Can anyone who suffered from mastitis come and tell me about their recovery?

[ZenNudist]

Please! Warning gory description follows. How long is this hell going to last?

Been taking ABs for 2 days but there is a gathering of pus (or milk but I think it could be pus) in a big lump to the side if my nipple. It's getting worse, is red & shiny & has a little bit in the centre that I don't know what it is.

It's just crying out to be lanced. It looks like a boil and is slightly itchy as well as very painful. Half my breast is caked so no milk can get past.

Want to go back to docs tomorrow and ask to have the lump lanced but I know she'd tell me to wait 5 more days see how ABs work.

Please help! Had a big cry as ebf ds2 seems to be very much in doubt. He's bit getting much milk off that side, keeps falling asleep

My abscess was big, the wound was the size of the base of a wine glass, but the scar is tiny. I did have a terrible experience of breast feeding though, but my kids show no ill effects from being formula fed!

Mine, like PoshPaula's, was huge - went from the size of a golf ball, to an orange to a grapefruit in a very short space of time. I think you'll be luckier than me with the scar.

How are things today?

Hmmm seem to have lost yesterdays update including the joys of pink milk flowing out of the hole in my boob

Feel much better, not in pain, obviously wound still sore and boob uncomfortable.

Been back and had hole reopened, packed and dressed, but not needed to drain it again... yet. Been given different ABs following culture results (augmentin).

Told it will need to be dressed daily after my next hospital appointment on Monday. Told its going to take weeks to heal and will be left with a small scar (so, what you guys said really!)

I've been told by the doctor today not to feed baby from bad side. Earlier this week I was told by the othe doctor (professor!) that I could. Pumping is ineffective and painful so far I've still fed ds as usual. Kellymom and other accounts online seem to say its ok to feed off the bad side. I think I need to post again about this as between ds being tongue tied and this abcess, continuing to bf is still looking doubtful.

Meanwhile ds is not gaining weight so I'm still , but less worries about me again.

Oh it sounds hard for you. Been there with the pink milk. Nice! One of the most frustrating things about having an abscess is the mis-information out there. Someone saying it's fine to feed, someone saying not. Certainly all the experts I saw who deal with lactational abscesses all the time were very keen that I continue if I could. They said it wouldn't harm the baby but it might taste funny. But don't beat yourself up if you can't...this is a major deal. You need to look after yourself as well as your Dd. Good luck.

From kellymom.com

kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mother/breast-abscess/

I said dd....I meant ds..

The reason for supposedly not letting baby feed on the bad side is to avoid risk of re-infection.

I've decided to keep feeding as I need to ensure breasts well drained. A pump just doesn't work well enough.

It's comforting to know others were advised to feed from the bad side. The surgeon relented when I queried his advice and said 'try not to'...