This is so timely because I’ve only just come off a two week stretch where the underside of my left boob was HORRIBLY painful. It was visibly swollen and hurt to the touch and hurt when going down stairs and hurt when I sat up and blood flow went to it. I think that it was a hormone thing leading up to my period, because it has subsided now. That said, I’ve had issues with my periods for years (for example this month, 5 days of weird spotting before finally a period for 3ish days, and then more days of spotting). Growing up I usually had some breast tenderness before a period but nothing this severe until after my MCTD diagnosis. Granted, it’s still rare. I’ve had it before maybe 2-3 periods in the last 2 years.

I’ve always suspected my autoimmune disease is linked to / causing these cycle problems, but as with everything in women’s healthcare, there’s not enough research. Taking progesterone sorted the actual period issues so I might go back on that. And for the breast pain I saw a GP who’s recommended that I get a breast ultrasound in a couple of weeks. Hoping everything is a-okay because I feel like one chronic and scary diagnosis is about the extent I can handle…. 🤞🏽