Breast tenderness and "let down" feeling

[Chocwocdoodah]

For the past 2/3 weeks, I've had slight tenderness in one breast. It started just before I finished my pill pack so I thought it might be period related (though not had this before).

Since then it's been on and off bit what's worrying me is I started getting a let down feeling in that breast - a tingling, as though milk was being released (I've breastfed 2 kids - last was over 2 yrs ago). I kept half expecting to find a wet patch on my bra! I've not had that for a few days but the tenderness back and I keep feeling my breaSt to see if I can feel anything. I think one side of it feels slightly harder than the other breast - but i don't know if I'm imagining it because I'm worried. Have got a Dr's apptmnt but I guess I'm hoping some of you will say that you've had the same and it was nothing.....

Yes, I have. I was referred to a breast clinic, had mammogram and ultrasound and nada. Thank God. I learned that breast pain is rarely a symptom of breast cancer but you absolutely must get it checked out. Chances are you'll be fine. Good luck and let us know how you get on.

Thank you! So you had the let down feeling too?

Hi chocwocdoodah I had this exact sensation 18 months ago. Mine was confined to my left breast and was accompanied with pain radiating from my underarm into my breast. I distinctly remember thinking "gosh I feel like I might start lactating" even though i'd finished breastfeeding my 3rd baby 2 years previous. I also remember a pressure sensation, as though something was pressing from behind my nipple.

My GP referred me to the breast clinic and they did a thorough examination & ultrasound (too young for mammogram apparently at 36). Nothing untoward was found, I was told to take high strength evening primrose oil and eventually all faded away (plus I stopped carrying my far-too-large 3 year old on my hip, which I think is what caused the underarm / boob pain!)

My left breast does seem to be my 'naughty' breast - I suffered mastitis that side, it always massively overproduced milk and was also my 'favourite' breast to feed from as it never seemed to run out of milk. I was told at the breast clinic that it is a very dense and fibrous breast, as observed from the ultrasound.

Funnily enough, its misbehaving again and i'm waiting for another breast clinic appt to come through as I was referred again this week by the GP - same left breast, stabbing pains from behind nipple. He said the breast tissue all felt fine when he examined me, no lumps etc. However, I have since prodded and poked that poor boob so much that I can feel a lumpy area and possibly a small lump (which is totally unpalpable using the normal self exam techniques - I have to squeeze firmly to feel it) in the left breast, so I'm glad that I pushed for a referral.

Definitely see your GP - more for your own peace of mind. I tend to find that symptoms get worse and worse the more you worry, then once someone properly placed has told you there is nothing to worry about, symptoms tend to sod-off fairly quickly!

I've had this phantom let-down reflex too (my left boob also seems to be my more, er, "dynamic" one, Major). Was also advised to get it checked out (I did) and it was also fine. So I'd say get it checked but don't panic

Thank you both so much. It's so reassuring to hear that others have had the exact same thing and it's been ok. I will report back when I've been to the Dr's.

Update - Dr examined me and couldn't see or feel anything untoward. Said it could very well just be a hormonal thing. She suggested to wait til ive had my pill break and if nothing changes, to come back.

Also the other day, thanks to er, my DH, I realised that both nipples are sore - as in that "someone's sucking razor blades through my nips" feeling you get when you first start BFing. Slightly reassured that this was in both nips and does seem to go with what the Dr said. I even did a pregnancy test even though I knew I wouldn't be.

Ha choc nice bit of reassurance from DH there . Glad all seems in order, I think hormones have a lot to answer for.

Hehe.....criiiinge

I have the same symptoms - also mainly in my pesky left breast. It just constantly feels tender with occasional shooting pains. I'm checking for lumps on a daily basis at the moment. Not sure if I need to go to the gp to put my mind at rest.
Is it a potentially peri menopausal thing do you think?

I am the same as you whirly and couldn't feel any lumps but when I saw GP he could feel a small one so has referred me.

