Anybody know much about Fibrocystitis symptoms?

Anybody know much about Fibrocystitis symptoms?
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Karen
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elainecarin@aol.com

Jul 14, 2005, 2:44 AM

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Anybody know much about Fibrocystitis symptoms?	Quote \| Reply

I need some help concerning fibrocystitis and it's symptoms. Does anyone here know the answers to these questions? Are there any doctors or nurses on this board who could help? I certainly would appreciate it!

Can fibrocystitis appear suddenly -- out of the blue -- with a severe burning/tearing/stabbing pain in a localized area of the breast?

Can the pain of fibrocystitis precede the breast lumpiness by several months?

Can fibrocystitis be present and yet a mammogram and ultrasound cannot detect it?

Can it cause the entire upper arm (to elbow) and shoulder area to nearly double in size in a matter of an hour?

Can it cause extreme swelling of the breast, or is it typically mild swelling?

Can it cause supraclavicular edema?

Can it cause the areola only, to become very pink/red and hot to the touch?

Can it cause a creeping/burning sensation that not only radiates from within the breast, but moves up under the armpit, over the shoulder, into the side of the neck, and clear down the length of the top and/or bottom of the upper arm?

Can it cause pain and burning in the veins along the lower arm into the fingers?

Can it occur in a woman with a history of a hysterectomy and be constant, not cyclical?

Can it cause mild to moderate pain in the armpit on a daily basis?

Can it cause itchy/stinging eruptive pimples to appear on the breast and surrounding tissue?

Can it cause bruising of the breast at site of pain and sudden appearance of multiple patches of broken/enlarged capillaries and skin discoloration?

Can it cause spontaneous bleeding into the inner elbow of the affected arm?

Again, I would SO appreciate any responses!
Thanks,
Karen

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Jul 14, 2005, 7:50 PM

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Re: [Karen] Anybody know much about Fibrocystitis symptoms? [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Hey Karen, how are you doing?

Methyltestosterone, 5 mg daily for 7 to 10 days before each menstrual period, will often provide relief of FIBROCYSTIC DISEASE. Well marked inflammatory changes that may occur preceeding each menses, with tenderness, engorgement, and increasing nodularity of the breast may subside after child-bearing and lactation, usually in nulliparous women.

With each menstrual cysle there is a recurring biphasic stimulation first of proliferation of breast tissue by estrogens, then of alveolar secretory activity by progesterone, followed by a period of involution. In most women these changes are of such slight degree as to cause few if any symptoms.

In the later years of reproductive life the continued recurrent stimulation and involution of the breast in the course of each menstrual cycle may result in diffuse and nodular fibrosis and the formation of cysts of varying sizes, so-called "chronic cystic mastitis." This condition may simulate carcinoma but is usually distinguishable by the fact that it is intermittintly painful and may subside to some extent following menstruation.

Nevertheless, carcinoma may coexist and be masked by the diffuse nodularity of the cystic disease. Moreover, the incidence of mammary carcinoma is greater in patients with fibrocystic disease of the breasts, and it is unwise to delay biopsy of suspicious areas in the hope that they may subside by the end of the next menstrual cycle.

In severe cases simple mastectomy is fully justified. Subcutaneous mastectomies with preservation of the nipples may be done in some cases, and the breasts may be reconstructed with silastic implants.

Suspected cysts in the breast may be aspirated safely in the office with local anesthesia if biopsy is done promptly in any of the following circumstances: (1) no fluid is obtained; (2) the cyst fluid is grossly bloody; (3) the mass does not completly disappear with aspiration; and (4) the fluid reaccumulates during succeeding days. Cytologic examinations of cyst aspirates have been shown repeatedly to be of no value.

REFERENCE
Kendall Emerson, JR.: Disease of the Breast
Harrison's Principle of Internal Medicine, chap. 100 FIBROCYSTIC DISEASE, P. 618.

Best wishes,

Karen
Anonymous Poster
elainecarin@aol.com

Jul 15, 2005, 4:08 AM

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Re: [Guest] Anybody know much about Fibrocystitis symptoms? [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Well, thank you very much for your reply, but unfortunately, it didn't quite answer not one of my questions. Crazy

Am I to assume that's a "yes" to all of them -- including the supraclavicular edema, and the non-cyclic presentation? I've had a hysterectomy, and trust me, this has had nothing to do with my menses; this is chronic and daily, and it's always there to some degree, only in varying intensity. This has been for almost four months straight.

Thanks for attempting to answer, though,
Karen

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Jul 16, 2005, 2:13 PM

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Re: [Karen] Anybody know much about Fibrocystitis symptoms? [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Hey Karen, how are you doing?

