Worried about lumpy, painful area

How does this differ from your previous concerns? I see you have almost 150 previous post here over about six years. What are your prior diagnoses and history?

"Fibrocystic breast disease" is a misnomer because it's not a disease but is a normal condition. These days it's more often called Fibrocystic Breast Condition. Over 1/2 of all women have fibrocystic breasts. It's just semantics but it's important semantics because women with fibrocystic breasts need to understand that their breasts are normal.

As someone with severely fibrocystic breasts since I was a teenager, from my own experience I can say that my breasts felt lumpy and sore and developed cysts all over. I am aware that fibrocystic tissue is most common in the upper outer quadrants but "most common" doesn't mean "always" or "only". Fibrocystic breast tissue can be anywhere in the breast.

At 44 you are almost certainly in peri-menopause, which is when fibrocystic breasts really act up. New lumpiness can appear, and not always evenly in both breasts. Cysts can develop. Since you've always had lumpy breasts and this area feels like normal fibrocystic tissue, I'd say you should wait through your cycle and probably another cycle before you get concerned. If the pain and lumpiness doesn't ease by then (after your period is done), then it might be time to get checked out. But from what you describe, most likely you have perfectly normal fibrocystic aging breasts.

I remember when I was your age, my periods, which had been regular (always a 31 day cycle) from day 1, suddenly started going nuts. My breasts were sore all the time. One time I had a long business trip and was grateful when my period started up a couple of weeks before I left, figuring that this was one thing I wouldn't have to deal with while I was away. But the second day of my trip, my period started again, just over a week since the previous one had finished. Seriously? I used to comment to friends that previously I'd known if I was feeling grumpy and my period was due that I could attribute my mood to PMS. But once I was in peri-menopause, I had no idea when or whether my moods were driven by my cycle because I had no idea when my period would start. It was very strange to deal with.

CuGym - good news that it's not breast related. Hope the inflammation on the rib is cleared soon.