Mastitis - large lump not going

[IBelieveInPink]

I have mastitis, been on antibiotics for just over a day now. Just a bit worried as I have a large lump in my boob that isn't going. Does anyone know, does it just take time to reduce? Or does it mean I still have a blocked duct?
I've been using hot flannels, massage and feeding, but it's still there.
Is that normal? Or do I need to clear it? Any suggestions?

Thank you

I'm not very good on the difference. Have you read the info on kellymom or spoken to a BFC?

I've read all the info on kellymom, thank you.

I'm just not sure if it takes a few days for the lump to disappear, or if it means there is still a blockage (which I need to try and clear). Or if there is a blockage, but antibiotics will sort it.
Scared of the very ill feeling coming back, that was horrific!

Know what you mean about not wanting to feel like that, just sorry I can't be of much help. Hopefully this will bump for you though

I had to feed in certain positions - I.e. baby lying on back and me dangling boob in mouth while combing the lump towards the nipple.
I also did the hot and cold compress thing. Had warm showers and hand expressed. Probably took more than a day to shift. It was horrific!

Can you see anything on your nipple like a white dot or blister? That might be where the blockage is

Thank you for the suggestions. I can't see anything like that thats

I'll keep trying then. Just didn't know if it was something I need to try and help go or if antibiotics would clear it... Don't want to make anything worse by doing the wrong thing if you see what I mean.

I had it the other week and was told to massage from the outer breast towards the nipple whist feeding to clear it as the antibiotics itself won't clear an existing blockage.

The old wives remedy is to put a cabbage leaf in your bra!

I presume because it massages you. Probably.

Thank you lemming. That's what I needed to know... I'll keep going!

Appreciate all the input, thank you

Savoy cabbage on for an hour... Some enzymes help clear a blockage.
I has that with my first bout of mastitis and after 2 weeks did the cabbage thing and was magic...

I have a blocked duct and spent half an hour in the shower with a face cloth on it, the shower head over it and massaged it. It's agony to feed through but keep massaging where the lump is while feeding and it should ease off. Mine is an awful lot better than it was this morning anyway

If its a milk cyst you may need to get it syringed (I did)

Hi there

I had recurrent mastitis and the lumps didn't go away after the symptoms of mastitis disappeared. About 2 weeks later my baby head butted one of the lumps on my breast which I think then burst internally, basically it bruised for a few days then puss started seeping through my skin. Sorry to be so graphic.

After 2 courses of antibiotics for mastitis by the emergency GP I was eventually referred to hospital. I was diagnosed with abscesses, one on each breast that I had to have drained, This is what the specialist surgeon told me

The symptoms of mastitis and abscesses are very similar but with an abscess the lump cannot be massaged out, it also cannot be cured with antibiotics, only draining, however the antibiotics will help fight the infection and stop it getting worse.

I told my GP that I had been massaging but the lumps weren't going, instead of prescribing me more antibiotics they should have referred me straight to the hospital.

I think my mastitis may have been caused by over pumping which messed up my flow. Once this was sorted the mastitis never returned and I continued breastfeeding problem free for 2 years.

Hope this helps, maybe discuss this with your doctor if your lump doesn't go and you are experiencing problems.

Good luck

I also had mastitis recently, plus I'm a doctor treating patients with it regularly.
The advice from Iggly and Lemming is good. The antibiotics clear infection, but not a blockage. I found expressing in a warm shower, then using an ice pack for pain relief before feeding DS helpful.
The ideal angle for the baby to feed at is so his bottom lip is over the lump. It's desperately painful, but does help clear the blockage.

X posted with Oblong.
Yes, it could also be an abscess. If so it should be red, hot and shiny. Abscesses take a few days to form and are usually associated with a fever and feeling bloody awful.
If it's an abscess it would need draining.

I don't think it could be an abscess yet. Thing is, the pain in the boob isn't actually horrific. Sore yes, but I'm feeding fine. It was the feeling like I'd been hit by a bus that sent me running to the docs.

Massaging the lump is awkward to get to, unfortunately large boobs are getting in the way and it feels quite deep ????

I will persist, and hope my boob doesn't fall off in the meantime!

Thanks again!

Hope you are feeling better now

Did you get rid of it, OP? I have the same. A very large lump (egg like dimensions) and it's rock hard. It's only painful if it gets knocked and is on the outer edges of the breast, nowhere near the nipple. I've been massaging it, expressed under water in the bath while massaging, trying to feed in ways to help it etc, but it's not gone at all. I'm now on antibiotics for another reason anyway. I had heard about the wide tooth comb so might try that next. I'm also taking ibuprofen for inflammation. I've never seen evidence of a blockage like the white bits on the nipple.

Just curious to know what worked for the OP or anyone else.

Might as well try the cabbage leaf method!

Hi
It's reduced, not gone totally. I'm not entirely sure if whatever I can feel is not supposed to be there?!

It's got smaller with a lot of hot showers, massage, while feeding and expressing. But... I can still feel something there.
Symptoms of mastitis have gone so I will wait until my antibiotics are done and see if I get ill again!

I had similar recently, a quick google told me the breast tissue could still be a bit swollen from the blockage even if cleared. I carried on with plenty of massage and the redness subsided and pain went but that breast felt harder inside for a good week or so. So fingers crossed it is sorting itself out!

Just to repost with both help and a plea for advice.

I was at the BF clinic today and they referred me to the breast surgeon which I could luckily see immediately. He ended up aspirating straight into the lump with a big fuck off needle. A syringe full of pus came out so mine was indeed an abscess. To the OP might be worth getting checked as your lump sounds similar.

Now for the question and apologies for thread hijack. After my lovely procedure, I can still feel a fairly big lump in the same area, but not where the plaster is. Could this be a second abscess in an adjacent lobe? Or damaged tissue around the original abscess? Or the original blockage? Just not sure now whether to try softening and massaging it again or if I need to see the surgeon again. I have a follow up next week but don't fancy yet another week of this.

To update on my own question I ended up seeing the surgeon again today and having the abscess drained again (this time a bloodier amount of pus, guided by ultrasound so he could see what he needed to take out). Apparently it's normal to need several aspirations. Posting in case anyone is searching in the future. I thought I just had a blockage as I didn't have the flu like symptoms of mastitis but I obviously left it for far too long.

Woah, that sounds awful. Hope you are okay now?

I think I'm all clear. All pains and lumps seem to have gone (after a LOT of hot showers and massage). Crossing fingers anyway!