A mastitis question

[igggi]

Been feeling a bit dodgy most of yesterday, and then woke in the night feeling like I had flu - really hot, achy and out of it. Breasts especially left one hard and sore. I took ibuprofen and fed baby as much as I could. My question being, as I feel ok this morning, do I need to take further action, or is it over?

Are antibiotics only for extreme cases or do they benefit everyone?
Glad to be able to ask wisdom of mumsnet before the ordeal of NHS24!

I think it depends if there´s an infection or not?

Is it more likely to be infected if you have sore/cracked nipples?

Otherwise a blocked duct?

I think sore and cracked is the default position for my nipples! Have been trying to rub downwards while feeding in case anything is blocked.

Do you still have flu-like symptoms? (I'd get them to be on the safe side).

No need for antibiotics if you're feeling fine now and the blockage is clearing. I've had mastitis three times, in 14 months of feeding and attacks not close together, but the only time I've taken antibiotics was when I was getting worse not better after 12 hours of fever. Even then I wished I'd waited a bit longer with self-care (ibuprofen, paracetamol, feeding and expressing) measures as the co-amoxiclav really badly affected my sons tummy for a few weeks.

My son wasn't affected by my co-amoxiclav, so it's not definite.

I had terrible mastitis with my first two and bouts of antibiotics which were disgusting to take but by the time I had DD3, a Belgian friend of mine had told me, "On the Continent, they treat mastitis as an inflammation not an infection". So I tried taking ibuprofen (nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug) and if I took that at the first twinge it used to nip it in the bud. Magic! Usual provisos--only take medicines if your GP/midwife recommends it...and I know children should not take aspirin (and ibuprofen is the same class of drug). But then the antibiotics can't be good for them either and ibuprofen seemed to work very effectively and quickly. (if it doesn't work, of course, go to your doctor...need to avoid developing an abscess.)

Hello, thank you for replies, thought I should post an updaate - just back from out-of-hours doc, she didn't think it was mastitis as I don't have a specific hard/sore bit - but I do have a raised temp so she thought I had something viral. Glad I went though as she looked at my c section scar and found a bit of it has reopened, so she (sort of) stuck it back together!
Am persevering with the ibuprofen, and the hot flannel approach has felt very comforting.
Thank you again for replies

Google homeopathic remedies for mastitis, I took Belladonna, sorted it within a few doses/hours. Also used cold savoy cabbage leaves in bra. If you catch it quick, as it sounds like you have, then you can hopefully avoid antibiotics!

Oh yes-the Savoy cabbage leaf!

Ah yes, I remember the hot flannel remedy now. I developed my own versionI found that wringing ordinary flannels out in hot water from the tap didn't quite worknot big enough and went cold very quickly. So this is what I used to do. I took 2 or 3 terry nappies (these had not been used as nappies but a friend recommended I buy some as all-purpose useful items), wrung them out in cold water, and then folded them so that they fitted on a dinner plate. I then put them in the microwave and zapped them for a bit. Obviously, be careful, they could get very hot and the time you zap them for will depend on the power of your microwave. You might need to turn them during zapping to make sure the whole towel is heated up. Then they were still hot by the time I had got the baby on the other breast. I fed on one side and applied the flannel on the other--this is also a remedy for engorgement in the early days of BF. I found that hot flannel alone would not work, I needed the baby there and feeding to have let-down of milk. Cold Savoy cabbage leaves, I agree, straight out of the fridge into your bra, are very soothing! Good luck...