mastitis?

[lo]

I think I might have it.  I slept on my belly a lot last night since H is out of town, and it felt awesome to starfish.  However, I paid the price by waking up and feeling like my left boob had been in a street fight and lost.  So painful, like a deep pain.  And kind of hard.  And it's my good boob, which has never given me any problems, so this sucks. 

I've had body aches all day, which at first I thought was due to a workout yesterday, but that wouldn't be every inch of my body.  And I've had a lingering headache all day that began last night (which was before my boob started to hurt?).  My temp is 99, which I think is a bit high for me since it's usually in the high 96's or 97's.  I can't really tell if I see any red streaks, because I have fair skin and get red marks on my skin constantly.  Plus DD claws the crap out of me nursing, so I can't tell if some of the marks are from her or not. 

I called the doctor's today at noon, and the soonest they can see me is tomorrow at 9am. 

H is out of town, but I think I can handle this for a night...  I'm just nervous because I've read that it can turn nasty quickly.  I wish they had called me in some antibiotics!

[july]

My doctor just called me on antibiotics. However, the pharmacy never got it and it was a Friday afternoon. I ended up nursing and pumping a lot with some heat applied as well. It cleared up really fast.

[VillainV]

Is your breast red and puffy? Or even just one part/wedge of breast? Yeah, it sounds like mastitis to me. Personally, I would go to urgent care, because mastitis is nasty and gets bad quickly. Might be too late now...but yeah, I'd try to get antibiotics TONIGHT and not wait till tomorrow.

Antibiotics should make it feel better almost immediately. If you have a plugged duct you'll feel way better once that clears as well.

[lilac05]

Yes, it can get nasty quickly. It can also clear up without antibiotics. The problem is that you never know which will be your experience. I always recommend getting to your doctor ASAP. At this point that may be tomorrow morning since your H is out of town.

If you can't get in tonight, take a hot shower and massage where it hurts. It'll hurt...a lot...but you may be able to break it up. Warm compress and massage, nurse as much as possible, ice after feeding.

[july]

I guess it is good that mine cleared up. I didn't know it could get worst fast.

[pinotgrig]

OP, definitely get in today. You'll feel better super quickly with antibitiotics. GL!

[lilac05]

Thinking of you this morning lo. I hope the night went smoothly and you're able to get some antibiotics this morning.

[lo]

Jan 14, 2015 8:47:33 GMT -5 lilac05 said:

Thinking of you this morning lo. I hope the night went smoothly and you're able to get some antibiotics this morning.

Thanks!! I think I was able to break most of it up last night/overnight because I feel better today.

The dr still noticed some redness and heat on my left boob, which still has pain, and said that I was probably on my way to full blown mastitis yesterday when I was feeling so crappy, but that hopefully I was on the mend since I feel better today.

I have an rx for penicillin if I start to feel worse again.

[lilac05]

Jan 14, 2015 11:03:00 GMT -5 lo said:

Jan 14, 2015 8:47:33 GMT -5 lilac05 said:

Thanks!! I think I was able to break most of it up last night/overnight because I feel better today.

The dr still noticed some redness and heat on my left boob, which still has pain, and said that I was probably on my way to full blown mastitis yesterday when I was feeling so crappy, but that hopefully I was on the mend since I feel better today.

I have an rx for penicillin if I start to feel worse again.

Great to hear!  Mine went back and forth like that for two weeks.  Then it hit hard.  Don't hesitate to fill that Rx at the first sign of things going downhill again.

[pinotgrig]

Jan 14, 2015 11:03:00 GMT -5 lo said:

Jan 14, 2015 8:47:33 GMT -5 lilac05 said:

Thinking of you this morning lo. I hope the night went smoothly and you're able to get some antibiotics this morning.

Thanks!! I think I was able to break most of it up last night/overnight because I feel better today.

The dr still noticed some redness and heat on my left boob, which still has pain, and said that I was probably on my way to full blown mastitis yesterday when I was feeling so crappy, but that hopefully I was on the mend since I feel better today.

I have an rx for penicillin if I start to feel worse again.

Good! I hope you continue to feel well and heal. As lilac05 said, don't hesitate to fill your RX if you start to feel bad - stay in front of it!

[lo]

Jan 14, 2015 13:16:45 GMT -5 lilac05 said:

Jan 14, 2015 11:03:00 GMT -5 lo said:

Thanks!! I think I was able to break most of it up last night/overnight because I feel better today.

