Results 1 to 6 of 6

Thread: IBC worries rearing their ugly head

  1. #1

    IBC worries rearing their ugly head

    Currently in a terrible place with my HA, which came on last year after the death of a friend. I was doing ok for a few months and then my elderly mum got a diagnosis of kidney failure which has sent me straight back in to a spin with my HA (just for anyone who is triggered by this, my mum was very ill for many years and refused to see a doctor, very different from the aches and pains and careful monitoring exhibited on this forum).

    I convinced myself I could feel a tiny breast lump a couple of months ago, the GP said it was tiny and not worth referring but she did as a matter of course. Had two ultrasounds and a mammo and everything came back clear. At my final appointment the specialist said she was satisfied but did I want a core needle biopsy to put my mind at rest (she didn’t know I had HA and that this would be red rag to a bull!!). So I said yes and she took a few samples. I had some bruising and left the dressing on for 24hr, all seemed ok but I didn’t really check the area much as I knew it was healing and I didn’t want to obsess.

    I also had an inflamed hair follicle very near the area which was scanned and dismissed. Unfortunately about a week after my biopsy I gave it a good pick and squeeze as it was bugging me (one of many stupid decisions!). It got inflamed, bloody and pussy and I ended up having to leave it alone.

    About a week after that I glanced down and noticed that I had a small crescent shaped raised red mark right where the biopsy was taken (the tissue, the puncture was to the left). In the space of two days it grew to the size of a cucumber slice, and was raised, red and bumpy, no itching or pain. GP said it didn’t look like anything much and to put a cold compress on it. I did so and took antihistamines in case it was an allergy. It cleared up to just a little bit of discolouration after a few days. I then leant on an electric blanket for about an hour the next evening and my breast got red and warm (obviously!). Lo and behold a 5p sized raised red patch turned up in the same place about 3hr later. I called the GP in tears the next day and got an appointment with the urgent care nurse, who said it just looked like a little fungal patch and gave me some Daktarin steroid cream. I put some on that evening but the patch spread again to cucumber slice size within 24hr.

    I’ve now been using the Daktarin for five days and the raised bumps have gone down, but a darkish hue has been left behind where the rash once was. I’ve read about steroid pigmentation and also post-inflammation pigmentation but my mind is always convinced that of course it’s IBC, not anything else.

    I’ve got a follow-up appointment at the breast clinic tomorrow and I’m absolutely beside myself with panic. All the scans and the biopsy were clear, and the rash is exactly where the biopsy was, but the biopsy was for the tiny lump. Would it have picked up IBC?? I know probably no one can answer this and maybe no one can give me any reassurance, but I’m just desperate to get all this out and this forum seems like the right place to do it.

    Thanks if you made it this far!

  2. #2

    Re: IBC worries rearing their ugly head

    Just wanted to update in case anyone has similar symptoms, I saw a breast specialist today and a dermatology specialist and they both agreed my rash was due to the spray and bandage used in my biopsy, apparently there can be quite a delayed allergic reaction to both of these elements and the rash can be quite stubborn. The hydrocortisone cream I’ve been using has cleared most of it up now, so I’m moving on and putting thoughts of illness out of my head. I’ll be starting medication in the new year and counselling and hope to get my HA under control so I don’t waste anymore of my life worrying about things that haven’t even happened and probably never will. Best of luck to everyone struggling.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Posts
    7,300

    Re: IBC worries rearing their ugly head

    HI, sorry I didn't see this sooner, I had a biopsy and surgery in the breast area, and a rash from the dressings, so I would have confirmed the likelihood for you. I see that you've posted another thread about melanomas/HA matters a short while ago - but was wondering, as you said here, that you were due to start counselling. Has it begun yet ?

  4. #4

    Re: IBC worries rearing their ugly head

    Hi Carys

    So sorry for the late reply, I haven’t looked at this thread for a while and haven’t been online much either. Thanks very much for your response, the rash completely cleared up several weeks ago and I’m feeling better about that. I started my meds two weeks ago (very low dose of Sertraline) and they seem to be helping, along with exercise. Unfortunately the NHS talking therapy has a 25 week wait and I can’t afford private right now, so I’m just trying to do some calm breathing techniques and self help stuff in the meantime (with mixed results!).

    Not feeling great today, my right boob started hurting the week before my period, I checked it and am now worrying about a large firm area within it that I think is possibly just breast tissue/muscle behind. It’s an area of about 1.5 inches by 2 inches and I think it feels the same in my left breast but my left breast is larger and fattier so the ‘lump’ isn’t so prominent. It’s not even a distinct lump anyway, just a firm area. I lost 1.5 stone in the last year so it’s hard to gauge what feels different purely by dint of there being less fat around. I’m trying to remind myself I had a mammo in November last year which showed nothing suspicious at all, and that my boob probably always feels like this/slight swelling due to period, but my mind keeps straying back. Hate this feeling so much.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Posts
    7,300

    Re: IBC worries rearing their ugly head

    If you had a mammo last November then anything major would have been noted (I presume you are over 40, hence being given a mammo and not ultrasound used). There is a reason they say not to do breast checks before a period, as there are hormonal tissue changes, keep an eye on it monthly here on in - but not more often as you won't notice changes if you check regularly. The loss of weight can definitely affect what you are feeling and noting, with Breasts containing a lot of fat - but do your check according to proper guidance and do it mid cycle. Take that next check as your base-line

  6. #6

    Re: IBC worries rearing their ugly head

    Thanks Carys. I’m 39 so I had an ultrasound and a mammo, but the specialist concentrated on the left breast during the US as that’s where I felt my initial ‘lump’ - which she said wasn’t a distinct lump either and just lumpy tissue! That was a tiny pebbly area very different from my current worry, so I can’t calm myself down with that experience unfortunately. She did go over the right breast too with the US wand so again I’m sure she would’ve noticed anything untoward. I have a final breast clinic appointment in a few weeks so I’m going to leave my boob alone for the next week and then check again. I’m trying to be rational and believe that it’s not really possible for a large malignant mass to have sprung up in the 12 weeks since my mammo and US, but you know what HA is like…

    Thanks again for your advice, it’s really appreciated.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Ibc worries.
    By Laura1987 in forum Health Anxiety
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 02-01-21, 19:28
  2. Replies: 10
    Last Post: 27-01-19, 11:37
  3. IBC worries
    By CoconutMonkey in forum Symptoms
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 16-08-18, 14:33
  4. IBC worries
    By worrywart29 in forum Female health issues
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 31-07-15, 13:22
  5. IBC worries...still!
    By crosbysmom in forum Health Anxiety
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 10-07-13, 21:09

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •