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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think there should be more help for really painful breasts

27 replies

CocoaKate · 29/10/2023 04:10

I experience really painful breasts every month, for about 10 days before my period. It’s been a problem for years (since mid 20s), and goes through phases of being better and worse. I’m now 40.

During this time, it hurts to lie down, hurts to move my arms, and I can feel painful lumps all around on both sides (symmetrical). The lumps go away as soon as my period starts. This gets me down as I’m aware of the pain all the time. It also affects some activity, E.g. I didn’t do park run today because it would be too painful.

I find it annoying that the medical advice out there (especially NHS) is reassurance that it’s not breast cancer, an explanation of why hormones are responsible, to take painkillers, get a better bra, eat less fat and cut caffeine. Apparently hormonal contraceptives can make it worse (which I don’t use for this reason - I tried in my 20s and they made it worse for me).

Is this really all that can be done? It feels like another example of a male-dominated health system deciding it’s not that important to find a way to treat this.

Anyone else annoyed by this? Anyone else found a good place for help?

Thanks!

OP posts:
LunaTheCat · 29/10/2023 05:15

Wear a good supportive bra plus a crop top with bra shelf - including at night
Can try anti-inflammatory gel such as diclofanac ( voltaren)
Medical science cannot fix what it can’t

WandaWonder · 29/10/2023 05:16

They can't wave a magic wand and it disappears

SweetFemaleAttitude · 29/10/2023 05:23

I agree that if this were an issue males suffered with, there would miraculously be some cure.

I suffer with painful, very sensitive lumps in my armpits a few days before my period, but it doesn't affect me as seriously as you OP, but I can sympathise. But apart from painkillers, there isn't much else that can be done.

WandaWonder · 29/10/2023 05:27

SweetFemaleAttitude · 29/10/2023 05:23

I agree that if this were an issue males suffered with, there would miraculously be some cure.

I suffer with painful, very sensitive lumps in my armpits a few days before my period, but it doesn't affect me as seriously as you OP, but I can sympathise. But apart from painkillers, there isn't much else that can be done.

Male get prostrate cancer where is the cure? Men gets lots of things is there cures for everything just for the

Camoflange · 29/10/2023 05:29

It is a known issue that medicine doesn't take women's pain seriously, books and research on it.
I have this and sometimes supplements worked othertimes not. I wear a sports bra even at night when I'm pmsing.

I probably should get a liver function and hormones blood tests, I don't like trying to explain and persuade my NHS gp so I'll just do it online privately. I hate how much I have to push to be taken seriously by medical professionals. I'm also not white which is a whole another layer to not being taken seriously.

UpInYourHead · 29/10/2023 05:35

Have you tried Evening Primrose oil? For an over the counter thing, it can help a lot at a high enough dose.

Sorry you’re suffering.

TheCurtainQueen · 29/10/2023 05:37

WandaWonder · 29/10/2023 05:27

Male get prostrate cancer where is the cure? Men gets lots of things is there cures for everything just for the

Show quote history

There have been some massive advancements in prostrate cancer treatment just in the past few months. It’s treatment gets a huge amount of research and funding.

If you think that research into women’s health Is adequately funded then you must have been living under a rock. It’s famously overlooked with women repeatedly told that pain is “normal” and they must just live with it. Endometriosis is the perfect example.

Original poster
CocoaKate · 29/10/2023 06:44

Thanks for your support.
I have found a seamless/wireless bra from Uniqlo is helpful and supports my breasts to stay as still as possible at night, but it doesn’t help with the pain and swelling.

I haven’t tried evening primrose, will give that a go.

I’m sorry for everyone else here struggling to get their female medical problems taken seriously, and the additional dismissiveness towards non-white women is just awful 😢

OP posts:
lljkk · 29/10/2023 07:23

I don't think doctors should be choosing your bra.

Mindymomo · 29/10/2023 07:36

I suffered years with painful breasts, give evening primrose oil capsules a try, they really helped me, I just took the standard 1000g ones from Tesco each day and within a couple of weeks there was no pain. When I mentioned it to the GP she hadn’t a clue that these helped.

Pacificisolated · 29/10/2023 07:37

@WandaWonder It is prostate, not prostrate. Prostrate is lying on the ground looking down or completely overwhelmed. The prostate is a gland in the body that can become cancerous.

gymbummy · 29/10/2023 07:40

I actually found a reason for very similar symptoms. Soya. This sounds bonkers but once you've heard of it causing breast pain you'll see it discussed in vegan forums.

