Health Concerns - Massive Anxiety Sufferer

[HappyWelsh]

Hi All,

First of all, I don’t even know why I’m posting here, maybe a cry out for a hand hold?❤️

I have made a doctor’s appointment this morning anyway, but just want to hear if anyone has experienced similar. I’m 7 months postpartum and during my pregnancy I noticed one of my nipples changed, but my breast size had doubled & I put it down to hormonal changes (silly really), after my Dyson was born it started to pull inwards, I was able to pump through it, I was pumping & dumping for 3 months due to DS’s issues. Since then, it had improved a little but still pulls inwards slightly. I’ve started to get burning sensations under the nipple and radiating to my under arm and chest.

Following this, my anxiety has taken a huge hit & I’ve been getting so many awful symptoms and now I’m absolutely terrified of the C word. Symptoms are, pain in left kidney area that radiates to the front, significant weight loss (could be the anxiety), loss of appetite which used to be massive, painful head aches, fatigue, chest pains, palpitations, vision disturbances (I see 1 white light often which disappears quickly, is it the heavens calling me? Who knows), darkened urine, pain in neck & extreme hair loss past the usual PP norm. I just feel rotten all round and I’m convinced something sinister could be going on.

Again, I’m not sure what I wish to gain from this post, and I just need to seek medical advice, but this postpartum malarkey can do all sorts of weird things.

Thank you if you made it to the end❤️

I just wanted to point out that I did not birth a hoover, I was meant to write ‘DS’.

Please go and have it checked out. I am also a health anxiety sufferer and had similar thing happen to my nipple, it actually was breast cancer and I’m just recovering after a year of treatment. The scariest part is the fear and the not knowing. Putting it off isn’t going to change anything and I just wish I’d gone sooner because now it would be all over and they also might have caught it earlier. I don’t mean to worry you, it’s probably just hormonal changes, but ultimately it is what it is and you don’t want to leave it and regret it. Sending you courage and best wishes x

Ah thank you for your comment. I’m actually in the waiting area now at the GPs office.

Sorry to hear that you went through this, so glad you are on the mend❤️ my biggest fear is that I’ve left it too late and it’s something sinister that has spread. Who knows, I’m hoping for the best xx

I’m sure it will be nothing to worry about. I didn’t want to worry you, just know that I wish someone had been firmer with me at the time. I carried on travelling and living my life knowing something wasn’t quite right, silly looking back. Keeping everything crossed for you, keep me posted x

It’s so easily done isn’t it? Kind of head burying. We are enjoying life and don’t want anything to disrupt it❤️

I saw the Dr who is has referred me to breast clinic, but she is convinced it’s mastitis, there’s no redness but pain, she thinks there’s a blocked duct which now has an infection bubbling underneath. She’s prescribed me antibiotics and I have blood tests booked for next week, I feel a little better but I won’t be at ease until I’ve been to breast clinic. I will keep this thread updated throughout❤️xx

One of my nipples started to turn inwards after DC1 was born. I didn't do anything about it & after a while it resolved itself & is back to normal. You've done the right thing going to the GP, best to get it checked especially if it's causing you extreme worry.

There can be abcesses and infections in the breast with symptoms similar to C, my friend had that. Since you were pregnant and lactating it's most likely an issue with a duct. All the best.

Thank you so much for your responses, they have been really reassuring. I’m still waiting on an appointment, I’m ready to rip the band aid off and face it whether good or bad news.

Im late replying as I spent a little time in A&E over the weekend with chest pains, palpitations, dizziness & headaches, after they ran tests, my blood results came back showing that there’s an issue with my thyroid. The results have been sent through to my GP to take a look at. I also had a chest x-ray and all clear, so that’s reassuring.

Thank you again for your responses, I will keep this thread updated❤️❤️

Hi All, as promised I’ve come back to update in case there’s anyone in the future also needing a hand hold.

I had my appointment and it couldn’t have gone any better, I went privately as I’ve been very fortunate to have health insurance through my employer. I saw a specialist who confirmed the nipple retraction and wanted me to have a mammogram even though I’m not yet over age 40, she explained that directly under the nipple is such a complex area, she wanted to be 100% certain. I also had an ultrasound for reassurance. As it turns out, I (very thankfully) have Duct Ectasia which has come on a little earlier than the normal age range, I am an ex smoker (I quit over 10 years ago) and have recently had a baby so these things alone could’ve definitely helped it along.

Im just so very thankful that in my case it turned out to be benign. My biggest regret is ignoring this and stressing myself out to the point of crippling anxiety. If anyone is reading this in the future, please just go and get checked, I know my diagnosis may not be the same for everyone, so I’m not writing this to convince others that it’s going to be the same, but more so to try and give a little courage to someone waiting on an appointment and/or looking for a positive outcome, for me personally, just being at the appointment made me feel 100% better and I was ready to face it❤️

Thank you all once again for your lovely and honest replies. If anybody is going through any health concerns, I’m more than happy to have a chat and a virtual coffee❤️ xx