Painful boob

Hi, I had my Ba almost 2 and a half years ago. and all was well until about a year ago, I felt a lump on the bottom of my right boob, I went to the doctor who referred me to the hospital, I had a ultrasound and it was the implant, dont know why I could suddenly feel it but I could.

Since then my boob has got more and more painful, I cant quite put my finger on where the pain is coming from and Im not even sure if it comes from the same place all the time, but it aches pretty much all the time I'm not wearing a bra. If my husband touches it it hurts, I cant lay on my front without it being very painful, and now if I strectch my arm up it hurts under my armpit, and seems to burn.

I know it's not right and am getting more and more worried about it but any ideas?

I had my BA done through Mybreast at a hospital close to me, but they dont go to that hospital anymore either.

Im unsure of how long free consultations are for with MyBreast after surgery, but you could call MyBreast finding the nearest clinic to yourself and arrange to be seen if that was what you wanted hun. Regardless of them no longer holding a clinic from that particular hospital I'm sure if willing to travel a little further should that be the case they'd be be willing to see you.

I don't think the pain you're experiencing has anything to do with stemming from the lump you felt. Being to feel the implant at the bottom of the breast is actually more common than you might think Phoebe.

With you having been scanned and that coming back clear I'd say you could rule out a rupture, but then it's been known for a rupture to be missed when scanned this way and an MRI is recommended.

You could approach your GP again telling them of the further pain you're getting and see if they will refer you for an MRI but if they do suspect a rupture they will refer you back to MyBreast rather than the NHS and they will either have you scanned or recommend you get scanned. Either way this will be to your cost.

I'm not for a moment here saying you DO have a rupture here Phoebe. But with any sudden abnormal pain that can't be explained this would be one if the things that would need to be ruled out.

I'd approach your GP Phoebe and if you get no joy there then you're really going to have to go back and request to be seen by your surgeon at MyBreast as this has been painful for a year now with no sign of it letting up. Xx

I am going to see my doctor in a couple of weeks anyway so will mention it to her then, I was unsure if I should go to my own doctor with this as it was to doing with my ba and didnt know how the land lay with going to the nhs when I had this done privately!

GP's will 'generally' always refer those of us having had surgery privately back to the private sector if we have any problems with the work they did...

Unless you're left high and dry with no way or means of being treated they won't help us beyond a scan babe.

At WORST and again I'm not saying you have a rupture at all, but just because we're talking about approaching GPs and the NHS... at worst, the most they'll do is scan you and if they do detect a rupture, they a) refer you back to your surgeon for them to explant. If that's not possible, b) offer to explant the implant through the NHS. That's removal of the implant and that's it. I'm unsure if they'd remove both if that was choice, but I know for sure that's as far as the NHS will go hun, they will not replace implants that were bought privately. xx

So do you think it would be better for me to go straight to Mybreast then rather than go to the GP?

I'd try your GP first to see if they'd offer an MRI. Don't mention your implant at all though, infact say that you don't even think it's that *a lil white lie hurts no-one)

With unexplained pain, if your surgeon is unhappy with the ultra sound results and wants further investigation you'll probably be requested to have an MRI, especially as the ultrasound came up with no problems and you still have have this pain, so I'd try your GP first and if if they agree to an MRI - GREAT! if it's all clear, you'll know it's nothing to be concerned about and may possibly be muscular, if they do detect a problem, you can request they fax the details to your surgeon.

If they don't agree to an MRI, 'then' go to your surgeon hun and see what they have to say and take things from there.

This is what I'd do anyway hun. xx

Hi Phoebe, I had/have a similar problem. Started with 2 lumps about 2 years after implant, which then became painful, then a swollen mass. I've had scans, MRI, biopsy, blood tests and endless consultations with breast specialists, and am now getting implants out next week - not PIPs, no ruptures, no CC. It's been diagnosed as granulomatous mastitis but they don't know why I have it. Have had 3 courses of antibiotics which helped a bit. I went down the private route as like you thought my GP wouldn't/couldn't help (luckily I was covered by some insurance) but I really would recommend you start with your GP as they are (I think) obliged to treat you given you have a lump. It is SO expensive have tests done privately and as Cookie said, it may not be implant related. Be good to hear how you got on in the end. All the doctors were very surprised at my problem so long after surgery. xx

I would also go to see your surgeon at mybreast, you should still be covered by your aftercare with them.