Breast abscess 3 weeks in advice *pic incl*

[gingernut00]

Just that. I suspected mastitis a week ago as I had a spotty rash over my engorged and v painful breasts, but I also had hives all over my abdomen and legs (post natal hives) so wondering if it was just that. It cleared up but one breast remained very painful!

It's agony now to touch, can't wear a bra or have even fabric touch it. It's got a large red patch and is super tender. Hand expressing as I'll scream if I put baby on (nipple also cracked and not healed from initial bad latch).

Saw out of hours GP early this morning as I couldn't sleep with the pain. He said he thinks it's an abscess and gave me Amox500 and advised co-codomal but sparingly as not good when BF, otherwise paracetamol and ibuprofen.

Having read through stories on here is this the correct treatment? I'm feeling horrifically dizzy and keep having shivering spells (no fever though!!). Also am anxious to take co-cocodomal, NHS advises against it? Can barely walk around as heavy boob is so so painful and i'm so dizzy!

Gosh that sounds so bloody awful.

I found the BFN to be very good when I was prescribed drugs whilst BFing. Here's what they have to say about Codiene.

Kellymom have this to say about Abcesses.

Hope you have a speedy recovery

I really feel for you, I've had this 3 times!! At the worst I had puss leaking from my nipple, the antibiotics will help but I personally wouldn't take the painkillers while BF. As painful as it is you need to keep feeding, and expressing, preferably a manual or electric one if you can so you can get more out than by hand. Everytime baby feeds start them on the bad side then move to the other. Also, massage the area as much as you can (painful yes but you want to break it up, and shower hold the hose on the bad area as warm as you can and then use a wide tooth comb and push along from the inside towards the nipple and try and drain it. Then alternate cold and hot compress, ice packs will be your friend. Try sleep as much as you can too!

It will be very very painful & makes you feel really unwell but it will pass. Take care xx

Warmth and massage are no longer recommended treatment for mastitis. The BFN leaflet linked gives details.

They may not be recommended but having had it 3 times in the last few years it definitely works!

thanks @Catmama123 & @PinkMimosa. Those links are super helpful. Deffo won't take the co-codomal. I did when I got home this morning before I googled and now freaking out I bit!

My main worry is wondering if AB's are enough or it should be drained as well - seems like so many on MN get drained!

Fever now, temp is 39.1 - is this a normal reaction? GP so useless at info!

Jesus christ you poor thing. I've had that too, it's so awful. If no improvement after 24 hours on antibiotics then I'd call the doctor again. I never had to have mine drained but I do vividly remember sitting in the bed with a really high temp and my head swimming, expressing green pus into a towel. Super fun. I was fine 24 hours later though, it can clear up fast. Good luck!

No advice but that looks so sore, hope it eases for you soon. Xx

Ooo you poor lass, it’s a very long time since it happened to me but I remember the pain well! Have some paracetamol to keep your fever down a bit, and make sure you are having extra fluids. Hope it starts easing up for you son.

I'd go back to your GP tomorrow if they're open and if you can ask that long.

Lots do get drained. You may need an ultrasound

I might as well have pissed in the wind as take antibiotics. 4 tablets 4 times a day for a week. That was 2g of antibiotics per day! Absolutely brutal. GP sent me back to maternity op, they wouldn't drain but tried to admit via surgical team, but couldn't bring baby and was bf. Maternity wouldn't admit me with baby as I'd be a surgical outlier in the maternity ward.

Eventually a lovely registrar in surgical intake (direct referrals from GP) drained it for me. Over 100mls of grim.

I cannot tell you how painful that abscess was and even now, 4 years on I have no idea how I got through it with a newborn. Get yourself back to a GP/A&E or wherever until someone helps you!

I really hope you feel better soon ❤️

How many weeks postnatal are you? Are you in the UK? If you are, and <6 weeks postnatal call your Maternal assessment unit for advice. It sounds like you need IV antibiotics. Just tell them you've started oral bit feeling very unwell with a temperature and not getting better.

I'm a midwife and we regularly see women in MAU with this issue. It looks very bad to me. Hope you feel better soon!

I had infective mastitis and then a breast abscess. Absolutely unbelievable pain and robbed all enjoyment of new motherhood. I found midwives and hv utterly useless and useless some more.

I saw my GP who took a look, phoned the local private hospital to see if a breast surgeon had a clinic. They did. I went straight there a wonderful man drained it and because I has been taken in Hook line a sinker by the breast is best/every woman can feed brigade, had a drainage tube strapped over my shoulder for two weeks draining pus. Every time I saw him, he told me to stop. After about 10 days my nipples were still so sore I called the NCT. They recommended an industrial pump type thing. The pump lady came with it, took one look at me and marched to the chemist and bought bottles and aptamil. Showed me what to do and how to sterilise and visited me every day for three days.

The baby stopped crying, I felt better. It would have taken one midwife to turn it round weeks and weeks earlier. But rather than be realistic they eschewed the mantra.

Get yourself expert clinical help op. Motherhood is based on far more than breast feeding. My 29 year old doesn't remember me failing to breastfeed. He remembers his favourite dinners, first try, first graze, broken bones and broken hearts. And his mum being there. Every time.

Get well and enjoy your time with your baby.

Also make sure you're taking ibuprofen regularly!

How are you doing OP?

Thanks so much for replies! Really helpful.
@WAC1 thanks - was a rough night but fever was gone by morning, breast ever so slightly less angry (I was able to wear a loose fitting bra today!) but redness has spread, don't know what's normal?

Any ideas how long it will take for the antibiotics to clear it? I think I can feel the abscess myself now and if I'm right it feels massive, but antibiotics obviously doing something as not in agony all day.

Honestly, I think if you have an abscess you need to be seen again. An abscess needs draining, not just antibiotics. www.nhs.uk/conditions/breast-abscess/#:~:text=A%20breast%20abscess%20can%20form,but%20this%20is%20less%20common.
Like I said, if you're recently post delivery you can do this through MAU! Hope you get better soon!

When I had an abscess like that I had it drained and was in hospital for almost a week!

Please go back to your gp you poor thing!

Are you seeing the GO today @gingernut00?