I screwed up - what should I do? Update - post 11

[pianojazzgirl]

I have had a series of weird symptoms going on for a while now and I've been seeing my family dr quite regularly to figure out what's going on. I just saw him on Monday and we had lots of things to discuss. The most urgent in my mind was an episode of tachycardia that had happened two days earlier. So somehow I managed to forget to mention to him that I had been having some pain in my left breast. (DOH!) In the past couple of days it has been bothering me more (not that it's more painful but I've been worrying about it), especially because I can tell that there's one small lump there that seems to be the focal point of the pain.

So.... I already have another appointment scheduled for 2.5 wks from now. It's very unlikely that I'd be able to get in to see him before that time (unless he scheduled an extra end-of-the-day appointment for me) because he is always so booked up (usually I have to wait over a month to get an appointment). I'm feeling conflicted - should I just wait for my next appointment to talk to him about it (pro: get to see my trusted HCP who I know will take me seriously), or should I go to a drop-in clinic where I'll see someone I don't know who doesn't know me. Is 2.5 wks too long to wait on something like this?

[KatWrangler]

I would call and explain you are having breast pain and are very concerned about. That you forgot to discuss it in your appointment. See if he can see you earlier.

[Violet2]

How about calling and asking him what he thinks? That might be easiest.

I know it's hard sometimes to figure out what is important/urgent.

The internet says breast lumps can be watched for a cycle before going to the doc, so your guess is as good as mine.

If you think it's a heart issue, that is probably more urgent.

V

[balancedmama]

Are you still nursing? Could it be a plugged duct?

[swd12422]

I would call, explain the situation, and ask if you should be seen sooner, or if it can wait til your next appointment. It's hard to be objective about these things, and the nurse/doctor will have a better idea of the level of urgency. Plus, you'll already have it on your record for your next visit, so you don't have to worry about forgetting to mention it again!

[KatWrangler]

What did you find out?

[pianojazzgirl]

Originally Posted by KatWrangler

What did you find out?

I learned that my dr doesn't have office hours on Thursday!

I will call and talk to him tomorrow. Thanks for the advice everyone! You're right that I might as well talk to him instead of freaking out for the next couple of weeks.

balancedmama - I am not still nursing but ds just weaned a month ago. I wonder if it's possible that it could be a plugged duct if it's been that long?

[KatWrangler]

Well that explains it.

[pianojazzgirl]

update that isn't an update

I would think the situation funny if I wasn't so worried. What a comedy of errors...

Since Thursday was his day off I called again this morning. Left a message with his secretary who said she'd have him call me. Went about doing whatever at home and then realized it had been a long while and I hadn't had a call back. So I called them back and it was after 12 which means they were gone for the day! So either she forgot to give him the message or he got busy and forgot to call me back. Either way I say ARGH!

Anyway, just thought I'd post my update that isn't really an update so that you guys wouldn't think I'd forgotten about you.

Next attempt: Monday morning.

[Violet2]

Frustrating! Maybe he'll call back tomorrow. I've heard back on a Sat before.

V

[pianojazzgirl]

Update...

Ok. Well, this is weird. By the end of yesterday (spent hanging out with friends) I realized that my breast hadn't been hurting. I did a thorough exam and couldn't find the lump. This morning I checked again - still no pain and I can't find the lump. So maybe it was a plugged milk duct after all???

So at this point I think I'll just wait the 2 wks till my next appointment and mention it to my dr then. (And, if I'm being honest, I'll probably continue to check compulsively every day until then! ).

Thank you all for your support and advice. I will post again to let you know what the dr says.

[pianojazzgirl]

So after I posted I went to the bathroom and realized that AF had started. So maybe it was pre-menstrual breast pain/lumpiness? I'll ask the dr about it.

[Violet2]

Could be. I remember when I was on the pill still sometimes I'd get swollen lymph nodes in odd places--not just the breasts.

They were totally related to the cycle.

Hopefully that's all it was for you.

V

[pianojazzgirl]

Well I'm not on the pill, but I definitely have had some hormonal weirdness going on for the past few months.