Benign breast condition & lump- health anxiety!

[Soparanoid]

I have recently been diagnosed with Fibrocystic breasts at the Breast Clinic after having pain in my left breast, arm, armpit and shoulder blade and having found a lump in the same breast. The lump I am told is thickened glandular tissue! I had been poking and prodding it the day before diagnosis (I know, I shouldn't have) and it swelled up from smaller than my little fingernail to the size of a walnut! The radiologist said she couldn't find anything abnormal on the ultrasound! I am paranoid she could have missed something because of the lump swelling in size. She said if it were cancer, it would not have swelled after being prodded- the fact that it did means it's just swollen/thickened breast tissue and all the pain I've been having is hormonal!

My health anxiety is steadily getting worse and my GP has referred me to the mental health team so I can sort my anxiety out! I'm shit scared of this condition being or turning into something sinister. To add fuel to the fire, since I first found the lump 5 weeks ago, I've lost over half a stone/4kg without trying, although I was knocked out by flu for 10 days over that period. Is it the anxiety and or stress and flu that has caused me to lose so much weight? I've also dropped a dress size too. I need to speak to my GP about painkillers as ibuprofen is just not doing anything to help with the aches and pain- my period should be due soon- so maybe that's why the pain is more than usual.

Has anyone else had this, or can shed some light on what is actually wrong with me?

Anyone?

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Healthy anxiety is shit. You need counselling. I have it in waves.

I have a very similar breast condition, with the pain and lumps in the breast, armpit and chest.
The lumps come and go and others stay. The ones that come and go - come and stay for 2 or 3 or 4months at a time.
I have been so many times to breast clinic its embarrassing.
I also have a bit of anxiety about this. It increases once my GP says "yes ther os definately a lump there and I am referring you".
It gets worse as I wait for my appointment to come through.

I am obviously thankful this is a benign condition but every new lump that stays a few weeks has to be checked. I feel disadvantaged because if I was a non lump sufferer,I would find a lump and go straight off down to the Drs. I have to wait and see a week or 2 now, to make sure its not going to dissappear before going. One day it may be cancer.

The pain is awful and I now just cant be bothered with pain killers. It cannot be healthy to be dosed up on pain killers for ever and ever.

I sympathise massively with you. There is no cure. I take 1300mg of Starflower and evening primrose every day and have been for years - at one time I even increased that dose but to no avail. I have lost weight (which apparently is supposed to help too) and gone caffeine free. Drs are at a loss with me now and just keep encouraging me to keep checking my breasts and go back when I need to.

I dont check my breasts anymore. I am too frightened of them. I hate the vile alien lumps that stick to the front of my body and cause me end of pain and worry and misery.

I wish I could be more supportive and offer you something positive but I am at my wits end too.

I just hope that knowing you are not alone in this helps a little.

Reeky have you had counselling and did it help?

Llama I know where you're coming from. It's hard staying positive with this shitty condition. My lump seems to have gotten bigger. I've been taking evening primose oil. The pain also seems to get worse with physical exertion. Oh this is so horrible. Glad we're not alone, wish there was a cure.