Saturday, July 11, 2009

There Ain't No Cure for the Summertime BOOBS!


Last June, I alluded to some problems I was having with the girls. I never outwardly stated what was happening, but there was trouble. I had found a lump in my breast and was totally freaked out. Very long story short, "THEY" decided it was nothing and that was that. I have cystic breasts and I'm just supposed to know that and be OK with it...and know the difference between a cyst and a lump. Whatever.

This summer, the girls decided to have more fun. This summer, I got what I thought was some sort of bug bite under my left boob. Because the girls are rather large, I always wear underwire bras (and if you haven't tried them, Wacoal bras ROCK! They are so worth the money!).

Anyway, because the bite itched and was right at the underwire, it became infected. Really infected. When it got to be the size of a walnut, I went to the ER. The PA I saw stood across the room, cocked his head to the side, and said, "Yep, it's a bite." That was all. Not that I wanted him to fondle me or anything, but he did not even touch it, much less come closer to inspect it. He gave me a script for some antibiotic ointment and sent me away. He said to come back in two days if there was no improvement.

Two days passed. In fact, ten days passed. There was mild improvement, but not much. The bite was a tad smaller and less angry looking, but that might have been because I had begun wearing sports bras. Also, the infection began to drain some, which was TOTALLY GROSS, but whatever.

Finally, yesterday, after much insisting from The Husband, I went back to the ER (a different ER, by the way). As soon as I showed the bite to the PA, she was shocked that the other guy did nothing. (Then she heard which hospital I'd gone to and wasn't surprised, but again, that's a whole 'NOTHER story!) The Husband was concerned the infection would spread, become systemic, and I'd go septic. This PA shared The Husband's concern.

The PA lanced and drained the abscess (or however that word is spelled). She said there was also a cyst in there (big surprise) so she removed that as well. Now, I'm packed and taped and, theoretically, on the mend. I am also taking oral antibiotics. The pain isn't too bad...it pops up momentarily but nothing major.

I *did* fill out a survey from the first ER visit, and I was nothing if not brutally honest about that visit!

Moral of the story? Trust your instinct, your body, and go for that second opinion! (OK - and trust The Husband...he's usually right. There, I said it. Happy?!)

4 comments:

  1. I'm glad you got the gals rechecked. I also have cystic boobs, so I know all about that pleasure.

    Take care of yourself!

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  2. Whew, glad everything is getting better!!

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  3. I'm glad it's getting better. Wow, what a crazy "adventure" they are giving you! I hope it all heals quickly :)

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  4. I'm a definite believer in getting a 2nd opinion. I also have fibrocystic breasts and back when I was 23 an Army doctor couldn't read an ultrasound and wanted to do a surgical biopsy. I paid several hundred bucks out of pocket to see a civilian breast oncologist for a 2nd opinion. He called the Army doc a quack and told me not to let him anywhere near me.

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