Worst Pain of My Life, Help!!!

Sorry you are going through this. If it is mastitis. You may need to rent a hospital grade pump to help it away. It does aslo sound like thrush so look up the links from the other moms.

Hi J.,
I had the same problem. I took antibiotics 3 different times and I think it just made it worse. You have a yeast infection (or called thrush). Please look at these websites for lots of helpful tips.
http://www.breastfeedingonline.com/yeast.shtml
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/mastitis.html
Hang in there - once you get the hang of how to treat and prevent these things, breastfeeding is so much fun! Good luck :)
L.

I used to get blocked ducts about every few weeks with my first baby and it felt HORRIBLE...I would start to feel a pain under my armpit and I just knew it was starting. For me it helped to take 3 advil, a HOT bath, and pump pump pump afterwards. I would usually feel completely wiped out for the rest of the day, but at least that horrible pain would go away.

Good luck and hang in there! I still remember that horrible feeling!

I'm sure you've gotten some good responses but I just wanted to make sure you have looked into cabbage leaves (yes, as in the plant) warmed and used to empty your ducts COMPLETELY! Effecient empty is key to comfort. Cabbage leaves and breast massage while nursing (from base of breast out towards nipple to fully empty duct) work wonders. If you want more info, contact la Leche League (on line or your local chapter) or your nearest lactation consultant. Speaking of Lactantion consultant, I hope you have called on about this issues alread. If not, please DO!!!!! The ones at Harris Hospital in Ft Worth are free to talk to on hte phone and minimal charge to see in person no matter where you are from or where you had your baby! Many hospitals also have them on staff so contact the hospital where you had your baby and see if you can talk to that one for free as well (usually can)!

Good luck! I know how painful mastitis is and feel for you going this long! FIND A GOOD LACTATION CONSULTANT or even a good health supplement store with nutrition staff for alternative meds! They work wonders as well!

Hi. I am so sorry to hear about your pain. I had something similar happen to me around the same time-frame and it was AWFUL(I am currently in the weaning process with my daughter...she is 13 months old). It would often feel like my breast was on fire. I would have a SEVERE burning sensation, along with knife-like shooting pains. I considered mastitis, but it did not get better with breastfeeding (mastitis should) and none of the other symptoms fit. I did some research and thought that it could possibly be thrush, but eventually abandoned this idea, as my daughter did not have thrush. I called the lactation consultant at the hospital and she offered some advice that ultimately helped me. She said to make sure that I was wearing a bra that was supportive with no underwire and was not too loose and warm/cold packs. Also, making sure the baby is latched on correctly is VERY important. They should have as much of the areola in their mouth as possible and their lips should be turned out so it looks like a fish. Since this is my first child, I was still learning the ropes with breastfeeding and would let her feed regardless of how she latched on. After speaking to the lactation consultant, I did whatever I could to make sure she was latched on properly.

I was already wearing nursing bras (no underwire....can block ducts), but they were not very supportive. I found one at Motherhood Maternity that was VERY comfortable, supportive and had pads in it. It looks like a sports bra and the pads add so much comfort. When I was having this problem, nothing felt good around my breasts, but this bra actually did. I am towards the larger-breasted side, so at first I thought that the pads would not be a good thing, but I tried it anyways and it was THE WAY TO GO for me. The key is having something that is supportive. It was not an immediate remedy, but I noticed a difference soon enough. The hot/cold packs also helped with the burning sensation. I wanted to continue breastfeeding, so I toughed it out despite the continued pain and it went away shortly after switching to a good bra and more importantly, making sure she was latched on correctly.

Of note, no one I spoke to about this (friends, family) had really ever experienced anything like this and the lactation consultant and pediatrician I spoke to acted like this was not something they were very familiar with either. The online research I did wasn't real helpful either, so I'm still not for sure why this happened/happens and if it is very common (doesn't sound like it). Every once in a while, I still get a burning sensation after she feeds, but it is NOTHING like what it used to be, but again, I think it is related to how she is latched on (sometimes I'm not paying attention and she has her lips pursed instead of flared out...believe me, it makes a difference!)

I hope this helps you. I doesn't sound like the antibiotics are going to work (since it has already been five days), as it doesn't sound like you still have mastitis. If things don't get better soon, go see your doctor to make sure something else isn't going on. Good luck and take care. Would love to know if any of this advice ends up helping you.

Usually it would clear up with the antibiotics, does baby eat alot from that breast? Baby needs to nurse as much as possible, Do you have a pump electric can be given out at a WIC office. I had mastitis and i never knew i had it also no simptoms, try lots of nursing from that side!

