Heavy, swollen, painful breasts, not pms

[mrs canada]

Wow - my first question.
Wondering if anyone has experience with heavy swollen and painful breasts, AFTER your period? My period ended a few days ago yet the pms-type breast symptoms have not gone away (they usually disappear when my period starts). I do not feel any lumps or growths, wondering what this could possibly be? Has this happened to anyone else? Thanks!

[Patty0968]

I am 43 and had a partial hysterectomy over 10 yrs ago.  I am having the same breast issues that everyone is describing here.... it is BOTH breasts so I find it highly unlikely that it could be a cyst or even breast cancer it seems odd that it could be either of those when BOTH breasts are effected. Then I thought maybe it was a symptom of menapause (although I do have both ovaries but at my age menapause is not uncommon) But I noticed a lot of posts that say I am 21 or I am 22 so it makes me thing that it isn't menapause, Y'all are too young for that and the symptoms are the same.  I'm really worried! I mentioned it to my dr. he told me to schedule another appt and he will do a breast exam and possibly order a mammogram.  I asked him if it could be from  weight gain but seriously I have not gained THAT much!  My breasts hurt all the time, laying on my stomach is pure agony because the pressure on the breasts increases the pain.  I would really like to know what in the heck this is!  At first I thought I was nuts but after reading everyone's posts here, there is something behind this if so many of us are experiencing the same thing.  

[Maymay454]

I to am experiencing this same problem. Swollen, heavy breasts, with many veins showing around my nipples. I took a pregnancy test and it came back negative. what I want to know is If you have breast tenderness (and are trying to get pregnant) shouldn't a test say you are pregnant, since you have a breast tenderness symptom? confused....any suggestions?

[Petuniablusher]

I am 50 and have been experiencing swore and swollen breasts on and off for years. I have Polysystic Ovaries which has a side effect of estrogen dominance. I have worked with several naturalpaths and here are some of the tools that have worked for me. I have been on 100ml of oral progesterone for years and still get soar breasts. I found that a product called 'Breast Protect', an over the counter supplement, often worked for me. I have been taking Rhodiola for a while now and find that it really helps with many things like hot flashes and hormone balancing. It has an over-all calming affect. I missed taking it for a few weeks and wound up with soar breasts that wouldn't go away. I found the posts here, including the suggestion to apply cabbage directly to the breasts. I was so sick of being sore I didn't care how silly it sounded. I was amazed how well this worked! Within an afternoon my soreness was gone. I also found that the dry brushing works and the breast lymph nodes are no longer sore. Thanks so much for all your sharing!

[Bms5]

According to my Doctor, this is likely caused by 'estrogen dominance' which by definition is a lack in progesterone.  If you are in your childbearing years, it means you had some sort of glitch that caused you not to ovulate.  It will likely self correct.  However, sometimes it doesn't, but is easily fixed by a physician who works with hormones.  

I would think that if it has gone on for months or years, (as some of these posts indicate), that it might be time to see a doctor that has a specialty in hormones.  I think that this is a specialty that any doctor can hold if they do some extra work in the area, so you may have to ask around.  

[Chanelle4993]

Mine have been sore for about 3 weeks. I just got off my period this week so im in great hope that it will go away. But at the same time i have went up to a D in my bra size, and I found a lump im not sure if its just a fat lump or something i need to get looked at. So my best advice to you would be: Do some research and see a doctor. Oh and by the way if you have changed birth control or anything related to that, you could have the things happen that you are talking about. Hope I was some help.

[rawmilk]

I have been consuming raw milk on and off from cow, goat, sheep, all with the same results - enlarged and sore breasts accompanied by a weight gain. I have not experienced this with pasteurized products. There are so many benefits to consuming raw milk, but unfortunately it isn't worth all this pain. I can't seem to find any other similar feedback on-line, so I thought I'd post a comment in case somebody else may be in the same boat. BTW, it happens at any time of the month, as long as I'm consuming raw milk products and it takes a couple of months to begin to experience the symptoms. So odd. I wonder if I fall into a small category of women affected by this or if there is a larger group.