Mastitis

[BabyBump]

Yep a red, hot spot on my left side along with a fever last night ebded in me going to urgent care today. I was pretty sure it was mastitis before the dr confirmed. I'm on an antibiotic that is safe for breastfeeding. Anyone else have a bout of this? I'm suppose to try heat and massage too.

[applecore]

Yep, I used to get mastitis frequently until I discovered homeopathic phytolacca decandra. Take it at the first sign of infection every hour, and it should be gone in a day or two tops. After taking it a few times, I stopped getting mastitis as well. I have recommended it to tons of people who have all had great results. Frequent nursing and hot compresses will help too. Hope you feel better soon- that's nasty stuff!

[Writerbird]

I had a plugged duct, and that sucked so much that I can't imagine how much worse mastitis must be.

[the elyse]

ugh. i remember that from dd...i hope i don't get it this time around. thanks for posting the homeopathic remedy, just in case!!!!

[birthmommom]

mama, I am so sorry that you have this. I hope it gets better soon

[Luca'smum]

I had it too. Three weeks ago, I ended up on antibiotics as the cabbage leaves and homeopathic treatment weren't working. It really sucks I am so glad to be well again. Hope you feel well soon too.

[Juise]

I got it too, when DD was 3 weeks, it was awful I'm sorry you have to go through it. I put off going to the doc for days, until I had a fever of 103, what seemed like a horrible flu, and was choking / sobbing through nursing, then to ER.

Hot compress *before* nursing, it makes it a *whole* lot less painful, at least it really helped me.

A word of advice, though. They told me to return immediately if I had any nausea / vomiting, and the following night after over an hour of pukin and dry heaving and unable to get off the bathroom floor, we went back to ER. They gave me Phenergan (generic Promethazine) for the nausea. Of course, I asked about safety with breastfeeding and was told that "It is absolutely safe, they even give it to pregnant women!" After 2 doses that were probably necessary I continued taking it to keep the upset stomach down... until we looked it up, and found out it is potentially dangerous and should only be given / taken when "absolutely necessary" I was incredibly pissed, (still am, I guess) I wish I had known that.

Also, I would watch for thrush in the LO, antibiotics in mum or baby can cause it, and DD got it after I had to take them, and it took me awhile to figure out what her issue was.

Hopefully this is something that you *don't* need to know, but, just in case...

Best wishes for you, feel better soon! :

[BabyBump]

Thanks for the words of support and advice. I think I caught it pretty early. I was feeling much better by saturday evening/sunday morning. I am concerned about thrush. I've been drinking kefir a couple times a day until I can get to the local health nut store (a half hour away for me) tomorrow. Did a little research about prevention of thrush and found several sources citing probiotics, which I figured. I'm also going to really watch my sugar intake while I'm on the meds since yeast loves sugar. Should help take those last couple pounds off but it won't be easy with Jelly Bellys in the house.

[Avarie]

I went to my OB for mastitis just last Tuesday. Thankfully, I've got a 2-year-old who's more than happy to help with emptying my breasts. It's sooooooo awful and painful, and I had a 102 fever and then a headache for three days even with abx and tylenol. My head throbbed so much I could barely move it.

[StrawberryFields]

I had mastitis pretty bad with ds once (dh had to stay home from work because I couldn't get out of bed) and I kicked it with homeopathic phytolacca, hot compresses (Gerber makes this microwaveable breast compress I happened to have around the house), hot showers, and massage. I was able to get through it without abx so I don't have any advice about that but I would just keep an eye out for thrush by taking probiotics and restricting sugar.

[Juise]

Originally Posted by StrawberryFields

I had mastitis pretty bad with ds once (dh had to stay home from work because I couldn't get out of bed) and I kicked it with homeopathic phytolacca, hot compresses (Gerber makes this microwaveable breast compress I happened to have around the house), hot showers, and massage. I was able to get through it without abx so I don't have any advice about that but I would just keep an eye out for thrush by taking probiotics and restricting sugar.

Oooh! I'm so glad you posted this, as I am really struggling with systemic candida yeast and am afraid DD will get thrush again even without the abx! Now I know if I run into it again I have an alternative!

[RasJi7]

Originally Posted by StrawberryFields

I had mastitis pretty bad with ds once (dh had to stay home from work because I couldn't get out of bed) and I kicked it with homeopathic phytolacca, hot compresses (Gerber makes this microwaveable breast compress I happened to have around the house), hot showers, and massage. I was able to get through it without abx so I don't have any advice about that but I would just keep an eye out for thrush by taking probiotics and restricting sugar.

All sugars? or just artificial sugars? I want to help prevent thrush as I am usually a little on the yeasty side (ehem- down there) never a yeast infection (no symptoms just noticable yeast)

I read about a very diluted vinegar rinse (1tblspoon vinegar to 1 c water) to use on breasts but am interested in limiting sugar as well.

SHould I avoid artificial sugars (I already do this for health reasons) or natural sugars as well- fruit juices, fruit, even starches? Just clueless on this - please give me the rundown I would really really appreciate it.

[Juise]

All sugars, I'm afraid, including starches If you eat it, honey is supposed to be okay. It has other anti-yeast properties, it may just be raw honey though, I would check, I didn't pay attention to that part because I don't eat it I'm on I think day 6 of my anti-yeast elimination diet and the juicelessness is killing me! Errghh I'm a juice fiend! But, I would just try to be careful how much you have until it's over. If you're just preventing and not trying to get rid of the problem, I shouldn't think you'd need to cut them out entirely. If it becomes an issue then there are all *sorts* of foods you need to avoid that I wouldn't worry too much about now, except to maybe limit your carbs a bit.

As part of my yeast war I also do the vinegar wash before and after DD nurses. Doesn't bother DD at all, just me, cold! because I make up a ball jar of it to use, and nothing sitting around here stays warm