Sqad, Please Help.

[NoMercy]

Merry Christmas, Sqad (bon navidad).

I have agonising left breast pain. About 10 days ago I presented to ED with this and was thoroughly examined (though not radiologically) by the Nurse Practitioner and was found to have "generalised lumpiness" but no obvious masses. I was given 7 days Flucloxacillin (250mg qds) and towards the end of this course my breast pain eased significantly, with the additional aid of Co-Codamol. Now, a few days after finishing the course, my pain in the left breast is returning and even the slightest arm movements produce the most shocking pain.

I've tried unsuccessfully to get an appointment with my GP over the festive period.

Your thoughts?

[Sqad]

Feliz navidad NoM.

You haven't said whether it is associated with the onset of a period, but either way, taking into consideration the description of "generalised lumpiness" by the nurse, i would say that you have ..."fibrocystic disease" of your breast. this is not life threatening, not dangerous but bloody painful.

I would take ibuprofen at least 600mgms every 6 hours and make sure you wear a well fitting bra.

[DTCwordfan]

To me it sounds like it could be nerve damage, have you knowingly wrenched yourself - the breast fuelled through the 4th to 6th intercostal nerves - and where the codamol would kick in.

Flucloxacillin is for combatting bacterial infections...any sign of that like temperature up etc. However, Sqad is your man.

Happy Christmas though.....and hope you have a good day and can muddle your way through without to much pain.

[Old_Geezer]

Do you have a drop in centre at the local hospital ? Regardless the issue, it sounds like it might spoil your Xmas unless you get relief.

[DTCwordfan]

speaking of the devil, Happy Christmas Sqad.....

[Sqad]

LOL......happy Xmas DTC.

[Old_Geezer]

It took me two minutes to write that on a mobile ?!?

[NoMercy]

Morning Sqad, my love.

At the point of examination I was just coming to the end of a period and the NP did remark that it wasn't the best time to be examined. She said if the pain persisted after completion of antibiotics I should see my GP urgently.

There is no change in shape or size, no nipper discharge and no skin changes or pitting. Even taking a deep breath produces pain.

In addition to this, in the last 3 weeks, I've had a cold, a UTI and gastroenteritis (blood and mucous coming from the back passage, and nausea and diarrhoea but no actual vomiting).

I'm also very run down and work has been incredibly stressful. I have eczema on my hands (Web spaces) and eyelids.

[Sqad]

NoM...thanks for the added history. My advice remains the same.

[NoMercy]

Thanks too to OG and DT and merry Christmas to you both.

[NoMercy]

Is it hormonal, Sqad? My hormones were a *** to me last month. My general mood, impatience, lack of concentration and desire to eat crappy foods was considerably worse than usual and the Breast pain really came on with the period and peaked at the end of it.

Your advice is much appreciated.

[Sqad]

\\\\Is it hormonal, Sqad? \\\

You are "right on the money"NoM, almost certainly hormonal and there is a strong link between hormonal dysfunction and fibrocystic disease of the breast.

Keep us informed.

[NoMercy]

Thank you, Sqad. I feel quite reassured now, though I understand that there is a mild to moderately increased risk of breast cancer with fibrocystic disease.

[lcg]

hi, NoM, I hope you feel a bit better today and feel your pain. I have fibrocystic breasts and your symptoms are right on the money.....the intense level of pain may suggest you need another course of antibiotics (if the others weren't the right sort or taken for long enough to calm your boob down). it is also hormonally-related (the pain has it's own cycle according to just you) and also gets bad if you are run-down and suffering from other infections.

squad's script of some NSAIDS and your co-codamol are fine, but you also need REST (now sit down and keep still, dammit!!! i know what we nurses are like - even on 'off' days), a really soft non-wire bra or crop top to keep chestage under control but not squished or crimped in any way, and holding court on the sofa under a nice blanket watching whatever tv gets your rocks off. plus chocloate if required. rest really is the most important thing, and it will calm down eventually, but it does hurt like a mofo - if that is the case, then do get stronger pain relief from our doctor. i hope that the rest of your xmas break is more peaceful and settled......get well soon x

[NoMercy]

Thanks, Icg. That's very reassuring x