Mastitis - long tern

[redrobin89]

Hi all,

I was admitted to hospital a couple of weeks ago with a severe mastitis infection - put on IV antibiotics & stayed in hospital for 3 days. Discharged with oral antibiotics for a week. These didn't clear it up, went to Dr's & given another weeks worth but a lower dose. After that course was finished it still hadn't cleared up, so back to the Dr's. Given a different course of antibiotics and an appointment at the breast clinic made as the infection is still lingering. That appointment is coming up this week & the new antibiotics haven't really changed anything. Dr thinks a blocked milk duct & the fact it was a really nasty infection.

Has anyone had mastitis go on for so long? I'm thinking worse case scenario that it's not mastitis anymore & I'm in bits over it.

Someone in my NCT group had really nasty mastitis which would appear to die down and flair up again and ended up having stop BF as a result. I think hers went on for about three or four weeks (but time was weird on mat leave so I might be misremembering).

It is excruciating, I really hope you get it sorted soon.

What symptoms are you experiencing? I had lingering redness that went on for probably 2 months. Also got sent to breast clinic which sent me into an absolute spiral. Dr recommended taking ibuprofen as it appeared to be lingering inflammation. They tried various antibiotics which did nothing. Eventually cleared up on its own, possibly as my baby’s latch improved. She was about 8 weeks at the time.

Some redness, slight swelling & tenderness, skin texture change in one area but the symptoms generally depend on if she's fed or not.

Antibiotics seem to help, they're just not making it go completely.

I don't think her latch it's the best which could possibly be one if the reasons it's lingering, little one is 6 weeks & I've had it since she was 10 days old.

It's so hard not to spend all day crying, one minute I'm positive about it, like yeah it's just a really severe infection that might need lots of help to clear up & I'll be ok.. then it hits me it could be somthing worse & it makes me think about not being around anymore, leaving my kids & husband behind.

It's been the longest 2 weeks, but have 2 days to go till my appointment.

Sorry to hear this Op, it must be so worrying, I haven’t had mastitis this long, but I did have a blocked duct for a long time that led to a breast clinic referral.
What actually cleared it for me was following the techniques of some Ibclc accounts on Instagram, Olivia lactation consultant is one of the best. They suggest a combination of lymphatic massage multiple times a day alongside ice and ibuprofen. Obviously antibiotics will be needed for the infection but these techniques after 2-3 days made a huge difference for me, in particular the self massage and ice

Thanks for your reply.

I'll have a look at what you suggested! The Dr who put the referral in thinks it's a blocked duct as well but when you start googling information you end up in a rabbit hole & find other possibilities it could be. I'm trying to be positive and keep telling myself it's been a really bad infection and I just need a little bit more help to get the last bit cleared up.

What happened at your appointment? I've never been to one before so don't really know what to expect.

Sounds pretty similar to my situation, and I can absolutely relate to fearing the worst. It’s horrible. When I went to the breast clinic, the lovely consultant took one look at me and said with absolute certainty that it was ‘just’ mastitis and would clear up. I was so anxious that I begged for an ultrasound just to check, which she agreed to.

I hope your appointment puts your mind at rest.