Painful breastfeeding

[JoeyG]

Hello. I've been breastfeeding for nearly 8 months and after a tough time in the fist weeks it's been fantastic. However a week and a half ago I developed what seemed to be mastitis - I had painful lumps in my right breast and it's been agony while feeding and I've been experiencing pretty much constant pain in that side even when I'm not feeding. (Although I haven't had the feverish or fluey feelings normally associated with mastitis.) I'm now into my second course of antibiotics and the painful swellings inside my breast have finally gone down, however I am still left with a swollen area of the areola immediately around my right nipple which becomes hugely swollen, red and painful during and after every feed. I am strugling to get this diagnosed (I have been into hospital and seen my GP twice) and am in agony - feeding is excruciating and I have a very painful stinging and slightly tingling sensation for several hours after feeding as well as general soreness. Does this sound familiar to anyone? I'm at the end of my tether with it but don't want to give up breastfeeding yet. Can anyone suggest what it might be and how I can help cure it? Thank you!

Oh Joey - that sounds painful! Could it be thrush I wonder? I will go and see if I can look up symptoms? Sorry I can't be more immediate help but I didn't want to leave this unanswered...

You could look on here for some info on it

Contact the NCT who may be able to help. They'll put you in touch with a local breastfeeding counsellor who specialises in everything to do with breastfeeding, whereas your midwife and GP may only know the basics.

bump

Thanks tons for replying - Norma I've looked at the article you attached and it could be. I actually had thush when my baby was newborn which was a nightmare as the doctor wouldn't initially prescribe fluonazole. I can't tell if it's the same as the symptoms are rather different this time (I didn't have the wierd swelling) and my baby doesn't have any evidence of it in her mouth, although it could be. My GP has prescribed thrush treatment for me anyway this afternoon so I'll see if it works! I've also found an NCT councellor that I've phoned but need to call back in the morning - so hopefully that will be helpful. Thanks for the tip Rhubarb.
I was feeling really down about it earlier today so thanks for your replies!

Hey - no worries - I really hope you get it sorted

You know it pees me off sometimes that eveybody is posting like mad on a thing about parking spaces and only two of us have replied to you

Might start a thread (watch out for it!)

What does your GP say about it?

Any chance it's a blocked duct? You've probably already thought of that though. The pain certainly sounds like thrush but I wasn't aware that swelling is one of the symptoms?

Hi everyone. GP has given me the high dose thrush treatment but was a guess more than anything! We both thought it worth a try. However I spoke to the BF concellor this morning and she thinks the stinging tingling pain does sound like thrush (thanks Twinklem - good to hear it from you too) so I feel a lot better knowing that the fluconazole might actually sort it out. She suggested the sweling might be a blocked duct or damaged tissue that's flaring up every time my baby chomps on it! So am sticking to expressing on that side which doesn't seem to cause it to swell up, and that's helping. Hopefully the thrush treatment will work!
Thanks everyone for your help. Am off to look for your rant on parking spaces Norma!

Glad you got it seen to. Hope it feels better soon.