Contact Kay at the Nesting Place in Grapevine. She accepts some insurances. I'm sure she can help you figure out exactly what it is if you haven't found relief from what the other moms have said. Hope you feel better soon! I know it's not fun.

J.,

Follow the advice to clear a clogged milk duct or to clear up thrush but I want you to know that right after childbirth, there is a slight increase in breast cancer while your hormones are out of whack. Just recently, I read about inflammatory breast cancer that causes pain. It is likely something that is more common, but I want you to know about this unlikely cause so you don't wait too long in a worse case scenario.

Jen

I know you've gotten a ton of responces already and maybe someone already said this (I didn;t read them all)...but sounds like it could be mastitis. I've breast fed all 4 of my kids and I got this with my last one when she was 3 months old and then it devoloped into a cyst. Worst pain of my life and I too had flu like symptoms. Dr put me on antibiotics but they didn't help. I wound up having to have surgery (out-patient) where they put a drain in my breast. had the drain for about a week then I had to go back and have the drain removed and the hole sewn up. I continued to breast feed through this because I was told it would actually make things worse to try and quit at that point. It was tough because milk would come out the drain too when I nursed, ick! but all in all glad I stuck with it.
Hope your able to resolve this soon you poor thing I know its not any fun to be dealing with that. Good luck.

J.,

You're probably at the doctor but I just saw this. I had a horrible pain in my breast and thought it was clogged milk ducts. It hurt like heck and because I thought it was a milk duct I tried some home remedies before going into my doctor. I went in to my regular doctor and although he was calm he called another doctor (sorry can't think of the specialty) and asked if he could see me that afternoon; it was already after 5pm, so I knew it was serious. I went over and the doctor did a in office surgery/procedure. He made a small incision just above my nipple and it was full of puss. They called it mastitis. He squeezed tons of puss out and inserted guaze which I had to change several times. I think he placed a tube/string/something inside. I was also put on an antibiotic. He advised me that once all of the "stuff" was completely out that I could stop inserting the gauze. When I went back to him after a few days, everything was fine. Let me tell you that I immeidately felt relief after he cut it open and starting releasing the puss. Hope this helps and your doctor diagnoses you correctly. One more thing, I could not breast feed while on the antibiotic my doctor did not want me to; but we started again successfully after Mommy was all better.

I never had it but I think you are suppose to clean your breast after the baby feeds so the yeast won't run rapid. I'm so sorry you are having to go through that. It hurt to breastfeed for about a week for me after having both my girls and I can't even imagine what it is like with mastits. Talk to your doctor though if it hasn't cleared up everyone's body is different and everyone heals different. I hope this helps, hang in there:-)

Hello!
I am so sorry! Hot showers helped me. I know you probably know that, but this helped me tremendously! La Leche League may be able to help!
I truely hope that you are better soon!
Sincerely,
C. N.

Sorry I am just now responding to this, hopefully someone has already informed you that you should go see your doctor immediately. You could have a clogged milk duct, which could lead to major infection ... and possible surgery. I thought I had a clogged duct and when I mentioned it - the doctor immediately sent me for a mammogram. You do not want to waste too much time with this.

Hope you are better soon.
Take care!

I will have to agree with Mommy T, it sounds like thrush. The links on Kellymom are wonderful and give great advice and information to consider when you talk with your physician.

I've never had mastitis, but thrush (yeast infection)is excruciating! I would definitely see a lactation consultant and a doctor, but there are a couple of things that will help thrush: after nursing, allow your breast to air dry completely. Yeast need moisture. Another thing I've read about is exposing your breast to sunlight--this isn't always possible unless you have a very private backyard (or a lack of inhibitions). Gentian Violet is extremely effective and available over the counter, probably at your local wal-mart neighborhood market. It will dye anything it touches a deep, inky purple, but it will help.

Your Doctor will give you the best advice. I lhad a mastectomy. Go to your Doctor N O W!

One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is Raynaud's phenomenon. You can read about it on kellymom.com too. It is often misdiagnosed as a yeast infection. Very painful. I hope you get it figured out!

Good luck,
B.

