use of nipple shield to BF

MrsJRD23

Hello, I have been using a nipple shield to nurse my son (almost 4 weeks old) due to one flat and one inverted nipple.  Both nipples are gradually becoming "normally" shaped and I've been working with a LC for positioning, latch and weaning from the shield.

 These 4 weeks of breastfeeding have been really difficult for me and often painful due to my nipples.  The weaning from the shield is painful and super stressful for me.  Is it horrible to continue to use the nipple shield for the duration of breast feeding?  It doesn't hurt with the shield anymore but it does hurt even after without.  The LC told me it will hurt initially again without the shield since the skin on the nipples will be raw and exposed like it wasn't before.  

I'm just nervous that the pain/stress I feel trying to wean will cause me to want to stop breastfeeding.  

 or does anyone have any advice to successfully wean from the nipple shield?  ideally, I'd like to, purely from a convenience standpoint if anything.