WWYD - drs visit (long sorry!)

[Mommy Of A Little Angel]

Around the beginning of this year I had a pain in my breast. I gave it a week to make sure that I wasn't just bruised from DD kicking me or something silly like that. I also was able to feel a lump. It didnt go away so I called my gyno and got in the next day. The dr said she felt it to and wanted to send me for a mammo and ultrasound. Did that the next week (and of course when I went no one could feel the lump including me) but I knew the general area. They saw nothing on both tests but the gyno sent me to a breast surgeon to further investigate.

The breast surgeon did his own ultrasound and couldn't really see anything, but he felt the lump himself. He suggested that I have it surgically biopsied. So, two weeks later, I had it removed. Right after he took it out, he was able to tell it was nothing, but also got the lab reports back a few days later. I think he called it a fibroma. Essentially the report said non-cancerous group of cells.

So, all was good for two months then it started hurting again and again I could feel a lump. I went straight to the breast surgeon. I felt kinda blow off, but he checked me, said he didn't feel it was a lump (because of how he moved it or something) and felt it was inflammed tissue attached to my rib cage from my breasts getting bigger and smaller from pregnancy/breast feeding. He told me it was unlikely for me to have breast cancer as I am young (25), no family history, etc. Now, I get that he doesn't think I have breast cancer. He was physically in my breast and took samples. But, there is something else going on in there. It's not right for my breast to hurt. All he said was to take an anti-inflammatory and it would go away. Well, I have been and it's not working.

Sorry that was so long. I obviously need to go to someone to see what it is. I am not crying cancer here, but there is something wrong in there! Here is my question:

Should I go back to my gyno? (though he will probably send me back to the breast surgeon)

Go back to the breast surgeon even though I didn't think he took me seriously last time.

Go to another surgeon in his practice?

[JTsMom]

If it were me, I would go to another surgeon in a different practice. I think someone in the same practice would be more likely to just agree with the first surgeon.

I don't think going back to the gyno would do much good. If you feel like the original surgeon blew you off, I wouldn't go that route either. If you feel like something is not right, definitely keep pushing. It's your body, and you know it better than any doctor!

[tarabenet]

If his treatment of you and your worries makes you feel that you can't trust him to be your partner in protecting your health, go see someone else. Period.

If it turns out to be something, you will always feel like you doc is the same guy who blew you off when you first brought it up. Not a good partnership there. If it turns out to be as "nothing" as he says, you may be able to handle that news quite differently coming from a different doc. And if the new doc is a partner to the old one, ou never know when you might end up having to deal with the old one, a stress you may prefer to avoid.

But I'd go back to the gyno first *if* it would help protect me from possible insurance denial battles.

Good luck!

[bethie_73]

First I have to say, it is your body, and if you feel there is something wrong, you need to listen to your body.

That said, if you don't feel the surgeon took you seriously, then you should get a second opinion from a different practice. Second opinions are pretty common. You should also see if there is any research you can do. I'm not saying self diagnose, but Drs are human, and you need to advocate for yourself.

Good luck

[ThreeofUs]

I think you have done your part in maintaining your health with this surgeon, but that he hasn't done his. I would go back to your gyn or family practice doc, get a recommendation for another specialist with a reputation for collaborative care, and go see that person.

Get copies of your records from your current surgeon's office and take them with you. If they give you a hard time about forking over copies of your records, remind them that the law states that your records belong to you and gently tell them you will pay any reasonable copying costs.

Sounds to me like something odd is going on with your breast, and you need a collaborator to help you figure out what it is - not an arrogant "expert" who blows you off.

Good luck!

[Sillygirl]

Get copies of your records from your current surgeon's office and take them with you. If they give you a hard time about forking over copies of your records, remind them that the law states that your records belong to you and gently tell them you will pay any reasonable copying costs.

It will be free if you have them send your records directly to the next surgeon. Reasonable costs for a copy they hand to you is something like 15 cents a page, and there's a lot of wasted paper in a medical chart that will get copied.

[o_mom]

It will be free if you have them send your records directly to the next surgeon. Reasonable costs for a copy they hand to you is something like 15 cents a page, and there's a lot of wasted paper in a medical chart that will get copied.

Except that most offices will not copy or release transferred records. If you later want to see those records or need them sent to a third doctor you have to go back to the original office again.

[jayali]

I would not go back to the same surgeon but would absolutely see another doctor. You know your body the best and if you think there is something wrong then you are probably right. I am not sure where you live, but we have several Breast Centers associated with our larger hospitals. Also my breast doctor (I live in NYC) is extremely thorough. If you live in the area her name is Dr. Miriam Levy. She is a radiologist, but I found her to be a wonderful breast doctor. Could you ask a friend for a good referral. Not necessarily a surgeon but maybe a woman gyno. I find that my woman doctors seem more in tune to what I am explaining.

Hope you feel better soon.

[KBecks]

I think in your situation I would call my OB's office, talk to a nurse, and ask for a call back from the OB to talk about what I'm experiencing, or just talk to the nurse, give her notes and then ask about where I should go -- back to the OB or to another breast surgeon.

I would also try to give a good evaluation of the frequency and intensity of the pain as well as the location. Are you having pain every day? Or is it occasional twinges? How bad is it?

If you need a 2nd opinion you'll need another surgeon and I'd ask the OB office for a referral partially because I don't know if you can get into another surgeon w/o that. I'd also check your insurance, etc.

I'm quite a bit older, and I had my first at age 34. I think not all pain is necessarily explainable, but you're right to have it fully checked out. I was told after my first and when I had some concerns that some pain is "just getting older". I would also wonder if some of your pain may be post-op complications or scarring from your surgery, but I'm not a doctor, that's a guess.

For me personally, if it's an occasional twinge or soreness, I'd be more willing to accept that as part of normal living, aging, etc. But if you are hurting every day then I'd be much more concerned.

Good luck!

[Mommy Of A Little Angel]

That's the thing that gets me! I got a list from my gyno with the places they suggest. He personally recommended the Breast Care Center and two doctors there. I went to one of the two he suggested. I thought I was doing great because it is the Breast Care Center for the best hospital in the city. Most other places refer to there.


I am not sure where you live, but we have several Breast Centers associated with our larger hospitals.

[Mommy Of A Little Angel]

Thanks everyone! I have a list from the gyno of other places. Luckily my insurance doesn't require referals for specialists so I can just make an appointment. I am sort of disappointed at the surgeon, especially since my gyno recommended him. I will mention my experience next time I am in so maybe he will rethink telling others to go to him. I have the name of another breast surgeon who is a bit closer to my house and is well thought of. Hopefully she will be able to help figure this out!