Sore, swollen breasts all the time. HELP!

[MyBeloved]

Hi everyone

I've had a total abdominal hysterectomy but one ovary was left behind. I am suffering from permanently sore and swollen breasts and it is really getting me down. I am having other menopausal symptoms such as hot sweats, irritability etc and wondered if the breast issue was also linked to menopause?

Have any of you experienced this problem, and if so, how did you resolve it?

I have an appointment with my gynae in a few weeks and wonder if it is worth asking for HRT to help the swelling and pain?

Any experience and advice greatly appreciated.

Hi MyBeloved, might be worth trying some starflower oil or evening primrose oil?

Thanks ParisUSM. Does that really help? Is there a particular make or doseage I should go for?

It helped me and I know other women who it has helped too - not sure about dosage, I used to buy it from Holland & Barrett.

Hi! I think that maybe hrt is something can help.
Don’t spend your time trying other things especially if you are under 45.
If your ovary has failed ( it is very common after 5 year after hysterectomy ), you are in menopause and you can think about hrt to protect your future health, your bones, your heart, your skin.
And of course find a gyn who knows...:)

I understand you are assuming the pain is because of the hormone imbalance, but please go and get checked by the doctor. Tenderness in you breasts can be an indicator of breast cancer. Both Aunty and my mum (who is currently going through chemo) had pain and tenderness. Obviously it could be nothing but just being checked out won't hurt anything. X

Thank you, i will go tp the gp and get my breasts checked.

Im sure it's hormonal though as its both breasts and i had this before my hysterectomy too.

Hope your mum and aunry sre doing ok

I'm sure it'll be fine and something easily sorted :). Better to be checked to be safe, my Aunty went to the doctor to begin with, with a rash on her breast. They said it was nothing, 18 months later the rash was there still and she found a lump. It was a hormonal type of breast cancer. After my aunts treatment finished, my mum (my aunts identical twin) got diagnosed with the same thing, but more advanced.
They're both doing good thank you, my aunt's in remission and my mum is 3 chemo sessions down with 3 more to go, then onto radiotherapy. I pray everything will be fine.
(hugs) to you x

Oh how awful they both got it - but am so pleased both are doing well. Do5nt worry, i promise to make an appointnent this week x thank you for your concern x

I'm the same. Spoke to a friend who's a breast surgeon, he suggested considering supplements for breast pain and peri symptoms (depending on other menopausal symptoms and other health matters obvs):
Maca
Agnus Castus
Black Cohosh or sage

I usually low carb all the time, but have been useless lately so am super-puffy and I'm wondering if that's made things worse. I'm going to try strict low carb, less caffeine and lots of water for two weeks and then add in the supplements if no better.

Have a scan to rule out cysts
I had multiple cysts in both breasts that I put down to hormonal changes
Now they are drained and feel normal again

Thanks both.

I never thought of cysts. How did they drain them, if you dont mind me asking? Was it painful?

They don´t drain them. Cysts just shrink or disappear when there is no estrogen to feed them or a patient takes an anti estrogen drug to shrink them. :)

Ah OK. I've had cysts on my remaining ovary - related?

Yeah! They will shrink because of the lack of estrogen too! Many women when enter into menopause get rid of fibroids, cystes etc! Estrogen is the hormone that feeds them and that’s why is related with cancer.

Gah! Damn hormones! I feel like I've been swollen and sore for such a long time now. Im 47 so expect I'm hurtling towards meno. Do we have some kind of crazy estrogen surge for a few years before the ovaries finally give in?

Absolutely! In peri ovaries don’t release an egg every month and there are fluctuations in the estrogen and progesterone they produce. Sometimes we have an excess in estrogen and sometimes a limited production. That’s why gyns prescribe the pill during peri to stabilize the estrogen production.

Mybeloved
They just stick a needle in and draw out the fluid
Its not that painful

They do tend to drain breast cysts if they are causing pain and discomfort. They aspirate them as they do any other cyst.

www.breastcancercare.org.uk/publications/benign-breast-conditions/breast-cysts-bcc73

Worth going to the doctor, if only to rule all of these things out - if it's cyclical it will probably be due to hormonal imbalance.

Its not the common practice especially in meno. They usually drain the big and very paifull cysts to avoid their growth and their change into cancerous. Its better to consult your doc of course! :)

Breast cysts are benign, and don't increase the risk of breast cancer. As I said, if they are causing pain then the NHS do tend to drain them, maybe not the case in your country Emerald13.

Yeah draining the cysts is not the usual practice in my country especially for older women.
Big and painful cysts are not cancerous but we must check them. Docs recommend to do our scans (privately the most of the times) and they recommend more drastic measures only if there is a need for that.

Doc reckons hormonal. Got a breast clinic appointment in 10 days just to be sure.

Good, sounds like the gp is just being super cautious then.

Yes, we are very lucky - our gp surgery is excellent, thorough and tend to err on the side of caution.

I'm hoping i will be given some hormone balancing options once I've been properly checked over. I feel like a top heavy bloated mess at the moment!

Thanks for all your advice