Abscess Sufferers

[mariasmummy]

Hello,

If anyone has experience with an abscess please post me your story. I am 2 weeks post op with a reasonably large wound and I think i am looking at 1-2 months of healing.I cannot breastfeed from the infected breast as hole is so close to nipple and a lot of leaking (either milk or pus or bodily fluids) doctors say don't feed from it, nurses and counselors say do and general asdvice is get the milk out. Most sane people would stop breastfeeding after this but I'm keen to see it through and am feeding baby fine from other breast with occasional top ups. Baby is fine but I wish I had taken care of myself and got to doctors earlier.

All the best,
Mariasmummy

[nicnac73]

Hi Sonsmum. Welcome to Abscess Sufferers. Not the world's best club. So sorry you had such a horrible time.

You are right there should be more awareness. Hopefully we are playing a small part in spreading this awareness. There seems to be a recurring pattern to these stories. Most worryingly, awareness seems to be lacking in the Healthcare system. Lots of us seem to be presenting on more than one occasion before action is taken. An abscess is a ticking time bomb so we need 'prompt' access to a specialist breast doctor, ultrasound and a culture to assess what the bacteria is exactly so the right antibiotic can be prescribed. Of course if we can raise awareness amongst mums this is good too as shouting loud seems to be a requirement of good treatment. Also, the effect this has on BFing makes it really confusing time and more guidance is needed to support us through informed choices.

Sonsmum I understand your trauma of choosing to move on from BFing. In my circumstances it seemed like masochism to continue BFing but still I grieved for it. Of course my DC is oblivious and such a contented little boy now. Now nearly nine months on from that decision, I'm much more philosophical about it. I hope that you too heal well and quickly from the physical and emotional scars.

[mariasmummy]

hello nicnac and new sufferes,

I am so lucky in having returned totally to normal. (well you know what I mean!) Nicnac the lump that you have is probably a post traumatic/surgical/healing wound that sounds fine to me. It will always be senstive but I wander if its the mental effect as well that troubles you and others. HOw can we ever feel 'normal' having a baby is hard enough plus all this.

It breaks my heart reading the new stories and I can't believe what we've all experienced. I talk about it with people I meet and I am sure that once we can get past the guilt of not being able to BF our babies, then we will be fine. Its just the annoying bfcounselors who continue to promote the feeding when you're in hospital or at home recovering from your abscess surgery when you quite literally cannot BF from the affected side- unless the wound is further from the nipple or you are superwoman. And yet all we are told by the counselors is to continue to feed! Well I am sorry but that is just not helpful. It messes with the mind on an uncontrollable level.

I think about the terrifying ordeal and I say to you all new sufferers- you will get through it and you and your baby will be well, physically and emotionally. Be strong.

[nicnac73]

Hi Mariasmummy! Great to hear from you. So glad you are feeling more like 'normal'.

Indeed the broken record - 'just keep feeding mantra' is damned annoying. Can't believe my DS is going to be one in 6 weeks! In many ways Breast feeding seems like a distant memory. I know its a great cliche but time has been a great healer and I think I'm as over it as I can be, the bf guilt that is (hormone levels have subsided which may be something to do with it).

Looking back it feels like I was brainwashed. I remember I had this overwhelming conviction 'I MUST feed my baby' despite the fact that it really wasn't working and we were getting deeper and deeper into a mess. It felt like a life and death decision. Logic had nothing to do with it. I was running on pure emotion.

If I have another baby then I will definitely be taking some serious professional advice about breast feeding with scar tissue inside but at the most I think I would give myself a realistic goal of just giving the colostrum and a bit more. Don't think I could go through it all again emotionally.

BFeeding is such a small percentage of the nutrition in your life. I know its great stuff but its not a bloody magic potion with the alternative being poison. The other day I was shocked when a friend of mine, who went through hell expressing for 6 months, was giving her 11 month old mini cheddars! Now I think I might be overcompensating with an obsessional approach to home made healthy baby food but I had to sit back and think 'get over yourself', humans survive quite well even having had formula or mini cheddars.

[mariasmummy]

hehehahahaha! That is hilarious. I think we are all very conscientious people in all areas of life.

