Pain in breast and side of body

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Court
Court Member Posts: 2
edited May 2018 in Not Diagnosed But Worried


I’m 33 years old and have naturally somewhat lumpy/fibrous breasts (some as a result of frequent running). Around nine months ago I noticed some dull pain in my right breast along with an infrequent mild itch in my armpit. I saw my GP about this but she chalked it up to the fact that I had been doing strenuous TRX workouts along with being on the minipill oral contraceptive. The pain and itching subsided greatly once I stopped taking oral contraceptives and changed my workout habits. I would only notice a slightly ache and feeling of fullness in either one or both breasts just before I got my period each month. Flash forward to March of this year and I came down with a terrible ear infection and fever, first on my left side for which I was treated with antibiotics. As soon as I completed the antibiotics course my right side came out in an even more nasty ear infection with low grade fever and fullness in my sinuses on the right side. This went on for another week before I visited my doctor for another round of antibiotics to treat the right ear/side. As I was finishing that course of antibiotics (which also coincided with the end of my patios) my right breast started to become quite painful in both the upper quadrant and lower right side with some pain even traveling into my side/underarm area. At time it feels like an ache, made worse especially if I’m leaning forward at my desk working and taking deep breaths. Other times I have a weird sensation that feels as if I have a growth or other mass stuck in the side of my breast/armpit though when I physically check I can’t find any signs of a lump or growth. The pain was quite unbearable last week, but has subsided and seems to be waning over the past week. I check both breasts regularly for lumps and haven’t felt anything to set off alarm bells over the last few months or ever. In addition my entire right side feels inflamed or infection to some degree. My ear pain and discharge is gone after the antibiotics but I still have an annoying feeling of fullness in my ear and I have had intermittent pain shooting down into my right side in my pelvic area (it feels like a period cramp or that I hurt my back). I have had two massages over the last two weeks thinking it might be a case of a pulled muscle or pinched nerve in my shoulder causing the ear and breast pain which did seem to help somewhat, but the pain and fullness is still enough to annoy/worry me that it might be something more sinister. My right breast isn’t red, inflammed or warm to the touch and I don’t have any nipple discharge or skin changes, which might rule out mastitis. I was so freaked out about it last week I went to the walk in clinic as I couldn’t get an appointment with my GP but the clinic nurse treated my like I was a hypochondriac and sent me on my merry way without doing an exam and told me to monitor it over the next few weeks. I’m just concerned about these symptoms and if they are characteristic with any symptoms of BC or just a benign problem or if my ear and breast pain even have any connection at all. Any insight would be great. I’m making an appointment with my GP to ask for a breast check, but I’ve just been made to feel that nothing is wrong with me and I’m over exaggerating about my issues, but I just feel like something is not right on the inside and it’s really freaking me out.

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  • HoneyBadger47
    HoneyBadger47 Member Posts: 98
    edited May 2018

    Court, you have lots going on. I’m sorry you find yourself here and you are feeling anxious. Earaches hurt! I put it right up there with tooth pain.

    Honestly, if it were me, I wouldn’t start with my breasts or an OB. I would start with my GP, who is always an internal medicine doctor, for me, and good at solving puzzles. You mention your breasts are always lumpy and what you were feeling improved. Then you got the earaches and infection from hell.

    I would want my doc to rule out unresolved infection, including that chain of lymph nodes down your right side. You could have some fluid in your lungs which is causing discomfort. Once I had a plan with my regular doc and ruled out all of that, we would decide what’s next and what specialist may be next.

    I know it is hard but hang in there and keep us posted. It may all be referred pain to your breast. Of course, I’m not a doctor but that would be my plan.

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  • Recap
    Recap Member Posts: 120
    edited May 2018

    I don't know whether you have swimmer's ear and/or spring allergies or even polluted water(happening more and more often in America now), but ear infections definitely negatively affect your time in bed, especially if you are a side sleeper, which in turn can give you body aches/strains. I would focus on your ears first, and then assess the rest of your symptoms after your ears are cleared up.

