I was recently misdiagnosed several times (first with muscle spams, then yeast, then finally a staph infection from a breast milk culture). I was prescribed antibiotics for ten days and I am now four days into the treatment. I thought the sharp stabbing pains were gone, but after my baby's middle of the night feeding, the pains are back with a vengeance. I only nurse her two out of her six feedings to limit how much drugs she gets in her system, and the pains only happen after she nurses (not after pumping).
How long does it take for the antibiotics to work and clear up the infection? Could this be something else?
Please help! I can't sleep anymore. :(
I am so sorry you do not feel well. What a bummer.
Sometimes it really can take all of the days for it to clear up. Keep up with it, do not skip just because you do not feel results. Remember you have probably had the infection for quite a while, it will take a while for it to get a grip on it.
Did they suggest any heating pads or warm showers?
Make sure that you are taking a good probiotic about 2-3 hours before and/or after you take your antibiotics and do not have your baby get any vaccines while you are taking the antibiotics and for at least a month afterward. I had to stop nursing my daughter for almost two months and then started up because of a terrible sinus /lung infection that I got. It was not fun but I did it. Hang in there.
If you are still experiencing pain I would call the doctor's office. I think you might be wise to get a second opinion. You know your body better than anyone. If you still feel something is wrong then don't be afraid to take action.
Antibiotics fight the infection, you may need something else for the pain. The main thing is don't be afraid to ask questions or insist on more testing. Your health and well being are top priority too.
Hope you find the answer you are looking for.
I'm not a doctor, or a lactation consultant (yet), so take this with a grain of salt.
First thing I'd do is go back to the doc and tell them your symptoms. Explain that the pain never cleared up.
It is normal for some women to experience pain like yours while breastfeeding. Well, maybe not normal, but you're definitely not the first person I've heard talk about pain like that. It can come after the breast is emptied.
It's fine to nurse the baby when you're on antibiotics. I did it with both my girls and they never had any type of side effects from it. Breast milk is best, even if it has antibiotics in it. I can't swear to it, but I dont' think much of the antibiotic gets into the milk anyway. Not to mention, you're going to be fighting engorgement and that can lead to pain. I would imagine that you're pumping, but no breast pump is as effective as a nursing baby. Personally, I'd go back to nursing her on a regular basis, unless the doctor's have advised against it because of the infection. (Which I don't think they would do, but again, I'm not an expert.)
Most of the times doctor's will tell you if the symptoms are no better by the end of the course of treatment to call back. However, my experience is it usually takes about a week to see some type of relief.
Go see a lactation consultant. The pain could be normal or it could be something else. But what I'd really want to know is if your baby should have been treated, too - with thrush, both mom and baby need to be treated even if only one has symptoms b/c they can keep transferring back to each other. I'd be concerned of something similar with staph.
As for drugs and nursing, the antibiotics should be safe for your baby. Remember that if excreted in breastmilk at all, it's generally just 1-2% of the original dosage, and that babies are prescibed antiobiotics, too. So if you are nursing while taking antibiotics that have been ok's by your dr/pharmacist for nursing, there's no need to limit her feedings. That could also seriously affect your milk supply.
I agree with some of the other comments ... definitely call/see your doctor again. I was misdiagnosed with a common breast infection; the antibiotics my doctor prescribed didn't work. As it turned out, I had an MRSA staph infection, which had to be treated intravenously. This is very rare, so I'm not suggesting this is what you have. My point is that doctors don't know everything about you and your situation. As you obviously know, It's up to you to push them if you feel like things just aren't right, even after they've given you a diagnosis and prescription. I'm sure it will all turn out ok!
Do Not stop taking your meds. The doctor gave you a ten day supply, you need to take the whole ten days. What happens is people start these meds and don't finish them because they feel better, but it's not completely cleared up. Then they build a sort of tolerance to said meds and require stronger meds later. My concern is did you tell your doctor that you still breast feed? Not only are you passing these meds to your child but a staph infection is not something to mess with either. Good luck and I hope it all works out.
Staph is quite a serious bacteria. I had recurring staph infections when I was a teenager and eventually the doctor just prescribed antibiotics for a month. I hated having to do that, but it was the only way at that point. I would definitely go to an infection specialist, and get a second opinion so that you are sure this is truly what you have and also that you are not taking the wrong antibiotic- there are different strains and people respond differently to antibiotics. Best of luck to you.
