Were you given antibiotics for mastitis?

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I'll be phoning the doctors to ask them tomorrow anyway but thought I'd see what others had..

I was prescribed flucloxacillin 500mg 4 times a day for 14 days for mastitis. I've had flucloxacillin for other ailments in the past and never had more than 7-10 days worth. Is 14 days normal in this instance?

Might be cheeky, or not a good idea (hence asking) but I was hoping to take the antibiotics for 7 days and keep the other 7 days worth in case it comes back. The mastitis happened at early evening time, and the GP couldn't see me until 24 hours later so my thinking was if it flared up again I could start taking the antibiotics straight away and not have that minimum 24 hours of agony first.

Mastitis can very quickly get very serious and can cause abscess and other horrible complications. It's definitely best to take the full 2 weeks antibiotics, I was only given a week the second time I had it as it wasn't my usual Dr who prescribed them and he said that would be plenty. it came back a few days after the course was finished and took much longer to get rid off.

Yes I had antibiotics for mastitis. I took the whole course. Always take the full course of antibiotics, a certain amount is given for a reason, and not taking the full course means it’s more likely to return and contributes to building antibiotic resistance. Just take the 14 days, it’s really silly not to.

Just take the 14 day course, why wouldn’t you?
I ended up in intensive care for a week with mastitis, after it led to sepsis.

Have only ever had antibiotics twice and one of those was for mastitis.

I ended up in hospital, on intravenous antibiotics, a drip in each arm.
Why not check with the Dr why they want you to have 2 weeks, just so you understand it, then JUST DO WHAT'S PRESCRIBED.
Because there will be a reason for this prescription, and you thinking you know better may not end well.

Definitely take the full course, my friend had a really bad case and ended up in hospital. Also people not taking the full course is increasing antibiotic resistance.

Take the full lot of antibiotics. People not taking the full dose is the reason why we have anti biotic resistance

Do not save 7 days' worth for later, whatever you do. I did this very stupidly and ended up with a severe allergic reaction, and now I can't take any penicillin type antibiotics for the rest of my life.

Also, I ended up having an operation under a general anaesthetic when my mastitis turned into a breast absess, which believe me you want to avoid at all costs.

Just do what they tell you to do!

Seconding everyone's replies. Take the whole course. I ended up with sepsis which developed super quickly after mastitis starting and was therefore super scary. Ended up hospitalised for quite a while. Pumped full of antibiotics intravenously. Which resulted in an allergic reaction to penicillin

2 week course is normal and as advised by the other posters take the full course. You can always get some more if needed in the future.

Yes. Mastitis kicked off at 4.30pm, got antibiotics 2pm the next day, in hospital as a sepsis concern 5.30pm the day after that. Admitted and on IV antibiotics within 15 mins of arriving.

Mastitis isn't something I'd mess around with.

The last time I had mastitis, the GP gave me two prescriptions. One to take the full course and the next to have on standby as I had two bouts in quick succession.

Definitely take the full course - otherwise it increases antibiotic resistance.

This is exactly why I've been nervous, I know how quickly it can come on and how quickly it can become serious. I, like you, had to wait almost 24 hours and it's only out of worry for it happening again that I've posted this thread.

I did say in my first sentence I'd phone the doctor and ask (not just do it anyway), having had a look at the usual dosage online I could see they recommend anything from 5-10 days to 10-14 days, hence me thinking maybe a 7 day course might be ok. It became so painful so fast and I just worried about an even longer wait if it happened again over a weekend, having to then sit for hours in A&E waiting for antibiotics.

Don't forget the long hot shower, hot flannel and wide tooth comb whilst you're waiting to see the doctor. These things really helped flush out my mastitis and ease the swelling

Wide tooth comb??

I did the hot flannel, hot bath, ibuprofen etc

Just to gently comb down over your skin during a hot shower - it seems to get the milk flowing again. perhaps it loosens it all up?
I used to use the backs of my fingernails which had a similar effect

Mastitis is nasty. I couldn't believe how fast it hit me - feeling normal to very unwell in a few hours.

Take the full course of antibiotics, you must if that's what you've been prescribed. Remember, it might not hit you again - I only had it once and I breastfed three babies for several months each. If you get it again you'll know the signs and be able to request antibiotics quickly.

By the way, the wide-tooth comb can be very effective in helping to loosen a blockage in your milk ducts.

Thank you, I'll bear this in mind if it happens again!

That's exactly why it's worried me. A bit of pain at 6pm and by the time midnight rolled around I was crying through feeding. Knowing I had to make it through the rest of the night before the doctors even opened, I'm normally really good with pain but this absolutely knocked me on my arse.

Same, at 3pm I had a slightly tender boob, by 4.30pm I had a temp of over 40C, uncontrolled shivering, the works. I had no idea it was so bad. Next time I'd ring out of hours as soon as anything kicked off. As it happens I have some antibiotics left over as the hospital also prescribed me some after the IV ones (which took over from the ones I had from the doctor) so I've got enough for 48 hours or so. Maybe ask the doctor or breast clinic (if you're still having check ups for abscesses or anything) to prescribe an emergency buffer dose?

I think this is probably the best option, to see if they'll prescribe enough to get through a weekend if it comes back. Like you, it happened so fast and I think it's just worried me!