They generally need to be drained.  See if you can find a doctor who knows more about breastfeeding breasts... I have a friend with one that comes back every year or so.  She just goes in and drains it.  No big deal.  It's a bit strange, large needle but she says it doesn't hurt much...

Joylyn Souter
--
And this above all
To thine own self be true
And then it must follow
As the night follows the day
That thou can be false
To no other man

---- Melanie Kollman <[log in to unmask]> wrote: 
> Hi-
> 
> I am an LLL leader and not been able to find much info on galactoceles or 
> potenial breast abcesses.  
> 
> I have a lump in my breast, directly under the areola.  It is hard and is 
> about .75 inches long and .25 inches wide.  It seems to run right along a 
> duct.  I noticed it and started treatment like it was a clogged duct, 7 days 
> ago.  It has not resolved.  I've had clogged ducts 3-4 times in my 11 years of 
> breastfeeding, and they've always resolved in 12-24 hours.  I have not 
> developed any symptoms of mastitis.  No fever, unwell feelings, or redness at 
> the site of the lump.  It is tender to the touch and it hurts to nurse.  Still, I've 
> been nursing LOTS to try and get it to go.  Done all the heat, massage, hot 
> showers, lechithin and selenium.
> 
> Two days ago (day five of the lump) I went to see my Nurse Practitioner and 
> had her look at it.  She was concerned, yet knew not what to do.  I let her 
> read my copy of the Breastfeeding Answer Book about breast problems and 
> she then looked up some info on a medical website that she has a subscription 
> to.  She had never heard of a galactocele, but agreed that it sounded like 
> that's what it could be.  She gave me a referral to a surgeon for possible 
> aspiration.
> 
> The surgeon was a very nice man, but clearly knew nothing about the 
> lactating breast.  Not surprising, but always disappointing.  He gave me a 7 
> day prescription for dicloxicillin, and wants to see me in 5 days if it hasn't 
> improved.
> 
> Is there any point in taking the antibiotic?  I don't have an infection.  No 
> fever, no malaise.  
> 
> I'm continuing to treat it like a clogged duct, but it is not helping.  I've read 
> other stories that say that once the blockage is too big to reabsorb, removing 
> it is the only way to clear it.
> 
> Does anyone know how I might get in touch with a doctor who has knowledge 
> about the lactating breast?  I looked on the Academy of Breastfeeding 
> website, but they do not have a member list.
> 
> Any info or help would be appreciated.
> 
> Melanie Kollman
> LLL Leader
> Bangor, ME
> 
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