Aa
Have a red lump
Hi there, I am pretty sure I am getting an abscess. I went to see my doc last week and he did an ultra scan and did not see any fluid behind the redness and slight lump. It is also not very painful, however, there is definitely a red lump and the skin is peeling on it. Underneath the skin it looks slightly white ish. What do you think? Do you think I need to back to my docs? Is there anything I can do to help it?
Thank you all so much in advance for taking the time to reply, I spend a lot of my time trying to pretend it's not bothering me but it really is.
Many thanks
Thank you all so much in advance for taking the time to reply, I spend a lot of my time trying to pretend it's not bothering me but it really is.
Many thanks
I totally get reactions to tape--I had no idea that was a common problem.
Your feminine napkin idea made me smile (and I need to tuck that idea away for days when I run out of the breast pads). Back when my drainage was crazy because of all the breast milk pouring through the incisions, I used the tiny newborn disposable diapers that my son had already outgrown. They worked perfectly, of course.
It's good for me to laugh at what I can about this strange & unpredictable condition--thanks :).
Your feminine napkin idea made me smile (and I need to tuck that idea away for days when I run out of the breast pads). Back when my drainage was crazy because of all the breast milk pouring through the incisions, I used the tiny newborn disposable diapers that my son had already outgrown. They worked perfectly, of course.
It's good for me to laugh at what I can about this strange & unpredictable condition--thanks :).
Another random good tip; if you have a reaction to tape (I get blisters sometimes, even with paper tape) you can use a feminine napkin and adhere it to your bra, it works perfectly for draining :)
Hi,
I think Jo said it all, and really well (as usual). I just wanted to chime and tell you I know how you feel. I had an abscess burst a while back--an ultrasound tech refused to empty it since it was a surface abscess, and then I didn't get to a surgeon fast enough. It left a disturbing hole that is (slowly) healing--or at least, it's not as horror-movie looking as it was before. Now I'm trying to get to the doctor every time I even suspect that an abscess is forming. Every time the doctors culture the fluid from my abscesses, it's been negative for infection (since I got over the staph infection, that is!). I clean my incisions/wounds nightly--wiping them down, then applying a big glob of bacitracin (sp?) to a Lansinoh breast pad and taping them with paper tape. My GM appeared during my last pregnancy, a little over six months ago, and before I had to give up breastfeeding, I had a lot of these around and discovered how much more absorbent and clothing-protective these pads are. They're made to absorb A LOT (kind of like disposable diapers) and have never leaked. They also come in their own little packaging so each pad is sterile. I haven't done the penny-by-penny breakdown yet, but I'm pretty sure they're a better bang for your buck than non-stick gauze.
My two cents, and then some. I'm really sorry you had to go through this.
Margaret Ann
I think Jo said it all, and really well (as usual). I just wanted to chime and tell you I know how you feel. I had an abscess burst a while back--an ultrasound tech refused to empty it since it was a surface abscess, and then I didn't get to a surgeon fast enough. It left a disturbing hole that is (slowly) healing--or at least, it's not as horror-movie looking as it was before. Now I'm trying to get to the doctor every time I even suspect that an abscess is forming. Every time the doctors culture the fluid from my abscesses, it's been negative for infection (since I got over the staph infection, that is!). I clean my incisions/wounds nightly--wiping them down, then applying a big glob of bacitracin (sp?) to a Lansinoh breast pad and taping them with paper tape. My GM appeared during my last pregnancy, a little over six months ago, and before I had to give up breastfeeding, I had a lot of these around and discovered how much more absorbent and clothing-protective these pads are. They're made to absorb A LOT (kind of like disposable diapers) and have never leaked. They also come in their own little packaging so each pad is sterile. I haven't done the penny-by-penny breakdown yet, but I'm pretty sure they're a better bang for your buck than non-stick gauze.
My two cents, and then some. I'm really sorry you had to go through this.
