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Do i have Periductal Mastitis or IBC

mrskayson
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Hi All,

Last month Aug 5th i noticed my left breast suddenly swell up and at the time it was visibly red and hot to touch.. I grew a bra size as well in the next few days. My left breast was feeling heavy but no lumps anywhere but found lumps in my armpits but i put it to glands being inflammed. Days passed by and being mum of 4 i really did not find time to see my gp and besides i did not want to waste time of the doctors.. It increasingly became difficult as my breast was very tender and i struggled to keep bra on or even hug my kids was like painful. So i went to my gp in the end the registar checked me and said il make an urgent breast clinic appointment and i saw them yesterday.. 

I was examined by 2 doctors and both kept saying left breast axilla tender , lumps in arm pit. The doctor asked if i smoke for which my answer was No, so he went on to explain i could possibly have a Periductal Mastitis but my question was i am not breast feeding my babies the last i did was in June 2017. He did not explain to me anything and said it should clear up in 6 weeks or so and then if it does not to come back for further tests.. 

I am so tender after the examination and this morning my breast have slightly grown again and its so uncomfortable. Not sure if this is related i am not able to lift my left arm up and when i try it hurts my shoulder and collarbone and pain up to my arm muscle paralled to my nipple (i think i must have hurt my arm surely and this is not related to my breast issue and this has been since aug 5th when my breast had the changes) however the doctor said it was due to the glands swollen underarm and that was causing this.. 

My husband and i are very unsettled as they did not even do a ultrasound .. God forbid but if its is anything that is .. we have 4 young kids (oldest is 9 and youngest is 20 months) and im 32 years.. 

My neighbour directed me to your website and asked me to post on here as she said sometimes the doctors miss the early symptoms and if no lump is found in breast then its even difficult unless a scan or mammogram is done. She mentioned to me Inflammation Breast Cancer and she explained to me a little about it and my symptoms do tally with what she said.. Im very anxious and i do not know what my next step should be .. wait for 6 weeks or go back to gp ? 

My symptoms so far

Left Breast Tender especially on the right side of the nipple 

Skin looks slightly pitted but not orange( which doctor said dont worry its normal ) 

 Left Breast looks and feels heavy 

Swollen lumps in my left armpit 

I am sorry this is long but i am really lost and slightly fearful of my situation.. Thank you for reading this through and i fully appreciate all your replies xx

Parents
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    Anyone there to help me calm my nerves please ... Thank you x

  • Offline in reply to mrskayson

    I have recurrent periductal mastitis. It does sound very similar.

     

    My gp referred me to a specialist breast clinic, I had an ultrasound and incision to collect pus for the diagnosis and to determine what antibiotics would work best.

     

    I sincerely hope you haven't got it as it's a miserable disease, I have had it 10+ years and im 37. 

    Please push your gp & good luck

  • Offline in reply to Lou8181

    Hi, just stumbled across this I'm aware it's from 2018 so you may not be on here anymore but if so are you able to give some advise? I have recurrent periductal mastitis, I have had drainage and duct removal a month ago - I'm pretty sure it has come back again - in-between my incision scar and nipple - what's the Chances of having to have another op do you know? Doctors said last time that where the infection is the antibiotics won't be able to get to it so duct removal was the only option. I am a mum to 4 boys so finding the time to do anything is near impossible

  • Offline in reply to HMCS1

    Hi,

     

    I didnt want to read & run, hope you are okay.

     

    i think your best off going back to gp asap, i have read that it can return and you may need further ops but only a specialist can advise you on that one.

     

    im off out shopping but will be back on later.

  • Offline in reply to HMCS1

    Hiya xx 

     

    I'm still in the same boat. I have not had a surgery for the ducts. After 2 strong course of antibiotics it cleared up but since past 3 months i have the same inflammation, no lump but a patchy immovable mass like thing and a very painful and pricking almost like a thorn in my left breast. I went back to the clinic last week and have a scan due in december. Please call your gp as Lou has mentioned below you need to be seen. Xx

  • Offline in reply to Lou8181

    Hi Lou, 

     

    thanks for much for replying! 
    I will try those things, thank you. Hoping to get a doctors appointment tomorrow. 
     

     

  • Offline in reply to Lou8181

    Hello, I am so grateful for this forum as I feel quite worried. I am 25, not had a baby or breastfeeding or pregnant, and this morning I noticed a red circle near my right nipple. It's painful and I can feel something under the skin but not really sure. Could I possibly have this too? Thanks in advance!

  • Offline in reply to Hannahapos

    Hello Hannahapos,

     

    Yes, possibly but only a medical check can confirm what it is, please see your GP asap. I find a hot water bottle or warm compress helps with the pain and Ibruprofen when it's really bad.

    Good Luck

    Lou

     

     

  • Offline in reply to Hannahapos

    Glad to be of help, it's such a worry until you know what's what.

  • Offline in reply to Lou8181

    Hi again,

     

    just thought I'd update! The doctor was convinced it is a bug bite and I'm on antibiotics. This morning I realised I have two tiny patches on the other side above and below my armpit. Hoping this is just reaction to infected bug bite but I still can't stop thinking about Ibc :( so worried it's a misdiagnosis :(

     

    hope everyone is well xx

  • Offline in reply to Hannahapos

    Hi Hannahapos,

     

    My Mastitis has only ever been in one place right next to & underneath my nipple, & yes I understand your worry about misdiagnosis, if the symptoms persist go back and get a second opinion & ask directly for a referral to the breast clinic. My symptoms usually start a week before my period, where my whole boob feels hot and tender. 

    Do you have pets or been somewhere where there are? hope you are well too.

     

    Lou xx

  • Offline in reply to Lou8181

    Hi,

     

    just read these post. I'm a 21 one year old with no children or breast feeding, and I've had this reasonably large mark on my breast for a few months that comes and goes, it's never hot or raised but sometimes can feel a bit tender and every now abs then I get a burning sensation. I've been having a full ache around my collarbone for a while thay also comes and goes and google always point to IBC snd it's really worrying me as I know it's very aggressive and progresses quickly. 
    I'm in uni I've just had to register with another GP surgery however it's a 7-10 day wait and it's starting to really worry me, it's also worrying that IBC is also misdiagnosed a lot.

    any advice or help?

    Thankyou very much  

Reply
  • Offline in reply to Lou8181

    Hi,

     

    just read these post. I'm a 21 one year old with no children or breast feeding, and I've had this reasonably large mark on my breast for a few months that comes and goes, it's never hot or raised but sometimes can feel a bit tender and every now abs then I get a burning sensation. I've been having a full ache around my collarbone for a while thay also comes and goes and google always point to IBC snd it's really worrying me as I know it's very aggressive and progresses quickly. 
    I'm in uni I've just had to register with another GP surgery however it's a 7-10 day wait and it's starting to really worry me, it's also worrying that IBC is also misdiagnosed a lot.

    any advice or help?

    Thankyou very much  

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