is this BF thrush or mastitis??

anyone who saw my post last night about my boob pain... well i spoke to a lactation consultant today and she said it might be thrush and based on my own research possibly mastitis. i dont have a fever but i am pretty achy and tired. my boobs also have a few red blotches on them.

my ob is closed until monday. i asked my fertility dr. and he said he would call in antibiotics for me if i had a fever over 101 cause that would be mastitis.

anyone have any experience with either of these?? im totally not a hypochondriac type - i just KNOW something is wrong with the pain that im in and the blotches and the tired and acheyness. im just not feeling myself at all

Re: is this BF thrush or mastitis??

I had both. The thrush when DS nursed felt like razors against my nipples and they were itchy!

Re: is this BF thrush or mastitis??

I had mastitis when DD2 was 5 weeks old, it was horrible. My boob hurt so much - it hurt when my clothes touched it, it hurt even when I moved my arm on that side. I felt like I had the flu- I had chills, was achy all over, but didn't have a fever. I went to my OB and saw the NP and she was shocked I didn't have a fever.
My boob was also very hot to the touch and rock hard.

Re: is this BF thrush or mastitis??

when i BF her it feels like fire shooting out of my nipple - but only for the first minute or so, then it feels fine. is that normal?? i feel like it is.

what i dont think is normal is the pain and blotches. it really feels like im getting burned from the inside of my boobs. and yes it happens when anything touches them, clothing or even a brisk wind.

i wish i could see my OB... what would you do if you couldnt see the OB until monday??

Re: is this BF thrush or mastitis??

Try a warm compress before nursing a cold compress after nursing. Get lots of rest, take in lots of fluid, and nurse the infected side first.

There really isn't too much you can do unfortunately.

If it is thrush, can they call in a prescription for nystatin?

Re: is this BF thrush or mastitis??

Nursing felt like that for me the first two weeks, I would flinch every time she latched. It got better after 3 weeks for sure, it's actually enjoyable now. I was also super achy after delivery, I chalked it up to giving birth. It also was worse day 5 and 6 then the day after, I think when the adrenaline stops pumping. Also, did your milk come in? For some reason I felt flu like when it came in, but then it went away, no idea if it is related. I think feeling as if you were hit by a bus, are on the verge of a breakdown, flu-like, etc are normal in the first few weeks, or that's what I tell myself.

Re: is this BF thrush or mastitis??

I had mastitis. My boob hurt like h-e-l-l! Not one specific spot but a pretty generalized area. It was hard and warm. I felt like I had been hit by a truck, fever, chills, body aches. I called my OB and he called in a prescription for me.

If both sides are hurting not sure if it would be mastitis???? If I remember correctly my nipples hurt alot in the beginning from pumping so much and I had that toe curling pain for the first few minutes of nursing. It got better! def call your dr though and see what he/she thinks feel better!

Re: is this BF thrush or mastitis??

Message edited 6/4/2011 7:38:51 AM.

Re: is this BF thrush or mastitis??

I think if it was thrush. You could check the babies mouth for thrush. White patches in babies mouth/tongue.

Feel better

Re: is this BF thrush or mastitis??

Any blisters or white spots on your nipples? They can be a sign of thrush but also could be a source of pain, even if it's not thrush.

Can you feel any lumps around the splotches? Could be a clogged duct. Take a warm shower before nursing and massage your breasts--moving toward the nipple to see if you can unclog.

I've had both masitits and regular clogs--my breasts ache and were sore to the touch with both. With masitis it was just that much more intense. And I had chills, fever, a massive headache and some nausea.

Re: is this BF thrush or mastitis??

Oh Flowerwife!!! I just sent you an e-mail but we really seem to be in the same boat!! My pain started this morning in one breast. I think mine is a clogged duct but one of my nurses said that if I can't get it to clear up then it could lead to mastitis. It hurts and there is a hard lump in the breast. My skin is red where the lump is. I am putting warm compresses on it, massaging it and pumping in hopes of clearing it up. The baby is no help because he is not a good nurser. I'm really hoping it doesn't get worse, epecially before Monday when the OB office is open again! And it figures that it started today and I didn't notice anything yesterday because I saw my OB yestday at the hospital for the baby's circumcision! Hope you are feeling better soon and the problem clears up!

Re: is this BF thrush or mastitis??

I have had clogged ducts and mastitis.
Clogged ducts I was able to get rid of quickly....1 warm/hot shower with massage followed by a pumping session where I massaged the whole time.

Mastitis had me bed ridden for 3 days. Fever (that come and went), chills, body aches.
It felt like flu of the boob. Terrible.
I took an antibiotic that had me feeling better after 3 days.

Never had thrush so I can't give you examples of that.

Hope that you feel better soon!!

Re: is this BF thrush or mastitis??

Are ypu better now. It was the same for me. Also, my nipples were cut and raw. My baby borm pn June 3. I had my ob gyn prescreibe All purpose nipple Cream, Nystatin and antibiotics. I basically stopped nursing on most injured breast. I had burning shooting pains in nipples and stabbimg pain in breast bone. I started giving 1 bottle formula a day when i couldnt take the pain and to let breasts heal. Baby is now 5 wks and my milk suplly is still here although very little from left injured breast.
Hope you are better now.

Re: is this BF thrush or mastitis??

I had mastitis 6 times betwen all three kids. I had it with a fever every time. I felt like I had the flu, if not worse. Couldnt even get up out of bed.

Clogged ducts also cause a ton of pain and can lead to mastitis. I'd be worried about the aches and exhaustion because thats usually how it would start for me.

Re: is this BF thrush or mastitis??

I had mastitis. I had red patches, lumps, soreness and my boobs were hot to the touch for a few days. then i got a fever that went up to 101.8 and the dr called in antibiotics.

i never had thrush.

my nipples were definitely sore in the beginning. they cracked and bled. that was separate from the mastitis. they were also sore and got some blisters when i became pregnant again while still nursing.