Ow! Middle of the night pain

[Jenijena]

DS is 8 weeks old, and for most of that I've had bf problems. I've got all the symptoms of deep breast thrush, though my GP doesn't believe this exists... (and none of the GPs at the practice will treat it, I've tried 5...). Anyhow, I'm in agony tonight, just as DS is getting the hang of sleeping more, I've been up an hour and a half with the pain. Paracodeine (what the gp sent me away with) is not really kicking in. I'm having the milk tested again for infection. So just ow, ow, sympathy required... If I could guarantee 100% the pain would go away he'd be on formula from the morning. Pain at the moment is near the base of the boob and under my arms, but i also have had cracks for seven weeks (have repeatedly had my latch checked and okayed) which aren't exactly easy to deal with. No lumps. Why am I putting myself through this?

Awwww Jenijena That sounds so awful. Poor you, really hope things improve soon.

Is there any chance you can gather evidence of such a condition if you aren't being believed so that you can confront. A GP is just that a general practitioner and not always up to date on the all the latest research. If you can force them to consider they may be wrong you could get treatment?

In the meantime you are doing a very great job by your DS and though I didn't suspect deep thrush I struggled with successfully bf (poor let down, screaming till blue - him not me , damaged nipples to make your toes curl for every feed etc... for at least a month so know a little of how it feels to be suffering for what is a great start to your childs life.

What are you doing to try to mend the cracks? Have you tried nipple shields / creams etc?

Hope someone in RL is there to give you hugs.

I'm Using lanisoh after every feed (I stopped for a while in case it bred infection, but it's definitely better with). I used nipple shields to start with (had very flat nipples) but now find them more painful than not using them. I've used a Multi-Mam compress and the gel pads, nothing seems to make any difference at all to the cracks. The cracks really hurt - and are really quite deep on one side, and frequently bleed - but that pain is nothing to the pain deep inside (and which I'm worried will not go away even if I stop feeding) :(

Took the breastfeeding network leaflet on thrush into the GP, but he has spoken to microbiologists andante breast experts and will not discuss. I'm hoping my milk sample comes back from testing today or tomorrow with something in it, otherwise it will be meltdown in front of another GP tomorrow.

Well that is all my suggestions you have covered, I found Lasinoh was a huge help!

My sister had bad mastitis and as daft as it sounds she was advised to put cabbage leaves in her bra (not sure what they contain to help but it is a common thing apparently, think it was savoy!) Anyway, it made a big difference!

Obviously mastitis and deep thrush may be different but thought I'd mention it.

I really hope you get some understanding from the doctor tomorrow! If they really think the thrush idea is unfounded they should still be considering what else it could be, cos you aren't imagining the pain are you!! It could be a lymph node thing (under the arms?)?

Oh yes, the cabbage is still gathering fridgeness but that helps more with the engorged ness, which is less of a problem now than it was, but it definitely helped in the early days. I'm going to a midwife run drop in clinic regularly, (hence getting latch checked) who suggested thrush. But the stabbing pain, sort of where your boob hits your rib cage and then out to the arms, is incomparable, truly my back to back, drip induced gas and air labour was easier. Thank you for the sympathy, i really feel i need it, I'm hoping to speak to a doctor again tomorrow as analysis of my milk should have come back.

Good luck at the doctors today! :)

So my milk has an infection in it, but it's not mastitis...? Wasn't really able to discuss with the doctor when he rang. Antibiotics & more painkillers prescribed - anyone any experience of this?

Well that is progress, at least the doctor isn't dismissing you now!

I don't have experience of this so can't help. Glad you're getting treatment now and hope someone with the right advice comes along.

Hope it improves soon. :)

How are you now?Ive got some similar symptoms here too. Ow!

I've been on antibx since Tuesday and tbh, it's not really improved anything. Haven't gone without painkillers for more than a couple of hours in that time. Miserable isn't it? You have my sympathies.

As the pain hits after a feed, empty breasts are the worst feeling... You know the pain is coming soon. Having just fed I can start to feel something under my arm just now. Although its just possible my nipple cracks aren't quite as bad, although still cavern like.

So, back to the doctors on Tuesday...

How are you poocatcher? Different gp today, symptoms haven't changed at all, and so stronger antibiotics prescribed...