I have been having pain in one of my breasts. I can only relate this to what your breasts feel like during breast feeding when they can become engorged. Even though it's been almost a year since I stopped breast feeding, I have had a couple of experiences with milk leaking - each time my daughter was sick so I think my body was just reacting to that. Well, my dad had been in the hospital for the last month and my daughter and I had been staying with him for a few days. We had to take him to the ER on Sunday and this pain developed Monday morning. Nothing has leaked. I've done self breast exam finding nothing out of the ordinary. I actually called the ER Monday night and was told by a dr. that I was doing everything that he would suggest (hot pad, Ibuprofen). He did say if it continued that I should make an appt. I'm kind of scared about it since it's only in one breast, and then of course I automatically think of breast cancer since it runs in my family which I know is the extreme. I'm going to make the appt in the morning and pray they can get me in because it's very uncomfortable and I can't even pick up my daughter to hold her because simply brushing up against it causes pain. Has anyone experienced anything like this? Thank you in advance to anyone who shares!
Hi Kim-
It sounds like mastitis to me. I would definitely go to the doctor. Do you have any flu-like symptoms? That is also a sign. Good luck!
I had the same kind of pain in the last 6 months, but I also had lumps. I made the appointment with my doc and she ordered a mamogram, which isn't as bad as a lot of people say. It doesn't really hurt. It's more like a little pressure, and it's actually kind of cool to see the image on the computer as they take the picture. It turned out that I have fibrocystic lumps in my breast. It can be very frightening and stressful while you are waiting to get seen because you just don't know what it is, and Cancer is the worst thing you can imagine and the first thing you think of. It runs in my family as well, but has been with cousins, great grandmother, distant relatives. Not to say it couldn't happen, but my doc was not as concerned as if it would have been found in my mom. Nonetheless, I would get in as soon as you can to see your doc. Anytime you notice changes or odd things about your breasts, get it checked. I'll be thinking of you.
It could be something as simple as a clogged duct, or it could be a mastitis infection. Do you have a fever? Is the site red and inflamed? If not, probably a clogged duct. Massage the painful area, take hot showers, apply hot washcloths, etc. And nurse as much as you can. Hope it clears up soon.
Kim,
I had some milk come out from my breasts a year after I stopped breastfeeding. The nurse told me that if this kept going, they might have to check and see my levels of lactose or something like that. Everything was O.K. though. Think positive and hopefully everything will be O.K.
Best of luck!
A..
It sounds like mastitis, but if I understand you correctly, you are not breastfeeding anymore? I don't know if you can still get mastitis, but I had it 4 times in the first year of breastfeeding my daughter. There was a sore spot that was very painful if you touched it or brushed up against it. I also had aches and pains in my body and a high fevor. The only thing that would get rid of it was anti-biotics. If it is not mastitis, I don't know what it could be, but I don't think it could be cancer. They say that cancer is not painful to the touch. If I were you, I would go to the doctor immediately and get it checked out. It could just be a swollen gland or something simple that could be treated with antibiotics.
Good luck!
I had this happen recently also. I had a mamogram and everything turned out fine. My pain gets worse with PMS and even pre-PMS, but it started all of a sudden too. One day I was fine and the next in real pain. The thing that provided the most relief was a cold cabbage leaf. I know it sounds weird, but just rip off a leaf of any kind of cabbage and it helps a lot with pain and swelling (good for mastitis and nursing moms too). I also have sought some natural help because my conventional doc couldn't explain it. I've been taking pure fish oil for a few months and it is helping. It takes awhile before you notice a difference, but fish oil is a natural anti-inflammatory and is also good for other things. Hope all works out well. Let us know!
When I was nursing my daughter I had a similiar situation. I found out I had a breast infection. I had no idea what was going on. I just knew that I was in a lot of pain and that I had a fever with chills. So, I was given antibiotic which cleared it up. Well I hope that might give you an idea of what is happening. Good luck and I hope you are feeling better soon.
This is probably nothing serious, maybe just hormonal! Maybe just go to your OB for a regular checkup to ease your mind! Sometimes I get pains in my left breast and I go for a checkup every year and it is normal. And by the way, I don't think cancer is painful! Good luck to you!
thanks for this question, I am going through something similar and was glad to read the responses you got. I never thought of posting it on here! lol. silly me. but thanks for asking~~you helped me too.
I still leaked milk after 2 years after I weaned my youngest. I would see your Dr. just for reasurance but don't panic. He /She should be able to sort this all out.
You are under a lot of stress with your Dad. Each body reacts differently. So chill and go with the flow and it might be nothing.
Momograms all depend on the tech. I have had good ones and painful ones. My first one was so bad, I dread them everytime and put them off because of it.
C. B
Dear Kim,
I had the same symtoms. My right side of the breast was really hurting. And I was also scared of breast cancer. So I went to my OBYGN and he ordered a mamogram. But everything turned out great. And then I went to a natural healiast (NAET) and she said I was allergic to veggie fat. So I did a 24 hour treat, and everything went away.
Maybe, you allergic to something and it is causing the pain. I went to Dr. Chernoff in Boulder (www.naet.com) she is wonderful. I would highly recommand her.
Hope you feel better, I know it's a scarey thing when the pain is in your breats.
Sending Happy Greetings,
C.
I'm not sure if you can get a plugged duct post-breast feeding but I do know for sure that your breasts respond to stress in your life. After I had plugged ducts several times I put it together that I'd had stressful conversations with my mom the day before. Taking your father to the ER definitely qualifies as stress! But I agree that you're doing the right things: taking it easy, ibuprofen, heat. I would also recommend: chocolate, long bath, wine, & a good book.
:)
Kim, if you're still experiencing a let-down sensation, it's possible you're still lactating a minimal amount and you possible have a clogged duct or a start at mastitis. These are easy to treat. Rest a lot, drink lots of fluid,gently rub the spot,use moist heat (hot bath or shower, washcloth, etc...) normally we'd say nurse often but that's not an option for you, antibiotics will help, too. Are you otherwise feeling well?? Headache, tired, body aches, feverish?
Try to stay calm and simply make an appointment with a OB/GYN or Midwife who can take a look and know what's going on.
You can get mastitis even of your not breastfeeding...anything that might have introduced bacteria into your breast tissue could cause an infection. I wouldn't think that with breast cancer you would have a sudden onset of pain, I would think that it would be something that slow built up as the tumor grew, but I'm not a doctor, so I don't know.
Caffeine.
If I drink too much caffeine my breasts hurt. It gets very bad around my PMS time.
