Saying hello - and Thank You.

Hi Ladies,

I'm currently waiting for results of my punch biopsy and wanted to say thank you for the invaluable information and contributions on this board.

I noticed swelling starting about 10 days ago with redness and heat pretty much immediately. I've had mastitis before about 2 years ago that responded to antibiotics but left me with a fistula on one of my ducts. I have a chronic immunosuppresant disorder so lumps, bumps and whatnot are not out of the norm for me. I figured it was the mastitis flaring up again even though I've never had children or breastfed (I'm 40) and there is no fever or other ill feelings. By day 5 the hard swelling behind my nipple was the size of a lime and I thought my poor boob was going to burst. Day 6 and the nipple started to retract. Day 7 I see a GP to ask for I&D as I am convinced it is now an abscess. Referred immediately to specialist and have I&D the same day with US which shows a large difffuse mass of inflammation - preliminary DX is periductal masititis. Got a shot of abx and told to come back in 2 days for wound check and culture results. 2 days later redness has subsided a little and breast has softened a little, wound is still draining. Specialist tells me the culture shows regular Staph A plus 'other indicators' so does another US and wit the diffuse mass still present, opens wound further for drainage and does a punch biopsy plus skin excision on the spot. I'm now on high dose oral abx for 7 days while I wait the biopsy results. I have another 7 days of abx after that plus a 3D US booked ...I suspect that depending on what the biopsy results are, that could all change.

I'd never heard of IBC before this and having had a large fibroadenoma aged 20 and a previous bout of mastitis, I am not unaware of breast health. I'm just staggered that more info isn't out there about this.

My heart goes out to every woman with IBC, and regardless of my results next week, I will be doing my utmost to educate every woman I come into contact with. This board represents such tremendous knowledge and selfless contribution. I can't thank you all enough.

Apologies for the long post. Hopefully I will not be joining this community, but thanks to the generous members here, I will not panic in the meantime because I am 110% more empowered to face my results next week than I otherwise would have been.

From the bottom of my heart - Thank you.