18 breasts full of lumps

Buddy_Banjo

About a week and a half ago I felt a pinch in my left breast, I noticed there was a decent sized lump about an inch around so I made a doctor's appointment right away for the following week. As the week went on, my breast became firm near the lump and really tender. At my appointment my doctor was really confused, she said if she didn't know how old I was and was just judging by feeling my breast she would think it was mastitis, which would be near impossible since I'm not breastfeeding. She aknowledged the lump, but said the surrounding quadrant of tissue was engorged and lumpy as well, and that the ducts were inflamed. Since the skin wasn't warm to the touch, red or inflamed at all she said it couldn't be mastitis and ordered an urgent ultrasound. I made an ultrasound appointment that evening and later that night i woke up to a strong pinch in my left breast and upon feeling it I realized it had gotten much worse just over the course of the day. It went from being a quarter of my breast to half, engorged tissue with swollen ducts and individual pearl like lumps as well, to HALF of my left breast. I felt my right breast and all of the sudden there were a few lumps the same way my left had started. The next day I went back to the doctor's office and she was still confused, but said her best guess this time was that it was hormone related since I had started taking birth control what I thought at the time was for nearly a month. She said my body could be reacting to the estrogen in a weird way, and since I was on the placebo week of my birth control it could just be my body preparing for my menstrual cycle, and that it should subside as soon as I started my period but I should keep the ultrasound appointment just in case the issue persisted. When I went home and looked at my birth control pack it turned out I was only halfway through, so I shouldn't have been premenstrual. At the doctor's office she said just stop taking it, so I did even though I'm not on the placebo week. I've been on my period for 3 days now and the lumps, and firmness are all the same. As time has gone by my breasts have become increasingly tender. A few days after I stopped taking the birth control I felt around both of my breasts and counted a total of 12 individual/noticeable lumps between the two. Some are small and pearl like and others are large and oval shaped. Today I counted a total of 21 lumps, my left breast has the most, so if anything whatever is going on seems to be getting worse. I think it's begun to afflict my lymph nodes by my armpit because I feel a lump near my left pit, which wasn't there at the first exam (my doctor checked). I'm only 18 so I shouldn't be having any problems but what I'm having is so bizarre I haven't the slightest clue as to what it is. I was hoping someone might have an idea. My ultrasound is on Wednesday and I don't know what to expect. I forgot to mention that tylenol and Motrin don't help with the inflammation nor the pain. The pain isn't terrible but I get pinching sensations in both breasts throughout the day.

Georgia1

Hi there. That sounds miserable and I'm sorry that I can only share sympathy, not possible diagnoses. But an ultrasound seems like the right next steps and I will be sending you good thoughts.

mustlovepoodles

You poor girl. I imagine that's very painful for you. It does sound like your BCPs may have triggered this. It's also possible that you DO have mastitis--its not just a condition for pregnant or breastfeeding women.

At any rate, an ultrasound is in order and is very accurate in young, dense breasts. Its non-invasive and not particularly painful. You'll just lie on your back while the tech moves a wand over the breasts and underarms.

At least your age is on your side. Your risk of breast cancer is virtually zero. Young breasts can have lots of wonky lumps, rashes, and dimples caused by benign conditions like mastitis, cysts, and fibroadenomas. And hormones also play their part.

Good luck with your ultrasound Wed. Let us know how it turns out.

Mominator

Buddy_Banjo, Poodles and Georgia gave you lots of good advice. 

You may have mastitis, an inflammation or infection of your breasts. The pearls you feel may be the swollen lobes (where milk is produced). 

I agree, BCPs may have triggered this. My SIL had a milky discharge from her nipples after starting BCPs. 

Best wishes. Let us know.