ask: Pain under armpit and breast area.

Hi Sandee

Thank you for your post and for finding EmpowHER.

I'm sorry you have been unwell for nearly a month now. When I first read your post I was nodding in agreement with your doctor who said your lymph nodes may have been affected by a virus or other illness because this is a common side effect.

It's good that you have had several doctors check you out but obviously it's frustrating when you are given three different answers as to what the problem may be.

I still think your regular he may have a point since you are still in recovery from your illness. One thing you did not mention was what your illness was/is? If you know that, then you are much more likely to know more about the pain in your breast and underarms. Can you tell us what your diagnosis was?

Were you scratched by a cat recently? This can affect the nodes too.

Other possibilities range from Lupus to a
'simple' tummy bug, fever, AIDS, syphilis or an ear infection - so there is really no way to speculate right now.

Your upcoming tests should help further.

Please keep us posted and do let us know what your original diagnosis was when you first started to feel unwell.

I hope to hear back from you soon and I wish you a very speedy recovery-
Susan

Susan:

Thank you for responding, The first doctor I saw said I had a stomach virus and that it would clear up in a few days, he did blood work and said I may be developing kidney stones. When the dizziness got worse, I went to the ER and the doctor said, I had vertigo and possibly a stomach virus or gastritis and that a change of diet should help me. The third doctor said he wasn't sure what it was and sent me for a stool test; he was puzzled at the pain in my chest and said we don't have lymph nodes in our breasts, he said not to worry anyway because breast cancer doesn't hurt and he didn't feel any lumps; he is currently waiting for a stool test result and at my insistance is sending me for an ultrasound which I will be getting done tomorrow; he has not given me a diagnosis yet. I have not been bitten by a cat or been near one. I still get very dizzy after I eat and feel extremely drained but my stomach is a little better. I have been told that gastritis causes dizzyness but don't know how that would have caused me to have this pain under my armpit/breast. I'm confused and scared. Thanks again!

Hello:

Went for the ultrasound and although I didn't get the full report from the doctor yet, I was told that there was nothing serious going on in that area. They suggested I may have strained muscle tissue there..no cysts or tumors..and not swollen lymph nodes. I wonder why I'm still in pain in that area. Well I'm just overcome with relief to know that is nothing serious. Dizzyness is still a problem but I'm not longer stressed.

Thanks for your support!!!

I have the exact symptoms - pain under left arm by breast and vertigo for over 2 weeks. Breast Specialist did sonogram and said there was no cancer, GP said he doesn't feel a lump or suspect cancer. Went to neurologist for vertigo who thinks it is "benign positional vertigo" but sent me for a brain and inner ear MRI anyway.
I'm curious about the posting of LUPUS...can't seem to find any information linking these symptoms. For the record, I do have Celiac disease and have read that sometimes Celiac and Lupu go together..

Hi Anon

Thanks so much for your post!

People with auto-immune diseases are susceptible to other AI disease and this is why Lupus and Celiac disease are sometimes seen in the same people. Have you been tested for Lupus?

~Susan

Hi there,

I am some what relieved to see that other people have experienced something similar!
My name is Mel, I'm 22 years old, and am extremely worried. A week and a half ago I was at work when I felt a dull ache in my armpit. I touched it but couldn't feel anything, it wasn't sore to the touch either. Within an hour I couldn't move my arm, I couldn't touch it at all, the pain was pretty horrific. I was nauseous, dizzy, feverish and was having muscle spasms across my back. The muscle spasms in my back stopped after about an hour, but all the other symptoms stayed strong. I went home and tried to relax, but wound up in Emergency that night. They ran blood tests, checking also for venom (apparently these symptoms are very similar to a red back spider bite), to which they found nothing. My white blood cell count is raised, but thats all. What worries me is that I already have cells in my cervix, that are neither malignant, nor benign. Is it possible these have spread and developed? They gave me some heavy pain medication and sent me home, asking me to come back in the morning for an ultra sound. The ultra sound showed nothing besides inflamed tissue around my nodes. They decided they would treat it as an infection and sent me home with more pain meds and some antibiotics. I was told if it wasn't better in 5 days to go back to a doctor. I got movement back in my arm after 4 days and thought all was going well. I knew it was still there, every now and again it aches a little, and is far to sore to touch. I accidentally pressed on it too hard in the shower last night, it made me vomit and almost pass out. I am scared half to death, the doctors keep telling me "this is unusual!" (no kidding, its kind of why I'm here) "we're stumped". If any one has any ideas, please PLEASE let me know, I've had health problems since I can remember, but nothing like this. I'm doing my best not to stress and wind myself up, but its hard when you feel alone and like no one is interested in actually finding the cause for all of this. Please help.

I am 27 years old and was just at work one day when I too experienced underarm pains, I had three doctors check under my arm and tell me there is nothing there, everything happens on the left side and the pain radiates from my breast to my underarm. There was a time when the pain made my arm feel numb and tingly too. I am baffled and if anyone knows what this is please help!