Flaky nipple...should I be worried????

[JFTB1177]

I posted about this on the breastfeeding board but got few responses, also I am not sure if it is from BFing.

I've been stressing myself out by worrying about one of my nipples. I'm still BFing DS (15 months old) but only at night (we cosleep). My right is his "preferred" one. Well last week I noticed when he latched it REALLY hurt (only on my right side) but I figured it was his teeth (he's teething and has bit me once or twice). A few days later I looked and saw my rt nipple was pink and puffy, it looked swollen. Then I saw I had a deep open raw crack in the base of the nipple and that's where my bra always "catches" on it so figured that was it and stopped wearing that bra. I also put lansiloh on it. Well the crack went away and it doesn't hurt to nurse anymore but for the last 4 days or so the nipple is dry and flaky/peeling (only on the underside of the nipple around where the crack was) and almost looks like I have a (non-bumpy) rash or something. Well I started Googling and of course there are many possibilities but one of them is Pagets disease which is a rare breast cancer involving the nipple...now this is supposed to be extremely rare in BFing mothers, and it's rare anyway, and usually affects women in their 50s and older, but I've been in total paranoia for days about it. Last night it looked like it was getting better (wondering if it was b/c he didn't nurse on it all day?) but this morning it was back to the same. I thought about thrush but I think it's unlikely since DS shows no signs and only one boob is affected. I've never had anything like this before and it's freaking mehu. I went to the ER but the doc said it looked like maybe the beginning of thrush and prescribed me nystatin, but also said DS showed no sign of thrush. I don't really trust her opinion and I don't want to take the nystatin b/c I won't be able to nurse him on that boob and it'll get engorged. Has anyone ever had anything like this before?? There is no discharge from the nipple and no pain or burning. HELP!!!

[kismetbaby]

Does sound like it could be yeast (thrush) to me. You can do things other than nystatin (and in fact that won't necessarily work as there are many strains of yeast and nystatin won't get all of them). The simplest thing to do is diluted vinegar rinses or salt water rinses for your nipple. As well as take probiotics and reduce the sugar in your diet. Lots of air and sun exposure is good too. 

If you need to get more agressive Grapeseed Oil is amazing. You should check out Dr Newmans candida protocol (just google it). He goes over most of this.  I had nipple thrush once and it was painful and not easy to get rid of, but eventually I did and it never interfered with nursing (except that it was painful). Sounds like your case is mild so far so shouldn't be too hard to knock it out.

Good luck!

[JFTB1177]

Thank you!! The other nipple is now affected as well so I am pretty sure it's thrush! I'm going to my doc in the morning tomorrow, I'll let you know what she says. Thanks again!!