Mastitis

[Mum2twoBoys]

So I've got mastitis. I've already had ppl turn to me making comments like, "oh but your son is 16mo". Yeh so, if I produce a lot of milk and he doesn't consume I'm still just as likely to get a blocked duct.

I'm feeling pretty crappy, worst bout of it thus far. Fevers, headaches, nausea, dizziness, pain, hot swollen bb. I am on antibiotics. And I've done the hot shower. The breast pump. Fed off that side first. Warm compress. Manually expressing and massaging. I think my breast looks worse than it was. Red, hot and swollen.

Is this just normal after all the massaging and manual expressing?

I've gotten some pus ooze out whilst expressing as well, thinking its better to get it out. I was given a referral for an ultrasound incase of an abscess. Is this worth going through with? Or is it more just giving it time?

Others experiences...

[Calluna]

Oh no you poor thing. I got my second bit when DS was 2.8 and had similar comments from the doctor. Twits.

When did you see the doctor and how long have you been on the antibiotics?
They say to give it 24 hours to work but mine started to get better after a few hours.
If you are feeling really ill I'd give the after hours gp a call if you have one near you, or nurse on call / 13HEALTH?
I would def go for the ultrasound. Its better to go and find nothings wrong than to miss something.

[Mum2twoBoys]

I went to gp yesterday and started on antibiotics in arvo. First gp wasn't going to do anything. He couldn't even get my bp coz the machine kept showing error. So he just said drink lots and rest. That's a twit.

So as you can guess I didn't trust his judgement and went to another gp, who said its not ok to be in pain. And did all this follow up. Thank goodness someone had their wits about them.

I went originally coz I almost fainted, and it took me over an hour to get over the light-headedness. I also had headaches, nausea, and sore bb.

[Calluna]

I'd go back if you're not feeling better in the morning or if you get worse overnight call the after hours gp.

There are some scarrily incompetant doctors out there hey? Makes me wonder how many people get seriously ill because of thier negligence.

Hope you wake up feeling a thousand times better.

Eta-

I went originally coz I almost fainted, and it took me over an hour to get over the light-headedness. I also had headaches, nausea, and sore bb.

oh my gosh! And they sent you away to drink more water?!?

[Mum2twoBoys]

Yep dumbass. Lucky I'm a nurse and knew better. Not so good for others who aren't sure of these things. Yep fx wake up and 10x better. Gotta go back tomorrow for my bt results.

And id also mentioned that id just finished my first period since having DS too.

[Mum2twoBoys]

I thought it was funny that he kept trying with automatic bp machine, which kept coming up with error. And he then turns to me and says, oh it must be too low for machine to register. Nothing we can do about that. Just drink more water and rest. Dumb ****.

[Calluna]

This gut gets worse by the minute. Maybe you should make a complaint. He shouldn't be practicing.

[Ree*Ree]

Oh you poor thing, mastitis is awful

From someone who has had an abscess resulting from mastitis, I would say use your ultrasound referral especially since some pus has come out, just to be sure.
Or you can get some ultrasound therapy to try break down the blockage, I had 2 sessions of this before I ended up going to hospital because I was beyond any help. But a lot of people do benefit from it.

It's even more painful (and gross!) to have it surgically drained :/ I sincerely hope it will all rectify itself with the course of antibiotics

[OceanPrincess]

And he then turns to me and says, oh it must be too low for machine to register. Nothing we can do about that. Just drink more water and rest. Dumb ****.

What the!!!!!! Is low BP nothing to worry about?? How ridiculous.

How is the boob feeling this morning WM? And you??

[Mum2twoBoys]

Much better this morning. Still a little sore. But no hot, hard spot. Think all the work I did on massaging and hand expressing really did the trick. So now just to continue on antibiotics and get bt results.

[Calluna]

Glass you're feeling better this morning

[Ree*Ree]

Good to hear

[OceanPrincess]

That's great Hun

[*beannaithe*]

Oh my freaking God - cannot believe that GP!!!!! Surely if your BP was too low to register on a machine, that would be major cause for alarm?

I am so wary of mastitis - my first bout saw me from being absolutely fine to having a temp over 40deg within two hours with four days in hospital so for a gp to send you away with nothing is beyond belief. I agree, he shouldn't be practising.

Glad you are feeling better today - will you still use your referral to be on the safe side?

[Mum2twoBoys]

I saw gp for follow up of bloods. All good, slightly high neutrophils. So must have caught the mastitis early. So to continue on ab, if not getting better in few days, may need to increase dose. I didn't have raised crp (inflammatory markers) so she said prob no need for ultrasound. And if no improvement at end of ab course, might need to go to hospital for iv ab.

[Calluna]

Sounds pretty good. I hope you're feeling 100% really soon

[Mum2twoBoys]

I have it again, now on opposite side. Felt like fainting and vomiting last night, complete with rigors. I'm so unhappy that its happened twice in one week.

[Calluna]

Oh no you poor thing.