Skin texture

rosied51 · November 2008

My Dr is the absolute worse, okay my mamm came back negative for lesions but now I have noticed that at about 8 O'clock on the breast the skin feels like when you have a blister underneath. The skin feels smooth too smooth at that section. The rest of the breast is redness and starting to be look like hair folicles if that makes sense.The breast is red and yet there are white spots. Does this make sense to anyone here, my armpit hurts when I try to use my arm.

I have spoken with my health coach from my Insurance co and she is trying to go over my dr's head since she doesn't seem to be concerned, I have repeatedly called there and told them they need to make an appt at the wellness clinic but nothing yet.I had my mam on 10/30. Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated.

runalot08 · November 2008

Rosie,

Sounds as though you are thinking it could be IBC? I am waiting on my own biopsy results as we speak. Mammo came back negative except for swollen nodes. I think that I understand what you mean about the follicles. Do they look like they are kind of enlarged or easier to see?

My breast was swollen especially around the areola to where the nipple was getting a little flatter and I could not see it well because the top of the breast was swollen. My breast is very sore and there is a stabbing feeling like something is going through the breast into my chest wall. Of course my under arm hurts and radiates downward and also towards the clavicle. Then swollen nodes.

I think that my results will come back negative but since antibiotics did not take care of my symptoms and I have swollen nodes under my arms (The underarm on the affected side has more than the other) It is the wisest choice to rule it out. I also have a strong family history.

Do you have implants? I know a personal question but I have them and sometimes when I touch a spot on my swollen breast it almost feels like the saline is moving. Like a bubble under the skin. My docs ordered a CT to check the implants and they are fine. That is what I thought of when you said blister under the skin like maybe if you had implants you could just feel the fluid move. One way I think that we are going to move when the test comes back negative is that maybe my body is rejecting the implants as a foreign object. But if you don't have implants then that obviously is not it.

I hope that your coach comes through for you. I think that the first thing most docs do is prescribe antibiotics. Have you taken any yet? As I am sure you have read if you are already on this site mammo's can not always detect IBC. If you feel that your symptoms have been around long enough with out going away then I would push to get yourself a visit to your wellness clinic maybe even a biopsy. This type of cancer is agressive but RARER than the others. Odds are it is not IBC but as I am sure most of the girls/guys on this board would agree it is important for you to have peace of mind as to the dx outcome. If you feel you need more done I would definitely be persistent and get what you need.

Runalot

rosied51 · November 2008

Runalot, An answer to your question , no I have not had any kind of previous surgeries on my breasts. I go to the breast specialist on Dec 3rd. last night I was up 1/2 the nite because of the pain in my underarm and if i layed wrong on my breast it would cause pain in the nipple area and I was redoing a nipple check and when I started to press the center it hurt alot almost to the chest wall.When I talk about the white spots it is because that is what they are , my breast is red and there are white spots looks like folicles , yes they are easier to see.I get pain from the top of my clavicle to my neck .

Jessica29 · November 2008

hi rosie,

Not alot I can add to what runalot has suggested though I do think you should ask again about antibiotics to rule out an infection. You do not appear to have the typical IBC symptoms such as enlarged breast due to swelling and redness and continuing to swell. So fingers crossed it is an infection. IBC does tend to mimic mastitis.

I hope you can bring your referral forward, please ask your GP about antibiotocs.

Jessica x

runalot08 · November 2008

Rosie,

My breast is not the typical red as one sees in the photos and I do not have orange peel either. But I have heard from others that their symptoms were not straight off the check board. And that some symptoms came later than others. My docs did not feel like it was IBC and we have gone a multitude of other directions since August. They have racked their minds to find other causes for my symptoms. Those listed at the top of all the sights are the most common signs.

That is why I think that it is important for anyone with no reaction to antibiotics (and some of the symptoms) to get it checked and enough done to comfortably rule out IBC. They have done a mammo for you and that came back normal. That could be considered ...good/ or common if it is IBC. Next step if antibiotics do not help I think would be, as it has been for me, a biopsy of some sort. I will feel a lot more comfortable when that comes back negative. Then we can pursue other avenues to find out what is going on with me.

