Breast pain - positive stories please

[minniethemooch]

Can anyone say anything positive and reassuring? I do, on and off, suffer from boob pain for about two weeks before my period . This month, though the pain reduced in my left breast, it didn't go away completely.
I saw my GP who said to monitor it for a while and that she would send me for mammo and u/s if it carried on. I have pretty bad health anxiety and asked for an appointment with the breast clinic straight away and have an appointment next week .
The pain is worse when I go from lying down (ie when I wake up) to standing and sometimes when leaning forward. Other times of the day it is almost gone? Sometimes the nipple feels tender and sometimes the other breast hurts a bit too - and the pain seems to have ramped up a bit since ovulation. I guess I'm so worried because it is more in one breast than the other ( doc says I have more breast tissue in that one, it's slightly larger) and because, though partly cyclical , the pain didn't completely go after my period .
I am just looking for similar stories/reassurances I guess. Am getting myself into a complete state about the mammogram and u/s next week ...convinced I have cancer . Am mid 40s , showing a few signs of peri menopause .
Thanks , Minnie

I had a cyst, much like a big spot inside my breast about 2 years ago, exactly the same symptoms as you, mine was also red hot at times and so sore I could hardly put my bra on. I'd had a chest scan, not an MRI the donut one, and it turned out I had an extra rib bone between the 3 & 4th rib, restircting movement and causing pain, which theycan do little about. I also had this cyst, which they gave me anti b's for and it went away after 8 weeks. No other signs of anything else, which was a relief. I am 42. I was very worried and paniced just like you, but most of the time it turns out to NOT to be cancer, but something else.

Have you also heard about breast mice? Totaly weird name and not actual real mice and harmless, read this thread www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/462481-breast-mice/AllOnOnePage

Try not to worry, easy to say and hard to do.

I had lumps and pain in my right breast. I went to the gp who referred me to the breast clinic, they took biopsy of the lumps and they were shown to be completely normal fatty tissue and that sometimes, some women just get lumpy boobs. The thing that reassured me and I hope it does you too, is that if you have lumps, they tend not to be painful if they are cancer. I was advised to take ibuprofen or paracetamol for the pain. The lady at the clinic said us women try to be too brave about breast pain, and if it hurts there is nothing wrong with taking a pain killer. Always best to get checked out though. xxx

Thanks for your messages, you have both calmed me down a lot . Now just have to wait for my scan......

Hi minnie,
Im also waiting for u/s mammogram etc for boob discomfort / lump
The waiting is horrid !
Best wishes x

Best of luck with your appointment Schmoozer, sending you good vibes
Mx

Peri meno is the most common time for boob pain

I've had loads. Much better now I'm past meno. Lots of mammos, a biopsy, all benign. I think its mostly hormonal, in most cases, and sometimes even to do with posture (in my case)

Very important to get checked out anyway, but the odds are really on your side....paw here to hold if you want another!

Thanks minnie
Heard today my appt is june 11 th
Feels like a looooong time :(
When is your scan ?

thanks Elibean
Schmoozer, mine is June 7th, first thing.
Mx

I have really lumpy and very painful breasts. I have been referred to breast clinic about 12 times in 6 yrears - the clinic where you spend 1 day having mammogram, needle biopsy etc etc and get told the results there and then.

Thankfully so far I have always come back with an all clear result. No real proper explaination as to what these lumps are exactly or what causes the pain.

My GP referred me about 14 months ago to see a breast specialist about my ongoing pain. I am still waiting to be seen because they breat Drs are all maxed out with "high risk" breast clinics.

My pain varies - some months its unbearable pretty much constantly. Other times it tolerable. Sometimes its one breast sometimes both. One breast seems to get it more than the other. Some days I take my bra off at home because the pain is too much. Other times a bra helps. The pain sometimes radiates into my armpit and down my arm. Some times (not often thankfully) the pain can affect how I use my arm/hand. Sometimes the pain prevents me from sleeping. If I turn over in my sleep, the pain can wake me.

I have been advised to loose weight - years ago I was very very overweight and I have found that now I am 2 stone overweight the symptoms have eased a little. I have also been advised to avoid caffeine. I now drink decaff. Star Flower Oil/Evening Primrose a high dose is also supposed to help. I have had mixed results with all of this but I do all I can because the lumps and pain really do affect the quality of my life. Its anyones guess as to if I stopped all of the above if it would be any worse or not but its bad enough now, so I wont risk it. Also, by the time I get to see the consultant I dont want to be fobbed off being told to try all this. I want to say - I have been doing this already for 18 months and I still have pain and lumps - now please help me.