Help - I think I have mastitis

[CrunchyBikerMama]

I woke up this morning with chills, deep aches, and a left boob that I want to cut off. I'm going to see my midwife this afternoon. I've already tried hot compresses, nursing and pumping very often, "hanging" them in hot water, and I'm feeling worse by the minute. Does anyone have any advice? I'm at work but I don't think I can stay here much longer. I feel so sick. This is horrible. I never imagined that you could feel so ill because of a boob. :

[tangomoon]

Sounds like you're doing things right. If you can isolate a plugged duct, try breastfeeding so that baby's chin is right on top of it (that can get sort of creative position-wise). If you use fever-relievers, those can take the edge off the chills. Definitely keep nursing as much as you can on that left side.

What did your midwife say?

I'm dealing with the same thing today, and my doctor has a script for antibiotics that I can use if it doesn't go away soon. Big hugs to you, mama!

[djoy]

Yes, definitely mastitis- and I agree, sounds like you are doing the right thing. I had mastitis twice in 3 mos a few months ago- and it is truly truly awful- and you can go downhill really fast! Once you take antibiotics though, you will start feeling better fairly quickly.... Oh, if you do get a prescription- be sure and take a probiotic along with it to ward off thrush!
Keep doing what you are doing, and feel better!

[danna]

I have had mastitis three times and it totally blows. I would give your OB/GYN a call and tell her/him your symptoms and ask to be prescribed antibiotics. Don't wait a second longer as it will likely get worse without treatment. They can call in the Rx and then see you. They don't need to see you first (at least mine doesn't) before prescribing you the meds. I've taken 500 mg of Cephalexen to treat mine - 4x per day for 14 days. HTH!

[CrunchyBikerMama]

My midwife prescribed 250 mg of ampicillin 3x a day for 7 days. I started it yesterday at 4 PM and this morning I still have a fever of 102 and my left boob is still hard and hot and red and painful. I haven't been this sick in many years. I got up during the night and fainted. I'm so weak I can hardly be up for more than a couple minutes. This is unbelievable. Hugs to all of you dealing with the same thing.

One more question, should I keep trying to press on the plugged duct? I can feel it deep inside, but I'm kind of scared that I'm going to make things worse by trying to get it unclogged. Will the antibiotics take care of it?

[danna]

Lisa,
You might not be on the right antibiotics. You need a 14 day course of treatment, plus you should be feeling better by now. Call your midwife and see if she can prescribe what I was taking.

And yes, you should be gently massaging the lump before, during, and after nursing to help break it up.

Danna

[RootSnort]

Originally Posted by danna

Lisa,
You might not be on the right antibiotics. You need a 14 day course of treatment, plus you should be feeling better by now. Call your midwife and see if she can prescribe what I was taking.
Danna

I had Dicloxacillin when I had mastitis, I am pretty sure that you need something a little fancier than ampicillin. But it may take 48 to 72 hours before you feel better.

Yes, massage stuff to get it to move along!

[mrs_mandolini]

When I had it, it took almost the whole 7 days of antibiotics for the hard lump to go away. And yes, keep massaging and nursing.. I agree, when I had it I hadn't felt so sick in a long time!

[kltroy]

Ugh... I'm going through the same thing today. I woke up at 4 AM and hurt so bad I couldn't get back to sleep. I've been achy all day. To top it all off my son's getting a tooth and skipped his normal night nursing session. This is the 4th time I've had mastitis since Christmas and I'm really sick of it. Times 1 and 3 I took antibiotics (Dicloxicillin) and time #2 I managed to nurse like crazy and get it to go away. I just talked to my midwife and she convinced me to try and get through this one without the antibiotics and to call for a prescription if it gets worse in the next day or two.

My question is... this is clearly a recurring problem for me. The drugs fix it but I don't really like taking them if I can avoid it. But I also don't want to be completely miserable if I can avoid it. What do you all think? Does anyone out there have any natural remedies for avoiding this in the future? I thought once I made it past 6 months free and clear that I wouldn't have this problem, but my son turns one next weekend and here I am...

[RootSnort]

Originally Posted by kltroy

My question is... this is clearly a recurring problem for me. The drugs fix it but I don't really like taking them if I can avoid it. But I also don't want to be completely miserable if I can avoid it. What do you all think? Does anyone out there have any natural remedies for avoiding this in the future?

I have heard supplementation with lethecin and vitamin C can help in the prevention department. Also being careful to get enough fluids. And do your bras fit as well as they can? I would go get a professional fitting.

How is everyone feeling today? Any better?