I'm not vegan but tried to stop having dairy and would have a soya cappuccino most days, and slowly the pain increased until it was unbearable for quite a lot of the time. It's something to do with it mimicking the actions of female hormones and in some women this has a terrible effect on breast pain. (Fuck knows what else it affects).

Anyway, this may be useless to you, but for me cutting out soya meant I could walk without physically holding my breasts.

Quisquam · 29/10/2023 07:48

I was investigated for 3 breast lumps. After the triple testing, they were diagnosed as benign fibrous cysts.

I mentioned the pain was excruciating 10 days before my period. The consultant told me to take evening primrose oil. They made me feel nauseous, so I tried starflower oil. They really helped with no side effects, although as peri menopause went on, I had to double the dose to 1,000 whatever the units were a day.

Shewhobecamethesun · 29/10/2023 07:51

You have my sympathies OP. Mine aren't as bad as yours, but they are incredibly painful for the 4/5 days prior to my period and it also stops me joining in certain activities.
I know it's a hormonal issue, but surely if doctors and scientists cared they could've researched a hormone to counteract the pain. But as it's a woman's hormonal pain, nobody is interested and it's just a case of deal with it

Interesting the link with soya though, I switched to soya 5years ago now

TastyLikeARaindrop · 29/10/2023 07:55

I've found starflower oil better than evening primrose. It's made a huge difference to breast and period pain. Get the highest strength you can find and take it every day doubling up the week before your period.

Camoflange · 29/10/2023 08:02

My cyclical breast pain started when I cut out dairy to drink and eat soya (tofu nearly daily) when I was in my late twenties to early thirties. When I cut out soy i initially found relief in the few months after but the pain the returned regardless of soy. I drink 1 to 2 cups of coffee a day (single shot), eat chocolate a couple of times a month so I dont think it's caffeine. Drinking heavily or non at all don't seem to impact. I agree with starflower being good.
I have a hot bath or shower or a hot water bottle on my breasts for relief, lymph drainage massage also helps ease the pain.

IHeartGeneHunt · 29/10/2023 08:04

Like another poster, soya makes mine very painful. Evening primrose is good and those ice packs you put in the freezer help.

Vettrianofan · 29/10/2023 08:08

Yes I suffer from this OP. I will give evening primrose a try as it's been suggested on this thread. I take cocodamol for other reasons regularly which often covers the painful breasts issue but sometimes I am very aware of it. Thanks to pp for recommending evening primrose oil.

juicelooseabootthishoose · 29/10/2023 08:24

I was struggling with breast pain due to perimenopause and at a conference i met someone who had had similar and worked in health. She recommended evening primrose. Said it has transformed how she felt. I got some the same day and have had no pain since.

Mumtoabeast · 29/10/2023 08:41

I get this too, bloody awful isn't it!
I've taken evening primrose every day for years & it makes no difference to me for the breast pain. I too have it about 10 days b4 my period & literally walk up the stairs with my arm across my chest as they hurt so much. I'll try starflower, thanks to pp for the suggestion!

DianaBarry5 · 29/10/2023 08:52

I had this in my 20,s and early 30's. It was very very painful but I was advised to take a high dose of a good quality evening primrose oil and it really worked. It will take a while to get i to your system but persevere as it really does help

dothehokeycokey · 29/10/2023 09:04

Sorry others suffer with this aswell.

I've had it for years and it's got worse during peri.

They swell are hot and bloody lumpy and sore.

I bought non wired marks and Spencer's soft touch bras and they're brilliant

I hate the sports bras as I find they make mon even more tender.

Going to try the starflower oil

All2Well · 29/10/2023 09:08

I had horrendous breast pain throughout my 20s and into my 30s due to high Oestrogen levels. I was referred to the breast clinic and diagnosed with fibrocystic breasts and recommended Starflower Oil which took the edge off but the absolute best thing for it was Agnus Castus. Also known as Vitex or Chaste Berry. I buy it online from the US (on iherb) as they only sell in the the UK now in too low to be effective doses.

Original poster
CocoaKate · 29/10/2023 22:55

Thank you everyone! So kind of you to share your experiences and top tips. I’ll try the evening primrose or starflower as a next step.

OP posts:
Iknowthis1 · 29/10/2023 22:59

A friend had a really good result with a high dose of evening primrose oil, which was recommended to her by a consultant that she was referred for for the same issue.