Breast Worries but NO face to face GP appointment

[HappyFeet2021]

Hi All,
Will try to keep this short...
Currently breastfeeding and have been for 5 months. No issues until about 4 months, when I noticed my left nipple is A LOT larger and a visibly funny shape (areola area) compared to the right side. For about 2 weeks I experienced severe pain in the left breast also (around the same time I noticed my nipple) and even after a full feed it is firm and sore. I phoned the GP and they gave me a prescription thinking it was mastitis but it hasn't really gone and it is concerning me.
I did read some sources online that this is normal when BF but it just doesn't look right.
I cannot for the life of me get a face to face GP appointment despite being really worried. I had complications postpartum and never had an in person examination, just prescribed antibiotics 4 times... I ended up paying to go private to be treated, which is now ongoing, and I really cannot afford to do that for this issue too. But I am scared :( is there any other avenue I can try in terms of getting examined or is the GP my only option? Is there a private breast screening service? Or is this completely normal? I don't want to wait until after BF to be examined in case it is serious.
Thank you.

That is appalling. The GP’s in our practice would definitely have you in for a F2F to examine you in those circumstances. Is it the Drs themselves that you are speaking to and they are declining to examine you or can you not get past reception or nurse? Chances are it’s nothing serious but it’s unacceptable that they won’t see you, even to put your mind at rest.
You could ask to speak to the practice manager and complain and see if that will result in a F2F appointment.
So sorry you are having such a battle to be seen

@ButItRingsAndIRise thank you for responding. It is the actual GPs. I didn't even get a 6 week / 8 week examination after birth of my baby this year, despite repeat infection following episiotomy as well as a fractured pubic bone.
I will keep calling as I definitely cannot afford private breast examinations! And only people that seem to offer them are breast surgeons so you can imagine how much they charge. X

Can you go to your urgent care centre? You don't need appointment and they are all face to face.

That's disgusting from your GP. I had breast pain about 6 weeks ago, contacted my Dr and was given an appointment the next day. Mine was just muscular but they definitely wanted to see me.

Hi OP, I'm a GP and would never decline to see a patient who was worried about her breast. I'm sorry you're having so much trouble being seen.
Have you explicitly told them you'd like to be seen face to face and examined? If not perhaps they just haven't caught on that this is something you are really worried about. They really should not be refusing if you have.

@pbdr thanks for commenting. Yes I have asked, the second time I phoned I just received a text response 2 days later saying it was mastitis and there would be a prescription sent to the pharmacy:( I don't think it is mastitis due to the huge funny shaped nipple, the breast is also a lot bigger which I originally put down to it being my sons preferred side to feed on.
For my other issues it got as bad as me sending photos of my episiotomy to the surgery and they didn't even examine me then, I had to see a fertility doctor who was a gynaecologist (as he didn't require a referral).

:( I'm sorry OP. It might be worth phoning the surgery and asking one more time for a face to face appointment to be examined and emphasise how worried you are. If they still won't give you one you could ask to speak to the practice manager to air your concerns. I really hope you do manage to get an appointment.

Can you try phoning again but not mentioning the breastfeeding? I was seen next day for a breast lump during covid times, whereas pre-covid it took forever to get an appointment for breastfeeding-related problems.

Hi OP. I had similar when I was breast Feeding and turned out to be a gigantic cyst which had to be drained. Have you had any improvement from the antibiotics?

Phone the surgery say that you need an referral to the breast clinic. What county are you in, you should be able to phone the breast clinic direct, do not be put off you need to be seen. Do you have a maternity hospital near you phone them and ask to see the breast feeding specialist midwife. Look at all avenues to try and be seen. Worst case go to a&e say you are in terrible pain.

That is terrible. I had concerns and saw the GP the same day and got an urgent referral to the breast clinic. Another suggestion, there are some vv good groups on fb for breastfeeding (I am part of the twin group but there is one for singletons) where the admin are all trained IBCLC lactation consultants so have lots of experience. I’m sure they could advise and let you know whether to get a referral (people post photos in the group I’m on).

Phone 111 now and describe your symptoms, I’d say it was diagnosed as mastitis but antibiotics aren’t working and you’re concerned it’s getting worse. They may give you an out of hours appointment. I was always given one very quickly when I had mastitis (three times, and it always seemed to be evenings and weekends that it would suddenly hit me so I only ever did out of hours appointments) as I think they take it quite seriously.

OP what county are you in?

I would phone the surgery back and just lie, say you have an history of inflammatory breast cancer in your family and you need to be seen, otherwise you are going to make a complaint for medical negligence.
Also get the phone number of your county breast clinic and just phone them, mine are amazing they gave me loads of advice over the phone without a GP referral then contacted my GP to sort out the referral.
Don’t leave it.

@CaraherEIL

I am in Hampshire - thanks for the advice I will investigate.

I called 111 and they phoned my GP this morning and told them to examine me. They phoned again and said to try another course of antibiotics... im nervous to complain and have a red mark by my name

Don't feel nervous about complaining, you need to speak up.

I would phone again and be very clear that you are concerned you could have breast cancer and need to be examined. Ask them to explain to you why they think you need antibiotics and that you don't need to be examined.