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MarilynW
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I have never had it before - woke up at night with a very high fever, chills, burning up and incredible headache. One breast is very sore - but no lumps or plugged ducts. I have been feeling run down for a while. Do I need to take antibiotics - I hate them - but are they necessary? I have to take ibuprofen to function - 5 kids (one difficult 3 year old  ) and husband away.
Please let me know if you have any advice - and please pray as I can hardly crawl out of bed.
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amyable
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It sure sounds like it to me, Marilyn! I have been able to have my OB call in a prescription over the phone based on those symptoms. Do you have a pharmacy that will deliver or someone else who can pick them up for you? Most moms and doctors I have talked to have said yes, you need the antibiotics! I tend to agree, especially with your fever, even though I'm usually one to avoid them.
I'm sure other naturally minded moms can help you come up with things to help you feel better - all I know is you are supposed to rest as much as humanly possible and nurse, nurse, nurse, especially on the side that hurts (even though I know it can be excruciating at times).
Many, many prayers for you today Marilyn!!
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teachingmyown
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Marilyn,
I am so sorry! Mastitis is really one of the worst things, especially because it hits you when you are already vulnerable. Since you are as sick as you are, call for the antibiotics. It will help you kick it quickly.
There is a homeopathic rememdy, Phyto Lacca deCanga (sp?), that is very effective. If you can find someone to get you some, it will help along with the antibiotics. It is good to keep it on hand these early months of nursing. You can take it when ever you feel pain creeping into your breast and head off a full-fledged infection.
Right now, use hot compresses and drink lots of fluids. The ibuprofen should help, but you have to rest. Make today a video day! That, and cereal and sandwiches.
Amy is right about nursing on that side, or if it is less painful, you can pump that side and nurse only on the other. I know when it is REALLY painful, even having the baby close to the breast is too painful for the first few hours of an infection.
God bless you. I get this with every new baby, sometimes several times. It is certainly that wake-up call that tells you to get off of your feet and take care of yourself.
You will feel better quickly once you get treatment. I know that is hard to believe when you feel so awful. Hang in there! 
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Elizabeth
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Phytolacca decandra. Lots of fluid and about 5000 mg of Vitamin C. Do the C in 1000 mg increments every three hours. Do the phytolacca every three hours. BUT don't do them together. Alternate. And really, dear, you need to sleep. Put the baby in bed with you and nurse, nurse, nurse.
Also, cabbage leaves inside your bra will help. Really! 
and Mary Chris recommended to me that you dampen a disposable diaper and microwave it briefly to get it very warm. Makes a great compress.
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JennGM
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Prayers for you, Marilyn. You've just got to stop everything and rest.
Great advice above. There have been a few threads on mastitis with the same advice.
See also Kelly Mom's advice:Mastitis
recurrent mastitis
That site is great, best source of breastfeeding advice on the Net.
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Rebecca
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I second Elizabeth's suggestion to nurse, nurse, nurse in bed. I have had a few breast infections over the years and have never taken antibiotics for them. They are ususally gone within three days from the onset of the fever so long as you nurse, rest and have plenty of fluids/vitamin c.
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MaryM
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You are getting sound information. What you most need to do is probably hardest right now because of having a husband away and an active three year old - but you need to stay in bed. Rest and removing milk are vital. The compresses also help a lot. Some like warm, some like cold, and some like to alternate. Cabbage leaves, like Elizabeth mentioned do help.
Elizabeth wrote:
| and Mary Chris recommended to me that you dampen a disposable diaper and microwave it briefly to get it very warm. Makes a great compress. |
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Or you can fill a sock with dry rice and microwave briefly for another type of warm compress. Keet a compress on as constantly as possible (not just periodically).
To answer your original question about antibiotics. They aren't always necessary and as you've heard from some women here, they have successfully treated mastitis without using them. But when you already have the flu-like symptoms, you do need to get on the home treatment right away and really be aggressive to keep it from progressing. If home treatments aren't leading to some improvement (at least not getting worse) within 24 hours then the antibiotic route is usually recommended. If one does go the antibiotic route it is important to make sure that the correct type of antibiotics be used (because often the wrong ones are prescribed). Typically a penicillinase-resist penicillin or a cephalosporin should be prescribed.
Removing milk - reposition baby's mouth so that chin is over the area that is most sore. Lower jaw removes milk most effectively and we need to get milk lowing from target area. This may involve some creative positioning. If you need specifics on this let me know. Hand expression is also very helpful as you can really isolate the area of the breast where you are trying to remove the milk. If milk is not flowing well from a duct once you start getting flow from the right area you will note differences from the rest of the milk (can be slightly off-color, thicker, grainy or thread-like matter, salty to taste).
