Thanks to those who emailed me.  There were two or three suggestions which
I will pass on to her.   I had asked her to email me her own version of the
hx of this episode, and I pass this along because she is articulate, and
added more details than my original post.    I hope to finally get to see
her on Monday.  She lives quite a long ways from me, and we have only been
in phone contact since the referral at the end of May.
Hi Michelle...
      Thanks for your continued help with my breastfeeding concerns.  I
really appreciate all you have already done to help me.  I'll try to
come up with a detailed description for you.  Here goes:

approx. May 5 - 15            Began with body aches and shooting
abdominal pain in the lower right pelvic area (when changing nursing
positions, etc.) (intermittently for two days), right ear ache and right
breast achiness.  Was put on Amoxicillin 500 mg for seven days for
possible ear infection.  Pain focused to the right breast in a few days.
 Stabbing pain between nursings of about a seven on a scale of 10 (10
being the highest).  Sharp, pinching pain when the baby nursed. (felt
like she had a mouth full of teeth).  The breast pain continued
throughout the whole course of antibiotics and then 4 -5 days after the
antibiotics were finished, there formed a small white lump on the right
nipple, very small, looked like a white head (but under layers of skin).
 Trouble expressing milk from that breast.  Began treating for a clogged
duct.

approx May 19 - 26      The lump had grown in the last few days to about
4 times the size.  It appeared to be the size of a pea, hard and white
under the skin, sticking out halfway, right on the right nipple. The
doctor thought the baby bit me and it got infected.  He prescribed
another antibiotic (Dicloxicillin 500 mg) for seven days and wanted to
see me in a week.  Pain persisting, both when nursing and when not
nursing.  Painful to the touch. Definite blockage of milk ducts...when
hand expressing, it was obvious that only about two to three ducts were
able to empty.

May 26 - pain unbearable, went in for a re-check.  The doctor thought it
looked better.  I thought it had not changed at all (or had gotten a
little bigger).  Doctor and nurse now checked to see if it was a breast
abcess--determined it was not...they thought it was a blood clot that
had formed...said it would just reabsorb into my body...referred me to a
breast specialist since they weren't sure what it was.

June 2 - appointment with breast specialist...he laughed at what the
O.B. thought it was.  Said it was a cyst formed from a clogged
Montgomery Gland that had to be removed because it was obviously (on
ultrasound) blocking several dialated milk ducts that were unable to
drain.   He said he had heard of clogged ducts but had never seen one
before.  Prescribed EMLA cream to be applied two hours before the
surgery.  Did not want to use anesthesia so as to minimize swelling and
to not interfere with the milk ducts.  Said I should pump on the
affected side one time after surgery and then discard the milk.... then
nurse regularly after that.  Set an appointment for the following
week...OUCH!

June 9 - went in for surgery.  OOOUCH...needless to say, the EMLA cream
was not enough to properly numb this very sensitive area.  The lump was,
however, removed.  The doctor chose not to use stitches (thank God!).
Instructed me to pump for 24 hours before feeding baby on affected side.
 Did as directed...lots of blood in the milk. 24 hours later, the milk
looked very normal, so I did begin to nurse baby.  Although painful,
things seemed to be getting better.

June 13 - (seems to be starting all over again) Felt run-down, nauseous,
sharp shooting pains on the right breast (beginning at the nipple and
going in from there)  began slightly,  here and there.  By this time,
the nipple appears to have a 1/4" cut in it which opens to a small
indent.  Painful to the touch.

June 14 - a couple points during the day, pain so sharp I decided to get
baby and nurse on that side to hopefully find some relief.  Pain
lessened a little, but was still present.  Went home, took Tylenol and a
nap.

June 15 - present - Still experiencing pain...sometimes sharp, sometimes
mild.  But things are just not normal.

Hope this helps.....I think this is pretty accurate.

Thanks again for all you've done.

Sue