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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Breast Abscess - bit long!

6 replies

MannUp · 21/06/2013 16:55

I've just come out of surgery to have a breast abscess drained - nasty! I developed mastitis last Friday but didn't go the doctor til Sunday which I think caused the abscess. The first doctor I saw gave me antibiotics and said I would feel better in 24 hours. However, 48 hours later I had a large lump and lots of pain. I went to another GP and said I thought I had an abscess. He said it was just mastitis, gave me more antibiotics and showed me some Google Images! I went away concerned but thought maybe I was being a hypochondriac. Next morning the lump had got even bigger so I went to get a second opinion. This GP confirmed it was an abscess and said I was to take even more antibiotics and see how it was in a fortnight! I begged her to call the hospital for an ultrasound and after me getting a bit annoyed she agreed. They called me back the next day to say they could see me in four days time! By then the lump was huge so I went to A & E where I was offered after seven hours (whilst with my 5 month ebf son) a doctor who would stick a needle in it with no ultrasound. I was told not to feed from that breast with no advice on how to deal with engorgement or my future breast feeding. At this point I but the bullet and went private where the consultant immediately took me to surgery and sorted it all out including leaving me the ability to still feed my son.

Just had to get that off my chest (literally!) as I can't believe I was told to wait 2 weeks by the GP!

OP posts:
glorious · 21/06/2013 18:10

I know absolutely nothing about abscesses but I just wanted to say that sounds dreadful and I hope you feel better soon. Are you confident in the advice you've now been given on feeding? Not that I can personally help Smile

PoppyWearer · 21/06/2013 18:17

Two weeks is rubbish. Sorry to hear to had a rough time.

FWIW I had mastitis and various milk-duct lumps investigated a few years back with a year's gap in the middle, during which time I moved house. So went to a different hospital for the second set of treatment.

First hospital had me up, down, around, all over the place (lugging DC1 in her car seat, she was tiny) several times and no real answers or treatment. I was there for 2-3 hours each time. Nothing got resolved, was just told to come back if it got worse.

Second hospital, only about 15 miles away from the first one, got me in a week after GP referral, consultant gave me ultrasound, needle in, drained. The whole thing over and done within about 15-20 minutes.

The difference in treatment was astonishing. Both NHS hospitals.

MannUp · 21/06/2013 19:31

Glorious I'm happy with the advice now - the consultant was wonderful and he got me a midwive to talk to as well. He's covered the wound in a way that means I can still feed from it.
Poppy sorry to hear about your experience. The waiting is so annoying when you know how quick treatment can be. Glad your move worked out for you :)

OP posts:
PoppyWearer · 21/06/2013 19:36

Guess which hospital I went to for the birth of DC2? Grin

McBaby · 21/06/2013 19:46

Glad you got it sorted! Have had issues with mastitis and lumps which need draining a few times and getting it sorted quickly really helps!

glorious · 21/06/2013 20:56

That's good mann. Hope it all goes speedily from here.

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