Sounds like thrush!!! I had it in both my breast. VERY painful, and usually hurts more after nursing. My daughter didn't have thrush in her mouth (white spots) so we didn't think that's what I had. But she had it in her tummy and throat. She would arch her back when nursing and cryed alot. Is your baby showing any signs of something wrong? Or just you? Alot of things to think about... but I wouldn't rule out Thrush just because you don't see it in your baby's mouth. Hope you feel better soon. Blessing

I had the same thing happen with my third child and it is very painful, so I feel your pain! Kellymom.com had the best advice. You probably have a clogged duct that you need to work out and if you start before fever and infection kick in, you shouldn't need antibiotics (which would only handle the infection, but the clog still needs to be cleared). Use hot compresses (wash cloths w/ hot water) and heating pad on your breast. Massage from back toward the center and in circular motion around sore spots. Nurse as much as you can and if you have a pump, use it and massage while feeding or pumping. Alternate nursing positions with your baby, ideally, chin of baby at the sore spot. Get rest, lots of fluids (I think warm helped) and keep with the massages and pumping/feeding until you feel some relief. When you are nursing/pumping, you will probably notice it's blocked and not much coming out. You want to get a letdown as much as you can to help.

I hope it gets better soon! I noticed it happened more on one side than the other for me, so I am extra cautious to make sure I keep that breast emptied. So, sometimes, I nurse that side twice in a row instead of alternating. I also notice long car rides cause problems with the seatbelt on it.

Hang in there! I hope you can get this taken care of soon!

OH MY GOSH! I feel so bad for you! I went through what you are and it was a nightmare!!!!
I did some natural remedies like putting a COLD leaf of cabbage in my nursing bra. It helps drain whats in there and the cold feels good. Also I had a bowl of warm water with Epsom salt in it and I was lay over it and let one boob at a time soak. I know, sounds very uncomfortable and awkward but it seemed to help and speed up the infection healing. They also say to nurse as often as possible but that was hard to force myself to do! UGH! I feel so bad for you! You may need to call your doc for a pain killer like vicodin. My doctor here (newly pregnant for the 3rd time) said it is safe for the baby during pregnancy and during breast feeding (that's why the hospitals give it to you after you have a baby). Now obviously not in huge amounts but its fine to take while you are going through this. Trust me you will be so glad you had some relief!!! Oh and also warm showers letting it hit your breast is supposed to help (didn't too much me but maybe a little temporary relief). I'm surprised you don't have improvement with antibiotic, you may need to inform your doctor about that. You may be just really engorged on top of it all making it seem like it isn't helping, does that make sense? I pray that you get through this SOON! I feel for you :(

Hi,

Ice packs on the breast can help pain. I wished I had used them sooner. I had 3 kids and all 3 breastfed and I didn't know until the 3rd one. I also took warm showers before feeding and massaged the breast to help with flow. Of course if things do not improve, then talk with your doctor.

Hope that helps.

Get back in to c ur doctor!!

Mother of 5 here--Try ice packs. That might mitigate the pain some.

Oh my gosh I can feel your pain!! It is the worst, the absolute worst! It sounds an awful lot like the yeast infection I had when my son was about a month old, although my pain was most excruciating at the beginning of a nursing session and lasted through the feeding.
I had cracked, blistered nipples from an atrocious latch and as a result got a nasty yeast infection on top of it all. Here is a resource for you to browse through.
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/thrush/thrush-resourc...

I hope it is simply a yeast infection and it clears up for you rapidly!
Good luck, I am so sorry you are going through this!

I am recommending an excellent Certified Lactation Consultant. Her name is Linda Worzer and her phone number is ###-###-####-3921. I am sure she will have a definitive answer for you.

I didn't read the other responses so sorry if I'm repeating but I have a SUPER RARE thing happen to me and that is a varicose vein in my right breat right by the nipple. It's crazy, I had three doctors tell me it was bacteria infection, put me on antibiotics but NOTHING helped. It doesn't really look like anything abnormal. When he eats off that side it gets a little more swollen, but that's why the diagnosis took 5 people (3 doctors, 2 lactation specialists) and it was finally a midwife that figured out that's what it was! They are SUPER rare in that area but SUPER SUPER painful. If it were thrush or mastitis it would be easy to diagnos, so just wanted to throw out this idea becuase that's what I've been dealing with. If you find out that's what it is and want to email me please feel free! Good luck, and I hope that's not what it is!!

Unfortunately, doctors are not trained in breastfeeding, so what you get from them is most likely their own experience or what they heard from their wives or mothers. A lactation consultant or La Leche League are the best resources for what you have. (ask your doctor what kind of training in breastfeeding they got. It would be interesting to hear their answer.)
www.naturalbeginningsonline.com has two great consultants and also gives you information about La Leche league in your area.
I applaud you for continuing to nurse your baby!