First up, sorry for using AIBU for maximum exposure as quite frankly I'm starting to feel beside myself with worry.
Please, can anyone tell me how menopause has affected their breasts... particularly in relation to soreness, pain, stinging or burning sensations that were just a normal part of the ageing process and not something sinister?
During the lockdown I started to feel a few twinges in my right breast. Short, sharp, stinging or tingling sensations right behind the nipple that would happen a few times a day at random. It was enough to be aware of it happening but not a scary type of sudden or prolonged or wide-spread pain.
Very thankful that lockdown lifted for us, so in June I went to see the GP when the stinging/tingling reoccurred and I recognised it. I was sent for a mammogram and ultrasound.
So, at this point, I was having the sensation only in the right side. Ultrasound results gave me something called a BI-RADS rating, which showed a score of 2 (benign calcification) for the left breast and the right breast had a score of 3 (something visible on the scan, not sure what, probably/statistically benign, need to check size/shape again in 3 months time).
At the same time as receiving these results, I was feeling a lot of discomfort in the armpit area. No lumps thankfully, and this area was also looked at during the ultrasound and found to be unremarkable.
But, of course, the mind will wander to worst case scenario!
Stressed that something sinister is going on, I had some blood tests which showed very little, aside from some mild inflammation somewhere in the body that had caused some minor rise in the relevant test result. GP said I should just take ibuprofen for a few days to see if that helped (it didn't).
I visited a couple of different GPs and one said she'd support me to bring forward the next ultrasound and also request a biopsy at the same time. I'm torn about unnecessary procedures, but would absolutely go for it if I should. WWYD?
I've invested in some better bras and also been keeping a diary. But there appears to be no rhyme or reason for these sensations. Some days they're there, other days I don't feel anything. It doesn't appear linked to my cycle either.
Over the last few days, I'm starting to feel the same sensations in the left breast. In fact, during the last two days, I've felt it more often and more strongly than I've previously felt it in the right.
So, I can take this two ways... I can feel more reassured that it's symmetrical and it's hormonal... or I can think worst case scenario that this is now something really bad.
Please help calm my mind. Also, suggestions of good books or websites about forthcoming fun times would be really welcomed.