Mastitis question

mmemartinez

Those of you who already suffered with mastitis - did you have breast pain first and then chills/malaise/fever? I am having the latter with no breast pain, but I also have a slightly sore throat. Trying to figure out WTH is going on. Being sick with a baby - whatever it is- is killing me!!

slfezz

I had breast pain first but no redness or swelling. 

LadySamLady

I had fever/chills/malaise first, then breast pain. I'm not sure if I just didn't notice the breast pain because BFing was generally still painful but the first indicator I had was chills followed by high fever. 

tgortney

Chills, fever and aches first. Then heavy, hot, and lumpy boob. That boob also had low milk output even thought it felt engorged and painful.

mmemartinez

Thanks ladies!!! I've been alternating Tylenol and ibuprofen all day with no relief. Pumped and feel much better, but the sore throat is throwing me off. Don't really feel much breast tenderness. Guess I'm going to doc in the morning.

sjlw

Engorgement/swelling/breast pain first, then fever during the night. Fever was gone the next morning, but the doctor saw redness when I went in.

My story - I was having serious lumpy engorgement issues over a weekend when my ob's office was closed, so I had some late night conversations with the lactation nurse on shift at the hospital. She had me doing 3 hr cycles of massage and heat compresses on boobs for 20+ mins to stimulate milk flow, nursing/pumping, then cold compresses for 20+ mins to reduce swelling. She told me that if I started having body aches or a fever above 103 to call my OB. I had a fever and ended up going to the ER instead BC I didn't want to wait until Monday to deal with it.

A sore throat sounds more like a cold?

Good luck! 

PYLWhammy

Breast pain, then chills/aches/fever, then red boob. If you're not sure what's going on, call your doctor.

Houseplant

I just developed mastitis yesterday morning.  I was achy the previous day, but didn't think too much of it.  I woke up at 2 am shaking uncontrollably from fever and my breast was really tender (although the breast pain got worse about 8 hours later).  My fever reached 103.  I alternated between shivering from fever and sweating profusely as the fever broke.  I had bad headaches, couldn't eat, felt achy all over, could barely stay awake, and felt really weak.  I was so sick that DH had to work from home so he could take care of the baby.  I also had mastitis with DS a couple years ago.  If it is mastitis, you will know soon.  It is so awful that there is no mistaking it when it's in full swing.  I hope that's not what you have and hope you feel better soon!

clbness

Mine started with engorgement and awful pain Sunday afternoon. In my MOTN feeding, I was FREEZING and had the shakes. I woke up drenched in sweat and had a fever Monday morning. By the time I had my dr appt Monday afternoon, my fever was gone, but my breast was red. I had a follow up yesterday and the spot on my breast got bigger, so my doctor upped my dosage of antibiotics. I have another follow up on Monday...unless it doesn't get better, she wants me to come in tomorrow. I actually felt bad again this morning, but it seemed to get better throughout the day. I hope you get to feeling better!

Bellodomani

I didn't get mastitis until my son was 10 months old, and it must have been from a tiny, deep clogged duct because I wasn't even aware of the clogged duct and had no breast pain, just horrible fever, chills, and body ache. Eventually the red streaks showed up on my breast and then I knew what was going on. But let me tell you, if you have persistent/ multiple rounds of mastitis, or you're generally wary of antibiotics, ask your doctor if they do ultrasound treatment! That's what they did when I had it with my son and it was great, very effective. 

mmemartinez

Thanks for all the great info! Going in to doc at 2. They are thinking flu or strep. Still no breast pain, just all the other stuff. 

katxattack1212

I'm currently dealing with this. I just had a slight fuller than normal feeling, not a true clog. Woke up at 2 am with chills, followed by 102.5 fever and felt terrible! Got on antibiotics that afternoon. Redness didn't show up until the next day!
Now, though feeling better, I am having random shooting pains in both breasts! Its getting very frustrating. I am about to quit this noise. 

KyleeWaller

I had a fever 102.something, chills/sweats and fatigue. I was this close to going to the doctor, but I started feeling better later in the afternoon, after repeatedly trying to massage and pump out the clog. Warm showers and a warm compress helped!

mmemartinez

So it's strep throat - the test came back super quick. Found out later that it is going around DS1s daycare. Somehow he's not sick so hopefully it stays that way!

Now I have to follow all sorts of weird rules so the antibiotics don't ruin the "natural flora" of the breastmilk. And it hurts like a mother to swallow But I am definitely well prepared if it is mastitis next time!