Stopped breast feeding-feeling lousy is this normal?*UPDATE

[Beatlesfan]

I stopped breast feeding LO about a week ago. before that I had cut down the feeds gradually until I was just doing one feed during the night.

Last night I woke up several times with bad back pain, breast pain and feeling like I had a tight chest. I can breathe ok but it feels tight like a chest infection. I also felt really hot last night but don't think it was a fever. My tummy also feels odd, like I may have a tummy upset but I don't have...what's that all about? I don't think my breasts feel or look engorged. There is some discomfort but nothing like I have felt before (say when OH has done night feeds and I've gone a whole night without feeding)

Are these symptoms normal? I have taken paracetemol twice now (once in night and once this morning) and in a couple of hours I think I will take ibuprofen as I think maybe the anti-inflammatory properites may help?

I don't have any red spots and breasts don't feel hot so I doubt I have mastitis. Typical, I would have gone to Doctors but it's bank holiday weekend. Don't fancy A and E....

Thanks in anticipation for your replies.

 

[happy-chick]

Sounds like it could possibly be the start if mastitus maybe? Hope your feeling better soon

 

[muppetmummy]

I would see the doctor hun, it does sound like mastitus. You may need antibiotics to clear it up

 

[Beatlesfan]

Well I ended up going to A and E - I phoned NHS direct explained my symptoms and they said to get checked out. Nobody seemed to think it was mastitis....instead they diagnosed muscle pain (????) and to take nurofen. I have done (an hour ago) and it is JUST starting to ease. It was soooo uncomfortable and painful.

My breasts aren't hurting so much it is more back pain like my ribs hurt???

anyways, I will try and see doctor on Tues if I am still in pain.

Thanks for your replies, I will keep an eye on boobs for signs of mastitis.

 

[Beatlesfan]

Update - I was worse over weekend, called out of hours doctor twice... first one said to take nurofen, second one said it was probably gastritis (inflammation of stomach) which I had quite bad in pregnancy and to take some of the tablets I had left over from that. The nurofen would have made it worse apparently!!! Also prescribed strong painkillers which knocked me out yesterday pretty much all day. OH has been fab, looking after me and LO.

I feel loads better today, gonna get to my docs tho this week and see if any investigations can be done to look at my stomach...wanna know if it is long term or what??? My mum has hiatus hernia and needs to take same tablets that I am taking every day! better to know aye?

 

[Babylicious]

 

[Beatlesfan]

Well after much pain still, I went to walk in surgery at docs and I have a new diagnosis! COSTOCHONDRITIS..... which is pain due to inflammation of the cartilage and bones in the chest wall... I have been given anti-infammatories and pain killers and so far they are working.

it's a weird thing to have, no real known definite cause, no known time for how long someone has it so I am just going to take the tablets for a couple of weeks and then see how I am without them.

Hope it's the right diagnosis.

I do wonder if it may have anything to do with my posture when I was breast feeding, as this is when my back pain started. ???