"Lack of care"

Over a month ago I called my GP Surgery in East Kilbride as I expected I had mastitis from breastfeeding. I was prescribed antibiotics. 5 days into the course there was no improvement and the lump and pain was not improving. I called the surgery again, was put on the phone to a nurse who told me she was unsure what to prescribe. She then prescribed the same antibiotics again.

A week later when I finished the course I was in the Surgery for my sons baby check. The doctor also looked at my breast by this time the lump was large, swollen and red. I was also in pain. She prescribed more antibiotics and also said it might need seen by a surgical team. 

After being on 3 courses of antibiotics and seeing how severe the lump was and suggesting it being referred this should have been the action taken. 

Instead I was left for another week taking antibiotics that made no improvements. I had to phone NHS 24 in the end. I was admitted to hospital, had the abscess aspirated 3 times and put on IV antibiotics. 

My son at 10 weeks old and exclusively breastfed was allowed to remain with me but Wishaw General hospital were unable to provide a cot and my son had to sleep in his pram for the duration of our stay. 

When I was discharged the Consultant asked if the redness had reduced. I showed it to them and they said that they had never seen it before so they didn't know if that's better than it was. 

Completely unacceptable way to be spoken to and because of this lack of care I then had to return two days later to have it aspirated again as the pain was excruciating. 

When I was first admitted to Wishaw in A&E the surgeon aspirated the abscess without providing any pain relief and continued as I was visibly in pain. A nurse entered the room once it was finished and said I should have been given pain relief and to not allow that to happen again. When I'm in pain and sick it shouldn't be my responsibility to ensure the doctors etc provide the correct care. 

Both surgeons that aspirated the abscess; one in A&E and the other in the Surgical Ambulatory Ward need educating on breastfeeding. I was told my both to stop feeding on the affected side as it would make it worse. Thankfully I used my own knowledge and contacted the Breastfeeding Team who confirmed what I knew that I should continue feeding on that side. If I stopped it could make things worse. 

I now have to attend the Breast clinic weekly for aspirations and I am still taking antibiotics. The pain of the aspirations is excruciating, I am exhausted from having to mentally and physically deal with this alongside having a new baby. 

If it wasn't for the lack of care at my GP Surgery it would not have been left for so long and I would not have had to be admitted to hospital with my 10 week old son. The surgeons at Wishaw General need to offer adequate pain relief and need educated on breastfeeding.