SORE BOOBS ON A 11YR OLD 'HORMONAL' GIRL - ANY IDEAS TO HELP WITH PAIN??!!!

[whispywhisp]

DD1 has had sore boobs, on and off, for quite a few months now - I know she's quite hormonal and is developing quite normally - ie hair down below, sweaty armpits etc etc (lovely!)....but just recently her boobs have become far more painful - they look fine and she says they hurt a lot for a week or so then the pain dies off and then comes back again - typically hormonal!

I took her to a chemist and spoke to a pharmacist who, to be honest, found my request for anything that might help quite amusing and had a job not to laugh. Needless to say I left the chemist quite rapidly - he was useless and not interested in helping with any ideas/suggestions at all.

Does anyone know of anything she can put on them to help with the pain? I know she can have regular doses of calpol/nurofen but I'm just wondering if there is a cream she can use? The pain really does get her down and she gets tearful/fed up. She's wearing a padded bra which helps a fair bit.

Anyone? TIA.

[Rhubarb]

I'm not sure tbh, but I thought it was very very rude of the chemist to laugh at you. Would he laugh at me if I went in with sore tits during that time of the month?

The only time my boobs were that sore was when I was breastfeeding. I took painkillers - sorry not much use am I?

[lucygreen]

if its sore as in bad skin at surface level sudo crem may help, if it is bellow the skin level, as in growing pains confused neurological signals in need of comfort, unusual as it sounds preperation h will help as it is absorbed comfortably by the skin and has an anasthetic property, a small amout of witch hazel or even deep heat rub will also bring comfort... as will warm baths with an oil such as t tree.
good sports bra for the day time is probably the best route, firm but comffi. it may be that the bras themselves are causing discomfort and doing without at home and especaily in bed may be a good thing!
hope thats a help, and keep talking to her dont let her become embarassed about any of this, especaily talk to her about body hair and what some people shave , trim etc etc and maybe make a point of buying her a nice lady shave at this point. its better if things come confidently from you than with mixed gossip from her friends, especialy if she is a bit ahead of the pack and wanting not to stand out to much from friends etc.
good to know she is healthy though bless her,

[whispywhisp]

Hi and thanks for your posts.

I've always been honest and open with her...it's what comes of me having a Mum who refused to talk to me about 'growing up' !! I wasn't sure about deep heat because I thought that may sting?

I might try putting some tea-tree into her baths and even try some sudocrem...but the pain is more to do with them swelling up rather than the skin itself, iykwim!

I have sore boobs every single month just prior to my period...I'm guessing this is her body's way of getting ready? I can't really remember pre-periods myself and even if I did have sore boobs I'd have just read the back of a Jackie magazine rather than ask my Mother!

Good idea re the shaver though...I might buy her one as a stocking filler for Xmas.

...and yes I was pretty appalled at the pharmacists reaction - he was looking over at his assistant and they were smiling between themselves. I felt embarrassed for asking and I know DD1 was glad to get out the shop. He'd better not smile when I have sore boobs cos I'll sock him one!

[moonmother]

Can't believe reaction from the pharmacist.

My DD is only 9 but going through puberty, and also suffers with painful breasts. Her consultant at the hospital advised me to give her Evening Primrose Oil Capsules- they can help.

I give her 1 capsule a day, and shes been taking these for over a year,under advise from a doctor, so don't worry about your DD being too young to take them.

I also bought my DD some bras- pretty non padded ones , but her favourites are some Asda Smartprice non padded ones (which I bought her as standbys)- she says they are the most comfy and they are only £3 for 2.

[lucygreen]

well it looks like mum mother nature and herbal remedies have the edge on the pharmacist.......... who i think now deserves some sore nipples but lets not go there.
isnt it exiting passing our experience to the next generation.

[whispywhisp]

Yea I guess I find all this quite exciting but it does make me feel quite old too! She asked me the other day how old was I when I started my periods....I told her I was 13yrs old and then added that was almost 30yrs ago!

Does the Evening Primrose Oil help your DD moonmother? I bought her a bra from Primark at the weekend which she says is lovely to wear and I think its a comfort to know something is there to protect them rather than just wearing a vest especially when her mates might knock into her or her sister wants a cuddle!

Having suffered with sore boobs for many years I know how miserable it can be, although I don't think I've ever known them be quite as sore as when I was pregnant...now that was hell!

[anniebear]

How rude of them, My DD has bad pains in her boob also...only in the one as it is growning, she was only 8 the end of Aug :0

she couldnt even go on the trampoline as it hurt

No advice, but very rude of them

[anniebear]

Moonmother.... how old was your dd when she started going through puberty? My DD is just 8, I am not sure if to go to the doc as really looking back she started with some signs a while before 8

she now has 1 boob growing, slight hair under arms and some pubic hair, sometimes a bit smelly under her arms but not noticeable

I noticed her pubic hair starting a while ago but as she is very dark haired I thought it was that reason but seems not

Im quite sad really as she is so young, alos really slim so if they carry on growing she is going to look like Katie Price by 12 lol

sorry for hijacking whispywisp

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

My DD complains they are sore too ( or itchy ) but I think that means they are developing. Warm baths help her.