Yes the weaning- again- what to do?! Its like some kind of endless nightmare with all the rules. No salt, no this no that. And yet I go along with it all. When does it become 'fun'? Although I love being a mum to my beautiful girl, I often feel am I doing enough can I do more etc

Are you thinking about next one nicnac? me too! Time does heal and although emotionally a little scarred (and you have physical scarring as well) its not a given that it will re-occur and at least now we are more informed.

:- )

[LiamsMom]

Hey ladies - I know this thread hasn't been active since June, but I'm hoping I might still be able to get some responses.

My story is pretty similar to a lot of the women here. Breastfeeding with a new baby, lump with fever, two rounds of antibiotics with no results, and now I have an abscess. My dr has drained it twice with a needle and has gotten quite a bit of yucky stuff out. I'm hoping to avoid surgery, but my dr said its looking more and more likely since it just keeps filling back up. And its quite large. I'm taking ab, too.

Has anyone here had an experience like mine? Any luck with just drainage with a needle?

There is NO information out there about this, and its worrying me to death. :-(

[Cutlass]

Hi Liamsmom
Have you had a U-sound? If not, insist on this so your doc can assess the situation fully. Hope you can manage with drainage and needle- fingers crossed.

I had emergency surgery on christmas eve (nice) after 12 days unresolved mastitis symptoms and 5 visits to the doctors, where I kept getting told told to go home and see how I feel. No-one seemed to think it was an abscess. I was shocked to find out that because it had been left so long it had become hard and wasn't possible to drain. I really wish I'd asked for an U-S earlier- but as mentioned in this forum already- there seems to be v little awareness about abscess or the potential damage they can cause if not treated promptly.

I am waiting to go to the breast clinic for a follow up appointment tomorrow to assess the damage. Anyone got any suggestions for questions to ask at the appointment? I'm putting together a list based on some of these postings- am realising the importance of being my own advocate in all things medical!

C x

[phoebebouffet]

hi liams mum, can't really help although I did have a needle stuck in mine but I don't think they drained it cos they said I'd have to go to theatre for that and I didn't I did have u/s and they said the abscess was quite small so maybe there wasn't much to drain.

A couple of striking observations about the stories on here are so similar to mine it's unbelievable.

Conflicting advice from dr's and mw's why do dr's say don't bf but mw's say do! From my own experience stopping feeding was the best thing to aid the healing process, although no one ever suggested I feed from one breast, am 30 weeks pg at the moment with no 2 and will attempt it again although fully intend to bf from one breast at the 1st sign of any probs. In actual fact it was always easier and more comfortable from the unaffected breast anyway and ds always preferred the left unaffected one, common sense if you ask me!

[Cutlass]

I have been recovering for the last month with daily then twice weekly packing. I realised last night they FORGOT TO PACK ME at my last appointment as we started talking about another complication and waited for a doctor. I went to A and E this morning as soon as it dawned on me what had happened ( saturday) and they tell me it has healed over already and therre is nothing they can do until Monday. Frustrated, angry and worried. Does this mean they'll have to open me up again?

[bunnyfrance]

Hello ladies, may I join this unfortunate club?

I've been diagnosed, finally, with an abscess after a case of mastitis that has been lingering for almost two months.

It's a bit different for me as I'm not feeding anymore and I'm 12 weeks pregnant, which rather complicates matters.

Had needle aspiration this afternoon and have to go back on Friday to check progress. If there is none, they'll have to operate.

Good to know I'm not alone with this - there seem to be rather a lot of us out there for an affliction that is supposed to be quite rare?!

[nicnac73]

I have not checked this thread for ages. Sad to see others have joined

Had abscess (lots earlier posts on this thread) 18 months ago now. Pg again now. Am thinking about trying to give colostrum a go in the hospital at least but got an appt with the breast specialist I saw before because lots of scar tissue (had a track 8-10 cm which had to be 'gauged out' for 2nd time bcos didn't heal right the first time. Midwife/bf specialist is saying possibly not worth the risk as once the milk comes in highly likely to back up behind scar tissue. Sure as hell don't want to go through that again and quite happy about choice not to bf beyond initial stage this time but a bit sad about prob not being able to give colostrum, which is a shame. Feeling a bit whimsy but generally quite at peace with decision to ff this time.

