Boob problems: ??? for breastfeeding moms

I am sooo frustrated.
The other day I had a plugged milk duct (a hard, tender area of my breast that would not soften even though I nursed frequently) Well, after massaging it and putting warm compresses on it all day long, it went away. This morning, I woke up with it AGAIN. Same part of my boob and everything. This time, it went away after 2 hours (it lasted almost 24 hours last time).
Now all of a sudden, my OTHER boob has a plugged duct!! WHY ME??? Why all of a sudden am I getting these? I've been nursing Lyndsey for 2 1/2 months, and NOW I'm having problems?! What am I doing wrong? Could it be dehydration? (i've been sweating a lot lately)
Any suggestions are much appreciated!!
Oh, by the way, I do make sure that my breasts get emptied at least once or twice a day...I pump in the morning after her first feeding.
...and she nurses quite often, so it's not like she's not eating enough and leaves my breasts full.

Thanks in advance!

Oh gosh Melissa, you just gave me a flashback of the HUGE, lumpy, hard-as-stone (when engorged) BFing boobs I had. It was not easy, and I can feel your pain (and THeN some! )
Are you nursing more on one side than the other (lots of moms have an easier time on one side than the other) and then the other side gets engorged from being nursed on less. For quite some time I journaled his nursing schedule, to a TEE, minutes, which side, etc etc. But when it got painful, I would go back to one side and pump on the painful side, and pumping can NEVER keep up with the human suction of a baby, so that side would get engorged faster...
Oh, the memories... Im shaking just thinking of the pain and the tears (in my case)...(but all worth it )

Hugs to you. Call an LC.

Melissa, the most important thing for you to do is get the milk OUT of your breasts. Are you using an electric (hospital grade) breast pump or just a manual or home one? I suggest renting a hospital grade pump for a few days, just to help you past this problem. Hospital grade pumps CAN exert more force than a human baby, but home or manual pumps cannot.

The warm compresses are good - keep it up, if it helps you.

Try to change Lyndsey's position while she nurses (not just which side). It is important that she begins nursing on the side that has the plugged duct b/c her suction will be stronger in the beginning of her feeding. But, you have to get her chin pointing in all different directions during the feeding....this will help drain all the ducts of each breast better.

I am so sorry this is happening to you, but it's not anything you are doing wrong, so don't get yourself crazy. BUT, do be careful b/c if you don't dislodge the dry milk that's plugging the duct, you will end up w/an infection and that's far worse.

to you, and let us know how you are doing.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for all of your great suggestions. When I woke up this morning, the plugged duct seemed to be gone, so we'll see how things go from here. I almost always hold Lyndsey in the cradle position while nursing, but now I think I am going to try the other positions everyday too. I've been pumping (I have the medela pump-in-style) after feeding to ensure that I'm 'empty'. Hopefully this problem won't recur!

how do you like the pump melissa?
That is the pump that I am considering purchasing.
Also, what other supplies do you use- such as the pads, creams etc..

Hi Michele...
The pump is AWESOME. I borrowed mine from my aunt, so luckily I didn't have to purchase one. I highly recommend it.
I bought disposable nursing pads to put in my bra (for leakage), two nursing bras, PureLan 100 cream for sore nipples (although I rarely used it), evenflo storage bottles and medela breast milk storage bags. All in all, I have not spent a lot of money on supplies AT ALL! It's great. HTH