The doctors can't figure out what's wrong with my breast

Memia

 Hello. I hope it's okay to post here even if not diagnosed. I've been living in fear of IBC for 18 months now.

18 months ago I was breastfeeding and developed redness, swelling and edema in one breast. What they thought were mastitis. I was put on anti-biotics but they didn't help. I had an ultrasound which only showed some edema and skin thickening.

 I was referred to a surgeon, who "watched" me for several months, and the problem slowly got better, both in apperance on on the ultrasound.

In the end he decided to do a biopsy anyway, just in case. It was negative and the surgeon discharged me, saying this was "nothing" and would get better in time.

 The breast remained with a thickened skin at the involved area and slight edema under the nipple.

Several months later the breast swelled up, no redness, just bigger, as if there was more edema. The problem went away after a few days, and was almost gone by the time I had a doctors appointment. I had a mammogram and an ultrasound, which showed nothing. There was still the skin thickning and slight edema.

I was referred to a skin specialist. He put me on skin cream, which did nothing.

Two weeks ago, six months later, and a year and a half after the problem originated, the breast swelled up again. It resolved in ten days. I had ultrasound again, showed nothing. Still slight edema and skin thickening.

I am now waiting for an MRI.

 But last night, I started getting stabbing pain in the breast for the first time and am trying not to panic.

 Is my story anything that sounds familiar? The doctors have no idea what's wrong with me, but they don't seem to take it seriously and sound very sure that this can't be anything because of how long I've had symptoms without them getting worse and for the most getting better.

 Thank you for reading, I appreciate any feedback. 

Medigal

Have any of your doctors said you have Fibrocystic Disease?  I had that for years and my breast would swell up and hurt but it was not something dangerous.  Now that I am on Arimidex,  a lot of it has cleared up and I don't have pain or swelling anymore.  It is not a malignancy, just a condition of dense breasts.  When I got bc it had nothing to do with this problem.  Since you have had so many tests, maybe you would want to talk to your gyn about your specific problem.  I think they should know more about women's breasts than just regular doctors.   The gyn sure be able to clarify whether it is Fibro Disease or not.  Best of luck to you.  Nothing is worse then having a problem which doctors don't take seriously.  The last time that happened to me what they said was just headaches from my nerves turned out to be a cerebral aneurysm!  So make sure you don't let them just sluff you off.