Breast Abscess

[GIZMOE]

Hello,

I am in soo much pain at the moment and when I went to the Dr's this morning she diagnosed me with Mastitus and a breast abscess.

I can hardly touch my boob and I am in so much pain when feeding it's not funny!

How am I going to get through this?? I don't know how much I can put up with

just a vent sorry

[OurLittleBlessing]

I don't have mastitis, but I understand about the pain! I have thrush and very damaged nipples and I am finding feeding hard too. :hugs:

Sorry I don't have any advice, just wanted to send you my sympathy!

[Fuchsia!]

If its an abcess wouldn't you have to have it drained?

I had a bad case of mastitis when DS was 10mths old, i ended up in hospy with a drip and it came close to an abcess.

Have you got some pain killers? Did the Dr prescribe you some anti biotics?

Hop in the shower as much as possible and try to unblock it, just hand express it while massaging the lump.

Also fill a disposable nappy filled with water and chuck it in the freezer, it makes a really great cold pack for in between feeds.

Before feeding but a hot compress on the area just before a feed.

If you can get the bubbas chin to also move on the lump while feeding as this helps stimulate it.

Hope you feel better soon. Remember if it gets worse take yourself to the hospy as it can deteriote very quickly and the infection can take over the body

[GIZMOE]

It's only very small at the moment - I have been prescribed antibiotics and have to go back in 3-4 days unless I feel worse.

She said after the antibiotics if it is still there then she will aspirate it (sp??)

I have cold packs for in between feeds and yes have been trying to msg in shower.

Thank you for your tip about baby's chin position - will try that. It's so hard to even have latch properly as I am so tense when feeding.

[MountainGirl]

youch,..

I ended up with an abcess the size of a lemon with DS1,... I had to have it aspirated 6 times,...and it pretty much ended my BF career with him:(,... I have never been in as much pain,... ever,....

Antibiotics didnt work for me,..... panadine forte helped with the pain,....but the only way of getting rid of it was having it drained.

:hugs: hope it sorts out.

[JabberJaw]

This may sound really crazy but it honestly works... i have had mastitis many times and also abscesses that have been drained...
Cabbage leaves is what you need, the outer leaves seem to work better, anyway stick them in the freezer and when they are cold you put the on yr breast, as they defrost they kind of mould to your breast, remove them and change with fresh ones when you feel the hot spot of the abscess area coming through the cabbage leaf (iykwim) It HONESTLY works, there has been studies into the use of cabbage leaves and mastitis and it is proven to work, i haven't got time to search for a link or anything but you could goggle it if you want to check it out.
Give it a go, :fingerscrossed: you dont need drainage as its not pleasant.
Kellie

P.S. Whatever you do dont give up breastfeeding, it will worsen as you will have a major build up of milk, express if you are uncomfortable but only enough to give your breast relief, if you empty it, your body will make more milk to adapt to the changes!

[Fuchsia!]

This may sound really crazy but it honestly works... i have had mastitis many times and also abscesses that have been drained...
Cabbage leaves is what you need, the outer leaves seem to work better, anyway stick them in the freezer and when they are cold you put the on yr breast, as they defrost they kind of mould to your breast, remove them and change with fresh ones when you feel the hot spot of the abscess area coming through the cabbage leaf (iykwim) It HONESTLY works, there has been studies into the use of cabbage leaves and mastitis and it is proven to work, i haven't got time to search for a link or anything but you could goggle it if you want to check it out.
Give it a go, :fingerscrossed: you dont need drainage as its not pleasant.
Kellie

P.S. Whatever you do dont give up breastfeeding, it will worsen as you will have a major build up of milk, express if you are uncomfortable but only enough to give your breast relief, if you empty it, your body will make more milk to adapt to the changes!


Yes very true, sometimes Dr's tell you to stop feeding, but please don't.

Hang in there, i know who painful it is! Get yourself some pain relief too

[punkbaby]

If its an abcess wouldn't you have to have it drained?

I had a bad case of mastitis when DS was 10mths old, i ended up in hospy with a drip and it came close to an abcess.