Cutlass - how bizarre the forgetting to pack your wound? Has it healed Ok now?

Bunnyfrance - how unfortunate and sad that you suffered for so long. 2 months of mastitis followed by abscess That's bad.

[bunnyfrance]

Hi nicnac,

Would be interested to hear what the specialist says about feeding 2nd time round. Congrats on your pregnancy! When are you due?

I was operated on the Saturday after I wrote that message. It all went well, they did an ultrasound of the baby straight afterwards, all good. I've had the nurse come round every day to change the dressing and apparently it's healing well. My wound wasn't packed, though, just left open. It's about 1.5cms across, but apparently quite deep? So I've been told anyway - am going back to the surgeon this afternoon for her to check her handiwork.

I asked them if anything could have been done earlier re the mastitis, and they said no, we had no option but to wait it out and see if it formed an abscess, at which point they could operate. Their theory is that's it's the pregnancy that caused it. I feel so much better now after the operation, have no more pain. But it's not a pretty sight....I'll forever have a hole in my breast. I see it as my badge of motherhood!

[mariasmummy]

Hello lovely ladies! Nicnac yay pg again congrats! And yes how nerve wracking about the feeding. UGH what an emotional mess. What else have the midwives or doctors said about it all? Bunnyfrance am sorry about your situation were you still bf when you got pg? Am trying to figure out your timeline.....I am shocked at no packing why was that?

Nicnac have the docs suggested a return of the abscess with a new pg?

I can't believe there is still no information about abscesses and how scary it is.

[bunnyfrance]

Hi mariasmummy,

Yes, I was still breastfeeding when I got pg - two feeds a day, but not big ones. It was a planned pg, I was hoping to tandem feed...I discovered a lump in my breast a week after finding out I was pregnant. Then followed a biopsy and big cancer scare and was told to wean immediately...I was then 5 weeks pg. After that they decided it was "only" mastitis and to leave it and this went on for two months post-weaning. I'm now 15 weeks pg.

What would the consequences be of not packing the wound? I have no idea why it's not been packed. I'm not in the UK, they may do things differently here?? It seems to be healing quite well, although I have a dent in my boob which I suppose will remain there for life.

[mariasmummy]

Bunnyfrance, where are you? Are you in France hm? Is antenatal good?

Sorry didn't mean to scare you it's just normally with an abscess they pack the wound so it can heal from bottom to top. Maybe it depends on how deep it is and you didn't need packing. Good gosh you have had a mad time of it! Are you coping ok?

Amazing.

[bunnyfrance]

Yes, I'm in France. Antenatal care is excellent, have no worries on that front (see gynae every month, regular scans, toxo test every month etc etc)

They did tell me it would heal from the inside out and the non-packing was done deliberately, it's not as though they forgot.

I coped with the operation and hospital fine. The hard part is that I have hardly given the pregnancy a moment's thought. It'll probably be my last one and I can't even enjoy it. Of course my other big worry is about feeding the next baby. Breastfeeding was such a big thing for me, I really enjoyed it and found it so fulfilling. I couldn't imagine not being able to feed this next one.

Oh, and just to top it all off, I've developed an allergy to the bandaging...all red and itchy, lovely!

[bunnyfrance]

I don't believe it - I've got ANOTHER abscess! Discovered yesterday afternoon during the dressing change. It's about a cm away from the incision site. Rushed off to see the surgeon who did a needle aspiration and am on 10 days antibiotics - pristinamycine.

When will this ever end??!!

[Kittie83]

Hi everybody, so glad to have found this site I know that I'm not the only one! My LO was born on 16/11/2010 about a week later I got mastitis went to the dr who gave me antibiotics. It didn't clear up and instead just got worse. About a week later I started expressing as I couldn't bare it anymore. Went back to dr again it's now been 2 weeks just got more atibiotics. My breast started to look kinda square on the one side but how am I supposed to know what's going on,right. Went back to dr 4 days later, really struggling to express enough milk now! Just gave me more antibiotics. The next day(a Saturday) it burst with tiny little holes.