My goodness I have been getting the same thing in the boob I always had mastitis and blocked ducts in. Did a search on here at the time but couldn't find anything.
Doctor did blood tests to check for menopause as I am early 40s. Has stopped recently but had it for over a month. This breast is always tender. No lumps but sometimes bit thickened area at side. I had this checked in my mid 30s after breast pain but given all clear then. This was exact bit I always got blocked duct. Told probably thickened fibrous tissue.
Also petrified checking this breast for lumps as I am always aware of this boob.

Am hoping it's not the menopause - I'm not even 40 yet. I'm always scared to feel too - I just find if I press my boobs enough, i feel all sorts of bumpiness so I'm never confident in my checking skills. Still hurts today - feels bruised at the side.

I don't mean to drip feed and I promise I'm not some weird attention-seeking hypochondriac but - there is another symptom I've been having but it only happened a few times and stopped a few days before I saw the Dr so I didn't really think anything of it or make a connection. But it just happened again - I've been getting random one-off "throbs" in my lower abdomen, to the left of and lower than my bellybutton. Just now and then - just one throb.

Is that my ovary? Because obviously I've googled it and I'm now shitting myself and praying that I am actually going through the menopause. Bloody hell, wish I'd thought to tell the Dr.

No you're not paranoid choc but I do think once you find one symptom, you're heightened to anything and everything your body is doing, in case the two are linked. Its probs as your gp says - hormonal. Bloody hormones!

How old are you whirly? I'm 38 so I think ages off peri-meno, but I do wonder whether my Mirena coil is causing hormone upsets, I've never felt so anxious or jumpy in my life since having it fitted. Plus the breast ache / stabbing / shooting pains have only started since I've had Mirena. Could be coincidence.

I must've watched 20 "How to examine your breasts" videos on YouTube these past few weeks to see if my prodding and poking is correct (which is the only way I can feel my lump / lumpy area). I've got breast clinic on Monday so regardless of outcome I'm going to ask for a tutorial in breast checking. Somebody told me recently that your internal breast tissue resembles a broccoli / cauliflower, so you're bound to feel some lumpy bits. It's just so hard to determine which are normal are which might be ominous. Gah - it's hard being female

Thanks major. Yes a broccolI is a v good description of how my boobs normally feel!

The "ovary pain", if that's what it is, started about the same time as the sore boob. At first I didn't really notice it - just thought it was wind. But it went on for a few days and I realised it was in a specific spot. Then it just went away so I didn't even think to tell the Dr. But it started again last night. Just one throb. I didn't think anything of it but then realised it was that same pain in the same location. It's hardly painful at all - just a very minor sort of stab.

I'm early 40s. Phoned doctors and they've got me in this afternoon. Bit nervous - I'll report back.

So I'm referred to specialist clinic in 2 weeks so they can examine me mid cycle. She thinks it may be glandular tissue and first I have to take ibuprofen regularly and go and treat myself to a v expensive bra.

There's a Kind of ridge in my left breast - deep down so that's what they're keeping an eye on. I think it's always been there though. Broccoli is a v accurate description.

Hey ladies, I'm just back from the breast clinic this afternoon. They examined me thoroughly, I showed her my obvious lump bit. She didn't seem worried at all. They ultrasounded me, again all fine. She said it's glandular tissue and it's fine. I queried the pain and she said it's just something that ladies with glandular / dense breasts suffer. I could try wearing a tight sports bra at night, which I'm not sure is comfy or practical. Onwards with the evening primrose.

Anyway, all reassuring and I felt a sense of calm descend once I arrived at the clinic. Good luck ladies - your symptoms sound very similar to mine this time and last.

So glad it was good news for you Clanger.

Oh that's good news major, what a relief.

hopefully mine will turn out to be the same thing. I had a thorough exam but have to wait for the proper clinic now to be sure.

Good to hear, ladies. Glad you're ok.

Anyone else have any updates? I've been having this let down feeling and pricking sensation for over 4 months on and off. I went to the breast clinic twice in the last year because I had bloody discharge originally out of the same breast and they found nothing on 2 ultrasounds.

I'm due for a follow up in March as even though thet found nothing on the ultrasound with bloody discharge they like you to come back for monitoring. I'm 35.

No more bloody discharge since the first couple of times nearly a year ago as far as I'm aware. The consultant couldn't squeeze any out on examination either. I just have a phantom wet feeling with this let down.