Mastitis?

Last night my DD (22 months) actually slept about 5-6 hours straight (hooray!) last night. However, I woke up with a very, very sore boob, and I just don't feel right. I feel a little achey in my hips and legs and just can't seem to get comfortable. I had a hot shower and tried lots of massaging and hand expressing. I still don't feel right, and now feel quite shivery (though that could just be because of the hot shower?).

Could this be mastitis? I've never had it before or had any experience with it. Can it come on this quickly? Should I just wait it out?

Do you have a red patch on your breast? Can you feel any lumps? After feeding from that side, did the engorgement go down or is it still there?

I would feed from that side as much as you can and try and get the breast soft (without neglecting the other side)

If you feel any lumps or hard sore spots, get an electric toothbrush and apply the vibrations to the sore spot while feeding/expressing. A cold face washer on the breast may feel good if it is hot and inflamed. Cabbage leaves are the best because they also have an anti-inflammatory element.

I would monitor your temperature and take it easy. Take some panadol after you have taken your temp, and wait four hours and check the temp again. Remember mastitis is the infection resulting from blockages of milk, so feed, feed feed and you should avoid the infection.

I have had so many near misses like this and only one case of mastitis. Do you have anyone on standby? I found I went downhill very quickly and was knocked out in fevers when I actually got mastitis.

No red patch that I can see, but definitely a lump/swollen area. Have been feeding from that side heaps - I think it's gone down slightly, but definitely still swollen.

Will try the electric toothbrush, and I think we happen to have cabbage in the fridge.

Thanks Arcadia. Hopefully I can kick this thing before it turns worse.

Sterla the fevers worry me - mastitis can and does come on very quickly. If you start feeling any worse, go to the Dr straight away please! You can kick mastitis before it gets too bad but if it doesn't work, you'll need ABs.

Take care of yourself! Plenty of rest, if you're able.

Checked my temp - 37.5, so not too high? Took some panadol and feel a little better. Boob so sore! :(

Temp is up a bit, but not too much. I found the toothbrush trick would ease the lump pretty quickly, although sometimes it takes a few goes. The relief when the blockage clears is amazing although for me the breast feels tender for a few hours afterwards.

Stay close to home today and maybe try and get a dr appointment for tomorrow in case the symptoms don't ease. You can always cancel. Otherwise a breastfeeding clinic at the hospital can be a great place for emergency cases.

I have lost count of the number of blocked ducts I have had with ds. It's a combination of bras and feeding in public for me (discreet breastfeeding stuffs up my boobs...they need freedom!)

Temp now 38 and I took panandol about two hours ago. Have put a cabbage leaf in and that seems to have helped I think. Feeding from that side as often as I can.

I have Arimeh staying with me atm, and even though she has a really bad cold herself she keeps telling me to sit and rest - she is currently doing my dishes.

Have also heard something about apple cider vinegar?

yeah, it sounds like you may have an infection. Can you get yourself to a doctor?
Yay for friends helping out!

Achy joints and sore boon, but no visible symptoms is how mastitis started all 3 times for me.

I agree with the others - massage, massage, massage and keep it drained. Keep an eye on your fever, if you get worse go to the doctor.

I would be heading to the drs with a temp of 38, especially if you have been taking Panadol it sounds like its progressed from a blocked duct to an infection and likely needs antibiotics. Mastitis can really knock you for six, i felt much worse when i had mastitis than when i got inflienza. I hope you feel better soon

Sterla this may sound obvious but when you go to the Dr make sure you tell them you want ABs that are safe for use when breastfeeding.
The idiot Dr I saw when I got mastitis when DD was 3 weeks old prescribed me something you couldn't take while breastfeeding! In my newborn sleep deprived state it didn't occur to me to ask if it was safe. Luckily I read the info pamphlet when I got home and I'd only taken one dose.

Hope you get it sorted quickly and yay for Arimeh there to help you :)

My temp went back down again to 36.2. Started feeling much better (achey joints gone, etc), haven't needed panadol again. Lump went down a fair bit, but still definitely not gone. Keeping an eye on my temp and just trying to take it easy. Will definitely head into drs if anything gets worse, but for now am feeling better.

oh that's good news. Hopefully you kick it on your own.

Pounce on that baby every time she moves and get her to drain the breast. Put a heat pack on it, especially before you feed.

A couple of days later and the lump is still there, but very small now. It's taking longer than usual to go down, but I guess that's because it was so big and sore to begin with. It was definitely close to becoming mastitis, but thankfully it looks like I've managed to avoid it this time.

Thank you for all your help and suggestions.