IBC Breast Worry. Please Read. Freaking out!

[onceisenough1]

I wasn't pregnant. But they did an ultrasound and mri. They told me it was costochondritis. I actually called a breast surgeon and she told me she was in practice 20 years and only saw 1 woman with it. She also told me it is almost never in both breasts.

My breast was painful swollen and tender. Insist on testing if antibiotics dont clear it. I read cases of some women bein forced to do multiple rounds of them!

 

[onceisenough1]

I guess i should add that i fought with drs for months because they kept telling me i was crazy.

Ended up having a mammo and did have a breast lump but non cancerous. Good luck to u

 

[HockeyWife86]

Thank you ladies for all your advice!

 

[CT125]

I had to go to the breast cancer clinic last month as I got a lump in my breast which didn't go away.
I know that's not the same as your symptoms, but during the time I had to wait, I took solace in the fact that breast cancer is incredibly rare in women BFing or pregnant (I'm currently both)
At the clinic, I was unable to have the mammogram due to pregnancy so had a scan instead.
The consultant explained it was very common in pregnancy for tissue to change dramatically and that the lump was nothing sinister. I still have it now, hoepfully it will go eventually
Anyway, just a positive story for you. I hope everything turns out ok

 

[HockeyWife86]

Saw a GP who specialized in breast cancers. She has changed my antibiotics (said the other DR gave me the incorrect ones for breast infections) and that she feels it is a lymphatic infection and that i will be prone to mastitis when i start feeding.
Started the antibiotics last night......dimpling has further!
Will update

 

[onceisenough1]

Good news!!

 

[patch2006uk]

How worrying for you - it's horrible to be ill, especially when pregnant and you feel so helpless.

Just a couple of thoughts from reading through - if you're taking antibiotics, maybe ask about a probiotic to balance everything out. I'm not sure if acidophilus is pregnancy safe, but that or something similar might be a good idea. You don't want to be dealing with thrush on top of everything else! At least try eating some plain yogurt (unsweetened) to help your body keep on top of things.

Do you sleep on your front? I know mastitis can be triggered by sleeping positions, so it's worth considering changing your body position just to see if it makes any difference to anything.

Finally, is there any chance it's hormonal? Estrogen can do weird and wonderful things to the body, and your breasts could be susceptible. Not much you can do about it, but might be an explanation if nothing else comes back positive.

Hope things start to settle down quickly for you

 

[FeistyMom]

Hopefully you will start feeling better right away; I am shocked that it sounds like many doctors encourage entire rounds of antibiotics, even with no improvements to note. That has not been the case when I or my family have had issues, typically if there is a question mark as to what the actual problem is, they treat the most likely cause and follow up within 48 hrs to see if there is improvement. If no change or things are worse, we've always had a change in course.

I hope it turns out to be something easily dealt with, and sounds like you are in good hands at the moment. Best of luck!!!

 

[HockeyWife86]

So far no change on the new course and breasts feel heavier.
Going back on the weekend if no improvements

 

[lovebabyhopes]

You poor thing! I'm hoping you can get to the bottom of it once and for all. Sending positive thoughts your way.

 

[geordie_gal]

Hope you manage to get it sorted soon I really feel for you x

 

[deafgal]

My mom died of IBC. I would just ask for biopsy (even mammogram can't detect it)

 

[FeistyMom]

Sorry to hear no improvement Still hoping it isn't serious, but it does sound like time to just do a biopsy.

 

[sjwebb]

Hun you've only taken the antibiotics for a few days. You need to take them for at least 10 to make sure the infection has gone away. Don't get discouraged just yet but if you feel better getting another opinion then by all means for it, you can never be too safe.

 

[lovebabyhopes]

I'm thinking of you and wishing you the best!

 

[susied]

Sorry Hun!! One thing-just a thought. Could you be having a reaction to something like your laundry detergent? Being preggo your skin develops different allergies an such

 

[Allo]

Just wondering if you got to the bottom of this as I have something similar - hot, pink breasts with pain in breast and back and everyone just says don't worry cause you're pregnant and it's affecting both breasts. Would be so grateful for an update x

 

[HockeyWife86]

Hi Allo,
Never did get down to what it could have been. from what i can remember i stopped wearing a bra at all and stopped restricting my breasts so that nothing was cutting into the skin. It did go away. But my nipple on the left side started inverting. This stayed throughout the pregnancy and afterwards as well. Mason (my son) also would not feed from this breast properly. I was given a referral to have breast ultrasounds on both. Stupidly i did not get this done straight away and i am now booked in on friday. Fingers crossed that there is nothing for me to be worried about. Please pray xx
I hope that it all is nothing for you as well. I remember worrying myself sick over it for ages and being in tears whenever i thought about it! Try making sure that there is nothing tight over your breasts. I also found that i stopped moisturising the as well at the same time. Not sure whether this might have helped also. Get a medical opinion is you think that it might help you get some comfort and let me know how you go xxx

Just wondering if you got to the bottom of this as I have something similar - hot, pink breasts with pain in breast and back and everyone just says don't worry cause you're pregnant and it's affecting both breasts. Would be so grateful for an update x

 

[Allo]

Thanks for your reply and I'm glad to hear that your redness etc went away in time. From what I've read, it wouldn't do that if it was ibc so hopefully that is reassuring, although good job to get the inverted nipple checked out. I will be thinking of you - let me know what they say. I have managed to get an appt with a specialist tomorrow and am hoping they will tell me it's just hormonal. Xx

 

[JLLM]

Hope everything went well at your specialist appointment.