[whispywhisp]

anniebear...my DD started going through this stage probably as young as 8-9yrs old - the growing up bit before actual puberty can go on for a good couple of years....sometimes even longer. A friend's daughter has already started her periods and she's only just 11. My reason for starting this thread is that my DD's boobs have become increasingly painful for about a week per month which I am thinking is a good indication that she's not got long to go now before her periods start but having said that her moods have been up and down once a month for about a year too...so who knows?!!!

[mollyroger]

Vit B complex and evening primrose oil combined are excellent for balancing hormones - I used them for boob tenderness/pain - but I'm not sure they are ok for children. Perhaps have a google or find a female pharmacist....!

[cocolepew]

Fish oils help me, you can also buy pressed primrose oil in Holland And Barrett in liquid form if she can't take tablets. I would start her on her omega oils and the primrose or starflower oil straight away and take them everyday, they have really helped my 11 y o DD.

[mollyroger]

ah YY coco - that's a fab idea!

It will take a few weeks to make a difference though, so don't give up on it.

[moonmother]

Sorry have only just come back to this thread.

whispywhisp The evening primrose oil does seem to help with the aches, as well as the moodiness .

Anniebear DD started going through puberty just after she turned 7- due to her age she was monitored by our Gp and Doc at local hospital till she turned 8 , but then was discharged, as signs of puberty in girls 8 or over is classed as the 'norm' nowadays.
Shes developing quickly- her breast are quite pronounced, she's spotty, her hairs turned greasy, and has been wearing Deoderant for 2 years now. Also she gets very hormonal, as well as the breast tenderness. No sign of periods yet though- although she carries sanitary wear around, as it could be any time.

It is quite sad that they develop early- DD and 1 of her friends are the only ones in her big group of friends. I know it frustrates her that her friends don't have to worry about BO , spots etc at this age. I reassure her by telling her that she'll hopefully be over the spots etc just as they are starting to have to deal with it all, and that they'll all be coming to her for advice! .

[whispywhisp]

Thanks moonmother...I will add Evening Primrose Oil to my shopping list this week! Let's hope it helps her because her mood swings are becoming especially bad atm - one minute she's ok and the next she is quiet/moody/snappy etc etc...oh the joys of girl's!!!

[WickedWitchSouthWest]

Hi whispy I'd add myself to the evening primrose oil crowd! Also, just a thought but have you had her measured properly for a bra? Just to make sure she's in the right size Good luck with the hormone rush!

[moonmother]

LOL I totally agree Whispy.

I did notice whilst in the supermarket yesterday, some Multivitamins specially for 'Teenage' girls- they had Evening Primrose and Starflower Oil in.Think I will pick up a pack for DD next time I'm shopping, as I know Starflower Oil is good for that sort of thing too.

With regards to the moodiness- DD was very snappy/tearful Monday night when she came home from school, she stomped off upstairs to her bedroom and as she went she muttered to herself " Oooh I'm so frustrated!".

After 10 mins she'd calmed down and came down and gave me a hug- I think, at least, in regards to my DD that that statement is how she's feeling in a nutshell. Puberty along with all the usual 'growing up', friends, school etc must be a frustrating time.

[WickedWitchSouthWest]

It's a hellish time, I wouldn't want to go back through it for toffee. My dd is 3.5 and I'm absolutely dreading it...

[whispywhisp]

I'm glad I'm not alone with all this then...(moonmother!)....can you remember the name of the tablets you saw for teenagers? or the shop you saw them in? Sounds like they're just the sort of help she needs.

I'm finding that she comes out of school in a quiet mood, sits in the car driving home and doesn't say a lot and I normally get one word answers to 'have you had a good day' and the reply is 'yes' and that's it...whereas DD2 talks non-stop. Then once I get her home and she starts to chill out/has her tea she brightens up and will chat along happily/play with her sister etc etc...and then (last night for example) when I suggest she ought to go up to bed (8pm) its met with her moaning not wanting to go up and she's so abrupt with me, doesn't look at me when I'm talking to her - she usually looks up at the ceiling and she'll answer me back and her attitude stinks! So, rather than get short with her I give her a kiss goodnight and she's usually asleep within a few minutes. I don't want to use her hormones as an excuse for her being moody/stroppy/answering me back but at the same time I know I need to be patient with her and make allowances etc etc.

I bought a lovely soft padded bra for her from Primark at the weekend and she finds it very comforting to wear and it fits really well - doesn't ride up nor dig in. When I get to go back that way again I'll buy another one but, unfortunately, I don't have a primark near us so it may be a while.

[colditz]

give her the highest dose of nurofen for her age, plus paracetamol.

[whispywhisp]

I do have to be careful what medication I can give her because she also suffers with IBS which she has prescribed medication for.

[whispywhisp]

Korma...that'd be great - yes please!

She wears a padded bra that is white with silver detail on - comes as a set of a bra with a matching pair of knickers....I think I paid something like £3 for the set...she's in age 11-12yrs...can you get me a couple of sets please? Let me know what I owe you in total including p&p...thank you!!!

[moonmother]

Whispy - after a bit of a search I've remembered what they were, they were in Asda but they were :

Seven Seas Haliborange teengirl - 30 citrus fruit bust chewable capsules

They are a popular brand, so should be easy to find.