Small painful lump on areola

[waluso]

I am nursing my 23 mo DD and a small lump has formed in the areola of one my breasts. It is painful to touch and particularly painful when DD nurses. It doesn't seem to be a plugged duct (which I've had several times in the past). It doesn't seem to change size and doesn't feel better or worse after nursing (excepts sometimes feels a bit sore after nursing). It is about the size of a pea. Any ideas what this could be and what I can do about it? Thanks!

[Pepper44]

I had the same thing for more than a year!! Ouch.

The only difference was that mine got bigger or smaller and more or less painful depending on my cycle point. Google made me think it was a cyst.

When my milk dried up it slowly went away. I'm thinking it might be coming back now that my milk is in again.

[waluso]

A year?? That wasn't what I was hoping to hear! I found an old thread where someone suggested a cyst and they popped it. I tried it yesterday in the shower and it looked like milk came out. The lump seemed to be smaller after that (but irritated) and is now back to the pea size. I really hope this doesn't last that long. It really makes nursing painful! I think I will try to leave it alone for a few days and see if it changes at all.

[LittleLegos]

This sounds like it would be helpful to have it evaluated. Also if it's a cyst, that is usually seen very easily with ultrasound, can even be drained.

Could also be a galactocele, but not sure if they are usually painful.

If it's white, it could be a milk blister. They are often very painful.

Good luck!

[pumpkinhead]

It sounds like a plugged/blocked Montgomery glad. These glands are in the areola and they secrete fluid that has antibacterial properties. They can get clogged and swell up. I would definitely see a lactation consultant and/or a doctor familiar with breastfeeding issues.