mastitis hell

[Saila]

I woke up this morning w dreaded mastitis

I have a 6 wk old and a 3yr old toddler to look after

It's the second time I've had mastitis in 4 wks and last time I contained it using low dose antabuse.

I called at 8.15am for an appointment with Melbourne Grove but they said there were none available today.

As anyone knows, mastiitis left untreated can get really out of hand and I'm on my own with 2 kids to look after with chills/breast pain/weak etc etc

I said all I needed was a repeat prescription from last time, and my partner could pick it up from reception. This means I could nip it in the bud ahead of tm.

They said I could try emailing, but the response can take up to 48 hrs.

I emailed, twice but heard nothing back.

My partner went in and they refused to talk to my doctor or pass on a messgae/email to him. I really rate him as a doctor and trust him to help me as he totally sorted me out last time

How easy should it be to just get a repeat prescription for something? Or just get a message to a doctor?

I am feeding constantly and doing all the rec things, to keep it at bay. Hot baths/massaging etc but its just getting worse. I have inverted nipples which makes me prone apparently.

I'm really emotional and hormonal as it was mastitis that stopped me bf with my first child... but the reception staff are hugely unsympathetic and just huff and puff at you like I'm making a fuss.

Thankfully, they just called syaying I could come in for another appointment but w a different* doctor at 710.

I managed to get it down to 610.

All this feels like such a waste of time for everyone involved. I just get more and more disillusioned w that place...

Any suggestions for another gp nearby?

[jollyrogers]

Wait until the surgery is closed and call SELDOC - they will definitely help you straight away. Good luck!

[Fuschia]

DMC?

They are not perfect but I have always got a call back from a dr in those sort of circumstances

[Mrs_Glennie]

I second that. I must have seen 4 different GP's none at my surgey with suspected mastitis and none of them gave me any antibios! It wasn't until I got so bad in the middle of the night with fever, cold sweats etc that my husband called SELDOC who were amazing and sorted me right out. Such a brilliant service.

I hope you get more antibiotics soon and start getting better, it's such a horrible condition and doesn't help the general overwhelming feeling of having a tiny newborn and the stress of breastfeeding.

Take care.

[Fuschia]

DMC?

They are not perfect but I have always got a call back from a dr in those sort of circumstances

Hope you are on the mend soon. I had a terrible dose of mastitis once that turned into a deep access and took 3 months to treat inc iv antibiotics and surgical draining, so it's nothing to be messed with.

[Fuschia]

Oops

My iPhone seems to have a stutter

[Saila]

:( thanks for your comments

You can't help feeling really depressed by it all - bf is so hard

And the thought of getting up and going to doc makes me feel sick

Frustrating as I knoe if the doctor knew, he'd sort it out straight away but the front recpetion staff refuse to pass on ms

Its now in my second breast and fever 38.3 and I've only had it <24 hrs

[etta166]

Elm Lodge if you live more to the North Dulwich side of East Dulwich? They are always great at fitting in urgent appointments and call-backs.

Also, if you need to then go to A&E with mastitis because as you know and as Fuchia said, it's not to be ignored and needs urgent treatment.

Good luck!

[bluesuperted]

In a case like this I'd be tempted say do you want me to go to A&E with my tiny baby and my older child or can someone fit me in?! I third Seldoc but you have to wait til your GP closes, they have always dealt with mine and my son's problems ASAP - never had to wait more than an hour for call back.

[bluesuperted]

Yup more I think about it the more I think A&E might be best...

[Fuschia]

I went to a and e with mine (sent with a letter by seldoc) but I still had to wait hours

Though they did give me iv antibiotics there

Saila, gave you got to go to your appt by yourself with both children? :-(

[Saila]

No, my partner is off today - thank god

But I'm on my own tm which is why I so desperately wanted treatment this morning

[hellosailor]

seldoc will be open from 6:30, hope you get seen asap xx

[Saila]

Been seen

Doctor was really nice and sorted me out with some antibiotics, but temp now 38.8 and its on both sides

I complained bout reception stasff and she just said 'they are not medically trained'

Unhelpful, as dose has to be high cos its so established, thrush likely and prob cessation of bf

Gutted

All completely avoidable

[Mrs_Glennie]

So sorry Slai, it's such a horrible thing to go through.