Are they giving you any pain meds? I have some that are heavier than motrin but non-narcotic and they help a bit. You could ask for something to help with the pain till you get to your appt.

I had one doctor think that it might be nerve pain from my breast. He said that it could radiate or shoot all over the breast up the chest over the clavicle and down the arm depending on what was causing the nerves to haywire. That dX did not go with swollen lymph nodes so we ruled that one out. But maybe that could be the case for you?

I am trying to throw things out here that crossed my doctors minds (I had four of them till I found one that would take me seriously. I still see the other ones in the hall at the hosp and they have no hard feelings.)

I really wish the doctor could get you in before 3 Dec. So they can start working on giving you peace of mind and get rid of your pain. Can you get them to push it up? If not at least ask them to give you something for the pain. If it is anything like mine I know it has to hurt for you Frown

Let us know how its going. I will keep you in my thoughts and check up on you. Take care and hang in there!

Runalot

rosied51 · November 2008

Well over the weeknd I went to visit my niece back home and we were talking and told her of my problem and showed her my breast she said aunt Ro it looks like your breast has cellulite, now mind you she knows nothing of any symptoms of breast cancer.I noticed though my armpit is hurting more and more.

rosied51 · November 2008

I am really bothered by the pain that radiates from my armpit into my breast, this is troublesome.This morning I had shooting pains in my right breast if it would of been on the left I would of thought I was having a heart attack but only on the right.The pain in the armpit is getting more significant.

rosied51 · November 2008

I have tried to get in before Dec 3rd but that was pushing it as my original appt was the 9th. when I talked witht he nurse she said this Dr is very familiar with IBC although the nurse did not know the abbreviation for it. I am trying to really keep calm about it and I figure if I think it is nothing then it will be nothing.But the pain radiates from my armpit and sometimes into my arm and I noticed that there is alot of tingling .

runalot08 · November 2008

I worry about the pain for you. Is there a way that the doc can call in a script for you. Just kind of call and say "I know that you can not get me in but I am in severe pain here and is there something the doc can prescribe till my appt?"

I know you are not a child and probably already tried something like that. I just know how much it hurts because it is very much like what I have. Mine is in the left side radiates through the breast and arm pit. When the stabbing started I thought of heart attack first. (I did not tell the doc about that thought) I did tell her that it felt like some one was driving a knife through my breast and lodging it into the chest wall or the shoulder blade. I can feel the sharpness in each part the breast; the chest; and the back shoulder area.

My biopsy came back negative and the doc is comfortable in saying she does not think it is IBC. We are looking for other things for it to be. I really hope that is the same for you. That it is not IBC. I'll post if they find other things to look at.

At least you can feel good about having a doc that is familiar with IBC and I am sure that makes you feel better. Just keep with Motrin or some sort of pain reliever. The properties of motrin could help the swelling and pressure. It did not with me but it may with you.

Keeping you in my thoughts,

Runalot

rosied51 · November 2008

well i went to the urgent care and the Dr has me on antibiotics and pain meds and said they can not rule out IBC. now we wait to see surgeon on the 3rd and was instructed to make sure they do biospy.

Jessica29 · November 2008

Glad you got some antibiotics rosie,

Hopefully you will see some improvement over the next 7 days. Thinking of you and wishing you all the best for the 3rd,

Jesscia x

rosied51 · November 2008

Thank You, I must say this the Dr I saw yesterday and I must admit was young but he spent more time with me discussing all my options more than my primary did.He said if you were my Mom I would want you to have a biospy.

runalot08 · November 2008

Rosie that is great that you got to someone earlier (even if you did urgent care) and that you felt they were giving you the respect and attention you need. I hope that the antibiotics work and decrease your symptoms and pain.

Sometimes the younger docs are good at looking outside the box. I have had great of old and young it is just that I have found that some younger 30-40's (not all) are more proactive on the occasions when they know something is wrong but can not figure it out. This is not being said is to reduce the importance or knowledge of any one type of doc just to note that they are all different. I tend to see a difference in procedure with the age. It could be a military induced way of thought. Since I get my health treatment from a military facility Embarassed

Glad you are on the path to finding the source of your problems you are in my thoughts and hopefully the antibiotics will take care of all your worries. My fingers are crossed. Let us know how you are doing and how your appt goes.

