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[Penguin]

My advice would be to contact the GP ASAP, tell them how quickly it is changing  and ALSO contact the breast clinic directly as they may well get you in sooner.
I would also be completely honest and upfront about the morphine, you need help with this and it's too much of a burden to carry on your own. You'll be doing yourself no favours keeping this quiet. They can help you taper off gradually, but you defo shouldn't be using your friends pregabalin. Truly not judging you here, but it's really unwise to keep all this to yourself and go it alone.
Re the lump, given its grown that rapidly could it be a cyst? Where are you in your cycle?

[CLKD]

Where R U getting morphine from?  Why were you prescribed it?

U can contact support groups via many sources which is probably your best way to tackle your dependancy.  It is obvious to medics to note if someone taking opiates regularly , if they bother to look.  Let us know how you get on.

Some ladies cloakrooms in Pubs have support phone numbers for many issues: Samaritans: gay helplines ........ mayB quicker than going via your GP unless they are prescribing it. 

[joziel]

Be honest and tell them exactly what you're taking so they can factor that in. There are drug interactions to consider and if you don't tell them, they may prescribe you something which conflicts with the morphine or pregabalin.

Cancer doesn't grow this quickly so you should be even more reassured by this. And pregabalin is prescribed for nerve damage, so if it's helping, again an indication that you've damaged some nerves in your breast with the mammogram.

Really try not to worry but do keep them informed on any changes and on the meds you are taking.

[CLKD]

Let us know how you get on! 

[flo69]

Thanks guys, time is moving quickly for me now since the lump became well behaved yesterday and is back to it's former size. Whatever it is, it's capable of getting sore and inflamed if not left alone, so that reassures me, with my lack of medical knowledge to contradict it.

So as I'm feeling much better about it, I'll tell them about the other meds if it turns out to be cancer, otherwise I won't.

CLKD, what are the long term outward signs of opiate use? I didn't know that, I'm interested because I know two people who kept it hidden from outsiders for decades, now out in the open as the world gets less judgy about these things and they both had recent health issues, which is probably the real reason. Noone noticed for over 20 years! I've been on and off it on repeat for maybe ten years now and I don't see the problem either, except I don't want to get in trouble with it, but in my experience people who are going to get properly addicted do it fairly quickly.

I'm more fearful of pregabalin in many ways. Coming off morphine is more a physical challenge, while pregabalin is just as big, it's mostly in your head, unpleasant doesn't begin to describe either and they might want me off them both for some arbitrary reason in a rulebook that won't even affect my outcome.
Do pub toilets have better phone numbers than the internet? I don't often drink in pubs and I haven't noticed any, maybe they are online these days and spend less time defacing private property? 

The numb arm is radial nerve damage, I saw the GP again this morning (they are seeing patients face to face for the first time since the pandemic but only allowing one problem per visit), she says I can have a blood test at the end of the month to see if I'm low in anything that might cause it, after that we'll try imaging resources. By then I'll know if I have cancer as well.

Last year it was possible to get a blood test done within a week, now it's over 2 weeks wait, that's what happens when they start seeing patients again!

[CLKD]

How pupils react to light.  A professional would notice if they were looking ...... also the colour of skin is sometimes affected.

Depends on where you drink - a lot of the Pubs/cafes that we go to, not often , do have information .  Samaritans.  Gay phone lines.  The info is out there when 1 looks.

When I had to stop one AD B4 beginning the next: and this isn't always the case: I had supervised tapering for 9 weeks.  It was my head that kept asking 'What if I can't get off this?' but once I realised that the bounce back anxiety lasted no more than 36 hours between dropping each dose, I relaxed more.  My GP had access to smaller doses than are available on prescription suspecifically to help.

I don't think that seeing patients face2face makes any difference to getting results.  The NHS is overwhelmed, there are less staff due to people leaving the Service as well as sickness/holiday leave: plus bank holidays will impact.  Who does the blood testing in your Practice, we have 2 specified Nurses who do almost nothing other than drawing blood.  Can B seen within 5 days.

I'm glad that U R feeling better, hopefully it won't be cancer. 

[joziel]

Wow flo, whereabouts do you live that your GP is only now seeing people in person?! 

[flo69]

Ah CLKD, the narrow pupils thing, with dark eyes I'm ok for that sign, it can't be seen at normal speaking distance, but I've wandered off topic in general and I apologise.

Joziel, my GPs were recruiting a new doctor, now she's working full time the pressure on them has eased a little, they simply couldn't fill their vacancies, therefore couldn't see enough patients. It was chaos for a while and they are still trying to recruit a new treatment room nurse. That's why I can't get my bloods taken for a couple of weeks

At least I get to stay on tibolone, she made sure I'm not on any oestrogen, tibolone is an odd one that is made for women who don't tolerate progesterone, like me, yet tibolone is itself a progesterone!
I forgot to say about the vagifem, but that is the tiniest dose a long way away. If I quit vagifem I might start weeing myself!

So it's tomorrow week, not long to go until I find out what this lumpy lump is. It's lumpier this morning, all little nodules, like a bunch of miniature grapes. The other day it was completely smooth on the surface, it keeps changing but isn't getting bigger, I think that was me panicking.

[CLKD]

U sound brighter?

Vagifem etc. can be used every night when necessary.
 

MayB make a list of your worries to take with you.

[flo69]

My list of questions could be lengthy. Right now I'm wondering why my nails are coming away from their nail beds, one forefinger and one big toe, no idea why.
I'm still using vagifem, I need it!

This time next week I ought to know what it is, I can't believe how the time is flying in, I expected it to drag by.

[CLKD]

Do take that list: it doesn't worry how long, go through and put your main worries at the front.  Let us know!

[flo69]

It's quite obvious that my boobs are not the same as each other any more. It was two weeks ago today that I saw the GP with a barely noticeable lump.

The sore boob has visible swelling at any angle now. If I lean forwards it doesn't hang like an empty sock any more. The left one hangs free, the right one is held up by the thickened tissue and the skin looks dimpled held that way.

Around November time I leaned forwards like that and both looked the same.

If I lie on my back I can see the lump, it's about the size of my nipple now.

There are two odd types of tissue to it, one lumpy lump, like a collection of tiny pebbles, I found that 16 days ago.

Then there is thick feeling tissue connecting the lump to the back wall of my boob meaning it doesn't fall down when I lean forwards. That is what I've been thinking is scar tissue from the mammogram.

I'm thinking this might not be good.

[CLKD]

U can't do anything until U have seen a Surgeon and undergone examination etc..  Remind me, when is your appt.?

[flo69]

U can't do anything until U have seen a Surgeon and undergone examination etc..  Remind me, when is your appt.?

Thursday

[CLKD]

That probably seems ages away.  Have U made the list to take?  How do U feel overall?  Would taking photos on the mobile be appropriate?