Have you got some pain killers? Did the Dr prescribe you some anti biotics?

Hop in the shower as much as possible and try to unblock it, just hand express it while massaging the lump.

Also fill a disposable nappy filled with water and chuck it in the freezer, it makes a really great cold pack for in between feeds.

Before feeding but a hot compress on the area just before a feed.

If you can get the bubbas chin to also move on the lump while feeding as this helps stimulate it.

Hope you feel better soon. Remember if it gets worse take yourself to the hospy as it can deteriote very quickly and the infection can take over the body

:iagree:

i find either bubs chin or nose in line with the lump helps drain the breast better and a warm facewasher massaging it towards the nipple helps alot as well

ohh as for cabbage leaves i would avoid them, the antibiotics should kick in quickly though, plus another tip try put bubs on the infected breast first up as they tend to suck harder so can drain it a little easier too.

Hope you feel better soon :hugs: its hard and its very painful, i found curling my toes was my saviour as silly as it sounds

[misskittyfantastico]

The other ladies have already given great advice, so I'll just offer cyber-hugs:hugs: I hope you're feeling better soon.

[MountainGirl]

:no:cabbage leaves did nothing for me.

[JabberJaw]

I found a link to reasearch done for cabbage leaves : ( and it actually says to warm the cabbage leaves although i was told to apply them cold,,they do warm up when they come in contact with yr skin so maybe they tell you to apply them cold for the relief you feel!!!)







Why does cabbage work as treatment for mastitis, and painful breasts when breastfeeding?


19 May 2007
From New Scientist Print Edition.
I am a midwife and a mother, and recommend using cabbage leaves for swollen, painful breastfeeding breasts, milk suppression and mastitis. I tell affected women to line their bras with the cold leaves. It seems to work, but does anybody know why? Could the same treatment work for breast cysts?
Cabbage is part of European folk medicine and has been described as a poor man's poultice (see www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/327/7412/451-c (http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/327/7412/451-c)). If there are controlled trials of the healing power of cabbages, they are not easy to find - Ed
Cold cabbage leaves will have the simple effect of a cold compress, and reduce heat in the same way as a cold flannel might (but without the drips). However, the beneficial effects of the cabbage are increased if you heat the leaves, by running a hot iron over them or by blanching in boiling water, before applying. The heat releases various anti-inflammatory chemicals as well as phytohormones. Leaving the leaves in the bra will have a slow-release effect as the body warms them and draws out beneficial chemicals.
Hot cabbage poultices have also been used for sprains and strains and to draw out splinters. I used the above remedy to treat a breast abscess (a side-effect of mastitis) resistant to antibiotics. Greek women used vine leaves for the same purpose. It would be interesting to find out if the leaves have the same chemicals in them.
Vivienne Tuffnell, Lowestoft, Suffolk, UK
Cabbages are members of the Brassicaceae, a large and diverse plant family. Among many other chemicals, brassicas produce glucosinolate compounds, one of which, sinigrin (potassium myronate), gives rise to the pungent smell associated with cooking cabbage.
In the presence of water and the brassica enzyme myrosinase, sinigrin forms "mustard oils", which are noted throughout history for their healing properties when applied as a poultice. Crushed or chopped leaves are applied externally as a counter-irritant to ease swellings and painful joints and to cleanse infections, and a warming sensation can be experienced in the skin. Mustard oils can lead to blistering, however, so must be used with caution.
Richard Eden, Consultant botanist, Southampton, Hampshire, UK
From issue 2604 of New Scientist magazine, 19 May 2007, page

[GIZMOE]

Just thought I would pop back in and say I GOT THROUGH IT YAAAAY :smiliedance::smiliedance::smiliedance::yes:

My god that was the worse pain and thank goodness my abcess cleared with antibiotics.

I had even bought a tin of formula just incase and I didn't even open it.

Thanks for all your support and advice xxxx

[Tam-I-Am]

Oh, thank goodness, Gizmoe - how awful :( I'm glad its all cleared up now! :smiliedance: