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New to IGM
First off I have to say that I am so glad I found this forum! I was just diagnosed with IGM in November and I really have no clue what I am going to go through. I have had two inflammation bouts with one taken care of with antibiotics. Now I am on watch??? So far, my doctor has me on once a month visits (Breast clinic in Surrey BC) and that is about it. I am not on any meds and at this point nothing is oozing?? There is a red patch...that is itchy and that is it.
I was told to call in if there was changes etc. but I don't know what I should or should not call in for. I did call today and b/c it is so busy right now...they may not be able to see me until the 20th...my scheduled appointment.
I would like to know....what can I expect? When do I call in? Can I still play volleyball?? ;)
I have a really good doctor but I am still in the dark here!!! How serious should I be in pestering them to book something sooner? If it is infected....do I just take myself to the ER??
Sorry....so many questions....but I am so lost here!
I was told to call in if there was changes etc. but I don't know what I should or should not call in for. I did call today and b/c it is so busy right now...they may not be able to see me until the 20th...my scheduled appointment.
I would like to know....what can I expect? When do I call in? Can I still play volleyball?? ;)
I have a really good doctor but I am still in the dark here!!! How serious should I be in pestering them to book something sooner? If it is infected....do I just take myself to the ER??
Sorry....so many questions....but I am so lost here!
Thank you so much for your help!!! I have decided to quit volleyball...b/c I can't play like I used to and don't want to let the team down...plus the double sports bras was a bad idea! Felt like a golf ball...it was horrible!
I have had a good talk with my doctor...and have the nurses line phone number now...so I don't have to go through booking. I also have met a wonderful person that has just finished a year of this and she is my sounding board now.
I am much more relaxed about this disease...with all the support I am getting. Also because I have started to reduce the amount of stuff I am doing...reduce the stress.
Thank you again for all your advice and help!!!
I have had a good talk with my doctor...and have the nurses line phone number now...so I don't have to go through booking. I also have met a wonderful person that has just finished a year of this and she is my sounding board now.
I am much more relaxed about this disease...with all the support I am getting. Also because I have started to reduce the amount of stuff I am doing...reduce the stress.
Thank you again for all your advice and help!!!
I'd say for volleyball, go still play! I have a very physical job for a living, and while at times GM interferes with it, I can't not work! I will say though, that a new thought with GM is that it can get "triggered" when there's a lot of movement to the breast, so invest in a beyond amazing sports bra - that doesn't allow movement but doesn't condense your girls down!
In my experience, you MUST be persistent with doctors and getting in to be seen, at least until your doctor knows the severity of the side effects of GM.
I'm to the point, my doctor knows if I call in, I need to be seen.
In a new flare up, definitely call in at the first sign of one. Otherwise, with a current flare up, I call in if the swelling becomes unbearable or if I need it drained. I also call in if there's rapid "movement" i.e. fast swelling, excessive drainage, or anything with a fever.
Once an area is draining, I call in if there seems to be a secondary "infection", or any sudden shifts in drainage, pain, etc.. Both of which can be a problem (secondary infection, etc.) or if pain becomes unmanageable - my doctor(s) are VERY aware of the pain factor of an open hole/tract.
In my experience, you MUST be persistent with doctors and getting in to be seen, at least until your doctor knows the severity of the side effects of GM.
I'm to the point, my doctor knows if I call in, I need to be seen.
In a new flare up, definitely call in at the first sign of one. Otherwise, with a current flare up, I call in if the swelling becomes unbearable or if I need it drained. I also call in if there's rapid "movement" i.e. fast swelling, excessive drainage, or anything with a fever.
Once an area is draining, I call in if there seems to be a secondary "infection", or any sudden shifts in drainage, pain, etc.. Both of which can be a problem (secondary infection, etc.) or if pain becomes unmanageable - my doctor(s) are VERY aware of the pain factor of an open hole/tract.
Sorry, my GM started In July 2012....!
Just a quick note, I'm not a doctor but having heard this several times, I'll just say if you're curious if it's infected.. You'll probably have redness around the patch, pain, and/or fever. The red patch is likely normal. Abscesses start out as a red spot then turn a darker purple-ish color. It'll then fill with sterile fluid/pus. And you can either get it needles pirated with an ultrasound guide or let it open on its own. Don't let a surgeon do an incision $ drainage (I&D) this makes it worse. I noticed when I got mine drained by the surgeon, more would appear. I got less abscesses when I let them open on their own.
Mine started December 24, 2012 and it's almost all gone. My abscesses are closed, skin is healing and scars are shrinking. And my mass is almost all gone, if not totally. I'm not on medication either. I changed my diet, I follow PALEO, do acupuncture every 2 weeks, and I take Curcumin supplements from my naturopath doctor. I hope this info helps! Take care, hang in there.
Mine started December 24, 2012 and it's almost all gone. My abscesses are closed, skin is healing and scars are shrinking. And my mass is almost all gone, if not totally. I'm not on medication either. I changed my diet, I follow PALEO, do acupuncture every 2 weeks, and I take Curcumin supplements from my naturopath doctor. I hope this info helps! Take care, hang in there.
Welcome!
my first abscess started 3 months after GM was diagnosed...and I had the same as you have just red patch.
One day it decided to explode and that was it! I went to the doctor so they can take a look and sent the fluid to the Lab and check for Bacterias...obviously the study came back sterile.
Then I had my second abscess, went to doctor and he drained it with needle aspiration...then another one and another one..until I just got tired of going to doctor and started letting the abscesses open by them selves.
All this started in July 2013 and I still have GM. I am not taking any medication either.
Welcome again!
my first abscess started 3 months after GM was diagnosed...and I had the same as you have just red patch.
One day it decided to explode and that was it! I went to the doctor so they can take a look and sent the fluid to the Lab and check for Bacterias...obviously the study came back sterile.
Then I had my second abscess, went to doctor and he drained it with needle aspiration...then another one and another one..until I just got tired of going to doctor and started letting the abscesses open by them selves.
All this started in July 2013 and I still have GM. I am not taking any medication either.
Welcome again!
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