How long does abx take to start improving mastitis?

[thefreckledmama]

I had a horrible clogged duct which developed into mastitis despite doing everything possible to clear the duct, as well as taking massive amounts of garlic, and also echinacea and a really good quality probiotic.

I started on augmentin this morning (12 hrs ago), and in the last couple hours my breast has gotten much, much worse. It went from having a 2x2 in. area that was red on one side around the plug, to the entire breast being red and swollen. The initial plugged area is now about the size of a tennis ball in width, not quite in depth.

One LLL leader said I should head to the ER, but I'm just wondering if 12 hours on abx is enough to see some improvement, or if the fact that it is getting (much) worse ON abx, that further action needs to be taken?

[Katie T]

Yikes mama, I have had it many many times and while it doesn't feel better for a while (the area stays tender for a couple days) I have never every had it get worse. Especially to the extent yours seems to have.

I would go in.

[HappyHappyMommy]

I usually find it takes about 24 hours to see an improvement. I've had it get a little worse before it gets better, but if it was getting significantly worse (as it sounds like in your case), I would call your HCP or go to the ER.

Good luck Mama! I'll be thinking of you and hoping you feel better soon.

[ewe+lamb]

The antibiotics will fight the infection - but DOES NOT clear the block itself, I would highly recommend hot compresses, now then when I say hot I really mean as hot as you can stand without burning yourself, then once slightly cooled place baby at the breast with the chin directed to the area which is most affected - or you can rotate around depending how large the area is, nurse a couple of times on the same breast to really try and melt down the thicker milk that is causing the block and hand express off the other breast so that you don't have the same thing happening there too, keep doing this for a couple of days at least, and rest rest rest, mastitis is a since of over doing things, take some time off and go to bed with the baby - the house work etc will still be there in a couple of days - make life as easy as possible for yourself so that you can get back onto your feet.

You can also massage your breast, start at the upper part of the breast and firmly but gently with the palm of your hand and in circular motions work down towards the nipple, do this all over the breast so that the block and milk is kept moving so that you don't get other blocks in the breast, you can then do this with your fingertips - but only if its not so painful, take hot baths or showers and nurse as often as you possibly can.

Hope that you manage to get rid of this - mastitis is really unpleasant - good luck.

[MsVyky]

I think it took about 18 hours for my ABX to kick in? I went to a walk-in on a Sunday morning and over that night there was improvement.

Even though it hurts brutally,m are you still nursing lots on that side? A friend gave me a tip to nurse on all fours, and I found that to help, regardless of how awkward it was.

[thefreckledmama]

Just wanted to give an update...

I went into the ER, and was admitted and given IV antibiotics. The next day I had an ultrasound and they found an abscess of 3cm x 3cm. A breast surgeon came and drained the abscess, and packed the opening. Today she came an re-packed it and sent me home with antibiotics and pain meds. Tomorrow I can remove the packing, and I follow up next Tues. Fortunately, the baby was able to stay with me the entire time.

She has me breastfeeding on my good breast, and pumping on my poor abused sick breast until the follow up appointment, as she is concerned with the baby having milk from the effected breast because of the severe level of infection that is in it.

My inlaws rented me a Medela Symphony pump so I can keep up my supply on the bad side in the meantime.

I have to say, I'm shocked at how bad it really was, because I just assumed from how bad everyone has said mastitis can be, that is was just a simple case of that. Both my OB and the breast surgeon, as well as both of my nurses-which had both had mastitis themselves-were really shocked and alarmed at how bad it was. I'm just thankful I'm on the mend, and they don't expect any long term effects on breastfeeding.

[annettemarie]

Moving out to the general forum.