Thrush or milk bleb pain??

[Mumofboys35]

Hello, I’m new here but really hoping someone can help! I have been having excruciating pain in one breast which comes on around 15 mins after feeding and can last for a couple of hours. Weirdly it’s not after every feed and it’s only on one side. After spending hours on Google I came to the conclusion it was ductal thrush and doctor prescribed fluconazole. I initially had 3 days followed by 6 days worth a week later as I still had the pain. I’m now on day 7 of the third lot of tablets and still have the pain. I’m starting to wonder if it is thrush. Baby has no white patches in his mouth, his tongue is sometimes a little white but that fades.
I don’t have any lumps/hardness/engorgement or redness or feeling hot so it’s not mastitis.
i do however have several milk blebs/blisters on the nipple which have been there for a couple of months now, I am wondering if it’s something to do with them. I have tried the sterile needle trick but didn’t get anywhere. I think baby damaged the nipple from having a poor latch at the start. His latch is fine now as I’ve had this checked.
I am literally at my wits end and really want to
keep feeding as have made it to 6 months and was hoping to go to 12. I have tried speaking to the doctor but they have no idea and just Google symptoms!
please if someone could help I would really appreciate it! 🙏🙏

Have you spoken to a BFC on one of the BFing Helplines @Mumofboys35?

They might have some better information and offer more support than Google

This is good advice. Speak to a lactation consultant or breastfeeding expert. That sounds like a bad latch to me but without seeing your baby feed it's just a guess - I had thrush and the pain was toe curling when baby latched rather than after feeding. Also, my baby had very obvious thrush in his mouth, a very noticeable white coating on his tongue and roof of mouth.

I have been in contact with a breastfeeding support worker In my area but she is on annual leave at the moment, although she wasn’t overly helpful either! I will try and call the helpline tomorrow if I get the chance between school runs and naps. Thanks.
In meantime if anyone else has had something similar to me would appreciate the help 🙏🤞🏻

Schoolsweats, it is painful when baby first latches for a minute or so and then ok for rest of feed 🤷🏻‍♀️

I have been in contact with a breastfeeding support worker

Do you know what their qualifications are? Ideally you need some support from a BFC or Lactation Consultant. If she isn't either of those I'd try to find support elsewhere.

The BFing Helpline numbers are here and the details if the BFing Support Groups are here.

Hope you find out what is causing your pain soon

I had this a while back- absolutely excruciating. I went through everything it could be- blebs, mastitis, thrush, the lot. I'm a breastfeeding peer supporter and I asked my whole group.
In the end it was latch (he'd done 16 months with no issue by then, i really didn't think it could be)

He'd got certain teeth comjng through and totally changed his latch for about 4 weeks.

We were taught 95% of breastfeeding problems are caused by either positioning, latch or both. I got complacent and thought I had it nailed after so.long feeding but I went back to basics and that helped.

I hope the consultant can help you when she's off annual leave. In the meantime I'd really advise starting from scratch with different positioning and read back over how to help a good latch as if you were learning it for the first time.

Good luck OP x

Ogdens that’s interesting, I had no idea it could
be from latch. Can that really cause pain for hours after feeding? Will definitely get it looked at and start again with positioning. Although it’s getting harder with the bigger baby gets as he’s very tall!
thanks for all replies so far, really appreciate it. Wish I’d asked on here sooner as this has been going on for months now!