    I saw an Otolaryngologist 50yrs ago because of unbelievable bouts of infected swimmers ears thruout childhood-lots of penicillin back then. He advised me to put rubbing alchohol in my ears after exposure to water. We messed around with ear droppers lol, but now I just put a towel over my eyes/face, and pour from the bottle into my ears-tug on my ears to swish it around good-then tilt my head and let it gurgle out into the sink. It always feels like a water bubble pops and the trapped water then comes out. Works like a charm-ear infections are the pits! Lest you wonder, I have had audiology testing and my hearing today is still above the top of the charts (I clap my hands over my ears when ambulances and fire trucks go by, and I never wear ear buds.) People your age often had tubes put in for drainage, which I know nothing about, but the rubbing alchohol sure is a simple remedy.

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  • HoneyBadger47
    HoneyBadger47 Member Posts: 98
    edited May 2018

    Court,

    When is your appointment with your gp? You are not a hypochondriac. Just be firm and let the the process work. Be honest and say you are not sure anything is realeted to your breasts but they are on your list of symptoms and complaintsand you don’t know where to start.

    Let us know how it goes.

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  • Court
    Court Member Posts: 2
    edited May 2018

    It’s been a frustrating week! I called my GP for an urgent appointment on Tuesday, but they stuck me with a nurse how refused to do an exam and only took my temp and BP and told me I need to make a request to speak to a doctor.


    The reception then informed me that I won’t be able to get in until next month (even with the nurse’s attempt to request an appointment for me).


    Me breast pain, side back ache, and intermittent fever continue on an every other day basis while my right ear is still full and inflammed feeling. I’ve been so anxiety ridden that I’m struggling to sleep/focus at work. I’m thinking of every worst case scenario.

    I finally caved in and made an appointment for a private medical consult at a private clinic. The doctor there was concerned with my slightly raised temperature carrying on all this time and elevated heart rate and said that my right ear is swollen enough that she can’t even see into my full ear canal to see if there is any damage. She examined my breasts and said she the right is very lumpy and it was tender in certain areas when she pressed on it but she couldn’t find any hard lumps or masses and I wasn’t presenting with pain or swelling in my armpits. I am due to start my period tomorrow or in the next few days so she said this could impact on the texture. They usually don’t feel as lumpy to me after my period and didn’t when I check them last week, but would not being on my period make stuff appear? She can only refer me to have a private scan but she said I need to badger my GP to refer me for an ultrasound after my period.

    She was more concerned about me having a blood test to have something to go off of with the intermittent fever. So I’m scheduled in for that tomorrow. She also suggested seeing an ENT to get to the bottom of my ear issue, but I guess we’ll start with the blood tests.

    My fever and pain has managed to go down today though I’m feeling pain more up towards the top of my right breast/in the chest area though when I touch it it isn’t painful, so maybe it’s refered pain from the tenderness below, or some result of my poor posture.

    I’m so sorry for rambling. I’ve just been going nuts. It feels like I’ll have good days and then the niggling pain comes back for a bit.
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  • HoneyBadger47
    HoneyBadger47 Member Posts: 98
    edited May 2018

    Wow, that does sound like a frustrating week!

    Are you outside of the US since you had to go to a private clinic?

    You should be proud of yourself. You took action and went to the clinic to get your other items checked. I knew you probably still had infection brewing. You can get that taken care of and got to the ENT. At least you got some reassurances about the breasts. Get your GP on that’appointment (because you know there will be a wait) and you can you can focus on the ENT and infection with your ear.

    As for the anxiety while you wait, that can really suck. There is an anxiety thread on here that may help. Keep yourself distracted with working out or binge watching TV. You might find that your symptoms improve greatly when you get other things sorted.

    As for timing of lumps in cycle, I’m not sure. You might try cutting back on caffeine or eliminating it to see if it helps the lumpiness while you wait.


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