Physical signs depend on the degree of involvement of various organs and the progression of disease. The child (from infants to young adults) may be continually fussy, may appear to be suffering from asthma, allergy, or celiac disease (a chronic hereditary intestinal disorder in which an inability to absorb the gliadin portion of gluten results in the gliadin triggering an immune response that damages the intestinal mucosa), and is very thin with a protuberant (bulging beyond the surrounding or adjacent surface) abdomen.

There is no prevention of cystic fibrosis. Early screening and treatment is vital in preventing and minimizing complications.

Nonmalignant conditions causing Superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) (supraclavicular edema) (venous distension of the neck and chest wall, facial edema, upper extremity edema, mental changes, plethora, cyanosis, papilledema, stupor, and even coma) include mediastinal fibrosis; vascular diseases such as aortic aneurysm, vasculitis, and arterial-venous fistulas; infections such as histoplasmosis, tuberculosis, syphilis, and actinomycosis; benign mediastinal tumors such as teratoma, cystic hygroma, thymoma, and dermoid cyst; cardiac causes such as pericarditis and atrial myxoma; and thrombosis related to the presence of central vein catheters. Supraclavicular edema and pleural effusions may be due to a mediastinal mass.

REFERENCES
Charles Henry Bauer, M.D. (Pediatrician): Cystic Fibrosis
Funk & Wagnalls Family Medical Guide; sec. 407 PEDIATRICS; chap. 22, p. 547-8.

Girish Sharma, MD: Cystic Fibrosis
Director of Pediatric Pulmonary Section and Rush Cystic Fibrosis Center, Rush University Medical Center; Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Rush University

Richard Sills, MD: Lymphadenopathy
Director of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Albany Medical College and Hospital

Best wishes,

Guest
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elainecarin@aol.com

Aug 19, 2005, 9:44 AM

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Re: [Guest] Anybody know much about Fibrocystitis symptoms? [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

I'm back, and thank you for that last reply. It is now August and I have new questions. You see, back in March, I began having a multitude of symptoms, all beginning with localized pain in my left breast. This pain was, to me, highly abnormal, sharp/searing/burning. More symptoms developed as time went on. Supraclavicular, breast, left arm edema, multiple patches of enlarged capillaries on the breast, sudden appearance of multiple tiny red dots that looked like blood, spontaneous bleeding into my inner arm, burning sensations all along the arm, shoulder, and underarm area and in my lymph nodes and neck, and finally, discomfort and pain deep in my arm pit. Breast Specialist after breast specialist said it was fibrocystitis, and I just flat out couldn't buy it. It wasn't logical. Then, my aureole starting getting pink/red and hot. More specialists said, it was fibrocystitis. SO, I wrote on here to see what some of you might think. Anyway, I finally found a surgeon who offered to do MRI Breast Imaging. Findings: "." I am now scheduled for a follow up ultrasound this Monday. Okay, so I'm now personally certain that I'm in trouble, even without this ultrasound. Let's just get that on the table. But my new question relates to cancer that has possibly metastasized to the skin. I keep getting these patches of bright red capillaries that appear on my breasts and chest, and right smack in the middle of them, is what appears to be a pimple-type eruption. These itch and sting and when they erupt, the capillary patch fades to a purple/blue. These little pimple-thingy's are definitely associated with the capillaries, as I can see the blood vessels leading into and out of them. Have any of you ever heard of such a thing? Could these be skin mets? What are the chances my doctors could be missing this symptom and therefore, misdiagnose me? I can't get them to slow down long enough to look at them!!!!

Any response would be appreciated,
Karen

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elainecarin@aol.com

Aug 19, 2005, 9:48 AM

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Re: [Guest] Anybody know much about Fibrocystitis symptoms? [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Oops. I really messed that post up, didn't I? The MRI findings were: "Areas of suspicion in both breasts."

Follow-up ultrasound Monday.

bkdaniels
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Aug 19, 2005, 3:47 PM

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Re: [Guest] Anybody know much about Fibrocystitis symptoms? [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Apply thine [thy] heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge. Buy the truth, and sell it not; also [Yea,] wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. (Prov. 23:12, 23)

Hey Karen, how are you doing?

In this article, I would like to convince you that it is unwise to delay biopsy of suspicious areas in patients with fibrocystic disease of the breasts because suspected cysts in the breast may be aspirated (drawn by suction) safely in the office with local anesthesia under certain circumstances. The incidence of mammary carcinoma (breast cancer) is greater in patients with fibrocystic disease of the breasts and in severe cases, mastectomy is fully justified. (Emerson Fibrocystic Disease)

The following circumstances may indicates aspiration:

no fluid is obtained;
the cyst fluid is grossly bloody;
the mass does not completly disappear with aspiration; and
the fluid reaccumulates during succeeding days.

