Pregnant with IBC symptoms
Hello all. I am 36 and am currently 31 weeks pregnant with my 3rd child. A few months ago I noticed some changes in my breasts. They seemed to be dimpling. They also would have redness and marks from my bra. I bought a bigger bra due to breast growth and that helped a lot. My breasts have grown a lot during pregnancy. The symptoms I am currently experiencing is peau d orange appearance and skin thickening. The left breast is always a little bigger so not too worried about that as it is not significantly bigger. The left breast however has a greater amount of dimpling and thickening although there is some on both. I thought it was pregnancy related so I ignored it until I heard about IBC. I saw my ob, she said it might just be pregnancy changes but said she would send me to the breast specialist. It took her a week to write the order. I called every day freaking out telling them time was of the essence. I got in about a week ago and they would only do an ultrasound. They saw nothing and said it was clear. The specialist looked at my breasts and said he was sure it wasn't IBC. I asked him about a biopsy and he said no that he wouldn't do it as it was not necessary. I was relieved for half a day and then started to worry again. I went back to the breast specialist and saw their most trained doctor. He looked over the ultrasound and at mt breasts and said I was fine and to stop worrying. He said after birth this would go away. I forgot to mention that the thickened areas soften when I take a bath or lay down for long periods and it also softened dramatically when they did the ultrasound. My guess was because I was laying flat and the pressure from the transducer they were gliding all over the thick area . He said I just had really large breasts and edema in them due to being pregnant. He said the fact that they soften at times and that it is on both sides mean that it is not IBC. He said he had seen IBC and this was not it. He said he was so positive that he too would not do a biopsy. I have heard other pregnant ladies say their docs said the same. I left being happy but now am again in a panic. I discussed with the doc all the things I had read and learned and he told me there is not enough info on pregnant breasts online and to stop looking at the web. So he told me that if I needed a third person to say I was okay to go to a dermatologist. I made an appt and no one could get me in until next week. Is there anyone else I should see? Will I need a referral? How do I just wait and see if it goes away knowing how dire it is if they are wrong? I am scared and unsure of next step to take. Also last night for the first time my breasts were hurting. On the left it was near the area that is thickening. It didn't last ling and could just be my milk preparing to come in. Any advice from anyone would help ease my mind. Btw the place I went was a breast cancer center so you would think they were taking me serious. They were nice and helpful and the nurses said that the docs would give me a biopsy if they had the slightest doubt. She said that especially the fellowship trained doctor I saw gave the most biopsies in the place and if he felt I was at even the smallest risk he would have done the biopsy. Sorry so wordy and scrambled. I am just so wracked with anxiety.
Comments
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I would trust the breast specialist.
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Stay away from The Quack 'Dr Google'! Listen to YOUR Drs who actually see you.
Pregnancy does indeed result in many body changes. IBC is rare - only between 1% - 5% of all DXd BC. IF everyone who ame here after deciding they were IBC because they had a 'rash'/skin issues or breast 'enlargement' were IBC - it would be the most common type.
There are no absolutes as to how our individual bodies (or we) react to anything in life. My IBC presented differemt than some.
Sounds like you have great Drs who are actually seeing YOU. Quite readinb the 'horrpr stories' that many like to claim There is breat info to be found on 'google' (and other search sites), BUT there is also of 'garbage'.
Go with what your Drs tell you or ask for a Second Opinion!
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Thanks for your input. I am trying really hard just to trust the breast specialists. I am just worried that I did not get a biopsy. They both seemed so sure that I did not need one though. I am hoping after I have the baby that the dimpling and skin thickening go away like they said it would. I am just super paranoid, as I am sure most people who visit this site are. Thanks again for your kind words. -
Thanks for responding. I have been so worried. I guess I am just subscribing to the idea that if you do not get a biopsy you cannot be sure. On the other hand, common sense does tell me that these guys that I saw are breast specialist who day in and day out look at breasts and look for breast cancer. They also know that their licenses are on the line if they misdiagnose. They are going to do all they can to be sure that you get the right information. If they are so confident, I guess I should be too. I guess that it is just hard when you see so much about IBC and not very much about possible changes to breasts in pregnancy. Thanks again for your response.
