Help!!!!! So painful all of a sudden!!!!!

[Lua]

Right these things always happens to me on the weekend when no GP is available!!!
Could the wise MNmums help me figure out what is going on?
Started last night. one side of one Breast really sore. shooting pains, burning sensation. Noticed this morning nipple very red, and triangle red parch on the sore side of nipple/breast. Now I am in agony! Remember the curly toe feeling of the first week? Multiply by 5! That's how it feels when DS (who is 2 months)latches on!
mastitis? yeast? how can I tell? What can I do???

hi everybody, thank for all your comments! - have an appt at 12. The reddness has gone down and the lump is smaller, but since i squezzed and got stuff out decided was better to get checked out...
Polybee, I think you are into something... DS recently started sleeping more, and I was definetely getting a bit engorged. The lump is on the side that I sleep on the whole night (while I face the crib..). But I also have been wondering about his latch... He is a huge boy and latches well on its own so I haven't been paying too much attention, However, now that I did I notice he has been pulling off a lot and making slurpy sounds, maybe I am giving too much milk?

Right so substitute GP did the predictable thing: prescribed penicillin without looking... I told him I didn't think it was effective, wranled and got cephalexin. Than ask, so do i really need to take or will it resolve on its own? He then, proceed to exmine completely embarassed. Decided I still needed it, but was confuse when I mentioned blocked ducts, said mastitis is only on the skin, and that squeezing the lump is a good thing....
What do you all think? It is getting better. Should I wait or take the antibiotic?
Have heard some grizzly stories of babies developing diarhe and rashes form it...

My DS does that slirpy thing - i think sometimes the milk just flows a bit fast for them!!!!
I had mastitis 8 times with DS2 (have had it once with DS3) tbh - i think things like the side you lay on etc can have an effect - especially if you are laying on an engorged breast for some of the night!!! Massage the whole breast (especially the lumpy bit) everytime you feed and express inbetween if you get engorged.
Anti-biotics never affected DS2 (no sickness or upset stomach)
I was told to try the massaging and hot and cold flannels to ease the pain for 24 hours - if it didnt work - then antibiotics.
Have you got a temperature or aching anywhere else??

apparently Drs are too quick to give anti - biotics. Basically mastitis is when the breast gets engorged and milk leaks from the duct into the breast tissue - the body THINKS it is an infection and trys to fight it - but it isnt ACTUALLY an infection (this is what my MW tells me anyway)
I always used to get antibiotics straight away with DS2 - this time i followed the MW's advice and didnt need them - good luck

tessie -thanks for your comments. I haven't had any fever, knock on wood. I read about the 24 hour rule somewhere too. Its been 48 hours, but it is getting better - which is why I am tempted to give a few more days instead of starting the antibiotics right now.
I'll keep my fingers crossed you and I are done with lumps and mastitis!

Mastitis CAN be an infection and if left untreated or not treated properly can lead to an abscess. Is your HV any good with breast feeding? Mine is excellent but I know some are hopeless Your Dr sounds like he/she doesnt know wot they are doing!How can they not look at your breast and still give antibiotics?! When gp did look did they give a thourough check or just a quick poke? As for anti biotics effecting DS only a tiny bit can get thru, nothing to worry about. I have been on and off anti biotics since I had a breast abcess and only a couple of times has it made DS's poo a little off colour/runnier than usual! I wont attempt to do a link so cos I cant seem to do it Copy and paste this into address bar.
www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/en.asp?TopicID=303&AreaID=718&LinkID=321
Some info on mastitis, have a look under the treatment section aswell. Its hard to say if you should take the medication or not cos I dont know wot ur breast looks like!!Is the affected area hot?Well hotter than the unaffected breast? I would contact your HV or is there and local breastfeeding support group? Good luck

icklelulu, GP barely looked, poked it...
He said mastitis is a skin infection... don't think he is right....
On saturday the whole side of the breast was red, and very sensitive to touch, but today except from when DS is feeding I feel fine. The lump is still there though, although much smaller. Did you abcess feel like a lump, or is it deep inside?
thanks for your help!

By the time I had found out I had an abscess most of my boob was a solid lump.Normally and abscess starts deep within the breast but I have quite big boobs so its not very easy to find lumps early on! Mastitis developing into an abscess is very rare but it can happen. I would get someone else to have a look at it for you, call ur HV. Wot is she like? If the redness has gone now it is unlikely to be mastitis becuse it normally spreads when it is. Keep massaging the lump. Is it east to get to when DS is feeding? That it the best time to massage.Have you looked at the nhs site? Lalecheleague are also good. When u feed does it just hurt with let down or throughout the feed?

Thanks for that Icklelulu. Mine must be than just a blocked duct. I did leave a message with HV, but have to say I haven't been terrible impressed with her so far. I did check the NHS web page, thanks for the link. I am almost 100% convinced it is just a block due to soem engorgement and pressure, but would be really nice to get someone that knows these things to have a look and make sure is not thrush or something else. Will check for some NCT help around here.
Thanks again for everybodys support

If it was thrush there would most likely be white patches in babies mouth. Try keeping your bra off for a while or sleeping with it off. Not very helpful with leaky boobs but it can help with both mastitis and blocked ducts. If u choose to sleep without a bra put towel in bed so not to wake in a puddle of milk Let us know how it all goes

Keep feeding or expressing if possible, unless taking anti-biotics, sounds like a blocked duct, but this can lead to infection if left, try showering it, and massaging it and other ideas suggested. Phone NHS direct for more medical support or local NCT councillor, who is specifically trained in these things. Mastitis may cause whiteness on baby's tongue and mouth but not always, if it does then baby will need treatment too. How do you feel otherwise? Hope it's sorted soon

Also, relook at position, you may have got into a bad habit, as you've become more experienced and correcting that may be the long term solution.
Best Wishes

Aargh! First lump is ok, but got another lump!!!
Still no fever, no more redness - It really must be something to do with position.
Will phone NCT - thanks for the tip!

What position are you feeding in?

Bump for lanismum