Hi there, 

Sorry to hear you're going through this. Back in October of 2020 I was getting constant sharp pains all across my left breast. I left it go for a week to see would it go away and it didn't. The following week I went to my doctor and he thought it was a muscular injury so he put me on painkillers for two weeks and it still didn't go away. I then started getting burning pains all down my left arm and began to feel a lump but I'm unsure weather it's a swollen gland or something more serious. I was so scared! I went back after the two weeks and he said he'd refer me to the breast clinic and that I'd be seen within the month. By December I heard nothing so decided to ring the breast clinic to see what the story was. When I rang the lady on the phone told me that there was no referral there. I was so upset! The covid cases got bad here in Ireland again so the hospitals then were only seeing urgent cases so I knew it would be ages before I was seen. Finally got an appointment for late March but it's been a long 5 months of pain! It's hard to not worry about it but try to take your mind off of it as much as you can! 
 

Xx

Hi Tara

I was just wondering did you get your appointment? I'm in Ireland also. My pain started out in my left armpit and radiating into my left breast I was totally freaked out went to out of hours doc twice in the one weekend as my anxiety was spiraling out of control with the worry. I saw my own doctor the Monday and she done a thorough exam and said there were no lumps and put me on 3 months of evening primrose oil. She put it down to mastalgia. I ended up getting physio the last month on my shoulder and under my left arm where the pain was but I think its made it worse! I rang after a month and told her its upsetting me so much every day and she said she would refer me privately. It is costly but I cant live like this hanging over me every day so im waiting impatiently to be contacted and get a mammogram and ultrasound please god. 

I hope you got answers x

Hi Tara

I was just wondering did you get your appointment? I'm in Ireland also. My pain started out in my left armpit and radiating into my left breast I was totally freaked out went to out of hours doc twice in the one weekend as my anxiety was spiraling out of control with the worry. I saw my own doctor the Monday and she done a thorough exam and said there were no lumps and put me on 3 months of evening primrose oil. She put it down to mastalgia. I ended up getting physio the last month on my shoulder and under my left arm where the pain was but I think its made it worse! I rang after a month and told her its upsetting me so much every day and she said she would refer me privately. It is costly but I cant live like this hanging over me every day so im waiting impatiently to be contacted and get a mammogram and ultrasound please god. 

I hope you got answers x

Hi there! 
 

I'm so sorry to hear you're going through this! I completely understand how worrying it is!

I had my appointment on Wednesday and thankfully everything went ok. A doctor done a physical exam and then the consultant did one too. They said they didn't feel anything to be worried about but sent me for an ultrasound just to be sure. In the ultrasound the doctor told me that they could see fibrocystic tissue and a few small cysts where I was getting the pain but said that none of it was anything to be concerned about. They also asked me was in taking the evening primrose oil and to be honest I wasn't taking it every day ( which I told them) and they said that sometimes it takes up to three months for the evening primrose oil to have an effect on breast pain.

You definitely made the right decision by going private because the waiting list for public is ridiculous even though it's only fair that they seem to be seeing only urgent cases. It still isn't helping people that are worried about it. I was the exact same as you waking up every day in pain and with a constant fear and worry so I completely get where you're coming from.
 

You should try to ring the private hospital too and put your name down for a cancellation. I know of a girl who was waiting for a private hospital appointment and she rang one morning to see if there was any update on an appointment and they said they had a cancellation for the next day so she took it. It might be worth a shot incase one does turn up! 

I really hope your get an appointment soon so that all this worry will be over for you because sometimes the worry is the worst part of it all. Please let me know how you get on or if there's anything else I can answer. 
 

Xx

Thank you so much for replying and I am delighted to hear it was nothing sinister in your case! I've been on evening primrose oil for a month I havnt found it working yet so please god it will take effect soon. 

I will definitely ring them and see whether they have cancelations and get a sooner appointment. 

I will update here as soon as I get seen and hoping and praying I will be ok just like you.

Can I ask do you feel completely relieved now or is there a small part of u still concerned. I had this discussion with my husband and he said I can see you still not been convinced even if they tell you everything is fine. I am in my early 30s with 2 small kids and suffer desperately with anxiety as it is so the what ifs are always lurking there in my mind. X

No worries at all. Definitely keep taking the evening primrose oil as they told me it can take a while to have an effect. It's definitely worth it to see if they have a cancellation so that you'll be seen quicker and that way you'll have answers.

