Baseball in breast

[TARI]

After a bad bout of mastitis, my left breast has a lump in it the size of a baseball. My Dr. still tells me that it is a clogged duct. However, after 4 weeks of heat, ice, massage, etc. it is not diminishing. The aerola is now too hard for baby to latch onto as his mouth is no where near the size of the lump. he can only feed from the other breast while I continue to pump the baseball. I don't know what to do. Please help!

[caryn]

I would go to your doctor and ask for an ultrasound to rule out an abscess.
Lecithin capsules are a great supplement for yourself as well....they keep the ducts well oiled!

[caryn]

Also use moist heat to massage, a wet washcloth under a heating pad, or under the hottest running water you can stand.

[giglegurl2003]

Try to pump out as much as you can from the side that feels like a baseball...or just enough to completely soften teh nipple and try to force your child to suck on the nipple. I had to do that with my DS about a week ago. That is the only way I felt any relief what so ever with out that you could get mastitis again if you do not already have it.

[TARI]

I suggested the abcess from the getgo but he dismissed it. Will try the Lecithin as the heat hasn't been working so far. Thanks so much for the advice.

[caryn]

Did your ob dismiss it? Perhaps your family doctor can order one for you?

[TARI]

The mastitis was so bad I had to be admitted. I could not walk or hold my son for almost a week. After some research I realized it was mastitis. I was given some antibiotics that helped with the pain and symptoms, however, the admitting physician was very young and I am not so sure he knew enough about the condition. I followed up with my family Dr and told him I thought it was an abcess due to the excruciating pain but he said the ducts were just clogged. I am seeing him again on Tuesday so hopefully he will see that this has gone on far too long for just a clogged duct. I even purchased a deep tissue massager, used the pool outpump to try to soften up the lump if you can believe that! What desperation will make you do! I still pump 1-2 oz every 3-4 hours out of that breast and the good one usually gives me 6-8.

[caryn]

Sounds as though you had an oversupply to begin with - very common in new moms w/ mastitis from the get go.
Can I ask why you could not walk? Did they have you on I.V. antibiotics or oral?

[TARI]

My muscles seized up so terribly that I could not put one foot in front of the other. Standard Oral antibiotics was all that I was given, although it did clear up the mastitis.

[caryn]

Did they do a complete blood work up on you?

[TARI]

no, should they have?

[TARI]

they did test my white cell count at the hospital but it was fine

[caryn]

If you were re admitted to the hospital post partum, I would say so.
Have your ob or GP do a full blood work up as well now.
Keep me posted.
I had a woman last summer that went through the same thing.
No output from breast - and then it came to the surface - the abscess they could not "find"

[TARI]

I will for sure! Thanks for the support, hopefully they can find the stupid thing and empty it for me. Not that I mind firm breasts all that much but this is too firm. lol.

[caryn]

Keep me posted. I want to see what happens - I am sure everything will be fine - keep taking your pre natals as well.

[TARI]

for sure!