curious about mastitis symptoms?

windy1

I am 61 years old. Over the last week I have had symptoms of redness on my right breast, warm to the touch and sore. I went to the dr yesterday and today I had a diagnostic Mammogram and an ultrasound of the breast. The radiologist said she found one mass near the spot of soreness and one under my nipple. She started me on an antibiotic and scheduled a punch biopsy in 10 days. I am very nervous and scared about it. I am actually a lactation consultant and deal with mastitis all of the time with the nursing moms. I have nursed four children and never had any issues. Now at this age???

Erinashley19

I got mastitis once a few weeks after my son was born (this was 13 years ago). My breast developed a decent sized red area on the under part of my boob. It was warm in the red spot and tender all over. I also felt like I had the flu and when I pumped the milk had green stuff swirling in it. (I had to do a lot of pumping and dumping). I felt better after a week on antibiotics.

Do you have any other skin changes besides the redness? Hopefully an infection is all it is. How long have you been on meds? Any change in symptoms

windy1

I have just started my antibiotic. No other skin changes, just redness and sore. It just seems so odd to me to have mastitis now at this point in my life. I have no flu like symptoms or fever. I am sure hoping for mastitis though! The alternative is so scary!

Erinashley19

yeah I know mastitis is uncommon for any woman at any age if they aren't breast feeding or had recently done so. Still it's not impossible. If women are still able to squeeze very small amounts of liquid out of their nipples 20 years after having kids I'd imagine bacteria can still get in! Drink tons of water, maybe do a liver cleanse and eat clean plant based diet for a week to see if it helps with any potential inflammation in the body. Either way, praying the antibiotics work for you!! Keep us updated.

moth

Hi windy - just wanted to wave hi. I'm an IBCLC as well I hope you respond to the abx soon & get good biopsy results. keep us posted!

windy1

Happy to meet another IBCLC! My symptoms are completely gone, no redness, no pain, no warmth to touch, feels normal now. I have an appointment on August 21st. I believe the plan is to ultrasound my breast and if the mass is still there I will have a biopsy. I wonder if it is mastitis, would a pocket of infection show up on an ultrasound, the 6mm mass that was found on the 9th? I usually don't ever want to hurry time along, but I sure do now! If I do have the biopsy, I will know the results by the end of that week. Hopefully a party will ensue to celebrate after!

Erinashley19

windy1 so happy to hear that symptoms have gone away! Were you able to feel a lump before or did it only show up on imaging? My mammogram isn’t until the 23rd so I totally get the wait! I’ve been waiting for 3 weeks! 😕 Praying you get good results! Update when you hear