Sore nipple - what's wrong?

[JLeigh29]

Barb - hoping you might have an answer for me, lol!

*TMI alert* I have had a sore left nipple for weeks now and have just gotten over a bout of mastitis. I've got a couple of small cracks (dr says that's where the mastitis came from) but the real problem is a slightly raised white-pinkish patch on the tip of the nipple. The skin is cracked around it. It looks almost like a wart. I spoke to an LC on the phone just before Easter who suggested it might be a white spot (bleb) and gave me some info to read. I did what was suggested and pierced the white spot, though nothing happened. The pain did lessen for a day or so, but it's now back. It burns when I feed (gets better as the feed progresses), and when the fabric of my bra rubs on it. I went to see a LC last week, who didn't seem to think there was even a problem and just to massage and apply heat. No attachment issues, no thrush etc
I've done all the things for mastitis/blockages with no luck. Lansinoh doesn't help either. I am considering giving up bfing because of the pain, but DS is very attached to his two feeds a day atm and I feel like that's a really poor reason to consider weaning when I don't NEED to and still want to.
What could it be?

[MrsFabuloso]

Is it a blocked duct? It sounds similar to what I get when I have a blocked duct. For me I just try to peirce it when I feed and it usually clears after a while. If I dont cear it, I get mastitis'

[Kmn]

It can be hard to clear blocked ducts when you're only feeding a couple of times a day. I find ultrasound treatment from the physiotherapist very helpful.
If it is related to a blockage then the bad news is that weaning won't help - at the moment you need to get the milk out of there and clear the blockage, and then think about the future!

[Catherine]

Have you heard of nipple vasospasm?

http://www.simplesolutionsinternatio...fact_sheet.pdf

[JLeigh29]

Yes!!! And I am 99.9% sure it's part of the problem, made worse by my cracked nipples. Great detective work Catherine, lol! The cracking seems to have improved and the vasospasm pain has decreased heaps, so it's all good news. Next step is weaning without getting mastitis....

[Catherine]

Glad to help. Also glad to hear you are feeling better.

When at it's worse the nipple pain is enough to have me (almost) demand a masectomy! It can be so hard to see though the pain. Just been going through this this past week. Not just ouch, but 'toe curling, cursing, wowsers' owwwwww.

Stay Warm

xoxo
Catherine

[JLeigh29]

I can only imagine what it must be like - you're in Canberra and I'm on the warm and sunny Sunshine Coast, lol! Hope it improves for you soon.

[Catherine]

arrrrhhhh, the sunshine coast. The whales will be starting their north migration...do you see many?

I am fine now...trick is staying warm~

xox

[JLeigh29]

Not usually, but they are out there - you have to be in the right place at the right time.... would love to go whale watching this season though.