First Appointment Monday Dec 27

tonyap

I have been on antibiotics since Thursday before Christmas for what the doctor thought might be mastitis. I am 42 years old my youngest child is 17 years old. I had a burning sensation on my skin on my left breast for a few days. I suddenly felt my breast swelling on Wed by the time I got home my breast and nipple was huge. It was red and hot. My nipple was flattened and the skin around it very thick. The swelling is going down some around my nipple but the pain is much worse. The redness is worse also. I called today to get into a breast care center in Indianapolis  the soonnest I can take off work is next week. They made me an appointment for Monday the 27th with the oncology surgeon. I am so afraid it is IBC. It is like I almost know it is that. I have had problems with my breast for 23 years as far as always having a green discharge been on several meds through the years even had my central ducts removed a few years ago for it. I have never had anything like this though. What are your thoughts? I think the hardest part is not knowing what it is. I have read that antibiotics can delay diagnosis in woman. I am hoping that does not happen to me. I am afraid to stop taking the antibiotic though incase it really is just mastitis.

shells43

Hi Tonya,

Sorry you have to come to these boards, but Welcome. It sounds like you are taking the right steps to find out what is going on. I hope your appointment goes well and you get started on the path to some answers. The waiting is definitely the worst part for now. I was 43 last year when I thought I had mastitis (red swelling) in my breast. It went away after a few days without antibiotics but left a lump which did turn out to be cancer, but NOT IBC, which is why I wanted to write to you. I think it can present in a number of ways. I waited way too long to go for my first mammo (waited 6 months for this lump to go away, thinking it was scar tissue or something related to the previous infection). My youngest was also 17 at the time, so no real reason for mastitis...I don't know why I waited. At least you are well aware of your breast issues and have taken control. I'll be thinking of you today. Hopefully you will get some answers. I'm praying for a benign outcome for you!

Shelley

tonyap

Shelly sorry my first appointment is actually on Jan 3rd. I was looking at today date when I posted this. Thanks for your prayers. I think I am going to need them.

shells43

No problem, Tonya, PM me if want to. It seems quiet on the boards today.

navygirl

Tonya, you're right about the not knowing being the hardest part! BC can present in many different ways, and there are many different things you'd think are BC that turn out not to be. I will pray the latter is the case for you. I'm sorry you have this to be stressed about over the holidays but I'm very glad you made the appointment to get it checked out. Hang in there and let us know what we can do to help you get through the next 10 days without a panic attack We all know how freaky it is to be in the sit and wait mode. (((hugs)))

tonyap

 Thanks I just want to bust out and cry but I am trying so hard to hold it together. I had a little break down over the weekend. I had just taken a shower and sat down to put my socks on when I bent over I got one of those sharp pains through my nipple that hurt so badly. I just started bawling. My husband came right over and put my socks on. I kept telling him I was sorry and he said he didn't care to put my socks on me. LOL I told him this is not about my socks. I cried uncontrollably for several minutes. This is not like me I am always the one wiping the tears and telling everyone it will be ok. The funny part is we went through a cancer scare with my husband a few years ago. He had prostate cancer and did radiation and beat it. Funny how his is the one cancer people want if they get cancer and this is the one knowbody wants to have.

navygirl

tonya...it's an emotional roller coaster, and the more you stuff your feelings, the higher and lower the ride is It's perfectly fine to have meltdowns ~ hell, I still have them 2 1/2 years later because nothing is what it was and sometimes what's left is just too much to deal with at times~ just like life. Cry if you need to cry, ask wtf if you need to know wtf???, even if it's not BC it's something and right now we've all got other stuff going on with life, money, jobs, family...none of us need anything more to worry about! So I'm glad you let your hubby do your socks, and I'm glad you let it out...you've found the perfect place to vent so feel free to vent anytime you need too! Screw holding it together...no one ever said that was the cure   I'm sure everyone here has a story about a meltdown...there are very few things that we can say are the same for all of us, but I'm pretty sure that's one thing that has happened to all of us!