Diagnose me Nesties!!

FutureMrsLynch

I'm having a boob problem here are my symptoms..

• areolas very itchy, pink,  peeling, and in some spots also bleeding
• nipples seem unaffected by above symptom
• some sharp stabbing pains randomly in breasts
• pain in nipples during latch
• not sure if this is connected or not but milk has been pouring out of my right breast for about the last 3 hours, Im not usually one to leak.  I have even fed the baby but it doesnt stop! (this could be a result of the fenugreek Ive been taking but im not sure)

This has been going on for about a week and I dont have insurance right now so Im hoping its something that I can cure from home.   I thought it might be thrush but there are no white spots in DS's mouth so I'm not sure.  I have eczema but I have never had it on my breasts before so I dont think thats it...

Thanks ladies!!

KNemo

You so have Thrush! Max doesn't have white spots in his mouth, but I am battling Thrush right now. Your symptoms totally fit. Especially the jagged stabbing pains and the itching. Sounds exactly like my breasts...leaking and all. (but the leaking is probably unrelated)

Seattle_JiLLn

the stabbing pains sound like thrush.   Do you use Lansinoh cream or anything on them to keep them from getting all dried out? 

Havfe you looked at kellymom.com?

Why don't you have insurance???????   Not to be your mom abut this, but you NEED to have health insurance...I know a zillion years ago when I was between grad school and working, there was a state program you could get really pretty low cost insurance through... have you looked into anything like that?

massagegirly

When I was on FG my nipples itched really bad, like really bad! When I stoped taking it they got better as soon as the maple syrup smell went away. You could be having a allergic reaction to it. How long have you had it? Maybe you could just call the LC and talk to them. Explain that you do not have insurance.

MissBlush

Definitely thrush. ?You can treat it with Gentian Violet, which doesn't require a prescription. ?It's typically kept behind the pharmacy counter, so you'll have to ask for it. ?It's cheap and it works. I finally tried it after months of using a prescription with no success, and it cleared up the thrush right away.

FutureMrsLynch

Thanks ladies!   I will have insurance in 30 days, my new job is one of the "awesome" few who dont offer benefits until 90 days of employment. But dont worry, Holden is being covered under Cobra.

I use Lansinoh when I pump and it seems to be making it worse...

MG- This started before I started taking the FG so I know thats not it.

MissBlush- Thanks Ill get some GV!

 

Seattle_JiLLn

If it is thrush, then yes, Lansinoh will make it worse because it will trap the moisture in.   So stop using that, since it looks like the consensus is thrush.

THat's crazy that your job makes you wait 90 days for insurance!!   can you not keep Cobra for yourself whle you're in the waiting?  One thing to look at is to see if you have a lapse in insurance if your new insurance will cover pre-existing conditions.   My friend had this problem.   Everything she did that first year she had to prove over and over that it wasn't pre-existing.  And anythin related to her thyroid they wouldn't cover for a year b/c she did have that pre-existing condition.   But if she hadn't had a lapse, it would have been covered.  It would be shitty if yours does that since they pretty much force you into a lapse. 

FutureMrsLynch

I agree that its crazy (stupid) that they make us wait 90 days... You make a good point, I may put myself on cobra for this last month anyways.  I have a suspicious mole that I want to get checked out asap.

Em7.31.04

THRUSH!!!

 Call your m/w or OB NOW.  Ask for at least a 10-day Rx of Diflucan.  And an Rx for All Purpose Nipple Ointment (APNO) - look it up on kellymom.  APNO is a compounded Rx not available everywhere.

Read up on how to treat your nipples, DS if he has a rash or signs in his mouth, laundry, etc.

 We are dealing with this right now too.  :-(

IdahoGirl

Sounds like you have your answer - I'm so sorry...I was wondering how things were going for you.

energyzer

It sounds like you got your diagnosis but I thought I would weigh in on the insurance part.  If you don't have insurance and you tell a provider right up front, they will generally give you a discount for being a direct pay patient so it may not cost you all that much.  And, ask the doctor for a generic prescription and go fill it from Kroger/Target/Walmart that offer $4 generics - that's hoping it's one of those on their list. 

 The other thing you may be able to do, depending on when you lost your prior coverage is elect COBRA but don't pay yet so you can evaluate your options It's all going to depend on your timing of lost coverage.  You have 60 days to elect COBRA coverage and then an additional 45 days to pay for that coverage.  If you elect but don't pay, it holds your coverage for those additional 45 days for you to decide.  If you don't elect it, you only have those 60 days to decide.  You can go to the doctor and see how much it will cost and weight that cost vs. paying the COBRA premiums for a couple months.  Just a thought in case it helps!

What Jill said is true - if you have a gap of greater than 63 days with no insurance coverage, you will most likely have a pre-existing condition limitation on your new health plan. It may be worth it to pay for COBRA for just one month to prevent this if you have some issues going on.