If you've had Mastitis please come in

gymkatinka · March 2012

Yesterday I posted on the Breastfeeding board about the pain in my breast.We thought it was thrush, but LO had no symptoms.

Went to see my OB today and she thinks it's mastitis.Also, since yesterday I have a pounding headache, horrible chills, to the point that I shake or other times I'm drenched in sweat. It really feels like a flu.I assume it's part of having mastitis?

Did any of you have these symptoms as well?

How long did it take to feel better after taking antibiotics?

Thanks!

megperk72 · March 2012

I had it twice with DD, and yes it feels like the flu! Antibiotics should help pretty quickly. Just keep warm compresses on the area and massage it out if you can. Good luck, hope you feel better soon....I know it's miserable. Take some ibuprofen for fever if you feel like it will help,

mcbray21 · March 2012

I had it with DD, and it felt just like the flu for me. Headache, fever, chills, and so tired! I was miserable, and even after being on the antibiotics for quite a few days I was still running the fever. Get lots of rest and drink plenty of fluids. My fever was so high that I was alternating between tylenol and ibuprofen which did help. Feel better soon!

shotzie · March 2012

I have mastitis right now. At 4 am this morning, my right boob was SO engorged, but I didn't feel any clogged ducts. I pumped out 3 oz to relieve some of the pressure. Within an hour, I had chills and just felt terrible. A few hours later, I had a headache and fever. I called and talked to my OB's nurse and she ordered an antibiotic. I just took the second dose. If you don't feel significantly better within 24 hrs, you need to let them know. I had mastitis with DD1 too and felt a lot better the day after starting the meds. My supply went down, but I just kept nursing and nursing and it rebounded within a week.

WildcatPrincess · March 2012

I had it 3x in a row thanks to oversupply and milk blisters, ugh. It's pretty much exactly as you describe. A telltale sign for me was always intense leg pain, the kind of ache you get with the flu. The first time my fever was really high which caused the chills. I was shaking so badly I could barely hold DD! It took 24 hours to feel better, more like 48 before I felt totally normal. I suggest taking a probiotic while on antibiotics. I ended up with yeast from all the meds and it took almost 2 months to clear that up. Feel better!

ChrisMiss31 · March 2012

I am on my second day of antibiotics right now for mastitis! Yes I had the pounding headache and a horrible stiff/sore body! I tried to ward it off naturally the first day but it can get bad so very quickly and I found out the hard way! I am just now starting to feel better (no headache for the first time) I have been nursing more often too because I think the drugs are affecting my supply... so Good luck to you and I hope you got the antibiotics, relief is within sight!

fernane · March 2012

I had it a few weeks ago when DS was only a week old. I got the flu symptoms..weak, chills, headache, and a 102.9 fever. I thought it must be mastitis so we put warm compresses on the aching boob, massaged it, and I kept seriously hydrated, drinking tons of water and eating oranges. By the next morning it was gone, and I didn't even have to see the doctor, take meds., etc. I have heard a heat lamp also helps.

NYE · March 2012

How do u know if u have a blocked duct?

I have had a head ache for the last 2 nights and wake up w aches like the flu. Everything goes away w a couple Tylenol.

DS has started sleeping longer stretches and eating less at night. Very engorged in the morning, pumping 6-9oz first thing. Hoping my body will start to regulate the night feedings.

gymkatinka · March 2012

Thanks so much for the responses!I'm definitely taking probiotics.

NYE, I think you can actually see the clogged ducts, but I'm no expert...

jonsuz · March 2012

I had it last week and went from having pain in one side to shaking with chills a couple hours later. By the morning I had a 102 fever. I started antibiotics and felt better within 3 doses, dramatically within 24 hours although I would still sweat a lot. It was terrible but went away very fast. To the PP who said it goes away with tylenol, that was not my experience at all but may have been for others.

meg_2006 · March 2012

sounds right...my doctor told me (after I had to go to the ER for it), that the telltale signs are chills and a fever that spikes and drops rapidly. Also my entire chest and breast turned bright red and were warm to the touch. It took me about 2 days to get rid of the fever/chills, but I had several antibiotics given through IV and then took orally when I was out of the hospital. My skin stayed red for about a week.