IBC or Infection?

Ashworth1986

Hello everyone, I'm so nervous so a apologize ahead of time for the run on sentences and sounding robotic!

I'm hoping someone can shed light on my symptoms. I'm a breast feeding mother of a 17 month old. A few weeks ago I found a small round lump on the outside of my right breast, just below where the breast meets chest. It was very painful and there was a hard section just below the lump. I thought it was just a clogged duct or mastitis so I massaged it, used hot water and nursed a lot. The hard section below the lump started to go away but I developed a hard tube coming from the lump that extended down my breast instead. The small lump eventually disappeared but the hard tube then developed into multiple tubes and made the inside, skin of my breast thick, red and abnormal looking, kind of orange peel looking(as it's described). The hard tubes disappeared but then I developed ANOTHER hard tube from the nipple extending downward towards my abdomen. That's when I thought this might be serious.(All the tubes have felt sore). So I went to urgent care, the Dr. didn't look at my breast(even though I suggested he did) but he did feel my armpit and collar bone and said it was just mastitis and gave me a 10 day course of antibiotics. He told me if it wasn't cleared after a week to get an ultrasound, mammogram, etc....

Now, after 10 days, the hard "tubes" are gone, my breast is not sore BUT it is still red and the skin is still thick. I have taken photos of my breasts every couple days and it does appear to be getting less red but thickness always seems the same. I am so consumed with worry. Please tell me I'm crazy and this is something other than IBC.

Here is the hard "tube" extending downward from my nipple... just above my mole. 

Thank you in advance.  

Kicks

See you Dr! Yoir OB/GYN, not some UC/ER.

No one here can diagnose/tell you what is going on - only medical personel who actually see you and can order any appropriate tests/scans can diagnose.

There are so MANY possibilities as to what is going on.  IBC is very unlikely especially for a younger peraon.  Among all DXd BCs it is rare - amomg all ages groupes together, it is only between 1% - 5% of all DX,  evem rarer for younger.  But is possible so need to get chexked oit sooner rather than later.

The vast majority of those who come here thinking they are IBC because they have skin issues - aren't.  The presence of reddened skin does not automatically equate to IBC.  The absence of reddened skin does not rule out IBC either - I never had any redness.  There are no 'set in stone' rules that everyone experiences.

See you Dr!