Thought to be mastitis

10 months after I had my second child, I began showing signs of an infection in my right breast. I saw my doctor and he only prescribed antibiotic after antibiotic. He never took a culture or referred me to a breast specialist. After 2 months of being on antibiotics, my other breast became inflammed also. During all this, my doctor declared I had mastitis from breast feeding. This struck odd because I never breast feed any of my children. Needless to say, I ended up hospitilized for a week and they did surgery to drain it. It was said it was a staph infection. Since that time, I have had 6 surgeries and even had a duct removed and this keeps coming back. Many doctors look at you as if you are a big baby but the fact is this hurts a lot. I still have swelling up to 6 times a year. Sometimes I can drain it at home with a small needle. The one I have now will require aspiration again. My pain is not only on my breast but under my armpit as well. My question to you is,how are you suppose to find a reliable doctor who knows what they are doing? Can you only see a breast specialist with a referral? I have been living with the pain for a long time and it seems that seeing a doctor will only get me antibiotics and not an explanation of what is wrong with me. I am otherwise healthy other than this reoccuring infection.


This discussion is related to Why do I keep getting recurring breast abscess.

[japdip]

If I were you I would ask my Dr. to refer me to a Breast Specialist (if a referral is necessary) and that would be that!! I don't know what type of Dr.s you have been dealing with but I see no reason why any Dr. would refuse a pt. a referral. If that doesn't work then call your local Hospital (most have referral services) and ask for the name of a Breast Specialist. I don't for a minute think that this is anything but mastitis but evidently the treatment you've received is NOT working. You don't have to have breast fed to have mastitis by the way.   Good Luck ....

[Nadean]

I am not tryin gto be an alarmist but please call to get an appointment with a provider that is a specialist in breast care.  You may well have a resistant bacterial breast infection but it is so important for you to get checked for inflammatory breast cancer.  This type of breast cancer does not have the typical lump or nipple discharge, but mimmics mastitis.  If you need a referral from your PCP, call  the office today and insist on one.  Let me know how it goes. I am sending you all of my best thoughts and wishes.