Hi, my name is Claire 37 and I’m very much as my wits end and have no ware else to turn.
So a little back story, I haven’t breast feed in 19 years, my last child was born 10 years ago and I had my tubes tied in 2016.
In early 2020 my nipple started leaking creamy coloured discharge after having a telephone appointment with my GP she assured me it’s was fine.
Fast forward to October of 2022, I found a very small pea size lump behind my right nipple and still discharging from the nipple. GP made a referral to the breast clinic who could feel anything initially said I had debris in my breast shortly followed by a diagnoses for periductal mastitis.
After many month of pain, the lump growing and hospital visits, I got a aprox between a 5cm and 7cm abscess which in December 2023 nipple stopped leak and abscess burst.
Since December 2023, it heals every 4-8 week and locks the infection in and burst again. I seem to have a permanent what looks like a light purple bruise and then flares up bright red (which they treat with antibiotics)every few month when healed before bursting. They now keep saying recurring abscess, how can it be recurring if it’s never gone away?
Since approx November of 2022, I’ve had 14 lots of antibiotics, 2 courses of steroids, 1 mammogram, 3 ultrasounds, 1 biopsy, 2 chest X-rays, multiple blood tests, came very close twice to having sepsis and 2 needle aspiration (second one only blood was retrieved). They advised me to stop smoking and reduce my sugar level before they will do anything else to help me. I down 5 cigs a day (been told by other medical professionals to tell them I’ve stopped) and managed in 1 month to reduce my sugar level to within range.
Ive had quite bad fatigue since the beginning but from April 2024 I was hit so badly with fatigue I spent 3 weeks in bed. I have also have other symptoms accrue since April such as fever, reduced appetite, continuous large amounts mucus build up in my nose and throat (more on the right side) and no sense of smell. I was given steroids from the GP who thought was pneumonia but it wasn’t as the chest X-ray was clear. Then a 9 hour trip to A&E, A&E sent me to the breast clinic who said my increase white blood count, increase inflammatory markers and all my other symptoms have nothing to do with my breast. After 9 hours in A&E and I clear chest X-ray they said it could be pneumonia, COPD or lower respiratory infection (which of course is none of them) and sent me home with steroids, a stomach tablet and inhaler.
I’ve now ask for a referral to a different breast clinic and at this point I think the only option left for me is to have the breast removed.
Sorry for the length of this but I’ve tried to squeeze everything in even tho I think I may of missed bits.