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Sorry - medicine is not an absoulute science. One diagnoses that turns out to be not 100% correct does not take a Drs license vrom her/him.
What did you want the Dr to biopsy?
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Kicks: I wanted him to biopsy the area with the thickened skin I guess. I just thought in order to be able to rule it out completely I would need to get a biopsy. Like I said my symptoms are a peau d'orange look to both breasts and areas of thickened skin especially on the left breast. My nipples also have flattened a lot and one appears to me that it is inverting a bit, but the doctor did not agree with that. He did seem to be worried about the flattening on the nipple. I just want to be sure it is not IBC. I know one thing won't affect his license but I would hope that they would just want to do their best to ensure that I got a correct diagnosis. I know they are only human.
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From all the knowledge I've gained about IBC over the last 8 years, I would have confidence in the last Doctor (with the Fellowship). If he thought it even is a "maybe" I'm sure he would have done a biopsy. I have never heard of IBC being in both breasts at the same time. Yes, it definitely is nerve wracking, however, my gut tells me you are fine. >3
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Trudy-erl: Thank you so much for your kind words. I have heard that it is rare but not impossible for it to be on both sides. I know though that reading to much into all I read on the internet is not always a good thing. I think that the last doctor was great and I am trying to just believe him! It is just hard though!
Thanks again
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just to update I saw a dermatologist. I needed to hear one more person say I was fine. He went ahead and did a skin punch biopsy on the area of thickened breast skin in the left breast which has more thickened area than the right. The result was negative. They said the biopsy saw only stretched skin due to hormones. I am trying to feel relief. I think I need to adjust my meds!
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I would not take it for granted, they said mine was nothing and it turned out IBC,get all the biopsys you need to be sure, some doctors have no idea.
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I would not take it for granted, they said mine was nothing and it turned out IBC,get all the biopsys you need to be sure, some doctors have no idea.
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jessozzie,
With all due respect the OP has seen several doctors, including 2 breast specialists, and received a punch biopsy, of her thickened skin as she wanted, with benign results. Why would you encourage her to "get all the biopsies she needs" after a benign result? It would be malpractice for a doctor to keep ordering biopsies without cause, and increases risks of scarring making future screenings difficult, never mind it fuels more anxiety.
Hormonal changes during pregnant, and well, life, cause many changes to breasts. The OP has received an explanation after several examinations and a biopsy of hormonal changes due to pregnancy being the cause for her skin changes.
OP, I am glad your biopsy came back benign. I hope that you can now trust the many opinions you have had, and enjoy the rest of your pregnancy. Of course it is important to keep up on your breast health and screenings, but I encourage you not to "borrow trouble". Benign changes really do explain the majority of breast changes!
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mkell, I am so sorry you have had to go through all this, especially while pregnant, but you have followed through, had a second opinion and had all the testing done that you requested and have now received a B9 result. That's great news!
I wish you all the very best for your pregnancy, take care!
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mkell - You got the news that should have been expected. Enjoy your pregnancy and your beautiful little one. (Do you know girl/boy?)
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kicks it is a boy, thanks for asking. I appreciate your responses.
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jeasozzie - a young pregnant woman got fantastic reports today after exploring so many medical sources. But all you could post was negative.
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Sometimes i encourage people to get second and third opinions as IBC is so hard to detect,they found mine after 3 lots of MRI's, scans and biopsys..i am glad its negative after her opinions she got..
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jessozzie I appreciate your concern. Another dermatologist I spoke to said he also thought I was fine but he said to be safe he would be okay with doing a few more biopsies in different places on both breasts. He did say his thought was they would also be negative but that extra peace of mind never hurts. I am taking what he said under suggestion but I am hoping they(all the docs I have seen) are all right and my pregnancy has caused all my breast craziness!
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your healthy! Your having a baby! Go enjoy your life!
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Mardibra, thanks for your support it means alot.
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