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Jess
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| Posted: March 02 2010 at 9:01am | IP Logged
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I have mastitis again. This is the 5th time since January. The first 3 times I nursed it out. The 3rd time I also did the vit c and phytolacca decandra. The 4th time was so bad (both sides) I decided to do antibiotics. That was a week ago Sunday. I am still taking the antibiotics and last night I woke up with a knot on the left side, chilled, and had a headache and body aches. This morning I see the red streaks.
What could be going on? How could I get it again while on antibiotics?
Any help would be so appreciated!
Oh I am tandem nursing my almost 3 yr old and 5 month old.
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Jess
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wife to dh('96)
mama to dd(13), dd(11), ds(9), dd(6), and dd (2), and baby girl born Sept 14!
star cottage
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Chris V
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| Posted: March 02 2010 at 10:32am | IP Logged
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Oh dear Jess! It may be that your body has built up a resistence to the antibiotic of that particular type; new strains of bacteria may be present, or perhaps, perhaps, this new ailment is not bacterial? But rather a nasty clog causing similar symptoms? (just tossing out some ideas).
When I had mastitis, right around Thanksgiving of this past year, I began a regimen of my trusty garlic tonic:
A tall glass of warm water, mixed with three cloves of raw garlic (chopped into tiny pieces, for ease of swallowing), a heaping tablespoon of honey, the juice of a freshly squeezed lemon. Give it all a good stir and bottoms up! I did this about three times a day, from the onset of symptoms.
I also use homeopathy, but in cases such as this, I always refer to my Classical Homeopath for proper remedies. Silicia worked very well for me this past time, but my homeopath reviews all my presenting symptoms, which may be different each time. Although, I know that Phytolacca is typically very, very effective with mastitis, mine was successfully treated with Silicia.
Just speaking in general terms, antibiotics are detrimental to the health of your immune system, are you taking a good probiotic to counter the effects of the antibiotic? Extra Vitamin C, Larix, Quercetin, Emergen-C, are all good for infection, lots of rest and sleep.
I'll be praying for your return to health!
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Chris
Happy Wife with my Happy Life
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: March 02 2010 at 10:39am | IP Logged
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cranberry can help with mastitis as well.. as a preventative even..
Any new undergarments? perhaps a purse or baby carrier you haven't used before that could be putting pressure on spots and encouraging mastitis?
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Jodie, wife to Dave
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Chris V
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| Posted: March 02 2010 at 10:42am | IP Logged
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...very true Jodie! I cannot wear underwire bras while nursing, every time I've ever tried, it always resulted in mastitis! Lesson learned.
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Chris
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MaryM
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| Posted: March 02 2010 at 10:56am | IP Logged
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Usually recurrant mastitis in a short time frame is not having really recovered from initial bout. Not all antibiotics are egaully effective against the usual strains of bacteria found in mastitis.
From Dr. Jack Newman's site:
Quote:
| Amoxycillin, plain penicillin, and many other antibiotics often prescribed for mastitis are usually useless for mastitis. If you need an antibiotic, you need one that is effective against Staphylococcus aureus. Effective for this bacterium are: cephalexin, cloxacillin, flucloxacillin, amoxycillin-clavulinic acid, clindamycin and ciprofloxacin. The last two are effective for mothers allergic to penicillin. You can and should continue breastfeeding with all these medications. |
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Also, were all 5 experiences of this associated with the fever, chills, body aches, red streaks - or have some just been the lump and soreness? Also, is recurrance in same location or variable. I notice this time past time you mention it being both sides.
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Our Domestic Church
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Jess
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| Posted: March 02 2010 at 11:19am | IP Logged
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Ok I am going to try to answer all the questions in this post.
I rarely take antibiotics so I don't know if a resistance is an issue, it has been almost 3 yrs since I last took any. I am drinking Kefir and will take a diflucan after the antibiotics just in case. The phytolacca seemed to work in the past but it still came back.
No new undergarments, I don't ever wear underwire. Nothing else new. I have a sling that I use, but I have used it since our 5 month old was born.
The anitbiotic I am taking is dicloxicillin, is that a good one?
All 5 times I have had chills and body aches and a sore spot. That is how it starts. And then I have the red streaks. The first 3 times it was on the left side in around the same spot. The 4th time it was on the right side really bad and in a different spot on the left side but not as bad. This time it is on the left side in a different place. It doesn't seem to be coming back in the same place. The 4th time I couldn't even wear a bra it hurt so bad.
