Am I the only one who finds that GPs are bloody useless when it comes to all things BF related? Rant alert!

[HelloBear]

I've had really bad pain in my breast for the last few days, I know it's not mastitis as I have suffered from it lost and know the symptoms. I am totally stumped by this pain and at times I am literally crying out in pain.

My DH said this morning that I had to go to the dr as it was silly me being in pain. I was reluctant as my previous negative experience of Drs and BF. But agreed to go.

Well today topped them all. The GP obviously thought I was a loon just along for a moan. His reply after I described my symptoms was: so what do you want from today? Pain relief, to know what it is or antibiotics?

Well I had not realised that visiting the GP had turned into a multiple choice exercise but going along with it i said pain relief. His reply then was: well what do YOU think it is?

I DO NOT FUCKING KNOW i said (not really, in true reserved English style I meekly said I'm not sure).

His final gem was to take paracetemal (though previously I had said that paracetemal dies not touch the pain).

When I gently suggested thrush he said 'oh no it can't be that'.

So here I am again tonight in agony feeling utterly deflated and angry at such a rubbish response.

He clearly thought I was a time waster. Which is laughable as I had to get a 7mo and 2 year old to the drs at 9.30am in the pooring rain. Yeah my idea of fun, not.

No wonder BF rates are so low!

Was this just a one off? Am I being too harsh?

Sorry for all the typos one handed typing while BF.

Oh that is properly rubbish. Bloody GPs.

A lot of them have had very little (or no) training on bf so have no knowledge base to help you with. Is there a Baby Cafe or LLL near you? They will probably be a lot more helpful.

And apparently the new thing in medicine is asking patients what they think is the matter. IF WE KNEW THAT WE WOULDN'T BLOODY WELL BE THERE WOULD WE!!!!

Much sympathy. Hope it feels better soon.

Oh and forgot his other piece of advice: to express between feeds.

No that would not help, in fact it would make it worse thank you doctor.

Thank you p it is the most enfiriating thing to be asked what do you think is wrong. Am I the only one who has to bite their toung so that they don't reply with some sarcastic remark along the lines of 'well as you've got the years of medical training and I havent i was hoping you would have some idea.

Can you tell us more about the pain? Maybe we can help

It's a burning stabbing pain in my left breast, sometimes it goes into my arm as well! The base of my breast is really tender, if that makes sense?

Only on LH side.

No lumps. Not hot. No temperature.

Could I be engorged without lumps.

Hmmmm, just check boob for White lumps....there is a yellow crusty bit (sorry for TmI) but small, could that be something.

Pain is only after feed, in fact feeding feels good, like scratching an itch IYSWIM.

Please help!!!'

Could well be thrush. I had this from 5 weeks and it took 5 weeks for GPs to give me something to cure it. Ask to see another GP if you can and keep asking til they give you a pill (can't remember the name). Is your baby protesting during feeds? Check in baby's mouth for White patches too.

I had to gently list all the abs I'd taken while bf to get my gp to agree that I didn't have to ff ds2 while treating mastitis .

He told me 6 years ago, when ds1 was a baby, that he didn't know anything about bf. He obv didn't feel it was a gap in his knowledge worth filling.

(btw, sounds like a plug/bleb maybe? Sometimes the blocked area can be deep in the breast and hard to feel ime)

Had I similar issue this week it felt like a blocked duct but with put the lump! One very very sore area to the point on Sunday night moving made we want to cry but somewhat eleivated by feeding but not totallly.

I treated it as a blocked duct so heat, massage, feeding and ibuprofen and it seems to have nearly gone. Wondering if was a small blocked duct deep inside so couldn't feel the lump?!?

I went to my GP with breast thrush while BF and he prescribed a tube of something like Canesten. Which wasn't for consumption.

Thank you so much lovely MNers. I'll have a look at links and give it some thought.

My DS has no symptoms of thrush at all, so not convinced it is that

Definately only pain in 1 breast.

My DS is 7 months old and though we had positioning problems early on its been good for months (my second dc so familiar with a 'good' latch). So don't think it's latch problems. Thou of course teething may have buggered the good latch.

I note the mention of 'steph' infection. Does anyone know anything about this?

Hmmmm just picked at the crusty bit and loads of milk splurged out...maybe a blockage. It seems sore on the nipple also.

Sorry for TMI again.

Definitely sounds like a blend then.

It might well be sorted already by just removing the blockage, but if not try the good old combing/hot bath/expressing a bit by hand trick. Always works for me..

Mumsnet 1 GP 0

Can I gatecrash this topic a bit? Does anyone know how to stop milk blisters coming back? My friend seems v prone to them and says she can feel another one brewing. Her GP offered her two lots of antibiotics and of course they were useless. He'd never heard of a milk blister.

Bleb/ milk blister/ same thing aren't they?