Compresses and natural remedies-
From Motherlove Herbal Company:
Warm, moist heat applied with a compress or hot water bottle will help unplug the ducts and ease swelling. Herbs that work well in a breast compress are anti-inflammatory and reduce swelling (comfrey, chamomile, calendula, lavender), increase lymph circulation and drainage (cleavers, burdock root, yarrow), and draw out infection (slippery elm, marshmallow root). Mullein leaf relieves pain. Pour boiling water over the herbs and steep 10-15 minutes. When cool enough to touch, apply herbs as a poultice, or dip a cotton cloth in the warm infusion, wring it out and wrap around the breast and under the armpit. Keep the poultice on until it cools. Reapply throughout the day. If infection is present, a clean poultice or cloth should be used every time.
Wish Garden has a
Mastitis Remedy and also compress herbs
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MaryM
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Oh, and immune system boosters in general help - like Vitamin C or Echinacea.
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KackyK
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I second third and fourth! Elizabeth's advice of lots of fluid...can't be understated. You'll start to feel like a pool! But really, think of it like this, every time you head off to the bathroom, drink another huge glass of water after you come out. It keeps you going [to the bathroom] and way hydrated and I always like to think that I'm ridding myself of that infection every time I go!
Those infections are so pesky because you really want to keep going...but resting and drinking are best and those compresses are great. Love the diaper idea! Prayers for you!!!
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Ruth
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I'm so sorry, Marilyn. I'm praying for you.
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Erica Sanchez
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I've also successfully treated an infection with no antibiotics. I don't think anyone mentioned it yet, but along with everything else, I took a hot shower every few hours and used soap to massage that breast to help clear any blocked ducts. Very helpful. Praying for you Marilyn!
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kathleenmom
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You can alternate hot and cold compresses for comfort. Just remember, that all of the warm compresses and hot showers, etc...will encourage a "let down" so you should only do this prior to a time when you can feed the little one.
You have my prayers Marilyn!
Kathleen
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MarilynW
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Thank you all so much for the great advice and prayers. I am taking the homeopathic medicine, Vitamin C and lots of fluids plus applying heat. I have also started the baby and myself on probiotics in case antibiotics become necessary. I am still feeling pretty miserable and the fever is high if I do not take ibuprofen. I am trying to hold back on the antibiotics - because I am allergic to so many of them or they end up making me so sick. The OB called in a prescription for Cefalaxin - which I have never taken - he thought it would be better than Zithromax which is the only one I know I can tolerate. I am hoping to go without them unless things really deteriorate. Yesterday I did manage to stay in bed and nurse for much of the day.
I am really grateful to all of you for your support and offers of help - made me feel so much more cheerful yesterday knowing that you were praying - and also made me admire all of you so much more than I already do- knowing that so many of you have been through this repeatedly.
Hugs and thanks again. Please keep praying.
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Sarah
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Be careful. You don't want it to go into an abcess.
I had this a about a month ago and I ended up with an antibiotic. Dicloxicillan (sp?) is usually the one prescribed. It covers both staph and strep. A breat infection is usually staph, but if you get one of those resistant staph bugs you are into the hosptial with an IV for 10 days. Its very important that you get the right antibiotic as Mary said. The antibiotic you have been given is used occasionally but the favored one for staph is Diclox. (I cannot remember how to spell it but I wrote it phonetically above). There is no nausea or diarrhea with Diclox (important to us "nausea gals!).
A breast infection that is in BOTH breasts at the same time is usually strep.  I had this when we moved into this house with an 8 mo. old.
Dr. Jack Newman says in his book that if symptoms do not get better within 24 hours, an antibiotic is probably needed since it is beyond a plugged duct.
If it goes into an abcess then it has to be surgically drained and you cannot nurse on that side, as I understand it.
If you don't feel better soon, take the antibiotic for the full 10 days.
Also I read that if you have the baby's chin nursing as close to the sore spot as you can. Sometimes this means laying the baby down on the bed and hanging over him to get this to work. Evidentally the most effective emptying of the ducts occurs around the chin.
Hang in there. . . I'll pray.
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MarilynW
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Hi everyone - just a quick update to say thanks again for the prayers. I did end up on antibiotics - and praise God no reactions. It was amazing - after only 2 doses the 104 degree fever finally dropped. After 4 doses the pain started ebbing. I hate medication - but I realize that sometimes we have to take them. I ended up at my PCP today too - found out that my "allergies" is in fact bad pink eye (how? none of my kids have it?) - so more medication. But at this stage - having tried natural remedies for everything I am ready for any drugs - my pain threshold for this month has been exceeded
Thanks again!
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teachingmyown
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I am so glad to hear it! I was going to post yesterday encouraging you to go with the antibiotics because I have never had the high fever and chills last for more than a day. When it is that severe, you need stronger help than the natural remedies.
God bless!
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Mama Moon
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I know this is late but I just read this thread.
I had fever/chills and the rest for 3 days and nights. I was going to have to be flown back to Europe for an op. Then a lady got hold of the following homeopathic medicines for me:
Bryonia
Belladonna
I was taking alternate doses every hour.
In 12 hours my fever had gone. In three days I was sore but okay. I continued for a week.
This happened for my second child as well. This time I took the stuff straight away. It went away within the day and so I never suffered.
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4Real Forums : Our Lady of Good Remedy and Care
Topic: Is this Mastitis? Update
