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Original poster

Thread #2 on the subject of my breast! Anyone know anything about augmentin/flucloxacillin and what happens when they don't work?!

70 replies

fastasleep · 05/02/2006 21:07

Look in breast/bottle feeding and you'll find a complete saga about my breast... anyway the short story is...

Came down with fever, big red lines all over breast, went to hospital, got fobbed off, got given augmentin, augmentin didn't work, went back, got very fobbed off, got given flucloxacillin, seemed to work, got one day left of tablets now and the red lines are beginning to come back...

What now?

I'm asking you rather than going to the docs because I need to be armed with info on ABs as last time I was prescribed SUDOCREM by some absolute arse of a doctor when I blatently had a raging infection (lyphangitis type thing)

OP posts:
spacecadet · 05/02/2006 22:26

actually reading your post again, if you have had amoxicillin a lot in the past, you may have built up a tolerance to it, so may be a good idea if you have another as chapsmum suggested erythromicin, again only small quantities cross over to milk or cephalexin.

chapsmum · 05/02/2006 22:26

ps there is amoxicillin in augmentin so this wont work!

Aero · 05/02/2006 22:27

sorry - greenish fleck was on my nipple. Should have explained properly.

spacecadet · 05/02/2006 22:28

augmentin is a varient of amoxicillin, but amoxicillin alone will sometimes work where augmentin hasnt.

chapsmum · 05/02/2006 22:33

Augmentin depending on the dose is amoxicillin and clavulanic acid , is it not usually the other way about, augmentin will work where amoxicillin hasnt?

Aero · 05/02/2006 22:36

That's what I thought chapsmum. In ds1's case when he had pneumonia a few years ago, augmentin worked when amoxycillan hadn't, because of the extra ingredient. That was how it was explained to me in the hospital.

Original poster
fastasleep · 05/02/2006 22:51

Lol! A poultice, hydrogen peroxide....isn't that like bleaching my nipple?! Youch!

I can't afford to dump the milk from it for too long but for a week I could get away with it...

Do you think IV anti-biotics would be the answer? Just since one nurse said I should go straight on an IV and the rest said ridiculous sudocremey things it's had me wondering!

OP posts:
chapsmum · 05/02/2006 22:54

really sound like you dont need IV antibiotics, these ar for peopl who are unwell, by this I mean high temp dehydrated etc.
Possibly you have a collection of pus which needs to bve either draw or drained. Some gp surg would do this, but given the position of it sound like a referral to a breast clinic wouldnt go a miss. Am going to read your other thread for a description... hold on

spacecadet · 05/02/2006 22:58

augmentin is amoxicillin with an extending agent which means that it will last longer in the body, but is not a more powerful dose as far as i know.

spacecadet · 05/02/2006 23:02

i do hope that you get this sorted though as it sounds like a miserable scenario.

chapsmum · 05/02/2006 23:03

SPace cadet the extending agent makes it more)not less effective than just amo alone) it comes in 625 dose which would make it equaly as strong as amox.
Indications: infections due to beta-lactamase-producing strains (where amoxicillin alone not appropriate) including respiratory-tract infections, genito-urinary and abdominal infections, cellulitis, animal bites, severe dental infection with spreading cellulitis

From bnf

chapsmum · 05/02/2006 23:05

fastasleep you up to some more questions??
Does there seem to be a focalpoint of infection, or is the most painful thing the red lines??
If there is a focal point it could just be that you have a collectionof pus. If you just have the red lines you prob need a high and aggressive dose of antibiotics for lyphangitus.

Ideaally either way I would be demanding a referral to a breast clinic tommorow.

Aero · 05/02/2006 23:11

This explains the extending agent in augmentin nicely. Thanks Spacey - I didn't know what exactly the 'extra ingredient' did, but I do now.

spacecadet · 05/02/2006 23:15

the dreaded bnf! if i ever get prescribed anything i look up the side effects to see if its still worth taking!
chapsmum, im not a doctor! but ive known the doctors to give amoxicillin in a more poweful dose, after trying augmentin(dont ask why), the extending agent stops the amoxicillin in the drug from being destroyed by certain types of bacteria, therefore, yes it makes it more effective but doesnt mean that the dose of amoxicillin is higher(if that makes any sense)

Aero · 05/02/2006 23:17

Makes sense to me spacey as amox comes in different strengths.

spacecadet · 05/02/2006 23:18

im only a lowly nurse>

chapsmum · 05/02/2006 23:20

Spacey, know the sorts of situations your referring too, usually if amox is given IV of in 3g sachets for those infections!
On the whole though i'm sure you would agree that the next line of treatment for community aquired infection (where clarythromycin was not suitable) would be erythromycin or a cephlosporrin, not amoxil?
It very late, but I'm sure we're saying the same thing here, and by the way what do you think of my poultices what was the last one you used in surgical??

chapsmum · 05/02/2006 23:22

I'm only a lowlye nurse too (flys way wearing her underpants over her scrubs ( have never claimed to be anything else) thought all we nurses were super hero's.
Just a different background from you spacy!

spacecadet · 05/02/2006 23:36

well i would guess that the gp may try erythromicin or possibly cephalexin?
i agree with you though that fastasleep should be referred, she shouldnt be left trying to soilder on like this.ive got to be honest and say that i have never used a poultice on the wards!

spacecadet · 05/02/2006 23:40

lol chapsmum, i seem to have spent more time having children though than working, i actually trained as a RMN, and then converted to adult nursing when i couldnt hack mental health anymore, i wasnt full time, i did twilights and the bank shifts at weekends, either on my ward, or usually on gynae or urology.

spacecadet · 05/02/2006 23:44

what line of nursing where you in chapsmum?

Original poster
fastasleep · 05/02/2006 23:59

The lines hurt most, and my armpit... it's getting slowly worse but my armpit isn't noticeable till I press down on it whereas before it was just agony and my temp was up and I was dehydrated, so I spose the nurse was right at the time lol...

Breast clinic, I've never actually heard of a breast clinic! But I'll make sure to ask...

Grr if I feel like utter poo tomorrow may have to cancel my charity shop binge with MTS (totally fed up with this ruining my life!)

OP posts:
Original poster
fastasleep · 06/02/2006 00:00

What would they do at the breast clinic? Slightly nervous now lol

OP posts:
spacecadet · 06/02/2006 00:06

i can honestly say that i dont know what they would do, certainly nothing alarming dont panic, but they do need to find out whats going on, go and see your gp asap.

Levanna · 06/02/2006 02:15

Hi fastasleep, I'm sorry to read that you are still unwell!

I think it might be an idea to take a trip back to hospital (poss. ante/post natal dept.) or try calling to speak with their lactation consultant or infant feeding co-ordinator. Hope and LWH have them, or did.
I'm sure either would be astounded to hear of the sudocream incident!

Either would have more experience of breastfeeding issues and might be able to liase at least with other hospital staff to get you well, once and for all.

Since the first time around (when I was told by GP to go to a&e to have my breast lanced and to stop breastfeeding immediately I only had extremely mild mastitis!), I've tended to avoid G.P's where breastfeeding's concerned and gone straight to the people who tend to know what they're dealing with.

If you think you might go ahead and call, I could give you the number of the infant feeding co-ordinator/lactation consultant at my local hospital. I did my La Leche training with her, she's a lovely lady and I'm sure would be able to advise of who to ask for by name at one of your local hospitals, I think they link up quite regularly to network across the wider area.

HTH and that you're well again soon