Breast abscess gauze changing

ymmayer · April 2014

I just had a plugged duct turn into a severe breast abscess and needed surgery to drain the pus from an incision on the areola, fun!

My question is my doctor asked me to change out the gauze by myself at home over the weekend is that normal? I'm asking whoever has had this before. As you know the gauze is placed inside the breast cavity where the infection was, so basically I just had to pull gauze out of a gaping hole in my breast and then stuff new gauze in. I just can't imagine this being normal. I'm thinking my doctor made me do this because it's the weekend and his office is closed.

eggmankate · April 2014

Ahh I'm so sorry

These are not fun! I had the same situation 2 months ago. We wound up over-looking a 2nd abscess so once the first abscess closed they had to drain a 2nd one. I had the exact same feelings as you thinking--they trust me to take care of this open wound on my own?? I had my DH change it for me for the first week and once it started getting shallower I (surprisingly) became comfortable doing it myself. I was really traumatized the first few days with both abscesses and started to calm down a few days after.

Anyway, yes, it's "normal" to have patients change their own dressings. Open wounds can happen on other parts of the body and I've heard other people recall changing dressings for themselves or spouses on other areas of the body. Having the wound be open allows bacteria to never be able to grow because bacteria needs a closed warm area to populate. So not only is the open wound allowing the infection already there to drain out, it would be hard for you to infect yourself at home while changing the dressings. Luckily, the breasts are extremely resilient and heal quickly. My first abscess took 3 weeks to close and my 2nd one took 1.5 weeks. PM me if you want to talk more about it or ask questions. So sorry you have to go through it

mamasoup030 · April 2014

I changed my own dressings as well. My incision site closed within 7 days but mine was more towards the center of my chest. I refused to watch them take the dressing out- that was more than I could handle. I had my surgery the Friday before Christmas - so my doctor could have been in the same boat as yours- not wanting to come in to do it for me. I do remember it was Gross!

Also found that LO loved to try and rip off my dressing as I nursed which was lovely on so many levels.

ymmayer · April 2014

Oh man thanks for the info and I'm sorry for all of us for having to go through this.

eggmankate · April 2014

How is all you gals' supply? Mine tanked on the infected side and I aggressively tried with an LC to increase it, but it didn't happen. My guess if I noticed the 2nd abscess sooner maybe I could've worked to boost it. I was so tired of all the drama on that side so I'm now weaning and she feeds predominantly from my right side. I'm able to pump an extra few ounces everyday so I'm at least happy that I can still give her exclusively breastmilk.

mamasoup030 · April 2014

My supply on the affected breast has been lower ever since. I pumped and dumped that breast though for about 3 weeks during my ordeal, so I don't know if it was the surgery or the pumping exclusively that hurt my supply. LO still eats fine from that side but she isn't satisfied for as long afterwards as from the other breast. I know sometimes the surgery can sever your ducts. I had a lot of ducts to start, and think it's still close to the same. At work I pump every 2 hours for a total of 4 times. I don't double pump. I get on average 4 oz from the good boob and 1.5-2oz from the dud.

ymmayer · April 2014

eggmankate said:

How is all you gals' supply? Mine tanked on the infected side and I aggressively tried with an LC to increase it, but it didn't happen. My guess if I noticed the 2nd abscess sooner maybe I could've worked to boost it. I was so tired of all the drama on that side so I'm now weaning and she feeds predominantly from my right side. I'm able to pump an extra few ounces everyday so I'm at least happy that I can still give her exclusively breastmilk.

That sounds pretty similar to what's happening to me. I just pump my left breast and I'm getting around .5-1 oz per pump session, which I just freeze. So LO is only nursing from one breast. He was cluster feeding after I first had the surgery so now the right breast produces a lot, I once pumped before a feeding to measure it and it was 6 oz. I'm hoping it will even out a little bit when I can nurse him on the infected side again.

Also did any of you get prescribed Santyl? I've been applying it to my wound and I wonder if it's safe the give him the milk after using it.

lmreath · April 2014

Hello. I'm a wound care nurse. I'm sorry you guys have been going through all of this. I can't imagine dealing with a newborn and an open wound. The santyl should be fine as long as it is not near your nipple and your lo won't come in contact with it with their mouth.

ymmayer · April 2014

lmreath said:

Hello. I'm a wound care nurse. I'm sorry you guys have been going through all of this. I can't imagine dealing with a newborn and an open wound. The santyl should be fine as long as it is not near your nipple and your lo won't come in contact with it with their mouth.

Thank you!

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