mastitis-help please

[motherearth]

ok so im fully bf my 11 mth ds1.(Decided to try and cut daytime feeds recently ).I am making more milk than ever and have now got mastisis in one side.I feel like im in a visious circle.If i cut a feed which he is happy to do,i get so completely engorged i just have to feed him or express-hence i have oodles of milk and want to have less.
I do want to carry on bf,but really morning ,evening and night if pos.I was managing 8-4 quite comfortably, but i must have given in to a growth spurt or something, because i am suddenly so full again.i know should just leave well alone, but now i have mastitis i know i should feed as much as pos to help get rid if that.So now i feel i am back to square one.Sorry to be so waffly but i1m so mixed up.Ds1 is on 3 solid meals a day and on a dairy free diet.Was happily expressing 10-12 ozs at work during day (just once at lunch )and recently could drop that too if i was busy.
Any tips on how to get rid of mastisis and reduce my daytime supply would be appreciated.I have a prescription for antibiotics.

Sympathies about the mastitis. I breastfed both my sons and got at 3 times with 1st and twice with second.
To ease the pain I found alternating a very hot flannel with an icey cold one on the breast. I lay in the bath to do this and had a bucket of icey water and a bowl of hot water with a flannel in both. Keep the flannel on the breast until it goes cool/warms up depending on which you are using and keep alternating it for as long as possible. It really should relieve the discomfort quickly.
Can't really advise on other issue but hope that helps

Thanks Starry,
am looking forward to having a soak in the bath this evening and trying your suggestion-sounds good.Would love to go now but with 3 children its a distant evening luxury !!

hello motherearth - i have had mastitis with both my ds1 and ds2. if you don't want to take the antibiotics because of fear of it being in the breastmilk i found homeopathic remedy 'phytolacca' from weleda (most health food shops should have it)worked. i was at the end of my tether as i had antiobiotics twice before and found out about it through word of mouth. hot flannel soaked in chamomile tea also helped and most of all savoy cabbage is the quickest way to drain the blockage (store in fridge) i used it when my milk came in and i was engorged and my midwife told me it would reduce my milk supply. plus lots and lots of rest.

Have just recovered from mastitis recently and treatment for me on this occasion required antibiotics (had fever and other symptoms). Sounds like you need sorting out quickly before it gets to this stage. I suffer from blocked ducts regularly (am still trying to work out the main cause). Fast self help measures should help. Am going to try and insert a link now - hope it works. mastitis and breastfeeding
If not, sorry, am a techno-phobe really!! There is also a supporterline though on 0870 900 8787.
In the past with ds1 and dd I just felt engorged for a day or so when dropping feeds, then it seemed to sort itself out until I needed to drop another one. I think I may have expressed a little to relieve pressure at the time but not to drain the breast. Sorry if this sounds a bit garbled! Hope it's feeling better and settled soon though.