Margaret Ann
And I meant to say - I also felt very upset when this happened to me the first time - as a woman it is very distressing to have this happen in your breast - just really upset me on many levels - I hope you have someome to talk to about it?
I did not feel that anyone else around me understood what it was like to have this happen - so you are not alone there.
Also, you may want to have the area checked by the doctor to make sure it is draining properly and there is not any collection left that they can drain under sterile conditions.
In any case, I really think you should see the doctor now, for antibiotic, and to have things checked for drainage - and so they learn what this looks like, doesn't sound like the know much - maybe save you or someone else some suffering in the future.
Jo
I did not feel that anyone else around me understood what it was like to have this happen - so you are not alone there.
Also, you may want to have the area checked by the doctor to make sure it is draining properly and there is not any collection left that they can drain under sterile conditions.
In any case, I really think you should see the doctor now, for antibiotic, and to have things checked for drainage - and so they learn what this looks like, doesn't sound like the know much - maybe save you or someone else some suffering in the future.
Jo
I am so sorry Clare - horrific is the correct word to describe when an abcess spontaneously discharges on your breast.
I hope it makes you feel better to know that your drainage area may not get larger, in my case it did not, and subsequent drainages always went through the same channel and drainage spot, no matter where the inflammation was located in my breast, so that my scarring was kept to a minimum. Some people have different experiences of course.
Anyway I strongly recommend that you go back to see the doctor asap or have them prescribe an antiobiotic over the phone - I was on Cephalex, high dose, to prevent any infection. They may want to culture the fluid that is draining, but that will need to be done before any antibiotic regime begins.
For dressing the area - keep it very clean (I showered only, to avoid the possibility of something entering the wound in the bath), and I dressed with non-stick wound bandages, available in any pharmacy - I cut mine down to an appropriate size as they were quite large) and then used the sterile first aid tape, and wore a tight bra on top (24 hours - even to bed, to keep the pressure on). My surgeon also advised me to use an antiobiotic cream over the wound opening - Polysporin is a brand name we have here, to aid in keeping infection away and scarring to a minimum. NON-STICK bandages are very important - don't use gauze - it will get stuck in the wound - very painful if the happens.
It is really too bad the person doing your ultrasound missed the collection, and the chance to drain it hygenically, as I believe this aids in healing.
Let me know any other questions.
Other women here also have used natural remedies, honey, clay, etc. and you may want to read about that.
Best of luck, Jo
I hope it makes you feel better to know that your drainage area may not get larger, in my case it did not, and subsequent drainages always went through the same channel and drainage spot, no matter where the inflammation was located in my breast, so that my scarring was kept to a minimum. Some people have different experiences of course.
Anyway I strongly recommend that you go back to see the doctor asap or have them prescribe an antiobiotic over the phone - I was on Cephalex, high dose, to prevent any infection. They may want to culture the fluid that is draining, but that will need to be done before any antibiotic regime begins.
For dressing the area - keep it very clean (I showered only, to avoid the possibility of something entering the wound in the bath), and I dressed with non-stick wound bandages, available in any pharmacy - I cut mine down to an appropriate size as they were quite large) and then used the sterile first aid tape, and wore a tight bra on top (24 hours - even to bed, to keep the pressure on). My surgeon also advised me to use an antiobiotic cream over the wound opening - Polysporin is a brand name we have here, to aid in keeping infection away and scarring to a minimum. NON-STICK bandages are very important - don't use gauze - it will get stuck in the wound - very painful if the happens.
It is really too bad the person doing your ultrasound missed the collection, and the chance to drain it hygenically, as I believe this aids in healing.
Let me know any other questions.
Other women here also have used natural remedies, honey, clay, etc. and you may want to read about that.
Best of luck, Jo
So it definitely was an abscess and it burst this morning. So horrid, and left me feeling really upset. So what can I do to help myself? I have used antibiotics cream and a bandage. The incision is fairly small but I imagine it will grow?
Thank you so much.
Thank you so much.
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