Breast pain opinions needed

lisbeth31

Hi all,

I am having problems with my breast and wonder if I could get some opinions? Since September last year I have had swelling and a lump in my right breast that lasts most of the month. I originally got transferred to the breast clinic who gave me an us and told me it was an infection and that was it. When it wouldn't go away I went to my GP who said it doesn't look like an infection but she will try antibiotics anyway. 

I took the antibiotics and they didn't work. So, I left it a while to see if there was some kind of cycle. Basically, my breasts swell up, the right way more than the left. The right one has a lump and now thickening that get quite big and then shrink for a couple of days. I also get really awful pain that stretches from my right breast all the way down my right shoulder which means for a lot of the month I can't lay on my side and some days I can't even do up my bra or pull up my socks. I also get shooting pains from my breast to my nipple.

So, (and sorry about the ramble) I went back to the breast clinic today and had another us. I got told that this is all due to my breast and that everything is normal. The doctor told me to take evening primrose oil and deal with the pain. I am 32, this has never been my breast before and if it is why is the left not the same?

I just wanted to know if anyone has the same problem and whether they have ideas on how to deal with the pain? I have stopped taking cerazette(incase the hormones were making it worse), I have cut down caffiene, don't eat much salt and reduced my dairy intake. I am also going to purchase evening primrose oil. I feel really bad for being on this site as I am aware there are others who are suffering and trying to get though really awful diagnosis but I was given no advice and have no idea what this is or how to deal with it.

Thanks for reading this ramble and any suggestions will be appreciated:)

MusicLover

Lisbeth, Don't feel bad for coming here, this site is meant for support.  I would suggest that you go somewhere else and get a second opinion.  Hopefully you have a good cancer center near you or you can travel to one.  Get there somehow and pursue this because it is bothering you and you need to be certain there is nothing to worry about.  Best wishes.

roadrash

Hi, You must be so frustrated by now. I am disappointed that your doctor prescribed antibiotics because he/she wasn't sure what else to do.  Do you have a breast specialist? I had fibrocystic breasts and was knicknamed lumpy and boy did those lumps hurt. I did find some relief by taking the evening primrose, cutting way back on caffeine, drinking lots of water, applying a heating pad to my chest but unfortunately, it did not completely take away all the pain. The good news is that your breast clinic believe that you have a benign condition. I hope you get some relief. 

mothree

I get very similar symptoms. My right breast always feels more swollen, dense and sore than the other side. I'm in my 40's now, and it almost seems like the pain on that side has gotten worse certain times of the month. I'll go a couple months where it's not so bad, and then I'll have one pretty painful one where the tissue is definitely more swollen. I was diagnosed with fibrocystic/dense breasts years ago. I would maybe get a second opinion to ease your mind. You may have to get the baseline mammogram at a younger age so that they can monitor changes better, but that's obviously up to your dr. Sounds like you're doing the right things w/coffee and supplements. Hope you get some answers!

Hortense

A second opinion sounds good. Breast pain can be caused by all sorts of things. I would get sharp pains long after I weaned my kids, long after the milk had dried up. My doctor had no idea what caused them, neither did the doctor who did the mammograms. I think it must have been hormonal. They eventually went away.