Flu while breastfeeding

I am pretty sure I have the flu.  My temperature keeps rising to almost 103 and I have horrible headaches that force me to keep my eyes closed.  I am brestfeeding my son who is one month old and not only does my whole body ache but my breasts hurt and are tender.  I continue to get sharp pains in them.  I don't think I have mastitis because I cannot see a clogged duct.  Is it normal to have sore breasts with the flu?  Could I have a clogged duct and not know it?  We are military and it is extremely hard to see a doctor here on post.  Do I need to go to the emergency room for this or can I continue to treat it with tylenol and motrin?

[waterskigirl]

Being prior military I know how hard it is to get in to see a doc.  Our Emergency room at Ft. Bragg actually does appointments if you call them. Maybe yours does too. You sound really sick, you should see a doctor, you don't want to pass it on to the baby!  I hope you feel better soon!

[Kristine0124]

Thank you.  I know how Bragg is because we just PCSed from there to Ft. Bening and it is even worse to get an appt. here.  I called yesterday to make mine and my sons 6 week appt. and they had no appts. until the 15th for me.  I went to the ER yesterday and my temp. was down to 99.7 but we sat there for 3 hours and finally a dr. came out and said that it would be a while longer b/c 3 ambulences just arrived and we could be there a long time!!  My son had to eat and he could not breastfeed under a blanket b/c my body temp. was too hot that he would just cry when the blanket was on him so I left and went home to feed him.  When I got home my temp. was back up to 102.8.

[waterskigirl]

Maybe you could call a local ER or DRs Office and see how they handle TRI-Care Insurance without a referral?  Or here is the sneaky way to get around it.....go travel to where there ISN'T a military hospital for 50 miles.....get seen there, then TRI Care HAS to pay even if there isn't a referral.  Just make sure you are really far from a militray hospital!  It is the 4th of July weekend and all, everyone is travelling!

Good Luck!

I spent three weeks at Ft. Benning learning how to jump out of Airplanes a few years ago......:)

[cinnamonheart]

Found this site It might be interesting to you..Maybe its not the flu and is mastitis...
check it out
http://var.teletask.com/Links/breastfeeding.htm

Hope you feel better..
Im not sure what your taking for medication, some may go through the breast milk to baby ..if you cant contact your doctor check the box there maybe a phone number to call in regards to medication while nursing

[Kristine0124]

COuld mastitis be in both breasts though?  I keep reading that it is usually one breast not both.

[cinnamonheart]

From what I understand it usually is in only one breast not both but it can happen..Any other symptoms????  Vomitting, cough, just seeing if it is the flu?? Been near anyone with the flu?

[Kristine0124]

I have no other symptoms of the flu but we were in the ER the other night b/c my son had not had a bm in 48 hours and of course we could not be seen by his dr.  he is still having problems with that.  But as for catching the flu, in the ER you can catch anything b/c my symptoms started that evening after being there that morning.

[Still_AndiJ]

I only had it in one breast at a time, but the symptoms sound like it could be mastitis. I had to do some heavy duty antibiotics when Tristan was only 10 days old. The biggest side effect was yeast pockets in Tristan's chubby legs. I had to keep up on a lot of water and he nursed frequently anyway. I was even given pain pills because it turned into an abscess and the pain was incredible.

All worked out, keep hydrated, go to the ER and have it evaluated. Cold compresses (refridgerated cabbage leaves worked great) really help. You can still nurse (it can hurt) UNLESS you have an abscess.

Good luck!
Andrea