abcess healing, but intense pain in left breast

Hiya girls, and a happy new year to you all.

Well....I went to my appointment on the 12th of December to see my ps.

He examined my breast and then told me that they were soft with no capsular contracture and that the pain I was experiencing was due to healing, which could take up to a year to settle down.

As for the abcess he gave me something called 'eosine' which is red in colour and stains the skin and your clothes if it gets on it, I was to use it twice a day and cover the wound with a thin gauze or light dressing. I have been doing it and they are almost completely healed already. I am really pleased with that.

But the stitches around my arerola was healing a little raised so I had heard about using thin microporus tape on them to keep them flat......well I used it around the left nipple and when I was removing the tape(which was really sticky on the skin) it ripped off the skin just below the areola where the vertical incision is. so I am back to wearing a dressing on it. I have been using 'mepitel' which is used for burns to encourage new skin growth.

The problem is that since the last three days the pain in my left breast has intensified so much, that sometimes its unbearable. the breast seems nice and soft most of the time but there is a severe burning sensation really deep in the breast and at times it all feels really numb. I am tired of calling my ps, and wonder if this is just normal will it go away over time, and why has it suddenly just got worse then before. It gets quite swollen and the hardness comes and goes with the deep burning sensation.

My gp has me back on the antibiotics until I my appointment at the nhs hospital, due to the infection that I had and although healiing there is still a bit of hardness and yellowing around the abcess. but my greatest problem now is the pain in my left breast is anyone else experiencing this or has in the past? does it get better? or is it warning of capsular contracture......Please help xx

aww elainne I dont have any proper advice for you but couldnt just read and run. Hope someone more useful comes along soon

Aww sorry to hear of your troubles elainne,i too get a sharp burning pain in my boobs sometimes and a tightness but i think its just healing pains (i hope so !)im 6 weeks but i understand it can take a long while to compleatly heal!xxx

thanks Kat4 and sparkyleeds,

I am hoping it is healing pains, but it has burning piercing pain only started around three days ago......after seeing my ps, there was pain before, but nothing like this.

I hope you are right too.

If it's like shooting pains its normal, otherwise I am really unsure. I would see your ps as soon as possible

Dont worry about ringing your ps all the time.Sorry I have no advise to give but just keep ringing them with your worries its better to be safe hun xxx

Really glad to hear you abceses have healed, I've had those babies before, not on the boobs but elsewhere so completely understand your pain.

In terms of contacting your surgeon, don't feel like you are calling to much, its your body and you're worried about it, you have just forked out a load of money to have this op done, him and his team owe you a service which you have paid for, and considering you have been through so much already I am sure he be happy to help. Hope all goes well. Xxxxx

If ur worried keep calling Hun that's what we pay for xx

Thank you misf1, nikitaw, sc and peggy sue. your support is really appreciated and your advice.

I spoke to the surgeon yesterday after a lot of should I?, shouldn't I? (I had to leave a few messages before he got back to me), but he says it is healing, and it will take up to a year for it to settle down. In the meantime there is a hard mass behind the abcess which is healing, but it has this hard solid mass behind it. I finish this course of antibiotics on sunday . Will have to see what they say at the breast clinic at Guys and St Thomas. just in case to be on the safe side.

The burning and numbness is driving me mad .xxxx

Awww hun

Im feeling crappy today aswell, my ribbs keep swelling up and burning/aching every time I try and do the tiniest thing

Always here to support my advise is always a bit rickity but my ears are dam good xxxx

hiya peggysue, sorry to hear you are in pain babe, and congrats on your new babies, they look brill.

I had that at the beginning as well, but I think I bought half of this on my self by not resting up as I was told, and because it was an lollipop lift the stitches got infected, and I ended up with this abcess.

But you take care and look after yourself, do not go doing stuff that can wait.......and even if they can't wait get someone else to do it, I am so tired of the pain, I love my breasts but the pain and the holes and missing skin is spoiling my enjoyment, not even bothered about wearing a nice bra, just want no dressing and pain free now.

You take care babe, and thanks again.

It sounds absolutly horrendus! Your poor girl, one step at a time though hun.Have they given you any idea of healing time? xx

The ps says my using the eosine which is a bit like iodine, but bright red in colour, and stains twice a day then applying a light gauze dressing should have me healed in a few weeks, It is healing and closing (this is the right breast) but the infection which is causing the hardness or so my gp says is still there.....hence the antibiotics. The left breast will heal fairly soon I hope as this is the skin torn away where the stitches were under the nipple. I know they will heal its the pain I have issue with, and cleaning and applying dressings for so long.

How have you been feeling babe, have some chocs and puds, thats what I am doing to feel better (only one a week)....and my tits love it. But really do take it easy.....its early days rest up and let your chest heal they have been through trauma, and need time to recover. best wishes xx

I have been stuffing my face with mince pies, trouble is I made them! I love. Baking but I no after chatting to you I prob need to take it a bit easier. Had a bleed in my r boob after surgery and had to go to theatre again a few hours later. I think that's why I was so battered and bruised. I have a picture trail if you want to see the bruising. But then you have prob seen enough with your own issues. If you ever need a chat or moan pm me xxx

Hiya peggysue, i sent you a pm, hope you got it not. feeling poopy.......going to have a cake xx

Wow, Elaine hun you really have gone through the mill haven't you?!?! xx

Jus wanted to send you a massive hug sweety and say get better soon xx

Thank you kay, geeez looking at your ticker factory seems as if you have been there too babe. been a month since your last op babe, how you feeling?

I'm feeling a lot better with you guys sharing this with me, and to know I,m not alone. worked late tonight but nice to come home take my pain killers and antibiotics and then read your messages.

Thank you girls. xx

I love this site for the support you get when things don't quite go to plan xx

Yes been through it a bit myself to be fair xx First PS got everything wrong and i had a terrible result xx the company paid for a reop but he had to do it, and got it all wrong a second time xx Third time I demanded someone else and went to see a reconstruction surgeon xx

I'm just coming up 5 weeks PO so still settling but getting there xx

You must feel like you have been on antibiotics forever

On a positive not though your boobies look fabulous in your avvi gorgeous xx nice shape and size xx

OH Kay, the first time must be awful, but for it to go wrong the second time must have been soul destroying....Well babe I wish you all the luck there is in the world this time round, but I believe you won't need it.....because its going to be fine. and you are right the support here is wonderful. I felt so alone and down before. but I feel a lot better since sharing on this forum.

The antibiotics are driving me mad, its killing off the good bacteria and my skin is so dry and I am getting spots and mouth ulcers. I will be taking acidophilus to replace the good bacteria as recommended. I am happy with the size and shape although since taking that photo, the swelling has subsided a bit more and they are a little smaller which maybe only I would notice.......I hope! I just want to get off the painkillers now and see the doc at the hospital to get the final all clear so I can start enjoying my boobs.

Keep your chin up babe and take it gently. xxx