Does this make ANY sense at all?

Question

I've called every doctor in town and some out of our area to be seen for mastitis in my breast....AND ALL OF THEM SAY "we can't help you, you." Or "we don't have any available appointments for two weeks". I have a friggin' INFECTION in my breast and they tell me NO??? What the heck is wrong with some doctors? Excuse me, I must have planned to have mastitis on Friday right before they leave the office, right? Yeah, right.

What else can I do? I'm not going to sit here with a friggin' swollen, sore breast all weekend and wait for it to become worse!

Answer 1

just keep breast feeding,take tylenol and i'd suggest standing in the shower with hot water running over your breast it really does help

Answer 2

if it comes down to it go to the hospital and tell them what is happening - Good luck

I am from Tennessee and here the ER can not turn you away for anything

Answer 3

Go anywhere you can.  Don't wait for it to get worse.  I think that was the most miserable I have ever been.  The ER will see you for anything.  Do you have any doc-in-the-boxes by you?  I'm surprised at your OB.  I didn't even have to go in when I had it.  I talked to the nurse in my office and she called in a prescription- two actually, in case it came back.  

Answer 4

That's ridiculous.  I'm sorry you are going thru that.

Only suggestion I have is to go to the ER.  If no doc will see you, that's your last resort.  JMO.  :)

Answer 5

Some doctors are so unfair. I live in Canada though ... and here we have free walk-in medical clinics that are open until 11pm 7 days a week ... I couldn't imagine having to wait all weekend suffering from Mastitis ... ouch!!!

I would definately just go to the ER to be seen by a doctor there!!!

Answer 6

does your OB's office have a doc on call this weekend?  I know if I call mine after hours the recording says that the on call doc for tonight/this weekend is Dr X and can be reached by dialing x*x-XXXX.  Try calling that number after they close if you can and if that doesnt work go to the ER and tell them that you could not get in anywhere else.  They will understand and treat you!!

Good luck, hope you feel better!!

Answer 7

Get to the hospital because you should not wait another day for treatment.  Not to frighten you, but my friend believed herself to have Mastitis shortly after her son was born. It turns out it was the MRSA infection which she must have contracted in the hospital while delivering her baby. It got into her breast/ nipple through nursing.  Apparently it's somewhat common to contract an infection like that it in the hopsital.

PS - meanwhile try leaning over a bowl of hot (as warm as you can stand it) water and dip your breast in there to loosen up the clogs.  The clogs might come out in strings, but that's a good sign.  I hope this helps.

Answer 8

Get an ace bandage and bind your b*****s(wrap them tightly) and you wont feel so much pressure, until you can get in with the doctor and if you cant get in then go to the ER, meanwhile load up on tylenol for the pain and swelling

Answer 9

try these, if you feel same in a day or 2 go to the emergency room

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TREATING MASTITIS

Treating mastitis is much like treating engorgement only more urgent. Try these suggestions in addition to those listed under engorgement.

Rest, rest, rest. Mastitis is an illness, so take a medical leave from all responsibilities other than breastfeeding. Take your baby to bed with you and nurse. Rest relieves stress and replenishes your immune system.

Alternate warm and cold compresses on your b*****s. Cold compresses relieve pain; warmth increases circulation, which mobilizes infection-fighters in the inflamed area. Lean over a basin of warm water, stand in a warm shower, or soak in a warm bath. Warm water or a warm, wet towel is more effective than the dry heat of a heating pad. For cold compresses, use crushed ice in plastic bags or bags of frozen vegetables, covered with a thin dishtowel to protect your skin.

Gently massage the area of tenderness. This increases circulation, helps to loosen any plugged ducts in the area, and mobilizes local immune factors. Try doing this while soaking the breast in a warm shower or bath.

Breastfeed frequently on the affected side. If it hurts to nurse the baby, start the feeding on the breast that is not sore, and switch to the sore side after your milk lets down. Breastfeeding is usually more comfortable when the milk is flowing. It's important to empty the inflamed breast. As in other parts of the body, fluid that is trapped can get infected. Your baby can empty your breast more efficiently than a breast pump. However, if your baby is not nursing well, you may have to use a breast pump or hand expression to get the milk out.

