Confused about symptoms

Hello,

I am 24 years old. Although the beginning of my symptoms doesn't sound related to IBC, I will start at the beginning. A little over 3 weeks ago I noticed a faint quarter sized round area on my armpit. Upon feeling it I felt a pea sized lump that did not move under the skin that was tender. I got an appointment with my PCP 4 days later who suspected an infection, put me on antibiotics and scheduled a follow up in 2 days. The red area disappeared and at the follow up appointment with my PCP with the nurse practitioner, she felt that my lump had spread -sent me for an ultrasound of the right axilia and breast which came back negative and scheduled another follow up 3 days later with her and the Dr. I experienced burning mild sensations in my right breast and axilia randomly that entire weekend. That Monday the lump in my right axilia could not be felt, but the lymph node was still inflamed. Upon breast exam the Dr. felt cystic tissue on my right breast and referred me to a surgeon with no explanation and scheduled another follow up in 6 weeks. The week went on and I felt the same mild burning sensations in right axilia and breast.

The following week, I was sitting in class and began feeling an awkward and uncomfortable feeling that my nipples were getting hard. This persisted for about 30 minutes or so and I began feeling an intense burning sensation in both nipples and quickly radiated to both breasts. It was extremely intense and came without warning. I managed to get home and take aleve for the pain and sat and waited. After about 2 hours the pain became somewhate barable, but I felt as though my breasts had been punched multiple times and as though I had black and blue marks. I called PCP who referred me to my GYN the very next day which was this past Tuesday. Again, I saw the NP who had NO EXPLANATION for the horrible burning episode I had. She suggested nerve damage??? I have had no recent or any injury period relating to any of this but since her husband is a chiropractor, she said that could be a possibility. Upon examination she noticed I had crusty nipples, indicating previous discharge. She sent me for an ultrasound of the left breast and bloodwork to check my thyroid and pituitary gland because these are possible explanations for nipple discharge. My left breast ultrasound came back negative. I am still waiting for the bloodwork results. yesterday I experienced random burning sensations in bost breasts. Today I was sitting at home at the computer and I began feeling the same uncomfortable nipple hardening sensation that lasted approx. 20 minutes.It started out by feeling as though both nipples were getting hard. I lifted my shirt to check and they were not. (I understand this may sound odd, but I am keeping close track of what is going on with my body these days because of the pain) This hard nipple feeling lasted for about 20 minutes or so and then both nipples becan burning and the pain began to intensify, then spreading to both breasts as well. The burning pain was felt inside the breasts and I could not feel tenderness or any other thing associated with pain because the burning sensations were so intensified. I tried holding off on pain medicine to see what would happen and opted to do a mirror check to see if there were any changes during this episode. My left nipple looked as though it had an extra smaller nipple coming from the left upper side and was darker red in color (almost purple) and there is a piece of skin hanging from the other side that is tan in color. The aerola of the left breast looks puffy and has small fluid filled pimple looking things with reddish color around some of them and an irritated looking pinkish blotchy skin around where my aerola extends. The right breast had the exteded pinkish blotchy color on the top portion only and there was clear leakage found in the creases under my nipple twice only on the right side. When lifting my arm and putting it back down I notice dimpling area in the right breast. The burning sensation decreased and left my nipples feeling hard and sore and my breasts feel like they have black and blue marks all over them again. A mild burning sensation persisted for an hour or so after. It has now been about 3 hours since this has started and they blotchy areas are still noticible but the purple 2nd nipple looking inflammation has become less purple and big, but the tan looking skin flap is still hanging. The left breast aerola is still imflammed as well.

It is my understanding that IBC generally only presents in one breast, but I could be wrong. I called my GYN who told me she would fax a new symptom list to the surgeon to see if they could get me in any sooner. My main concern was getting me to someone who could address this awful burning pain ASAP.

I guess I'm wondering if these burning pain episodes have occured in anyone before? Looking up "breast pain" in general does not include detail on what I am experiencing. Has anyone here experienced painful burning sensations before?