mastitis??? Should I panic???

[Aprilsmum]

I woke up this morning with a painful right breast. By midday the pain was quite unbearable. I actually thought that I must have bumped myself on something and had some sort of internal bruising or something. I fed DD on the painful side and she managed to empty the breast and I couldn't believe how much the pain eased after the feed. I made sure that I massaged the breast during the feed (despite how painful that was to do). I couldn't feel any lumps, there was no redness and as far as I could tell there wasn't any swelling. It is now 5 hours later and the same breast has started to hurt again (but not as bad as earlier today) and when I went to have my shower, I noticed that the breast has red splotches right where the pain is.

What should I do? Do I need to get to the doctor now, or should I just concentrate on her night feeds and emptying that breast? I don't feel any flu like symptoms at all. Everything I've researched says that you need to get to the doctors quickly, but dont' think that occurs to me because I don't feel ill at all. Can I just wait till the morning to head to the GP?
:confused:

[biscotti]

I became seriously ill because I ignored (and was too busy anyway) the first signs of mastitis. Twice (didn't learn the first time) :no:

Now, knowing what I know, I wouldn't hesitate to see a Dr as fast as I could.
:hugs:

[maisymum]

I became seriously ill because I ignored (and was too busy anyway) the first signs of mastitis. Twice (didn't learn the first time) :no:

Now, knowing what I know, I wouldn't hesitate to see a Dr as fast as I could.
:hugs:

:iagree: I've had it and it was the worst pain out!.....Definitly get it looked at because it will get worse i was in hospital for 3 days on a IV drip....good luck

[gonnabeaGR8mum]

do you have any flu-like symptoms or other symptoms of mastitis, it COULD just be a blocked duct (as described, hot painful red blotches) in which case what you are doing is perfect, try to start on the effected breast at each feed, massage anylumps during the feed and try to completely drain it before switching sides.

you sound like you are very aware of your body and will know if you need urgent assistance.
if however you do start to feel fluey, (temperature, aches and pains all over) then i would get to a doctor first thing in the morning.

when i had Mastitis i literally felt like i had been hit by a truck (and then run over and reversed and ran over again) i had cold sweats and a very high temperature as well as a constant headache and very sore (.)(.). in short i felt very very ill and knew without a doubt that it was mastitis before even getting to a doctor.

i hope it is just a blocked duct and tonights feeds completely clear it and you feel fine by morning :thumbsup:

xoxoxox

[mummysangels]

Go to the dr, I had it with my second and third daughters and was seriously ill :no: but if your unable to get there tonight put some disposable nappies in the freezer to freeze and put in your bra, the cold sensation helps alot :)

[Aprilsmum]

But its okay for me to wait till the morning isn't it. Providing the pain doesn't get really bad and I don't feel flu symptoms.

Biscotti - I know what you mean about being too busy to get to the Dr's. This is such an inconvenience.

[maisymum]

I went to bet with no symptoms what so ever woke up in the morning Very painfull breasts cold sweats, high temp, shaking....hubby couldn't get me off the floor of the shower, it can come on quick so if you feel like your getting worse get to a DR

[FullMoon]

Its fine to wait till mrning if you have no otrher symptoms..

I have had it with all 3 kids!

First i felt as a pp has stated run over by a truck then reveresed and run over again!

Second was just as bad..

And third (ds 4 months) i have had it four times but not that bad... One time I couldnt stop shaking and sweating, knives coming out of boobs etc but it was midnight so i persevered and i felt alot better by morning just by unblocking it and feeding alot on that side!

Do the nappy idea though works a treat@

[mummysangels]

I went to bet with no symptoms what so ever woke up in the morning Very painfull breasts cold sweats, high temp, shaking....hubby couldn't get me off the floor of the shower, it can come on quick so if you feel like your getting worse get to a DR


I was very much the same with our 2nd child cold sweats temp shaking didnt know what was going on and my breasts were that red and sore my hubby took me to the dr ... dr was shocked i hadnt been in earlier as i was very unwell...


if you feel unsure about it go see the dr as its something you shouldn't mess with and if bad hospitalisation is needed.
you really need to put your health first :)

[Aprilsmum]

Well I had a great night last night with lots of feeds and woke up this morning to "inspect my girls" :laughing:. No more redness :smiliedance:

The breast is still a little tender but defenitely not what I would call painful. I'm gong to make sure bubs keeps emptying that breast today and :fingerscrossed: it all keeps improving.

Thanks for all your advice ladies. I'm thinking it must have been a blocked duct that managed to be unblocked. It was really painful yesterday so I feel so sorry for you ladies who get mastitis, because that must be so much worse than what I had.

[Wondering Wanda]

One thing to note if you do visit your GP is what they prescribe for you. I developed an abscessed fibroadenoma and I've had mastitis 8 times in 6 months - part of the reason I sadly last week gave up BFing. If you do go to a GP they will more than likely write you a script for Keflex or something similar. However my breast surgeon said that you need a double course of the antibiotics otherwise you risk keeping a low grade infection that will rare itself again- this is what she thinks happened to me. Just a bit of info from learning the hard way!