Vary the baby's position at the breast, so that all the ducts are emptied.

Take analgesics for fever and pain. Acetaminophen and/or ibuprofen are safe to take while breastfeeding. Unrelieved pain not only decreases your ability to produce milk, but suppresses your body's ability to fight infection.

Drink lots of fluids, as you would if you had the flu. Fever and inflammation increase your need for fluids.

Boost your immune system with good nutrition.

Sleep without a bra. At other times, wear a looser fitting bra that does not put pressure on the affected area. Or if possible, go without a bra.

Don't quit nursing at this point. Weaning increases the risk of a breast infection turning into a breast abscess that requires surgical draining. Continuing to nurse your baby is the best treatment for engorgement, mastitis and breast infections.

If baby refuses to nurse on the affected breast, it may be because inflammation of the milk glands increases the sodium content of your milk, giving it a salty taste. Most babies either don't notice or don't mind, and go right on nursing. Some may object to the change and fuss or refuse to nurse from that side. Try starting the feeding on the unaffected side and finishing on the salty side. As the inflammation subsides, your milk will soon return to its usual taste.

Answer 10

I agree with the idea of just going to see a Doc-in-the-box.

It's not like your OB/GYN can do anything for you, except give you a perscription for anti-biotics, and a Doc-in-the-box can do that for you just as well.

Answer 11

Go to one of those 24 hour clinics.  You may have to pay more for the emergency service.  But explain the situation and that you need this treated today.

Answer 12

where I live we have walk in clinics "not like health dept" that stay open to midnight with real DR in them. They are cheaper and faster then going to the ER but if you don't have an urgent care clinic go to the ER

Answer 13

Urgents care or the ER- they'll see you for just about anything. they know some peopole don't have regular doctors or doctor's are booked. if they see a kid for an ear infections why wouldn't they see someone for a breast infection

Answer 14

Oh, how well I know how frustrating it is to get in to see a doctor in a timely fashion!  I also know how painful mastitis is. However, mastitis can be treated without a doctor, given plenty of rest, warm compresses, and keeping the breast milk flowing as much as possible. (Though it seems counterintuitive in a case like this, frequent nursings actually help keep the pain and inflammation down.)

The most reliable authority on this can be found at the LaLeche league http://www.llli.org/. Enter mastitis or sore b*****s into their search.  Good luck, and I hope you feel better pronto.

Answer 15

Yes. The ER. Go.. an infection such as mastitis can get rapidly worse. It is something that should have been taken more seriously by your doctor.

Answer 16

yea just make and appointment and then just go to the er at least if they can't help you they might be able to give you something for it

Answer 17

I would definitely go to the ER if you think you have mastitis and no one can get you in - or some hospitals have an "urgent care" center that isn't really the emergency room, but is there for just these instances.  I don't understand why doctors book themselves solid for weeks and don't allow any emergency visit time.  It happens a lot around here too - I finally had to switch doctors offices because the one I was seeing was constantly telling me they had no appointments and that I should go to the ER - like every time I called for an appointment.  Some doc's won't see you in an urgent situation unless you are already a patient as well.

Answer 18

OMG -

Have you called the OB/GYN or midwife who did your delivery?   they should have time for you with the money they made off of that!  Thats what I did last month when I had mastitis, all I had to do was call, the nurse asked me a couple questions, then spoke with the doctor, then the nurse called me back to say they called in an antibiotic to the pharmacy.  quick and painless - I hope you get someone soon!!

Answer 19

I usually say something like "That's fine. Will you please let the ER doctor know that I'll be there in half an hour?" and they usually squeeze us in somewhere :)

EDIT: I'm not Sarah but I'm Sara so I figured I could answer :)  The ER can't turn you away for anything. You could show up with a paper cut or a runny nose and they would have to see you. They might make you wait a while but they WILL see you!