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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

Please help doc and HV have different opinions but I'm in pain!

19 replies

tristalewjac · 22/05/2009 20:22

Hi, I just need some advice if anyone can help me, I'm getting pretty desperate here.
I have deep and very sore breast pain, both boobs. Not near nipples at all, right back and around the sides.
I saw doc about it a week and a half ago and she gave caneston thinking it was external thrush. Didn't help at all.
HV on tuesday was ace. She said no point using caneston as it's internal not external and to try techniques to rule out blockages, ie hot shower, massaging etc and if nothing worked she said she strongly suspected deep rooted thrush. She advised me to go to doc today and pass on her thoughts, so they could give me tablets to get rid of thrush.
Ok so I tried all the techniques and my boobs are still in agony. You'd never know to look at them. There are no external signs. But even just putting my arms at my sides is agony. If anything at all puts pressure on them it's awful.
So I went to doc today. He had a quick glance at one boob, and said it's due to poor drainage and prescribed co-codamol.
I told him HV had said she thinks thrush and he said it couldn't possibly be thrush without any external symptoms.
He refused to consider thrush and said take the co-codamol.
I argued that pain relief will do only that, relieve pain, not treat the problem. So he gave me a script for antibiotics.
I've taken one but am starting to think that it's a wrong move, carrying on. I had a glance on-line and have read that if HV is correct and it is thrush, then anti-B's might make it worse.
Can anyone offer any advice? As I said I've already taken 1st of antibiotics course, so would I be silly to stop, or silly to carry on?

OP posts:

mumblecrumble · 22/05/2009 20:30

bump

thisisyesterday · 22/05/2009 20:30

if it's thrush then you need fluconazole.

many gp's are reluctant to prescribe this as it isn't licensed for use with breastfeeding women.
the gp who prescribed it for me rang our maternity ward and asked them and they ok'd it

that said, the pain doesn't sound like the thrush i've had, but perhasp it's more severe.
when I had it it was really like shooting pains, and although I got it between feeds it certainly wasn't constant

mastitis? perhaps?

it might be worth calling one of the breastfeeding hotlines and seeing what they say

mumblecrumble · 22/05/2009 20:33

Hello!

Have bumped for you so the wise ones see this...

Does sound like internal thrush....

May I suggest you see/call a breastfeeding expert. Do you have any groups near you so they could see you? Or call la leche league to see if anyone nearby.? Or get second GP opinion.

I was advised that codiene could reduce supply. Please check this.

Poor you! So sorry.

AnarchyAunt · 22/05/2009 20:33

It sounds to me like your HV knows more about BF than the doctor!

I'd go back and demand to see a different GP, take some information about thrush, maybe see if the HV can speak to the doctor and explain why she suspects deep rooted thrush?

Kellymom has some good information.

Personally I would not take the antibiotics - I don't understand wy they were prescribed? Does the doc think you have an infection or were they simply a placebo (v bad practice if so)?

Original poster

tristalewjac · 22/05/2009 20:40

thankyou for quick replies
anarchyaunt - I think he gave me antibiotics to shut me up to be honest. I hounded him to treat me properly not just fob me off with painkillers. Used bank holiday as an excuse, and the fact that I couldn't cope with no treatment til Tuesday. He wouldn't consider thrush, so just wrote me script for antibiotics.
I think I'll stop taking them and wait to talk to HV on tuesday. At least I can keep myself reasonably sane in the meantime with the painkillers!

OP posts:

thisisyesterday · 22/05/2009 20:43

def ring one of the hotlines, there will be someone to answer them. in fact, ring one NOW!

if you're lucky enough to have an nhs walk-in centre or something like that nearby someone there can prescribe fluconazole, or whatever else you may need.

Original poster

tristalewjac · 22/05/2009 20:46

can anyone recommend which helpline to ring? there seem to be a few.

OP posts:

LupusinaLlamasuit · 22/05/2009 20:54

Be sure to rule out blocked ducts completely though. It can take 3-4 days to clear even with massage etc...

liath · 22/05/2009 20:54

You can buy fluconazole over the counter, don't tell the pharmacist you're BF just say you have thrush.

Original poster

tristalewjac · 22/05/2009 21:00

Pain in the breast that is ?shooting? or ?burning? in nature and which goes through to the mother?s back and shoulder. This pain is usually worse toward the end of the feeding, and worsens still more after the feeding is over. It also tends to be much worse at night. This pain may occur without any nipple pain.

Unusually pink or red nipples

I cant believe that doc now after reading this. Thanks for the link, I got the info from it.
My nips are bright pink, I'd been wondering why they'd changed colour

OP posts:

thisisyesterday · 22/05/2009 21:01

liath, the amount is not the same as they prescribe for breast thrush. you need a stronger dose for much longer

personally I would call La Leche League

wuglet · 22/05/2009 21:02

Sounds like your GP (like most sadly) was fairly uninformed about BF.

Most of what you say does sound like thrush although the fact it is so painful to touch your breasts wouldn't fit with my (own personal) experience.

You tend to need a longer course then just the one-off dose you can buy otc.

There is a BFN leaflet for GPs - will try and find it......

AnarchyAunt · 22/05/2009 21:04

I'd ring LLL for advice then ring the out-of-hours service and ask for appropriate treatment.

Good luck.

wuglet · 22/05/2009 21:05

here - print it off and take it with you.

lilymolly · 22/05/2009 21:07

if it is ductal thrush, you need a loading dose of fluconazole of 150mg for the first day, then 10 days of 100mg
Plus dactarin cream for nipples and nystatin oral drops for baby.

GP will prob not prescribe the fluconazole, but I kicked off and got the consultant at the hospital to prescribe it thanks to the breast feeding co ordinator who persuaded her to rx it for me.

Good luck x

fishie · 22/05/2009 21:08

trista, re who to call.. i found it depends on who is active in your area. in mine (east london) it was bf network. i tried nct and got someone in scotland who was very nice but couldn't come to observe, which was what i needed.

Original poster

tristalewjac · 22/05/2009 21:16

thankyou so much for your replies, you have really helped. After reading from the link from wuglet (thanks) I am now convinced it's thrush.
I will fight my case and try for the fluconazole.
I'll have to last with painkillers until the surgery (and chemist) open again after the bank holiday.

OP posts:

thisisyesterday · 22/05/2009 21:27

you can ring the out of hours service though, for treatment, or go to a walk-0in centre if there is one nearby.

mrsdisorganised · 22/05/2009 21:33

I had horrendous internal thrush with dd4 and like you was only prescribed canesten which did nothing. After battling the bouts of thrush until dd4 was 9 months I finally gave up bf'ing (usually have bf until at least 15 months) devestated! Have only recently found out about Flucanozole and feel a bit cheated that my gp didn't give it to me! Hope you sort it out soon, my sympathies with you as it is agony.x

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