Mastitis/Abscess

[Matryoshka]

I am on day 2 of antibiotics for mastitis, its been pretty severe as it was left for several days as the dr didn't actually think it was mastitis. In that time a big mass has formed in the left side which i just can't massage out and it won't move when either boy feeds from it. Whereas the right side today feels almost back to normal, still a bit lumpy but hardly any pain. The left side, the mass is about the size of a 1/4 of an apple and feels like that, an odd shape, its all red there too. My flu-like symptoms have eased off though i still feel very weak and not too well. The LC thinks it could be an abscess... has anyone had one? what was it like? Theres not much i can do now coming up to the weekend but go back to the dr on monday.

How long did it take for your lumpiness to resolve it self? does it usually do so just from feeding and massage?

[~clover~]

I got really lumpy & painful after a silly woman told me to start making sure I get both sides into DS at each feed. When I followed her advice I came close to mastitis coz he wasn't emptying one before he had the other one.
To get rid of the lumps I made sure DS's chin was pointed in the direction of the lump. Ithink that way the strongest part of their suck goes in that direction.
You could give that a go. It can be awkward (just think DS laying on the bed & me over the top of him trying to feed!)

If its an abcess they can drain it, or you could wait til it goes away by itself. DH had one a few years ago. I think it took about 12 - 18 months to go away completely.

Is the lump painful? My lumps were too painful to touch. DH's abcess wasn't painful.

HTH

[feeb]

Ohh hun you are having a tough time.

HUGS TO YOU

Hope you feel better soon.

I know of people who have had absess drained.

[Je$$_84]

What Are the Usual Treatments for Mastitis?
Mastitis typically responds to antibiotic treatment within 24 hours. The drug of choice, dicloxacillin (Dycill), is taken orally, 500 mg every six hours for seven to 10 days. In women who are allergic to penicillin, alternatives include erythromycin (Ery-Tab) 500 mg every six hours or clindamycin (Cleocin) 300 mg every six hours. (Remember, however, that drug doses vary. Your doctor will determine the correct dosage for you.) Also, removing milk from your breast through continued breast-feeding or pumping helps the infection clear up quickly.

If your mastitis does not improve within 48 to 72 hours, you may have an abscess. In these cases, treatment is more aggressive. The abscess has to be lanced (by incision) and drained. This may require a trip to the emergency or operating room. You also need antibiotics. Depending on the severity of the infection, you may be given the antibiotics intravenously rather than orally.

If there has been inadequate treatment of mastitis, area may no longer be painful, Systemic symptoms may be absent. Area of the abscess may look discolored or bruised.The abscessed area has risen to the surface of the breast tissue and is indurated (hard) in the center. Has a soft, mushy spot in the center right before rupture.

And that this is considered a medical emergency.

i would see the Gp again MummaB

[MantaRay]

It actually makes me angry that GPs don't have better training in these things. Even the mw at the hossy sent me home with mastitis and told me that even though I had a red, sore breast, felt like I'd been hit by a bus and had woken up shivering in the night, that is mustn't be mastitis as the redness wasn't in the right place!

MummaB, it might be an idea to see a different GP or go to an emergency room over the weekend. If it is an absess it really needs to be treated. I hope it goes away quickly for you

[*Efjay*]

awww you poor bugger!
I second getting along to another GP. Do you have an after hours GP in the area? We have one that runs at the local hospital. Good for those non emergency but can't wait till monday times.

Work on getting DS1 to feed from that breast frequently & with his chin at the point of the lump. His chin will help massage the area during the feed. A hot compress on the lump before the feed & a cold one after with help drain & also relieve any inflammation in the breast.
A hot shower or bath massaging the lump towards the nipple.
Feed as frequently as you can & really work that breast.

Im sure this is all stuff you know already & are doing. But if you can't get to the GP over the weekend, keep up with your AB's & working that breast to try & shift it. Go bra less if you can & avoid anything outing pressure on that breast (thick of when your sleeping, are you on that side, your arm etc?)

Do you have any cracked nipples? Usually there needs to be an open wound for bacteria to get in & cause an infection resulting in infective mastitis & an abscess.

You can have non infective mastitis with out the wound. this is when the milk weeps into the surrounding breast tissue & causes the pain/lumps etc. but there is no infection as such.

hope your feeling better soon

[Barb Glare]

Hi,

Stay calm, rest, feed, rest, feed. this will be the time you were REALLY glad you had a breastfeeding toddler - get him onto the task of unblocking it. Take some neurofen or similar, put an icepack on it and keep taking the antibiotics.....and rest. Check how you are in the morning - if worse, go to the dr. If better, you might be on the mend.
If it is an abscess it may need to be aspirated with a fine needle. In worst cases it might need to be lanced. But, there is no doubt you will go on to breastfeed fine. Indeed it is the only thing you can do.