The dr still noticed some redness and heat on my left boob, which still has pain, and said that I was probably on my way to full blown mastitis yesterday when I was feeling so crappy, but that hopefully I was on the mend since I feel better today.

I have an rx for penicillin if I start to feel worse again.

Great to hear!  Mine went back and forth like that for two weeks.  Then it hit hard.  Don't hesitate to fill that Rx at the first sign of things going downhill again.

Hmm, I definitely don't want to be going back and forth with this for 2 weeks! Maybe I should just take the antibiotics now? I am still feeling some pain and hardness but don't have the aches, fever and all that today.

[pinotgrig]

Jan 14, 2015 15:50:10 GMT -5 lo said:

Jan 14, 2015 13:16:45 GMT -5 lilac05 said:

Great to hear!  Mine went back and forth like that for two weeks.  Then it hit hard.  Don't hesitate to fill that Rx at the first sign of things going downhill again.

Hmm, I definitely don't want to be going back and forth with this for 2 weeks! Maybe I should just take the antibiotics now? I am still feeling some pain and hardness but don't have the aches, fever and all that today.

I never had aches or fever. Just a big red area that was like 1/4 of my boob and lots of pain.

Did your doc feel for a plugged duct? Mine did and didn't feel anything but as soon as she saw my boob she said "You have mastitis!"

Do you have a red area? If so, how big?

[lo]

Jan 14, 2015 15:54:34 GMT -5 pinotgrig said:

Jan 14, 2015 15:50:10 GMT -5 lo said:

Hmm, I definitely don't want to be going back and forth with this for 2 weeks! Maybe I should just take the antibiotics now? I am still feeling some pain and hardness but don't have the aches, fever and all that today.

I never had aches or fever. Just a big red area that was like 1/4 of my boob and lots of pain.

Did your doc feel for a plugged duct? Mine did and didn't feel anything but as soon as she saw my boob she said "You have mastitis!"

Do you have a red area? If so, how big?

I think she did? She felt both boobs and could tell that one was warmer and slightly reddened. The area is around 3x3 inches or so. I still feel some hardness that usually isn't there. Yesterday it was so painful and hard and it's much better today.

[pinotgrig]

Jan 14, 2015 17:02:54 GMT -5 lo said:

Jan 14, 2015 15:54:34 GMT -5 pinotgrig said:

I never had aches or fever. Just a big red area that was like 1/4 of my boob and lots of pain.

Did your doc feel for a plugged duct? Mine did and didn't feel anything but as soon as she saw my boob she said "You have mastitis!"

Do you have a red area? If so, how big?

I think she did? She felt both boobs and could tell that one was warmer and slightly reddened. The area is around 3x3 inches or so. I still feel some hardness that usually isn't there. Yesterday it was so painful and hard and it's much better today.

If you're feeling better and your boob symptoms aren't worsening, you may be in the clear. I hope so! Just keep an eye on it and take action if it starts to get worse.

[lilac05]

***my situation was NOT common***

I only ran a VERY low grade temp and had absolutely no other symptoms of mastitis. The bump and pain never went away, but since I had no other symptoms, I didn't take anything the first week. I just kept working on it, but it never got markedly better. Then the antibiotics didn't work. I ended up with an abscess (do NOT google!). It sucked! (I did still manage to BF for 17 more months and counting! though, so it's not the end of the world.)

Many crunchier moms will say you can often treat it on your own & it'll go away (same with ear infections). Chances are, that's what is happening with you...as long as it gets progressively better. If it's not completely cleared by tomorrow, I'd probably start the antibiotics, personally. You may still feel bruised from all of the massage and compression, though.

[lo]

Jan 14, 2015 17:08:33 GMT -5 lilac05 said:

***my situation was NOT common***

I only ran a VERY low grade temp and had absolutely no other symptoms of mastitis. The bump and pain never went away, but since I had no other symptoms, I didn't take anything the first week. I just kept working on it, but it never got markedly better. Then the antibiotics didn't work. I ended up with an abscess (do NOT google!). It sucked! (I did still manage to BF for 17 more months and counting! though, so it's not the end of the world.)

Many crunchier moms will say you can often treat it on your own & it'll go away (same with ear infections). Chances are, that's what is happening with you...as long as it gets progressively better. If it's not completely cleared by tomorrow, I'd probably start the antibiotics, personally. You may still feel bruised from all of the massage and compression, though.

Omg. You poor thing!! Well that pretty much settles it for me... I'm definitely going to start the meds tomorrow if I'm still feeling any hardness or pain.