"Female cycle" troubles (adult medical topic - medical personnel advice would be appreciated)

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This last period, instead of having general breast pain as usual, I had sever breast pain, but in one breast only. For example, when I would lay on my side for any reasonable length of time, upon rising, the shift in tissue would cause severe enough pain that I considered the possibility that I may have somehow pulled a chest muscle.

Now, it's two weeks/+ past the end my period and both of my breasts hurt like a medium-bad cycle normally would make them hurt (and have been more or less sore the whole time). I am 35, and so have had my share of cycle weirdness from time to time, but since being on the pill from age 16, I've been really "normal", and I don't recall them ever giving me pain outside of the actual week of menstruation. Is this something I should be wooried about, or just annoyed by? They feel relatively normal to the touch (ouch), for the heavy state they are in (they are normally a little "grainier" during that week, as they are now). A co-worker reported some cyclical irregularities in her and her sister's cycle, although I haven't been around either for the last week+. First thought was that maybe my hormones were thrown off by the shift to daylight savings. Is this possible and would it do this? Do I need to worry?

-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), November 25, 2001

Answers

I've heard women say the first signal of pregnancy was a sensation in the breasts (aside from missed periods of course!). If this isn't a possibility, or even if it is, go to the doctor! This is definitely not something to fool around with. If you have any change in the texture of the skin on your breasts, go to the doctor immediately!

-- Elizabeth (Lividia66@aol.com), November 25, 2001.

Whoops! Sorry, didn't read the post closely enough. Since you couldn't be pregnant, I'd say go to the doctor. This isn't something you want to take a chance on.

-- Elizabeth (lividia66@aol.com), November 25, 2001.

I are not a doctor. Even if I were, I couldn't give advice without examining you, and would probably not even give "maybe's" because the fact is you MUST see a doctor. A couple of obvious possibilities are cancer, or maybe endometriosis (retention of hormone-generating tissue which should have been shed from the womb). There are no doubt hundreds of other possibilities neither of us know enough to imagine, most of them relatively minor. However, the bad possibilitites are so serious that it's far better for you find out now, even if it's bad news; than to let it go on getting worse. If it's not bad, you'll feel better to know for sure.

I've just been through this sort of thing - a live-threatening incident (really severe internal bleeding), then investigation to find out what was what. Turned out to be a combination of bleeding caused by prescription pain-killers, from polyps which would have turned cancerous if they hadn't found them. Better off knowing, it's over for now, and while I have to undergo the investigation again in twelve months, at least I know there's nothing worse, nor is it likely to develop before the next investigation.

SEE A DOCTOR! Please?

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), November 25, 2001.


Soni, Definitely go to the Dr. A mamogram is simple and will relieve your mind. Don't put off any symptoms anywhere in your body that are not normal......I know this from experience. I put off going to the Dr for a couple of years and ended up with a horrible surgery and now going through chemo for cancer. Please don't let this happen to you, it's not worth it.

-- cindy palmer (jandcpalmer@sierratel.com), November 25, 2001.

Also, if you are taking in caffeine in ANY form, please stop.

and call the doc.

-- Rose (open_rose@hotmail.com), November 25, 2001.



Could be estrogen dominanace with fibrocystic breasts. See a doc of course, they may do a needle biopsy and or a mammogram. I use natural progesterone cream and get some relief from it. Painful lumps are only very rarely cancer and much more likely to be fibroids.

-- Susan (smtroxel@socket.net), November 25, 2001.

I had something very similar to your description about three years ago. It turned out to be cellulitis (not sure of spelling). It turned out to be a very serious situation. I was put on I.V. antibiotics and oral antibiotics for over a month! I was very,very sick. Now I have scar tissue in my breast and every mamogram turns into a horror story. Please, please see a doctor. If you have something similar and you are letting it go you could be infecting your whole system.

-- Janice in Maine (kenjan@nh.adelphia.net), November 26, 2001.

I have fiborcystic breast disease which means I can be quite LUMPY on occasion! I have a couple of lumps that have been there for three years and others that have been removed by surgery. All are examined by my doc at least once each year with an extensive mammogram and also ultra sounds when ordered....

I have had NO CAFFEINE since 1986....sometimes my breasts can be quite painful but you can't rule out cancer without a doc visit...since my dad's mama, the grandmother I never met who I look just like and you was an amatuer writer (I'm a reporter) DIED of breast cancer when daddy was only 16, I take the threat of breast cancer serously!

-- Suzy in Bama (slgt@yahoo.com), November 26, 2001.


Gotta try Mannatech! Thatll work. Cindy

-- Cindy (hollo@bitwisesystems.com), November 26, 2001.

Hi Soni, I'm a physician but not a gyn doc and agree with the replies I have read thus far about getting an exam by your doctor, this is first and foremost to rule out any serious conditions. Painful breasts are usually the sign of fibrocystic breasts which can develop for women in their 30's and even younger and older. They are very uncomfortable and can be aggravated by wearing underwire bras, I strongly advocate the use of wireLESS bras for women, even large breasted women. Caffeine is also an aggravater of the condition. I have found that Evening Primrose oil about 500-1000 mg daily helps with cystic breasts assuming there are no contraindications. It usually takes a couple of cycles to notice relief. It may be helpful for you but first the formal exam with your doctor. A few minutes in the doctor's office can give you peace of mind. Good luck , Barbara

-- Barb Stoll (BStoll1@tampabay.rr.com), November 26, 2001.


Remember, although the chance is small, people DO get pregnant while on the pill. I agree with all above, see a doctor, and get a blood test for pregnancy no matter how slim the possibility.

-- Sandie in Maine (peqbear@maine.rr.com), November 27, 2001.

Besides the coffee, stay away from chocolate too. That usually kills me.

-- Dee (gdgtur@goes.com), November 27, 2001.

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