For me, when I came out of there I was just so happy that it was all over. I spent a lot of time being worried and feeling the bump In my breast thinking the worst and it turned out that it was just the fibrocystic tissue and small cysts so being told that it was nothing to worry about definitely eased my mind. I did find that over the last few days when I get pains I'm automatically thinking I can't wait to be seen but then I tell myself that I've been seen to and everything is ok. I think since it's been going on 5 months for me I feel like I'm still waiting on an appointment but I just keep telling myself that it's after being checked. 

I think once you get some sort of answers you'll have an easier mind because the whole not knowing of it all is over. Sometimes I thought the not knowing was worse because you're automatically going to think the worst. I generally overthink the smallest of things so I get where you're coming from but once it's done you'll have a peace of mind I think. 

please update when you've been seen and try to keep yourself occupied  and take your mind off of it (easier said then done I know) but sometimes I found that thinking too much about it definitely didn't help. I'll say a prayer for you! 

 

x

You are so very kind thank you. I rang the breast clinic this morning and to my utter disappointment she told me as its non urgent it takes 4 to 6 weeks for urgent referrals and it will be even longer for non urgent

Its to do with been in level 5 restrictions which she did sympathize and say it was desperate that matters like these are taking so long.

So now I wait and try to cope in the mean time. Im has tempted to check myself into the ED in the hospital and see can they find anything but I know its not likely.

I am uplifted by your situation though and will tell myself that I am the same. Did they tell you to keep an eye on anything or just live with the pain? X

Oh no! I know how it feels as when I rang to see what the delay was with me back in December they said there was no referral there so I was waiting longer again! It's completely heartbreaking to hear it especially when you're after being told you'll be seen sooner! 

I'm going mad to hear that they are still only seeing urgent referrals. They don't realise how it affects people mentally even. I lost count on how many times I've cried over it. There was also times where I was tempted to go to the hospital just because the pain was so bad and I was getting more worried as the days went on. I'm 28 and my parents were the ones who were telling me that I've nothing to worry about and that if they thought I needed it they'd take me to the ER themselves. My symptoms didn't really get worse over the few months but stayed the same pain wise.

I personally found that the doctor who done my ultrasound gave me more answers than the doctors who examined me. Probably because they can physically see inside the breast. They showed me on the screen all the tissue and small cysts which eased my mind there and then. I asked them in the ultrasound are they dangerous and she said no, I also asked can they become dangerous and she said no too which was great. 

One thing I did ask the doctor/consultant who examined me was what can I do about pain, and she said that difene gel is good for it but you must wash your hands afterwards or you can get stomach ulcers from it. If you're in a lot of pain I would recommend getting that. You should be able to get it over the counter or maybe your gp will be able to prescribe you some? Other than that they pretty much just said take the evening primrose oil and it should fade away on its own.  
 

I really hope this helps, and I'm going mad to hear that you might be waiting longer than expected but if I was you I'd ring every week to see if there's an update or if there's a cancellation. You'd never know if someone cancelled last minute and if you were living close enough to the hospital they might be able to slot you in! Also I found that wearing a firm support sports bra really helps. They are a little bit dearer than your everyday bra but if any sports shop had a sale you can get them reasonably cheap. I found it definitely took a bit of discomfort away! 

Please let me know If there's anything else I can answer! It's horrible to be going through this when not everyone you know understands the pain and worry of it!

X

Honestly I cried once I got off the phone. I cry every single day with the worry. I honestly don't know how people can deal with it because I can't.

I am the exact same wanting to go to hospital and even a chest xray but I know its an all day thing waiting to be seen and whether ill get any answers. My mum is the same telling me her gut says it's nothing serious if only I could go by that!

I plan to ring again next week and every week. I cant imagine been an urgent appointment waiting 4 to 6 weeks thats agony for anyone.

Thanks again so much for your kind words. If anything its comforting to know none of us are alone in feeling this way. 

For now I am just going to have to deal with it and just pray the appointment comes soon. X

Oh believe me I cried too when I realised my referral didn't go through because I knew it would be a longer waiting time. Just keep thinking that you will get through this and it will be over soon! 
 

I would definitely keep ringing. They're not going to mind people checking in. I rang my hospital loads of times and didn't think twice about it because getting any updates at all gave me an easier mind. 
 

I honestly found that by talking to someone in your family or friend just gives you a bit of reassurance or if you don't feel like talking to someone you know these chats are great because we've all had similar symptoms at some stage. 
 

If you need someone to talk to I'll be here to offer any support I can in any way. I really hope you get an appointment soon but in the mean time I'll say a prayer for you and just remember you will get through this. 
 

X