big time boobie problems -- long vent

bitsylee · July 2013

I so wanted to breastfeed. And we tried. But LO was a weak suckler and on top of that, I had a very low milk supply and super slow let-down. Turned out the super slow let-down was due to my fibrocystic breast disease that was blocking my milk ducts. There was nothing I could do to clear the blockage, it was my breast tissue hardening and stifling the ducts. My left breast ended up getting infected. Really, really infected.

We tried 3 weeks of antibiotics that still allowed me to nurse, but it didn't work and also gave me hives. So then they put me on a super antibiotic that required I stopped nursing (too dangerous for baby) and they needed my milk flow to stop entirely to stop feeding the infection, so I was doing binding too.

Then the procedures -- needle aspiration and then a small incision.

Finally, full-blown surgery. They opened up my breast and flushed it out with saline and antibiotics. They left the wound open and packed to allow it to drain.

And that's where I'm at now, with an open wound on my breast that every two days, I need to go in, have them pull out the packing and then re-pack it. It's as painful as it sounds. I'm still on antibiotics and percocet for the pain.

Looks like the infection has finally cleared, but my breast tissue is still as hard as a rock. The doctor says it's indurated tissue. It could take a while to clear up.

Are there any doctor types out there that can tell me more about indurated tissue? Will my breast ever be soft again?

So yes. The breastfeeding did not happen. On some level, I can't help but feel like a failure or that my body betrayed me. But baby is gaining weight on formula and dad enjoys being able to feed him too. He seems perfectly happy and healthy.

Now if only *I* could be perfectly happy and healthy too!

BabyChickpea · July 2013

Bless your heart! I'm so sorry for everything you have been through and are still going through. Know that you are doing the best thing for your baby and yourself. Hugs

emmy236 · July 2013

You poor thing. Don't feel like a failure if you can handle all of that and still take care of a newborn. I'm completely impressed. As for a doctor id actually check with a plastic surgeon who specializes in breast reconstruction. I know a lot do it for women who have had mastectomies. He or she can probably tell you what to expect and what you can do.

nbatchen · July 2013

I understand feeling like your body betrayed you. I felt the same about my c section. But then I realized all that mattered was that me and my little boy were healthy. You may not be able to breast feed your baby but that does not make you a failure! It means you made a decision to be healthy to be there for your baby!

mylovelyll · July 2013

So sorry and hoping that your recovery speeds up ASAP! Your experience sounds ultra painful, and makes me feel less sorry for myself about my hemorrhoids (like having a mini birth once a day through my backdoor...).

abstar24 · July 2013

Wow. You poor thing. I hope you recover quickly! That sounds VERY painful. All that matters is that you love your LO and that you gave it a shot. Good luck!!

kelly422 · July 2013

That sounds awful

Sorry!

snowgirl427 · July 2013

Wow. So sorry you are going through this!

bitsylee · July 2013

Thanks everyone for the well wishes. It actually helps a lot to finally talk about it all. Thank you, thank you!

Good idea on the breast reconstruction surgery. I will look into it!

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