Can you express while you're on the high dose anti-b's to keep your supply going?

[bluesuperted]

Can you get to Health Matters tomorrow AM? Ask them for their highest dose (20 billon?!) of acidophilus tablets - these are fab at helping the body fight off thrush making properties of antibiotics. Really hope you feel much better soon x

[crystal7]

2nd bst's suggestion. I had mastitis when my 2nd was tiny and took probiotics from Health Matters to avoid thrush. Can't remember what exactly they were but asked the lady in there for advice. Sorry you're going through this it really is the most horrible thing.

[shaunag]

Hi Saila. I had a similar problem with Mastitis at DmC (had spoken to seldoc on Sunday night; knew what it was as had had it before; seldoc had faxed Dmc to say I had mastitis and should be treated with antibiotics but failed to use precise enough wording such that the reception staff refused to show it to a doctor or get me an appointment until late that day). The doc I saw was really apologetic and used the same "not trained medically" excuse re the reception staff. So, I guess it happens everywhere. I had mastitis 4 times - no longer bf'ing but if you are that prone maybe speak to your doctor about them prescribing you antibiotics to have to hand in case it develops again and you are in a similar situation. I plan on doing this for next time around (albeit can ask my mum in Ireland to write the script and just pay for the antibiotics in Ireland). Get better soon. Xx

[Saila]

This is what amazes me. Surely the mistake is that these untrained staff are ultimately making medical decisions.

Had I just accepted what they had told me, I would have ended up in a&e that's for sure. Instead it took stressful conversations to the point of arguing with the front desk staff who were combative at best. My partner also went in in person with a similar response but still the attitude was all wrong. Being stressed out like that with a high temperature isn't fun.

I ended up breaking down in the doctors office when she was shocked at how sick I was.

There seems to be a missing service at the Melbourne grove, and perhaps dmc, and that's for emergency cases that do not warrant going to a&e for. Without this, it is driving patients to become emergencies which makes zero sense.

[Convex]

I think it's worth speaking to the practice manager and making sure they know about it. When I had mastitis the first time I called and asked for an appt, when they said nothing available I said 'I have mastitis and a 3 week old baby' and they found me something immediately.

It's about the feeding of a newborn so high priority.

And, sorry you have had mastitis, it truly sucks.

[Saila]

Convex, what practice are you at cos we said all of this?

My partner pleaded saying that I was deteriorating by the hour with a 6 wk old. But they just told him there was nothing they could do.

They eventually called back with an appointment time of 710pm approx 12 hours after I first contacted them. By which time I was v sick.

[Convex]

DMC

I have to say they have their problems but overall they have done well by us

I think you should raise a complaint, imagine if you have to stop bf because they haven't trained their reception staff properly to prioritise patients. If they weren't sure they should have referred it to the practice manager or a doctor.

[Convex]

Ps I don't think that you can get anti biotics on a repeat but they might give you a script in case it flares up again. I had it fairly regularly but mildly compared to what it could have been.

[RenF]

Saila I don't have any advice really, but you have my empathy. I hope you're soon on the mend. I found the kelly mom website useful on any issues to do with breastfeeding and this page on mastitis seems helpful (although I'm sure nothing you don't already know)

http://kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mother/recurrent-mastitis/

I just wanted to say this is the third such experience I have heard of in the last week where pregnant women or mothers with newborns have been subjected to crappy health care. It makes me incredibly angry.

Edited: rubbish spelling

[bluesuperted]

Agree re DMC, they have issues but I've never been refused same day treatment for me re: pregnancy or BF related or my son and he is 2.5yrs now. Husband has been refused and sometimes I have had to fight but they do seem better able to prioritis if you (metaphorically) shout rather loudly...

Hope you can get the right meds and support (lactation consultant eg Katie Fisher?) to continue BF, take care x