I went to walk in clinic where dr said I have an abscess and should have been sent to hospital ages ago!! I was taken to ER and then admitted to hospital. The Monday morning dr drained it with needle without anaesthetic. I screamed more than in labour and really have a high pain threshold. That evening when they took the dressing of the skin collapsed and there was a gr8 big hole the size of a 50p about 1cm deep! I was shocked, how could they let it get this far. I ended up staying in hospital for a week and my LO was just about 4 weeks old.

I couldn't even keep her with me as I couldn't pick her up due to the infection! It was horrible and I felt like I was letting her down. It's now 3 months later and it's still not covered by skin! How long is this going to take?? How does it dry out so I can stop dressing it? All I want is a long bath with my LO! My husband gets to shower with her and I'm so jealous!

I must say my hubby has been gr8! He does way more than any of my friends hubby's and I really wouldn't have made it without him! Just wish it could be over!

[bunnyfrance]

Kittie, wow, the treatment you've received is horrifying! You poor thing, it sounds nightmarish. It's a lot to cope with. And having to stay in hospital away from your newborn, how awful. Do you have nurses coming round to change the dressing or are you having to do it yourself?

I don't really know how long it takes to heal - mine took three weeks to close, but then I had had surgery, so it's a bit different from your case.

I just had my second abscess aspirated this morning with ultrasound. Have to be on antibiotics for 3 weeks, but they're quite optimistic they won't have to operate.

Interestingly, the surgeon was saying that she's seeing more and more abscesses at the moment. I wonder why - maybe because more women are breastfeeding, but without the necessary knowledge and support? Just musing here...

[Kittie83]

I agree it's defenatly not something you're told about could happen by any midwives or in antinatal class. I can understand they don't want to frighten people but better safe than sorry!

I haven't had the nurses round for bout 5 weeks now! Nurse at hospital told me if I shower with it open and just lightly dress it with the lyofoam it'll been fine. Been for checkup at breast clinic yesterday and dr's glad it's finally growing some skin. Don't have to go back unless something goes wrong. Glad we have a brand new hospital in peterborough with fantastic breast unit! They have been brilliant!

Bout 4 weeks ago he scraped the whole thing as it was over-granulating and then with some silver nitrate afterwards. There was me crying again and leaving with smudged mascara. Slapped his hand away 3 times,lol!! Glad he didn't have to do anything else. Got betadine gauze on it now which will hopefully dry it out and scab over!

Can't believe you had another one!! I'm terrified of it happening again as this was only my first baby! I guess at least we're some of the few people out there that know what to look out for! Defenatly informing midwife from antinatal classes to warn future mums!

Fingers crossed that you wouldnt need any surgery!

[bunnyfrance]

Good to hear yours is healing slowly, kittie, and that you've got a good team of breast specialists behind you. That is so important. I realise I went to the wrong people initially (a radiologist specialised in cancer, in particular) which didn't help my case.

I've now worn an alcohol-imbibed compress for 5 days and will be taking it off this evening. The abscess has gone down slightly, but that's probably because of the antibiotics. I've now got eczema all over my breast because of the plastic covering of the compress! Gah!

Also had a session of acupuncture yesterday and am taking homeopathic drops to try and boost my immune system. I will do ANYTHING it takes to get rid of this!

[mariasmummy]

Bunnyfrance! Good lord! You are doing so well. UGH why is there not more help out there for this?!! I am so cross for you and for you Kittie.

I believe that for me the abscess started because I did not pump. I had breasts like coconuts adnd because baby fed mostly from one side and I did not know enough about breastfeeding I didn't get the milk out and it all happened very quickly.

I would suggest pumping early on to anyone else who is starting BF. Just get the milk out! It is the cause of the infection. Although your skin rash due to the bandaging is awful Bunnyfrance! I had a lot of itching too. My abscess took 3 months to heal. It was a very slow and painful experience just horrific. I can't believe you had another! I had nurses coming in every day and even twice a day at one point when there was so much leaking fluid from the wound.

I am PG again and TERRIFIED of re-occurance and I aim to pump the second the milk comes in. I will BF as much as possible but I managed 5 months last time. Your health mentally and physically is very important in order to bond with your baby and if you are stressed it will be harder....

