No, I'm not talking about an undercooked chicken breast. I'm talking about me. I've had mastitis twice with two of my children. Both times, the breast infection was brought on by blocked milk ducts even though I was nursing. I've seen it before. It came with fever, achiness, and a rather large red, hard, sore spot on my breast. Fast forward to now....

I discovered a small red spot on on breast next to my aerola. It is hard, faintly sore, I'm cranky from TOM, no fever, my youngest child is 3 years old and I haven't produced milk in 2 years. I know this could be mastitis, but what are some other possible things? I have an HMO and would rather suggest stuff to them than them assume the most likely thing (even when that most likely thing doesn't really make a lot of sense).

What are your experiences?

I've never been pregnant, but I had an infected milk duct. It wasn't an obvious bump or cyst, but a discharge of the nipple. I've also had a small cyst on the breast near the areola (I have very oily skin and tend to get blocked pores. And since milk glands are modified sweat glands, I think how they get blocked can be very similar).

If the symptoms are the same as you had before, that probably is the most logical explanation. If it is very small and sore like a normal "pimple" cyst, then a warm water compress and some over the counter antibiotic cream probably will clear it up pretty quickly. If it doesn't get alot better in a couple days, it's probably something else or an infection that needs stronger antibiotics.

what's the diff between a cyst and the clogged milk duct. This is red, hard, tender (like the mastitis was) but small in comparison. I'm sure that's what it is though. I have an appt tmw.

I don't want to freak you out but since you are looking for suggestions,do some research on Paget's disease

I had blocked ducts, which led to mastitis. But they weren't red. Just lumps. However, my stretch marks were red, which they said was due to the infection. The first thing I noticed was the chills and fever. I thought I had the flu. Then I noticed the lumps. I've heard if you've had it, you become more susceptible to it again. Since you've had it twice, mastitis would be my first guess. And if the stretch marks can go red, so could the blocked ducts I would think.

Like fitbyforty, I don't want to alarm you either, but here is something else you might want to check out. IBC sometimes resembles mastitis. Here is the website: http://www.ibchelp.org/

I had a breast scare last year, and it is really scary. I'm sure it's nothing, but please get it checked and let us know.