Bf help. Pain :-(

[melliebobs]

Seems like I post here every few weeks complaining but this seems to have been ongoing for months. But since June/July I've had some form of pain with left boob. I was told it was thrush. Then more thrush then told there was nothing wrong with me (yes dr so the excruciating pain is all in my head?!) then in August/September I had 2 bouts of mastitis in 3 weeks. Then it cleared up. Now in the last 3-4 weeks whenever I feed dd from lefty I'm in agonising pain afterwards. It doesn't hurt when she eats it after. It's like someone is in my boob and stabbing me with needles from the inside out. It's really really deep and almost radiates to my armpit and the pain nocks me sick and it can go on for 2-3 hrs after a feed. It happens no matter what position i use and It also happens when I use my pump. Quite frankly it's really starting to piss me off.

Thought I'd post Here to see if anyone had any ideas. I hate going the doctors because they are useless and make me feel like I'm making it all up cos every visit I've had in the past 8 months have been about this. It's really getting me down and all people say is stop feeding she's almost 9 months. But I don't want to. I want to stop when WE are ready

you could have a blocked milk duct or complications from that. If gp is useless try talking t oHV or a breastfeeding expert/helpline or hospital?

I don't know if you've tried any painkillers, but my guess is you may need antibiotics!what you are describing is not normal - if you had a strong let down pain you still should have pain like that and it would be both breasts!

the trouble with thrush is that you and baby can keep givivng it back a nf forth to each other - so it could be that again - has baby ever been checked/treated?

you could try Avent nipple shields it might give a little relief - my advice is to definitely get seen or even get a swab to see what you are dealing with.

you shouldn't have to give up bf, totally agree!

It's driving me insane. I didn't think it was thrush initially anyway. But I was told it was. It was. Then that there was nothing wrong at all. It's do odd. It's not inflamed. No rash. Nothing. It looks completely normal. But inside Something isn't right

I'm really at the end of my tether and lost all faith with GP's

If it was thrush it would probably have been passed to the other side also via the baby. I could be wrong though.

Are there any lumps or red spots?

Nope. Only marks I have are from where dd grabs hold but once the pain has subsided it's sometimes goes lumpy. But not nice n even like when your full cos you've not fed for a few hours

It sounds like a blocked milk duct possibly. I spoke to a lactation consultant when I had a milk bleb & she said there was something you can take to help break down the blockage, she wrote the name down for me & said you can get it from health food shop BUT I can't remember what it was & mine cleared up on it's own.

Someone on here might know what this is? If not, please phone your hospitals lactation consultant for advice.

Thanks ladies.

Think it's blown into full on mastitis again just woken up from the pain

Red rash of doom
Boob twice the size
Can't close arm due to the tennis ball size lump in my arm pit

Right royally pissed off

Ah poor you! Get down to the doctor for some antibiotics. The huge lump does not sound good!

Got a 2 week course of antibiotics. Also broke down uncontrollably in the drs room cos this is the third bout in about 9 weeks

Fed dd twice from the poorly side. I was physically sick with pain

Take painkillers too, I think ibuprofen & paracetamol are fine but obviously double check this.

Have you had your latch checked, to ensure baby is draining the breast properly. I remember having thrush and cracked nipples when the pain was so intense I cried my eyes out at every feed so I feel for you.

Get in the shower, have it as hot as you can stand an try to massage the lump toward the nipple, be firm.

Good luck!

Nothing useful to add but I just wanted to say how amazing I think you are for persevering for 9 months. I am 6 weeks in and it is really tough. 9 months of pain is incredible. I hope the mastitis clears up fast.

Yerr Rach had my latch checked several times. Especially with DD getting bigger n just helping herself now cos it would be easy for it to be wrong. But it's been fine she knows what she's doing

Hi melliebobs, how are you feeling now, have the antibiotics kicked in?

I'm on day 4 of being completely useless. Swelling hasn't gone down and still can't use my left arm properly still very very painful and every time I move I can just feel fluid drain. Dh been fantastic though

That sounds awful, huge sympathy from me, glad your dh is doing well. Wish I could give some advice.