Mastitis- please please any advice?

[whiterabbity]

I’m suffering extremely from mastitis. On Monday evening I felt very unwell and breast slightly sore. Tuesday- rock hard, red agony. Got antibiotics from gp. It’s now like baby is trying to pull glass through my nipple, I was writhing earlier and I think I cracked a tooth at the back from gritting my teeth too hard. My breast is about 3x the size of the other, Red but no discernible lumps. Absolute agony. Tried warm shower and comb/ massage- nothing came out. Tried hand expressing, nothing apart from a few drops. 10 mins of pumping for about 5ml out, would usually get at least 50. Have managed to feed Dd on it but didn’t relieve pain or swelling. Have tried cabbages. I feel awful. Does anyone know what I should do? I’m begging. I tried to call health visitor this afternoon but couldn’t get hold of her.

I think in this case I’d call 111 for advice - I hope you get better soon

If it's that bad, get antibiotics asap. Contact 111 or your GP's out of hours no.

Currently have hot water bottle on it (in cover).

Get Drs asap

I have never felt so unwell than I did with mastitis

I have antibiotics @PollyPhonic

Do you have a milk bleb/blocked duct? Is nothing coming out of your boob at all?

can the dr do anything if I have antibiotics @DifferentChoicesTooLate? I’m so grateful for the replies

Have you done the cold Savoy Cabbage leaves thing? I swear that actuality worked for me.

Sorry just saw you’ve got antibiotics

Hot shower and massage your boob try to unblock.

@NoweverytimeIgoforthemailboxwell DD did feed twice on that boob today but obviously I don’t know how much. Pumping got 5ml as opposed to 50 + and hand expressing/shower with massage and comb got nothing.

When did you start the antibiotics, was that Tuesday?

I’d call the GP or 111 if you’re still feeling unwell, I wouldn’t bother with the HV. I’d also be careful about massaging and comb - I ended up with much more painful breast because I bruised it doing that.

Put a warm compress on before feeding. Use warm water in a nappy - it holds the warmth and doesn’t drip everywhere, just fill it until it doesn’t absorb more and tip the excess water away.

Oh I’m sorry my suggestions are rubbish as seeing your updates!

I’ve done the shower and cabbages @WonderingWanda@DifferentChoicesTooLate. Thank you both for the advice though , I really appreciate anyone trying to help 💜

@whiterabbity It will get better but my goodness it’s the worst thing so all I can do is send loads of sympathy.

Make sure you have taken some paracetamol

@ShesTheAlbatrossTuesday but admittedly evening by the time it was ready. I’m thinking of trying gp in the morning. Thanks for nappy advice, will try.

Thank you @DifferentChoicesTooLatex

Okay, then keep necking the antibiotics and you should feel better by morning. In the meantime icepacks on the boob - packet of frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel if you don't have official icepacks.

Do you have stronger painkillers than just paracetamol? Paramol is the strongest you can get otc, so if you have a dh or other person at home, send them to the out-of-hours pharmacy pronto.

It is horrible - I had it repeatedly with dc3, having not had it at all with the older two. But if you take the antibs it should calm down within 24 hours at the latest. If it doesn't, then call 111 or out of hours for sure.

This is the path mine took when it turned into an abscess. Don’t recommend. If you aren’t seeing improvements after a day or so of antibiotics and it’s getting worse, I’d get on to 111. They needed to change the antibiotics I was on and drain it.

So 48 hours? Are you feeling better in yourself? I had it a couple of times and felt like absolute shit with a fever and totally exhausted and shaky. The antibiotics made that better but the breast pain lasted a bit longer.

You’ve got great advice up thread, one thing I tried was called “feeding round the clock” where baby was on the floor and I dangled my boob over her at a 12 o’clock position, then 3,6 and 9 o’clock. To try and unblock it. Sympathies.

@doodleschnoodlethis is my concern as I’ve had them for 48 hours and it’s getting worse. Can I ask did you feel an abscess before they did?I can’t feel one in there but don’t know if I necessarily would?

Oh yes, I remember doing something like this too.

Hi there, please check out the link from LeLeche League https://laleche.org.uk/mastitis/. As a minimum, avoid warm compresses/hot showers. Use cold compresses instead. Take ibuprofen (unless you are allergic to it, make sure you take the correct dose). Also try getting hold of Breastfeeding Network volunteer on their helpline 0300 100 0212. Also, check out Breastfeeding Network website https://www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/breastfeeding-information/mastitis-breastfeeding/. I hope it helps

No, it just was huge, red and swollen but no head or anything palpable, it was all internal and very swollen. They managed to get some pus out at the hospital with a needle and sent me off with different antibiotics but it got worse and I was about to go back to the hospital when I itched the scab where they had drained it before and it burst. I won’t go into details but after 48 hours or so it had completely self-discharged. I had to have follow up checks at the breast clinic for the next few weeks.

I had to have an emergency op under GA to remove my abcess as 3 lots of ABs didn’t help.
So don’t leave it. Get to a GP.