Carcinoma may coexist and be masked by the diffuse nodularity of the cystic disease. (Emerson Fibrocystic Disease) According to International Breast Ultrasound School, X-ray mammography is not sufficiently sensitive or specific as a stand-alone imaging technique, the desire to avoid unnecessary open biopsies, and the recent availability of high-quality scanning equipment suitable for displaying breast anatomy and pathology.

Therefore, the chances of your doctors missing these symptoms leading to misdiagnosis is HIGH. Furthermore, the prognosis of systemic vasculitis* is dependent upon the severity of involvement of other organs. (Stanway Cutaneous vasculitis)

* To learn more about vasculitis, visit the New Zealand Dermatological Society.

Best wishes, Crazy

REFERENCES
International Breast Ultrasound School: IBUS - International Breast Ultrasound School (Medical Education)

Kendall Emerson, Jr: Fibrocystic Disease
Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, Eight Edition; vol. 1, ch. 100 DISEASE OF THE BREAST; p. 618.

Dr Amy Stanway: Cutaneous vasculitis
The New Zealand Dermatological Society; 5/2005.
The Prison Hospital

Prisoner: Look here, doctor! You've already removed my spleen, tonsils, adenoids, and one of my kidneys. I only came to see if you could get me out of this place!

Doctor: I am, bit by bit.

-- Aha! Jokes

(This post was edited by bkdaniels on Aug 19, 2005, 3:51 PM)

Guest
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elainecarin@aol.com

Aug 20, 2005, 7:07 AM

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Re: [Karen] Anybody know much about Fibrocystitis symptoms? [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Yes, I was afraid you were going to say that. Back in March, I had a normal mammogram and ultrasound and both the techs said my breasts were too dense to really see anything. This didn't help me with getting "breast specialists" to take my symptoms seriously, although my PCP had clearly documented the supraclavicular edema, urticaria (I was questioning this) and the bruising/bleeding into my skin. Granted, the urticaria and bleeding is mild in comparison to the images on the vasculitis site, but it seems to be getting more pronounced as the weeks/months go by. And now in August, I finally got someone to pay attention (I had to ask a very important question: how long must I suffer these symptoms before someone will be curious enough, care enough to try and help me find out what's wrong?) but admittedly, my new "specialist" still had doubts my symptoms were coming from my breast, but ordered the MRI to be on the safe side. Now, I worry that even in light of the MRI findings, if I get another unviewable ultrasound, will they dismiss me all over again? How does someone MAKE them do a biopsy? I've been trying to get a skin biopsy for months with no success. How do I now, make them biopsy the areas the MRI found? Geesh, what I really want is a PET, because I am now worried about my other organs, etc, because of these lesions. I've also recently begun experiencing acute dizzy spells. Don't know if that's just stress.... Too, I had a lumpectomy of a "Fibroadenoma" in my right breast two years ago, and the radiologist said the MRI revealed that I still had it. I was like, "WHAT?" That was removed, I have the scar to prove it. They then said that it was either back, or I had a new one in the exact same location. ?? My right armpit has only just recently begun hurting as well, but I never expected this news. The majority of my symptoms are on the left.

I've had relatively normal lab work all along, but two months ago, I had elevated white blood cells and neutrophils which returned to high-normal a week later. I've had no more blood drawn since then because I just got tired of being blown off. Then, I thought I'd give obtaining a diagnosis one more shot when this new specialist had been recommended. You would think my blood would be all over the place, with the symptoms I'm having, so I can understand the doctors' chagrin. But I'M THE ONE WITH THE SYMPTOMS! Did I mention that my blood pressure started sky-rocketing when this all began? They put me on Atenolol 12.5 mgs, which didn't help much, and just recently doubled it. And I swear, I can tell when it gets high even still, because I feel it, if that makes sense. I'm 38, 5'7, and about 20 pounds overweight.

Anyway, I thank you so very much for such helpful information... I viewed the site you advised and I believe vasulitis is what I'm exhibiting, but in a milder form. Maybe they'll figure this out one of these days, maybe my ultrasound will reveal the problem(s), and they'll do a biopsy. However, if you know of any tricks, tips, or special phrases I could use to make them do one, some secret "doctor speak" you could share with me, I would be eternally grateful!!! And thank you also for the verse -- I've done so much seeking of the truth, I really feel I could probably diagnosis myself without another "test" at all. Which is sad, when you think about it. I'm an artist, not a physician.

Karen

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Anonymous Poster
julibeth2000@yahoo.com

Sep 16, 2006, 12:43 AM

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Re: [Karen] Anybody know much about Fibrocystitis symptoms? [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

I don't know much about this - but recently saw a news program on TV.... have you been checked for IBC (Inflammatory breast cancer)? Please ask your doctor!!!

Good luck!!!

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