mastitis?

[Misty9]

I started with a sore boob yesterday afternoon then by evening I felt spaced out and achy. I've got a temperature this morning and red blotches over half my boob. I also have incredibly painful letdown.

It's mastitis again isn't it? :(

I've tried hot shower and comb, frequent feeding and massage. I was prescribed flucloxacillin last time but ended up clearing it without resorting to taking them. I can just take them for this flare up can't I?

Hmm, I've started the antibiotics now but the red streaking is getting worse and there's a definite lump now too. Do I need to be doing anything else?

Anyone?

DS is 15 months and im well in to double figures with the times ive suffered with mastitis. Just feed feed feed, always from the affected breast first and try massaging the affected area as you do to clear the blocked duct.
I went to doctors for antibiotics (flucloxacillin) the first 3 times but thought best to manage it on my own instead of all the drugs and actually it still clears up within 24 hours. Paracetamol, hot bath, massage and rest oh and a hot water bottle.
Hope you feel better soon

Thank you. Yes, the first time I cleared it without the meds, but it's no better and I feel awful 24hrs later so I'll give the tablets a go. Also, Kellymom advises seeing the doctor if there's red streaking, which there is.

Here's hoping it clears soon.

Definitely take the antibiotics and see your Dr if there is no improvement within 48 hours. As a new mum you are entitled to an emergency appointment so don't let them fob you off.

I had a very bad experience with mastitis that resulted in a breast abscess and I wish I'd kept hassling the Dr because I just knew something wasn't right.

Well, thankfully as soon as a lump appeared i could pummel and massage that to get things moving. And this morning the redness has gone and I feel a lot better :)

So, given the downsides of taking antibiotics (thrush and sore bottom for baby) should I continue now? I only took two yesterday and one this morning...

Keep taking them. The ones I took whilst breastfeeding had no effect on DD whatsoever. If you're worried about thrush then you can take a probiotic to rebalance things. I took these from Holland and Barrett.

You might feel better now but it is really important that you complete the course of antibiotics to make sure the infection is killed off.

Keep taking them. I had a similar experience to frankie (a breast abscess as I was fobbed off by my GP when I went with mastitis).

From what I read at the time, you should take them for at least 10 days to reduce risk of recurrence.

The GP tried to get me to not take any, and it did clear up but came back and developed into an abscess when I was fobbed off again. I spotted it before the gp did; I had to keep pestering and and I had to tell them i thought it was an abscess - by that point I had to be referred urgently. I ended up taking flucloxacillin for over a month.

Also, we didn't have any side effects at all from taking the antibiotics.

Thanks both. I have continued to take them, despite the inconvenience of needing to know when it's an hour until I'm eating! I'm still tender today and don't want it getting worse so it's for the best I agree. I'll get some acidophilus though, to be on the safe side because if I get thrush again then me and breastfeeding may well be finished!

Can you take paracetamol/ nurofen with your antibiotics? I take either one as soon as I feel a sore lump (got one at the mo) and it has worked for me since first bout of mastitis. If you're allowed them on top of your antibiotics take them, as they work wonders