Very painful lumpy breasts in perimenopause - any solutions?

[Mumsknot]

I turn 53 this year and still have regular periods but one thing that has changed is that mid cycle, my breasts are so sore, it almost brings me to tears. I think the milk ducts (I have been told previously this is what the lumps are) swell up and are agony. It’s got to the point where I dread working those weeks as the pain is so distracting.

other than painkillers, are there any other solutions? I’m guessing it’s to do with hormones but not sure what else I can do.

This is one for a medical professional not mumsnet I would say my love x

Starflower oil capsules, I buy them in Superdrug. When they stopped working, HRT sorted it for me

Obviously get checked to make sure it's all ok. But yes I was suggested starflower oil from the consultant I saw.

You could try Evening Primrose Oil, that helped me with painful breasts.

Please get checked by the breast nurse. I don’t want to alarm you but I had this and I assumed it was hormonal but sadly it was lobular cancer which is not detected by a mammogram only ultrasound.

I used to take a good quality EPO for sore boobs, and it worked.

I have had an ultrasound and a CT scan and was told it was swollen milk ducts. V nice consultants but basically said that’s life, live with it. Have been told I’m at a higher risk because my breasts are so lumpy and I need to be checked once a year but at my own cost as the NHS won’t pay for it (which is ridiculous but what can you do!).

@Pixilicious1sorry to hear that. I haven’t been back but it’s nearly a year so I will book that appointment and get rechecked.

I tried EPO before and it didn’t do anything but might try it again if it works for others

Just fyi I found I could get a quick check with my health insurance through work

i had a mammogram and an ultrasound. Luckily it was after my period so my breasts weren’t too painful.

They found loads of cysts and say my milk ducts have become inflamed. They drained one large cyst. They are concerned as my breasts are so nodular. They again reiterated that I need mammograms every 18 months. They’ve sent away the fluid from my breast to check it’s ok.

On my way home, they called me back and said in discussion with the team, they also think I should have an MRI just to rule out anything more sinister which they want to try and do before the weekend.

Big thanks to you all as you persuaded me to go and it was definitely the right decision