Oh I am just so tired of this!
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Jess
+JMJ+
wife to dh('96)
mama to dd(13), dd(11), ds(9), dd(6), and dd (2), and baby girl born Sept 14!
star cottage
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: March 02 2010 at 11:22am | IP Logged
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You don't have to be resistant to the antibiotics.. the bacteria may be resistant.
And I know it'll be difficult but.. are you resting? you need to give your body time to heal.. and that means resting.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
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Jess
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| Posted: March 02 2010 at 11:28am | IP Logged
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That is absolutely the hardest thing...
My dh is deployed and 3 of my kids are smack in the middle of sports. Plus we are trying to get our house ready to put on the market this month. My mom lives with us but she works 3 days a week and can't help out on those days. When I feel like we need to pull back, I usually do. But right now there is no way that we can. I have been trying to rest, but well, I'm sure we all know how that goes! I am trying though...
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God bless,
Jess
+JMJ+
wife to dh('96)
mama to dd(13), dd(11), ds(9), dd(6), and dd (2), and baby girl born Sept 14!
star cottage
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: March 02 2010 at 11:33am | IP Logged
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Then I would do whatever you can to boost your immune system..
cranberry
vit. C
echinacea
elderberry
garlic
chicken soup
And when you are at home crash on the couch and direct.. go to bed early.. get extra rest whereever you can.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
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MaryM
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| Posted: March 02 2010 at 11:48am | IP Logged
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Jess wrote:
| The anitbiotic I am taking is dicloxicillin, is that a good one? |
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Yes, a penicillinase-resist penicillin such as dicloxicillin is one of the usually recomemnded ones. You can also commonly see reoccurance when a short course of the antibiotics is given, but I see that you are still on it which falls in the recommended 10-14 days. In rare cases a baby may be carrying the infection in his/her mouth and it reinfects mother. If the matisitis recurs after at least 10 days on anitbiotics, a mother can ask her doctor to culture her milk and baby's throat to determine the appropriate antibiotic treatment.
Stress and fatique are BIG facotrs in recurrant mastitis. Anemia is another thing tha can lower mom's resistance and make her more susceptible. Since you mention tandem nursing I'm assumign your supply is strong. Overabundant milk supply is a risk factor and if you add that in with the above, might be a factor.
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Mary M. in Denver
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JennGM
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| Posted: March 02 2010 at 12:22pm | IP Logged
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MaryM helped me through tons of mastitis, and I did seem to get a few bacteria resistant to antibiotics.
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: March 02 2010 at 12:25pm | IP Logged
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Oh yes, you should be taking good vitamins too
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
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Jess
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| Posted: March 02 2010 at 2:30pm | IP Logged
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I think I have decided to step back this week and really rest. The kids will just have to miss their activites.
I have to shake this...
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God bless,
Jess
+JMJ+
wife to dh('96)
mama to dd(13), dd(11), ds(9), dd(6), and dd (2), and baby girl born Sept 14!
star cottage
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SaraP
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| Posted: March 03 2010 at 5:20pm | IP Logged
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I have had good results heading off mastitis with lecithin supplements. kellymom has info.
Another thing a lactation consultant friend suggested that I have found helpful is to have baby nurse with his/her chin pointing towards the sorest spot. This can require some creative nursing holds depending on where the sore spot is, but it does seem to drain that area more thoroughly that might happen otherwise.
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melanie
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Have you missed any doses of the antibiotic? This will often lead to a recurrance and/or resistant infection. I'm not saying this in a judgemental way *at all*, because I am *terrible* about this myself.  Prayers, in any case...I've only had it once, with my first baby, but I well remember how ill it made me.
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StephanieA
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I have had 9 kids and am VERY prone to breast infections each and every time. But the second to last child, my infections where constant. Every week. I tried everything. Basically, I couldn't get enough rest with all my responsiblities. I finally had to hire out someone to cook for me. Baby #9 is now 2 months and I started off with a breast infection a week. Then about 3 weeks ago, every time....I mean every time I felt a little tired, I pulled off and rested. This is the only thing that works for me. Rest is the absolute key. So the sports need to go for your health. There are SO many things I would like to do with and for my kids, but I can't because my body won't tolerate it.
Blessings,
Stephanie
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4Real Forums : Our Lady of Good Remedy and Care
Topic: mastitis...again
