Re:  the breast that is 4X it's current size.  Common sense tells one that
"that can't be normal."  Often, if mastitis ramps up into an abscess, the
body has literally walled-off the infected area. This cystic formation is
the body's strategy to encapsulate the infection. Often, temporarily, this
will result in disappearance of febrile sx until later when things rupture.
One breast surgeon I work with estimates that about 25% of the women with
abscesses he sees don't immediately present with febrile symptoms.
However, as the bacteria inside the cyst reproduce, the infected cyst grows.
I've seen women whose breast abscess symptoms were ignored have up to a
quart of pus ultimately drained from huge cysts inside of hugely swollen
breasts.  Some are in so much pain by then that they can barely move the arm
on the affected side even with 4 hourly heavy-duty pain killers.  If these
boils ripen to the surface and burst it is just a painful, disgusting mess.
If they are deep and rupture inside the body, the woman can get septic.
This woman needs an ultrasound and some sort of drainage.

Barbara Wilson-Clay, BS, IBCLC
Austin Lactation Associates
LactNews Press
www.lactnews.com
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