Good Luck and carry on being strong.

[Kittie83]

I agree the first advice I will give anyone is get rid of all the milk every time!my mum had so much milk when she had me that she supplied milk for 2 other babies while she was in hospital with me. So I always knew I would have a lot of milk. I though she was drinking it all but was clearly mistaken! The funny thing though was I got the absess in the breast that she was drinking from the most,weird...

I don't know bout you guys but one of the worst thing (other than the pain, obviously) was feeling that we didn't bond properly. Even though everything is fine and LO is amazing I feel we missed out on that skin on skin later. With all the packing,plasters,leeking and pain we missed out on so much! My LO is almost 4 months old and I still don't feel normal! Things are much easier than they were before but still a hassle with dressings and dr's appointments.

Post pregnancy is enough to deal with without all the stuff we went through. We,re about to go on holiday as family doesn't live in uk. We're going to be on the beach and I so don't feel like putting on a swimsuit. During the whole pregnancy I done so well and was already my pre-pregnancy weight a couple of days after LO was born! I was so happy! Now due to lack of exercise (was to painful) and eating too much while staying at home I almost weigh the same as when I was pregnant.

I'm sorry for complaining like this but this whole ordeal just took over everything and nobody really understands. Never thought I would look so forward to a giant scab on my breast but I can't wait!! Mariasmummy I'm sure you know what to look out for this time. When are you due?

[nicnac73]

Hello everyone and mariasmummy my friend from before.

Pg again too mariasmummy! are you copying me? ha ha. Great news. When are you due? I am due end of July.

I have just made personal decision not to bf this time. Midwife has said she is worried about reoccurance after the birth if I bf or even give colostrum in hospital, she doesn't seem worried about reoccurance in pg though. The site of my original abscess was was very deep (8cm in) so lots of scar tissue but of course there are always cases of people who do continue to bf after an abscess or 2nd time around. I just don't want to risk going there and we got on fine ff last time as well. Good on you though mariasmummy for deciding to go for it. I am waiting to see breast specialist who did two of my ops last time but have kind of made my decision anyway.

Can't believe story of Kittie83 and bunnyfrance. Awful, awful, awful. Seems everybody has had quite a different type of aftercare. I suppose very abscess is different but mine only healed the 2nd time through daily packing with ribbon tape. the first time they did it with gel because I couldn't stand the pain of the ribbon tape going in but the gel didn't work and a track was left which reinfected. I also put on loads of weight during the healing process due to being largely immobile because of leaking and pain and also feeling I deserved a daily dose of chocolate cake. Hang on in there guys.

We all have a special kind of badge of motherhood under our clothes.

[bunnyfrance]

Hello ladies,

Good news for once - my second abscess has almost faded to nothing! Thanks to the 18-day course of horse-powered antibiotics, it's now sterile (as shown by the culture they did). What a relief. However, the surgeon did say that she couldn't guarantee it wouldn't come back, possibly even in 20 years' time.

I asked her why the wound wasn't packed - she said the latest protocol was not to pack it, as the thread can be another vector for infection.

Also, she did say something which goes against the grain of what some of you are saying - she thinks it's absolutely vital that I breastfeed this second one...she's convinced it'll help clear everything out. That suits me as I found breastfeeding so fulfilling, but it's such a personal thing, obviously. At least this time I'll know where to go at the slightest hint of a problem.

So there are three of us expecting? Nicnac in July, me in August and mariasmummy when? We should start our own antenatal group "Abscess survivors - not worried about silly things like sagging, just about the huge holes in our boobs..."

[mariasmummy]

Hey guys i am due oct 12th! It wasn't planned So much sooner than I had expected but am pleased as wanted two. I am seeing nurse tomorrow only just 12 weeks so not discussed anything with anyone yet I think was just planning to for it and hope abscess doesnt return but perhaps they will advise me otherwise? We'll see tomorrow. I can totally imagine not doing bf if that is whatvis recommended and I have no desire to go through all that stuff again please god!

Yes! Let's please keep in touch throughout pregnancy and after and check in on each other? X