mastitis turned into sepsis

[lib and jrs mom]

as some may know i posted a question friday asking about whether the symptoms i had been exhibiting were consistant with mastitis.thank you to those who answered and eventually convinced me,along with dh and my sister,to seek a dr's help.  i went to the ER that night because i began to spike a high fever again and felt terrible.when i got there i was extremely dizzy with a horrible headache.my temp was 103.7.they did a cbc and figured they would just have to send me home on antibiotics.my wbc came back 21,100 (normal is 8,000).that plus the high fever landed me an overnight stay in the hospital to receive iv antibiotics.they told me i had an abcess (abscess) and wanted to aspirate the abcess (abscess).i refused the procedure because we were unable to feel any type of mass and i felt less invasive procedures could be done first.they did an u/s of my left breast.no abcess (abscess) was found.it was just really bad mastitis.they found my wbc had gone up to 21,500.so, another nights stay in the hospital for some more iv antibiotics.i finally was allowed to come home today.  altogether i received 3 different iv antibiotics in the hospital, and was sent home on 2 other antibiotics.the dr told me that the blood cultures they had taken came back positive for staph.the infection from the mastitis had gotten so bad i became septic.
they told me it's a good thing i went because had i waited any longer i may not have made it another day.i write all this because if anyone ever thinks they have mastitis and questions if they should call their dr do so immediately.  it saved my life.

[casey's mom]

Oh my god!!! I can not believe what you have been though. I am so sorry, but relieved that everything is okay now. Thank you for posting, I'm sure it will help a lot of people. I know what mastitis is like and how hard it is under normal cercumstances, but can't imagine this extreme. Thank god you went to the ER and received treatment and are okay. Please don't forget my tips for future blocked ducts (I replied to you last post)...they really worked for me. Glad everything is okay for you now.

[siren of the sea]

my father died from sepsis. it is very serious! i am so thankful you are ok. i dont even know you and reading your story took my breath away. im sure from what i experienced with my dad. take care of yourself!! rest and take all meds!!! you have a big family to look after and you need to get well. thank god you got to the dr when you did!

[anxiousmomtobe?]

Good advice, a lot of women will try to tough it out with natural remedies.  I believe in cabbage leaves, but when I ran a fever and felt flu-ish I went to the doct immediately.  Antibiotics kept me from getting any iller.

[lib and jrs mom]

thank you for your replies.  i will definitely have to try the cabbage leaf thing because i am still so sore.