Breasts

I'm down 80+ pounds now and for the last 1-2 months I have noticed significant changes to my breasts. It's extremely uncomfortable and kind of freaking me out.

Firstly I want to clarify that there is no way I am pregnant. This is certain. I also am struggling with infertility so would appreciate sensitivity when making possible pregnancy jokes. :)

Itching - intense itching across both, but especially behind the nipples, under the skin.

Soreness - I feel like I have PMS non-stop. The sides ache, taking bra off is painful, sleeping on my stomach is painful.

Shape - saggy, which isn't unexpected. But also very lumpy, especially on the sides. Reminds me of my breastfeeding days and it's freaky.

I did see my GP, and she is unsure whether to look into it further. She suspects it's mostly due to the structural changes to the tissues as a result of weight loss, but she's a bit mystified. I suspect my loss has also triggered some estrogen dumping.

I've Googled and didn't come up with much (or the suggestions are always pregnancy). I thought I'd post in here to see if any other women or MO men have experienced this.

How old are you?

When I was MO, I used to have the itching you describe in my left breast. That left breast was also a bit swollen compare to the right (I'm a man). The itching wasn't constant, but on and off - although more on than off. When I lost weight, that went away completely. Strangely, you can see that my left breast has a small amount of loose skin compare to my right which has none. That surprised me as it was noticeably larger, only with close inspection could you see it was a bit "puffier". I guess all those years of being slightly larger did a number on my skin!

So, that maybe of no help at all, other than I can confirm one of the symptoms, and note that it did eventually go away as I lost weight. So there is hope maybe?

Are you taking hormones? Using hormonal birth control?

I experience occasional intense itching, but mine doesn't feel like it's under the skin--it's definitely a surface itch.

I'm going to raise the scary breast cancer flag here--do you see anything like a rash? I did not realize that inflammatory breast cancer is a thing until a very dear friend got it. She's still with us, but she said that she didn't feel any lumps or anything that is a typical indicator. Apparently inflammatory beast cancer is a whole different, faster beast.

My own have gotten smaller, but I've never experienced any pain or shape changes as you describe, but we're all different. I would definitely follow up with the doc and maybe ask for a second opinion, especially with the pain.

Jen

Inflammatory Breast Cancer was my first thought too. It is a scary, and unusual beast, the symptoms on the breast are different. It may be nothing and totally related to WLS but absolutely worth ruling this out early!

This may have nothing to do with your WLS, and it certainly needs further investigation. If your GP is reluctant to proceed, try your gyn. If you are 40, you can self refer for a mammogram.

If your breasts aren't being properly supported by a good bra, they can become very sore. You can also get itchy if gravity is pulling down on the skin too much.

Go to the department store and get yourself fitted, and spend good money on a bra that fits you well.

Lots of good thoughts from others here.

The first thing that came to my mind was that I wonder if this could be caused by the hormone dump with the fat loss? I haven't heard any of these symptoms attributed to WLS before, and second someone else's thoughts to check with your medical team because something may be going on. But when you brought up the similarities to pregnancy symptoms, it made me think hormones. Because many of us have had the experience that when the fat is lost, the estrogen that's stored in them gets released into the body and we find ourselves crying at AT&T commercials and having mood swings and the like.

I hope you're able to get to the bottom of it.

As I lost weight, my breasts changed size and shape significantly. I do my monthly breast exams, but I could no longer tell what was normal breast tissue and what might be abnormal. I went to my PCP and she wasn't really sure either. She ordered a mammogram and a breast ultrasound. I am glad she did both because the US showed that I had a fair sized cyst on my right breast. It was benign and they were able to drain it right then.

I'm still a bit freaked by my breasts because they are so saggy and lumpy, but the radiologist reassured me that what is left is just breast tissue. I went from a 44F to a 32C so it is all new to me.

Push to get a mammogram and maybe a breast ultrasound. It will help rule anything out and you will feel reassured.