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Date: | Thu, 29 Feb 1996 10:24:02 -0500 |
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Hi Cathy,
I would consider the possibility that the mother has inflammatory rather than
infectious mastitis. Sometimes I see moms who have copious milk supplies and
breasts which are never well drained (which I suspect from your case hx is
going on here) who have chronic discomfort and low-grade symptoms which
antibiotics don't clear. More frq. nursing is a good suggestion. She is
prob. doing a lot more heavy upper body exercise in squeezing bras than she
should. This has prob. created some internal bruising. I sometimes suggest
a day or two of liquid benadryl (at dosages slightly lower than the package
instructions.) This helps dry things up and reduces inflammation. She
should get better bras, not wear sports bras once finished exercising, and
should reduce strenuous upper body ex. til improved. I think cold packs and
emphasis on better draining will really help. She should still have an
ultrasound to rule out abscess, altho in my exper. abscesses are so acutely
painful they really get your attention, plus they generally increase in size.
The ultrasound is impt. to rule our other underlying diseases too -- such as
tumors.
The thing that confuses these inflammatory situations (IMO) is that they SEEM
to get better when mom goes on meds. I think thats because for a few days
she rests and tends to herself. Then she may jump back into the same
behavior which set off the whole process and develops symptoms again even tho
she is still on meds.
Barbara Wilson-Clay
priv. pract. Austin, Tx
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