Runalot

rosied51 · November 2008

I am taking the antibiotics regularly and the pain in my armpit and breast is till the same the pain goes from my armpit to my breast.

Caseysmom · November 2008

Rosied51:

Check with the doctor that you saw to see if he can give you anything for the pain to hold you over until you see the surgeon on the 3rd.

Good luck on the 3rd.

Hugs

Laura

rosied51 · November 2008

Hi, saw my primary today and filled her in and showed her what is happening, it seems like one area is straight edged on the side of the breast when I put my hands on my waist, also dimpling in the aerola so she moved her tail and got the appt moved up to Monday think she finally is doing her job.

runalot08 · November 2008

That is soooooo awesome Rosie!! They are finally moving for you. That has got to make you feel better. I feel better for you! I hope all goes well and they are proactive about finding out what is wrong. Post what comes of your appt for us. I will be thinking of you. Runalot

runalot08 · December 2008

Rosie,

How is everything? Did you get in to see anyone? Hope you are feeling better.

Runalot

rosied51 · December 2008

Well I got a call today that my primary got around to making a appt to the breast wellness clinic but it isn't till 2/25. In the meantime the surgeon did notice dimpling irregularity and now I am off the antibiotics and the pain is still intense especially under the armpit and down the side and into the breast.I notice though the texture is getting more significant under the skin layer like it it is right there ready to pop on top, by that I mean it looks like it is pitted and you can almost feel the texture of it.When I place my hands on my waist there is definetly a indent on the side of the breast in the aerola right near the nipple and at the bottom it looks like there is an area that is angled off like someone took a slice out.

Jadai · December 2008

I don't want to scare you but if in fact it is IBC February is too long to wait. If you have to, go to the emergency room. I begged my mom for months and she wouldn't go. When she finally did she was diagnosed with IBC with mets to the bone. She just had her 2nd round of chemotherapy and is responding well. Please don't wait, this is a fast moving cancer. If they even SUSPECT it is IBC they should be moving very quickly.....if they aren't, it means they haven't dealt with it and you need to find someone who has!

rosied51 · December 2008

I am so mad right now the Dr I saw obviously did not read my entire history . I immediately called my primary and let off some steam telling them this Dr they sent me too did not read everything I gave them they are basically shrugging things off.I keep a complete medical history on my computer and then print it out so I do not have to fill all the paperwork well according to them I am dening having different issues AAARRRGGG. it is right there in front of them .Sorry but right now I am shaking so bad .

njoylife · December 2008

Oh, Rosie, I will be praying for you. You need to go sooner.

I have had the symptoms of IBC for 3-4 weeks and I went to my primary Dr. today. She is very concerned. She wanted to order the ultrasound but since I have an appt Tues with my Onc's PA I told her I will wait to see what they will do. At least I know if the Onc shrugs it off, I can go to my primary. I am only 7 months out from treatment for Triple Negative and this is not encouraging. I had a lumpectomy before I really even knew about triple negative.

runalot08 · December 2008

Rosie I am glad you are getting some frustration off here. Just talking about how frustrating the docs were helped me:) I agree with the others just from readings that it is way to long a wait for any possibility of cancer let alone IBC. I am not in the situation that some others (as of now I have not been diagnosed) are but I am still scared and waiting also. I actually got the doc to do an MRI I have to leave the island. I really think you need to walk into the clinic you are supposed to go to and tell them what you think you might have is then tell them what could happen in 2 months time if you do have it. Then demand they get you in sooner while standing right there.

That being said sounds like you are explaining the pitting as looking like a chicken pox scar (how they kind of sit lower than the normal dermal layer. However, these scars are under the skin and you can kind of see them like they are ready to soon say hey look at us? Just curious if that would be a good explanation of what you are seeing.

I really hope you get success in seeing someone sooner!!!!

Runalot

Vickie

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