day surgery under ga, bit sore for a few days and small scar but no problems since.

I hope that helps-clinic was good and Caring so getting a referral way forward.

When is your appointment?

Battery about to conk out but will try to reply properly later. Started a thread the other day re bf and breast screening having almost identical issues to you except still feeding. Sore lump can see first thing in morning. Didn't show on ultrasound so back next week!

Have they palpated the lump btw? Doc said mine smooth and moveable so that meant not as concerning app.

I have also had/have a galactaceole like Gigondas. Large non painful lump appeared in first week after DD arrived, docs thought mastitis at first but it didn't go away, so referred to breast clinic. At the clinic I and an examination by consultant, then an ultrasound (sometimes they do a mammogram depending on your age I think), then a needle aspiration to remove the blocked milk. All this was on same day.

Then i went back for second aspiration and they also sent a sample for testing a week later.

I know it's really hard not to worry, I felt exactly the same, hopefully you can be reassured a bit. A needle in the boob is much gentler than childbirth

Are you feeling unwell with it? I had a very large (tennis ball sized) abscess last year and I felt really fluey. My experience sounds quite similar to yours - several bouts of mastitis followed by a lump which grew very rapidly. I was unable to get a bra on when it was at it's worst. Like you, mine was on the top near my arm and felt like the milk was "trapped" despite my DD nursing frequently. It was absolute agony.

The doctor referred me to the breast clinic who scanned me and aspirated there and then. It was uncomfortable but not unbearable and felt so much better afterwards! I was warned the abscess may fill up again, which it did. It took 4 aspirations over a week, plus antibiotics, to get it sorted. Luckily I didn't need surgery, despite it being so large.

The staff at the clinic were lovely. They said abscesses are relatively common and they carry out aspirations all the time, it was all very routine for them. It is scary though when you're going through it, but try not to worry too much. Good luck and hope you feel better soon.

Thanks for all the replies. It's comforting to hear that they don't always have to surgically remove/incise the abscess. I hope it's just needle aspiration but I am getting even more worried. My lump has been checked physically and is palpable, round but irregular apparently...GP said they will likely do an ultrasound after my consultant appt but it's all up to them so she's kind of passed the buck so she can't say what happens next.

Last night before bed, I started to take off my bra (still wearing a nursing bra since it's too painful now to wear regular bra due to the size of the lump) and the weight of my non supported boob was agonising. I noticed the lump was bigger again and quite hard. It's starting to create a harder area directly under the skin beneath a small red patch kind of like when the mastitis started. I don't feel fluey and shivery like I did with the mastitis but I am starting to worry about the abscess (or whatever it is) rupturing and getting blood poisoning now...

This morning however it had calmed down a bit although it is sore today. I have my appointment with the breast consultant at the start of the week so not long to go but if it gets bigger again tonight I will be phoning them to see if there's any way to be seen sooner... Doubt it though...

If its an abscess wont you feel poorly with it anyway - can only go on dental ones. And as mine grew it did get more sore and stretched.
Even if you can't see clinic could you call them to discuss your issues?

If you were concerned it is getting worse you could always go down to A&E rather than wait until next week maybe?

Thanks fot the advice. If it gets worse than it was last night I think we will have to take a trip to A&E as I really thought it was going to rupture. I hate this. I guess it could be worse though - at least my GP has referred me quickly and not fobbed me off like other stories I have read on here.