Hello, my name is Jenn and I am currently nursing my 4mo DS, Devin. This is a fairly new experience for me, as my first DS (Camden, now 5.5) had nursing issues so I ended up EPing for him for a year. This time around, things had been going fairly well. However a few weeks ago I got what I assume to be a plugged duct (never had it before), but the milk flow on one side slowed to a trickle when pumping, and I was getting engorged on the top of my breast. I believe I worked the plug out, but had a little blister I ended up poking with a sterilized needle (probably not the best idea). Things felt much better for a few days, and then I started getting pain on that side again, but this time in the nipple. However it sometimes radiates through the breast and is almost constantly there (sometimes sharper than others). There is this whitish spot right on the tip that appears to be trying to scab over, but the scab gets broken each time Devin nurses. The pain is unbelievable (it felt like the horrible case of thrush I had with Camden, but I don't think it's thrush.) It seems to be somewhat positional, in that I get less pain in a cradle hold than a side lying position (what we use at night).

Anyway, I called my LC today and she suggested some bacitracin that I'd have to wipe off before nursing, and then she also said it could be a galactoseal and that I should call my OB. I tried to look up some info online, but I can't really find anything that explains this. Does anyone have any experience with this? Any tips while I'm waiting to hear from my OB? TIA!

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Jenn (33), Chris (35), Camden (6) and Devin (1)

It's actually spelled "galactocele"- scroll down the page for the info....

http://www.uihealthcare.com/topics/m...ems/index.html

Looks like it's basically a big cyst filled with milk. Your doc will probably also want to rule out mastitis too!!!!

Hope that helps and you get to feeling better!

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Suzanne

Proud mommy to Katie and Rob

Ouch! I hope you can get that fixed and that mastitis isn't the problem!

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ouch!


it sound slike either mastitis or a galactocele, but i'd be inclined to agree more with the latter, as with mastitis, you ache all over and feel like a mack truck hit you.

if it is a galactocele it is pretty easily remedied by aspiration. either way it isn't pleasant.

massage may help, as is making sure you ar ecompletely emptying as much as possible.


you cna try taking lecithin supplements to decrease the likelihood of a plug in the future as well.

welcome to the bf board- wish it was more pleasant circumstances that brought you here though ...

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Thanks, Ladies. I saw the midwife at my practice. She diagnosed a bleb, and said to soak in hot water for 4-5 min and then nurse to drain it. I stayed home from work yesterday and did that, however, the pain feels even worse now (I wasn't sure that was possible). The whitish area appears to be gone, but a hole that's scabbing over is left in it's place. I had been hoping for some relief, but I'll probably end up taking some Motrin today to deal with the pain. Any idea how long it may take to heal?

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Jenn (33), Chris (35), Camden (6) and Devin (1)

Wow that sounds painful.....

What is a bleb? I'm sorry that the "treatment" has made you feel even worse..... it horrible to suffer while nursing....uuggg

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ouch, ouch, ouch.

did she advise you to try pumping as well?

if so, don't be surprised if a thick glob comes out looking like spaghetti.

once it is out, you shold start feeling markedly better.

shannon, a bleb is kinda a milk blister usually caused by a plugged duct.

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I do pump during the week as I WOHM. I also stayed home the past 2 days and kept Devin with me to nurse. I had a few prescription strength Motrin left over from my c/s, so I took that yesterday. What a difference! I latched him on and was shocked there was no pain! Of course, that ended after the meds wore off, but it was nice for a break. The white area does appear to be gone now, and there's just a tiny scab that breaks open during every feeding/pumping. Hopefully that will heal soon and we can get back to normal. Thanks for all the support!

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Jenn (33), Chris (35), Camden (6) and Devin (1)

as long as you aren;t having any bleeding problems, you can keep on taking the same #of milligrams of ibuprofen if you *need* to.

just don't take them for too long.

glad you are on the mend!

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