[MommyDee]

I'm in a world of hurt right now... I'll start this off by saying I already had one round of antibiotics for mastitis (two weeks ago) but to be honest, I'm not sure whether this is the same thing again or not. My breasts have been really full again the last few days, and I had to delay a feeding last night (major colic fit, and if I feed Damian while he's in the middle of one, he just gets worse). I woke up fairly engorged this morning, and while the right breast seems to be okay this evening, the left is still really full and sore. I had to use a warm washcloth and express this afternoon just to keep my sanity -- even brushing against it with my arm hurt. I expressed again in the shower this evening, and I've also nursed off that side several times, but it seems to be getting worse... I also felt some stabbing/burning pain on the underside and towards the left side while he was nursing. I've been queasy/offish today, have a headache, and am really tired -- but those could also be attributed to munchkin's 9pm-3am screaming session lol. I'm not running a fever, but I rarely do when I'm sick, and if I do it's really low-grade.

So -- mastitis or just engorgement? And if it seems to be mastitis, can it wait until Monday or should I be seen tomorrow? Any opinions/suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

[twinzplus3]

Get rid of the engorgement by any means necessary. That includes pumping. Go ahead and be pre-emptive. . .like if you need to skip another nursing session bc little junior is screaming his head off. . .pump in its place. Think in terms of keeping yourself comfortable. I would think that would help significantly. . .are you off antibiotics now?

You also might want to consider taking lechithin. Women who suffer from frequent plugged ducts say that it works miracles.

[MommyDee]

I did a ten-day course of cloxacillin so I've been off antibiotics since the middle of the week. It's definitely a plugged duct -- Damian had a really good feed at one point last night (bless his ravenous little belly lol) and with the engorgement finally down I found a lump on the left side. I was actually kicking myself the other night -- we were visiting my grandparents overnight when I had to skip the feeding, and of course, I didn't bother to bring my pump! I'm going to see how it goes today, hopefully I can get the lump to go down.

[QueenAngie]

(((Hugs)))

Hoping it gets better soon.

[twinzplus3]

For removing the lump, you may find it more effective to hand express while massaging the lump. Personally, I like to do it in a warm bath or shower or with a heating pad.

Oh and also--push the clear fluids. Lots and lots of water.

ETA: Not to say that you shouldn't pump. . .you definitely need to do whatever it takes to be comfortable. But for actually removing the lump, massaging it out will often to do the trick.

[MommyDee]

HAH. I think I know what's been going on here.

Damian was treated for a yeast infection on his diaper area, and at that time I was convinced he and I had thrush as I had sore nipples and breast pain, and he had a thin white film on his tongue and was gassy and cranky. My GP brushed it off; he didn't even look in Damian's mouth.

Two weeks ago, I saw a different dr (because mine wasn't in) due to the same symptoms, and again, was told it wasn't thrush, but was told I had mastitis and given a ten-day course of antibiotics.

Last two days, EXTREMELY miserable, gassy, cranky munchkin, and this morning I caught a glimpse of the inside of his lips. On closer inspection? -- thrush spots. Yes, we're headed to the dr (a different one again) shortly.

My thoughts? I think we had thrush from the start, and it caused the mastitis. Think this is a possibility?

[twinzplus3]

Mastitis, if it's a bacterial infection cannot be caused by thrush which is an overgrowth of yeast. (Mastitis is also a general term used to say the breast tissue or milk ducts are swollen and enflamed so a mastitis diagnosis doesn't always warrant antibiotics.) BUT, antibiotics totally mess with the natural environment of your body and in some people--cause the little yeasties to flourish. So. . .if I had to guess. . .I would suspect you never had mastitis. . .that it's been a yeast issue all along which will cause mastitis symptoms minus the fever. OR that you had mastitis but the combination of you being on antibiotics and baby being treated for thrust caused you to catch it too. Either way--going to the doctors is good. I alwasy say that thrush is the lice of breastfeeding. It is a big huge pain in the booty to get rid of.

[MommyDee]

I know thrush is fungal, but would it make you more likely to end up with an infection? -- Not meaning that the yeast specifically caused it, but that it might make you more susceptible to a secondary infection if your ducts are already inflamed. I do know that I saw improvement while I was on the antibiotics. Either way, it IS a pain in the backside... no, actually it's a pain in the boob.

Anyhow, yup, it is thrush; Damian has oral Nystatin and I have topical. Doesn't surprise me, I'm (TMI) prone to yeast infections as a general rule, and Gabriel and I went through a few rounds when I was nursing him. I'm actually a bit concerned though because I've been having breast pain (never did with thrush before), and a topical ointment ain't gonna fix the inside, KWIM?

And my poor munchkin... It was past 4am -- last night? this morning? -- before he finally settled. I'm effectively zombified, and my pump came in very handy today lol.

[twinzplus3]

awwww. . .I'm so sorry. The pain can be from thrush gone wild. Thrush is painful. . .and especially since you mentioned that you thought it was that before and they said no. Sounds like you've had it for awhile. In theory. . .thrush and mastitis have nothing to do with each other than I'm aware. . .. . .but that is a little farther out of my realm of expertise. But in any case, the topical should do the trick. The good thing is now you're on top of it (or rather it sounds like you always were. . .but now your docs are on top of it) and so you should see improvement soon. BTW, I'm sure you know this but beware of yeast infections. . .um all over.