Mastitis?
Hmmm...all of a sudden today, my left breast is much larger than my right and feels hard like it is engorged. I'm also having shooting pains on one side of it. I pumped on my break like usual, got about the same amount out that I usually get, but the hardness didn't soften up and my left breast seems larger than the right one. No fever or chills or redness like they usually mention with mastitis though. Can you get just a blocked duct without infection/inflammation? I'm reluctant to try to leave work and go to the doctor because I've had to miss a lot lately when Rowan was ill. Without the other mastitis symptoms, do you think it is OK for me to just go home and do warm compresses and pump like crazy to try to get it unblocked??
Banded 03/22/06 276/261/184 (highest/surgery/lowest)
Sleeved 07/11/2013 228/165 (surgery/current) (111lbs lost)
Mom to two of the cutest boys on earth.
It does sound like a clogged duct. Unless you get fever, chills or a hot spot in the breast I would try hot showers, hot compresses and nursing/pumping like crazy. Every time you nurse tonight offer that breast first. BUT at the first sign of any of the other symptoms of mastitis please call your doc.
Courtney - Lap band to VSG revision
You pegged it, it was a clogged duct. It was getting so painful that when I got in my car I couldn't even use my seat belt. Out of desperation, I hooked myself up to my breast pump for the 15 minute drive to daycare to pick up Rowan. I got about 1/2 a tsp out and it still was hurting a LOT. I picked up Rowan and thought, what the hell, I'll hook myself up for the drive home, too! When I went to attach the pump, I saw what looked like a bubble of milk on my nipple, but it wouldn't wipe off and it was hard. I "popped" it with my fingernail (I know, gross) and instantly started leaking milk. Hooked myself up to the pump and pumped on the way home and for another 10 minutes or so after I got there and was finally able to empty the breast. Whew. I guess the suction from the pump managed the pull the blockage all the way to the front of my nipple. I hope I never have to do that again! And thank god I didn't get pulled over or soemthing, because I'm sure driving without a seatbelt WHILE PUMPING would be hard to explain! 
Banded 03/22/06 276/261/184 (highest/surgery/lowest)
Sleeved 07/11/2013 228/165 (surgery/current) (111lbs lost)
Mom to two of the cutest boys on earth.
Yeah, they are a giant pain (litreally!), I would continue to do hot compresses and nurse from that breast first for another day or two (and maybe extra pumping if you can) because the whole clog might not have come to the surface and can build up again. It's best to completely empty that breast for a bit to make sure everything keeps moving and everything else comes out! Good luck, I hope that is the end of it for you!
Courtney - Lap band to VSG revision
Thanks! I'll do that!
Banded 03/22/06 276/261/184 (highest/surgery/lowest)
Sleeved 07/11/2013 228/165 (surgery/current) (111lbs lost)
Mom to two of the cutest boys on earth.
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