Dear Lactnetters,
I have a difficult case and could use some input. I have Mom's permission to
post.  Mom called me yesterday having awakened with what sounded like
multiple plugged ducts.  No previous hx of plugged ducts, this seemed to
come out of the blue.  Despite txing with heat, frequent feeds on that side,
pumping, massage, she had no relief and so went to see her Midwife today.
CNM was stymied and referred her to a surgeon, and she has an appt on Fri.
She then called me back and came in for me to see, and to use the hospital's
"super industrial strenth pump"
as we call it.  Three fourths of her breast felt knotty-but like the knots
were all consolidated into one hardened mass. Milk did not come out of the
ducts from that area of her breast, though the rest of her breast softened
with extensive pumping, some breast massage, and a back massage. There is no
reddness, and no generalized symptoms, just localized tenderness (feels like
a bruise when touched-her words). I have no experience with galatoceles, but
this is what I am suspecting. You could see a delineated area; you didn't
have to palpate it to know where the hardened area was. I could not find a
good clinical description of how to know if it is a galactocele, of what it
should feel like, etc. Is ultrasound the only way to dx this?  She is quite
worried about going to a surgeon, and is going to research the net, as will
I, as well as whatever other sources I can think of-so far I've only checked
Lawrence...but after working 13 hours and coming home to a houseful of
people this is a lot to face...so I am first asking those of you with
experience with anything like this to please share some
insights/info/advice.  Thank you in advance.
Diana
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