Thanks to all of you who took the time to respond to my post regarding
informing doctors of correct information.  I especially am comforted knowing
that even Dr. Jay could not find a good way to correct a doctor. Makes me
feel better knowing that if a peer can't, it's okay if I can't.  I have
drafted several letters and all seem inadequate. I don't have enough letters
(as many of you do) following my name (yet) to feel comfortable "correcting"
his outdated information.  I would not feel any more comfortable if this was
about diabetes or heart disease, so this is not just because I don't think
breastfeeding is important enough to correct him about--but I doubt he would
like to be corrected even if it was about diabetes, etc.  On the other hand,
if he was my doctor I would take great pleasure in correcting him.  (Just ask
the pediatrician who tried to tell me I might need to supplement my 13 lb
baby because she was so big I probably would not be able to make enough milk
AND I would of course have to give her vitamins since breastmilk was
INCOMPLETE.  Poor man, I bet he is glad he was a pediatrician of convenience
for me and not going to have to see me again.)
    As for the mom with the breast infection, Valerie, you questioned the
mastitis itself needing antibiotics.  I read as many hits from the archive as
I could (there are soooo many on this topic.) and it seems the debate is
mastitis is inflammation vs infection.  In this case, mom is recovering from
severe thrush ( as I mentioned) and has the cracks to show for it.  Her
breast was red and painful.  Her fever was above 102 and she felt worse after
48 hours of standard treatment--nurse, heat, massage, etc.  Even after the
first antibiotic prescribed, she felt worse 48 hours later, not better.  So,
I would say infection, not just inflammation.  Right?  I know many times when
I tell a mom nurse, nurse, nurse, apply heat and massage, I get the phone
call that says thanks, all gone now.  Personally, I have always been able to
deal with an infection this way.  Perhaps, these are all cases of
"inflammation" as opposed to true infection.
          Just to follow up, mom is doing much better.  She took the
information I E-mailed her, did a bit more research of her own, called a
different doctor and got what she asked for.  Then, being the super cool mom
she is, she proceeded to call her ob and inform him that not only did
everything she read say his drug choice was incorrect, she got the correct
one elsewhere, and was continuing to nurse.  She suggested she would be happy
to drop off what she learned so he could update his knowledge.  Now, that is
a woman to be proud of.  Look out health care professionals, many of us are
learning to question and disagree. (Not directed at anyone on this list to be
sure!)
        Jennifer Tow, you mentioned that there were ways to treat mastitis
other than allopathic medicine, and I would appreciate it if you could let me
know what you would have suggested.
         This mom is feeling much better.  Pain is less, redness is gone,
fever is gone, but the hardness is still there.  It has only been 4 days of
new meds so perhaps she just needs more time.  She is open to any ideas that
would speed this along.  I am happy to return to archives and search further
so I may find what I am looking for there, but just in case, I would be so
grateful if you could just e-mail to me, and if you have done this before and
it is in archives, private is fine.

Thanks to all of you,
Pam MazzellaDiBosco

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