Mastitis twice, referred to breast surgeon - anyone else experienced this?

[Epigirl]

Feeling a bit miserable tonight as I have just had mastitis for the 2nd time Fed dd for a year with no problems and ds is 16 weeks, have had mastitis twice in 10 weeks now and it is agony (also came on during dd's 2nd birthday party which has upset me even more).

The GP has referred me to the breast surgeon at the hospital as this is the second time I've had it and he wants to see if there is an underlying problem. It was in the right side both times but right under my arm the first time and on top the second. The appointment is going to be 3 hours long! Has anyone else had anything like this happen to them? I'm quite concerned about it. Does anyone know what the underlying causes could be? Abcesses? Cancer?

hello, its so bloody awful that we have to experience crap like this when we are trying to give our babies the best start in life. i got mastitus 3 times in 8 months breast feeding. but only needed antbiotics twice. the third time was the worse, within a few hours i was shaking witha really high temperature - bad fever. my breast was rock hard on one side and I was quite worried but as soon as the morning came i went to the doctor for antibiotic. i got it three times because i did not empty. my dd slept therough the night from 3 mths, i produced a lot of milk and would have to express once about 4am in the morning every night. On all three occasions it was because I slept through my alarm which i set to wake myself up to express. maybe you are just producing too much milk. do you feed in the night, if not do you express the milk out? maybe you could try reducing your milk supply. i would not wish matitus on anyone it so painful. im sure its not something as serious as cancer. you may have a blocked duct from the first time that never did get properly unblocked. i hope it gets sorted soon.

Babymaker, I had the shaking, high temperature, fever rock solid lump too. Isn't it horrible? I do produce loads of milk but then I did with dd too; ds is still waking 3 or 4 times a night so I've never been for too long without feeding! Now you've said it, I do think that the supply could have something to do with it though, thanks

3 or 4 times a night? wow you would probably be aqble to feed your local hospital with your supply. has your hv or other mums net users got any advice fo reducing your supply or lengthing his feeds at 16 weeks? Im not sure how you would go about that. But if he is feeding that much in the night then he is not giving your boobs enough time to produce the fatty milk, he will be getting more of the watery stuff which is prob why he is not filling up. catch 22 - poo! have you tried dropping one of them in the night and getting dh to give him lots of hugs instead?

I didn't know that it was so unusual, is it?!! dd fed about the same at the same age.

hv no use for me, she just keeps trying to get me to bottle feed even though I tell her repeatedly that I'm very happy bf (apart from the mastitis, obviously).

dh works lots of nights/shifts so he's no always there...

ive only got one so i dont know whats more common but as we know they are all different... but my dd just fed once in the night from birth until 3 mths, then slept all night 12 hours. alot of babies feed in the night more than once because of routine molre than anything so you could try dropping one, cant see that harming him as the gap would dtill not be too long and the next feed he got would have more fatty milk which should be more satisfying, their may be tears for a week but he should get used to it. also when you do feed at night, do youhave lights on and talk etc..? from birth when i did feed at night, i left lights off and did not talk or fuss about, just lots of hugs. you have two so im sure youhave more experience than me buts it can be uselful to hear others...

My dd only dropped to one (though 2 now, as she has a cold) feed a night at about 20 weeks. I was complaining this morning about how cruel nature is when mum and baby both feel rotten and therefore mum can't get sleep and feels even worse, when I read this thread. Can't give any advice I'm afraid, but hope you feel better soon.

I am the only one referred on to hospital...?!

Epigirl, I had mastitis once during the 2nd week - fever, body ache - lasted about one day, and I fed DD through the entire episode. Never even went to see my doc. A few months later, I had a blocked duct, which was extremely painful on one side, hard as a rock. I fed DD through it, waking her up sometimes so she would feed on that side, and also sat under a hot shower with a warm wet compress. This also lasted just one day. My doc didn't recommend anything other than the wet compress. HTH.

I had mastitis three times with ds1 in 13 months (once was a blocked duct, twice needed antibiotics). mThe third time was after he ha dbeen ill and I had been feeding more, then abruptly went back to pre-ill levels. The first 2 times were during the rocky start.

With ds2 I've had a blocked duct twice (in 2 years). Used homeopathy, hot bath and hot flannels.

Perhaps your GP is just being cautious.

Am sure that its not because your GP thinks it may be cancer, try not to worry
Can't think why appointment will be 3 hours long though, unless 2.5 hours of that is waiting!!

Got mastitis for third time and now totally distraught about it. Has this happened to anyone else? After a year of pain free feeding of dd, I can't believe this has happened again, it's AGONY. Hospital appointment is tomorrow but I was wondering if anyone else has had any similar experience?

Hugs Epigirl, it's a horrible thing. I hope you get it sorted out. I'm sure you have probably thought of this but is your bra OK, no straps or seams cutting in. The reason I ask is that I ended up with mastitis with DS2 because during one feed I hadn't opened up my bra properly (front opening, left one of the hooks still done up, in a panic trying to discretely feed) and although during the feed it wasn't cutting in enough to be painful, the slight pressure from the bra was enough to cause the mastitis.