New and waiting for appointment-bit dazed

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Hi, I’m new to this forum and I have been avidly reading all the posts on here. I’m 41 with 2 children under 5 (4.5 yrs & 3 yrs) and for the last 6 months ( at least) I’ve been ignoring some thickening and soreness on my left boob ( plus some clear discharge and occasional stabbing sensation/milk let down feeling). After a night out with a friend at the weekend who’d had a scare and nagged me to go to the docs I finally did on Monday.

 

Explained to the doctor my findings but also that I had lost sight of what was normal and what wasn’t as after breast feeding 2 babies for 13 months each the old boobs were pretty much like a pair of wind socks! Doctor had a feel and agreed that the left boob was much lumpier than the other and because it had felt like this for 6 months and the discharge she referred me to the breast clinic at the hospital. Weirdly I felt relieved as at least I felt she had listened, it wasn’t just my imagination and I am going to be checked properly. However this waiting for 2 weeks (appointment on 28th Sep) is totally sh&t!!! How on earth ae you supposed to function?!!!

 

I was very intrested in the thread regarding symptoms leading up to diagnosis as I have felt a bit off since last November and recently had a ream of blood tests to check for various things (menopause/thyroid/lupus etc) but all came back fine. I have had sporadic (every 4-6 weeks or as little as 2) flu like aches and temperature since last Nov which can last for as little as a couple of hours or for as long as a couple of days; have to take myself off to bed and rest/sleep (as much as you can with 2 little ones!) plus pain killers. I suppose I feel like my body has been trying to tell me something for a while. Anyone else have that feeling? Could be nothing but the whole waiting game is torturous. Apologies for the long thread.

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Hi bakerbird!

I’m also new here, and I have my appointment for the same day as you, 28th. It is horrible, no matter how rational you start off with the waiting game. I’m supposed to continue writing my thesis, but I just can’t concentrate or think! Wish I was the type that can use work to distract themselves. Even writing emails is too much for my raw nerves right now. I tried to distract myself with knitting, which I usually love, but after making several mistakes and throwing away the knitting I realised I better distract myself passively.  So I’ve been walking around shopping for baby clothes for my soon-to-be-born nephew, that does the trick- though it’s hard to not buy too much, and I have been to all shops in this town by now. :wink:

 

It’s good that your doctor took it seriously enough for an immediate referral. Mine sent me away for another two weeks in case it ‘just disappears’ and claimed that she would not be allowed to refer me before these two weeks. Just reading here made me realised she was probably lying to me. I was also told to take Ibuprofen against the gnawing, intermittent pain. Just wow.

I see you also were referred on Monday- me too. I had hoped for the appointment to not be at the very end of the two weeks, but that was naive I guess. And wishful thinking, will miss the baby shower now.

 

I also had problems like fatigue, feeling weak and so on, but if worst comes to worst it may be that my lump didn’t really originate from the breast, so I don’t know whether these really are true symptoms and if so, whether they are general. Never had fever or raised temperature, at least not that I know of, but I felt like having fever sometimes- if you know what I mean? Everything feels like being feverish, just the temperature is normal. Weird.

 

Keeping my fingers crossed for you!