I have mastitis. For those of you in the know, that’s a BOOB INFECTION.
It started with a fungus… I’ve gotten this skin fungus thing at least once a year every year since I was in 7th grade. I’m really not gross (it has nothing to do with hygiene)… Actually, everyone has it on their skin… Some people are just prone to its overgrowth because the oils on their skin are sweeter. Just call me “Sweet Oils.”
Anyway, I had JUST gone to the doctor and gotten a prescription for it (mine is VERY resistant to topical treatment, so I have to get an oral antifungal) when I found out I was pregnant with Griffon. It’s one of those “safe when the benefits outweigh the risks” drugs during pregnancy, so I didn’t take it the entire time I was pregnant. I probably could have. I just didn’t want to take it just for an unsightly, itchy fungus. Not like it was going to kill me or anything.
So, I swear one of the things I was looking forward to most at the end of pregnancy was taking that medicine. By the end of pregnancy, the fungal rash was all over my back, on part of my chest and abdomen, up onto my neck, behind my knees, and on my arms.
But, of course, Griffon has breast milk jaundice (the kind that lasts up to 12 weeks… Anneke had it for a full 3 months) because of some special weird enzyme I produce that other people don’t… again, I’m a freak… And one of the rare side effects of this medication is jaundice and liver failure. So, even though the breastfeeding bible says it’s safe to take while nursing, I was worried they didn’t mean in already-jaundiced babies, so I decided to take a 24-hour break from nursing and just pump and give Griffon formula… This would allow me to take my medication and have it metabolize AND probably kickstart Griffon out of the breast milk jaundice. So, two birds with one stone.
THIS IS WAY TOO MUCH EXPLANATION TO SAY,
Now, one of the stones is in my boob. I pumped for that 24-hour period, but one time, I did it ONE-HANDED WHILE CHECKING MY E-MAIL and wasn’t really paying attention (because I’m a dumbshit) and got 3 ounces from one side instead of the 1 or 1.5 I meant to get (I make enough milk to feed a family of eight). So, I got engorged, and then I took the kids somewhere and didn’t pump exactly when I was supposed to the next time, and yada yada yada… Now I have mastitis.
I nursed Anneke for 2.5 years, so I’ve experienced my share of plugged ducts, but mastitis comes with fever, chills, and body aches because it’s actually a STAPH INFECTION in your breast (who knew? nasty). On Sunday, I had the worst fever and achiness that I swear I’ve ever had. I was in a sweatshirt and pajama pants under two blankets on the couch for about four hours straight, and I swear I could NOT get warm. I felt like I had been run over by a truck.
I went to my OB yesterday. She prescribed this antibiotic I have to take every 6 hours. She gave me this speech about how I have to be vigilant in taking it on schedule or else she’ll see me in a couple days to “cut open” my breast (mastitis turns into a BREAST ABCESS that has to be drained if it’s not treated properly). And then she said, “Oh, and I don’t *think* you’ll get a yeast infection (because of the antibiotic), but just in case, I’ll give you a coupon for something over the counter.” Niiice.
I came home to the news that Kieran had cut chunks out of Anneke’s hair. He said it wasn’t his fault because he’d asked her if he could cut it, and she’d said yes. Obviously. It didn’t actually look awful, just thinner, but we couldn’t really leave it like that, so I gave her a haircut. She’d had a few trims before but no really big haircuts ever, so this was a big deal. She’s also a huge fan of her long hair… It went well. I told her she could grow it out again if she wanted, and she’s already decided she wants to do that. But, in the meantime, look at the cuteness.
Before (on ‘cation last week… not the best picture, but you get the idea):
After:
Your Friend,
Sweet Oils
