Hormonal breast/nipple pain

This one is for the ladies!

My doctor has me on progesterone hrt to mange some internal shenanigans related to perimenopausal hormone changes. I’ve been on and off it for a couple of years now. When I’m taking the meds I’m grouchy and emotional which is annoying enough, but it makes my breasts sore and my nipples nearly untouchable. Not even in a sexual way, I mean my bra is painful, water in the shower hurts, rolling over in bed can elicit a yelp the seat belt in my car nearly brings me to tears. I’ve complained to the dr but he insists the medicine is necessary and more important than the side effects. We’re trying to formulate a plan that gets me off the meds soon but I have at least a few more months to go.

In the mean time, do you have any tried and true home remedies for sore nipples? Whenever I google I get 10 million hits for breastfeeding sites and ways to adjust your baby’s latch. Clearly that’s not the issue. I occasionally find a site or two that tells me that too much progesterone can cause sore breast so try these things to lower your progesterone naturally. I can’t do that, I need the stupid hormone. Or “talk to your dr about Hrt!” But that’s the root of the problem, not a solution. Taking my bra off is awesome, at home, but not practical when out of the house. I’m well endowed without a bra I’d trip and fall.

The only thing that seems to help a little is massage. At night when I do my bedtime skincare routine, I use a warm washcloth and maybe some almond dr bronners if I’ve been sweaty. I massage the whole breast, and wash gently, then rise off and just hold the warm washcloth over my nipples or use the flat of my hand against my nipples to gently massage the tissue behind the nipple. I follow up with some lotion and massage a bit more until the lotion is rubbed in. That helps and feels lovely but only brings relief for about a half hour to an hour. I spend my day running my kids around and grocery shopping and volunteering in school. I can’t stand there and rub my boobs all day.

Any suggestions?

@Peachfuzz

A heating pad might help.

But I also have a question for you. Are you doing bio-identical HRT or regular HRT?

Also, your doctor should be able to reduce the amount of the progesterone if they think that is the cause.

If your doctor can't help you, go to a doctor that specializes in bio-identical HRT. As much as I loved my regular gyno, she was unable to help me. It wasn't until I went to a doctor specializing in bio-identical HRT that I was able to resolve all of my issues. What killed me was that it took about two and half weeks all together. I wasted six months trying to get help with my regular doctor to no avail.

I called on a Thursday and had an appointment for the next Wednesday. I went in on Thursday morning for lab tests (this was because I had to skip breakfast). Most of my tests were back in a week which enabled the doctor to start me on my initial hormones. My doses were adjusted based on the rest of my test results and how I was feeling. Within three days of my initial prescriptions I was back to feeling normal. I was able to fall asleep and stay asleep, no more foggy brain, and my my libido and sexual response came back. The difference was night and day. Please feel free to ping me if you need help finding a doctor who specializes in Bio-identical HRT. You need to switch doctors. Pronto!

Not bioidentical. For right now it’s just progesterone because I’m not fully in menopause. I’ve developed hyperplasia which can increase my risk of cancer unless it’s managed. Right now I’m only on progesterone to force my cycles. One her hyperplasia is gone we’ve been discussing other options, like a mirena or an ablation. Those shouldn’t be cause the same issues but should keep the hyperplasia away. Oddly, my dr is the guy everyone recommends for menopause! I’ll ask him about bioidentical hormones the next time I see him. I’d rather not take any at all. Even when I was younger and taking BCP, I just don’t have the biology for extra hormones, they make me crazy. If there are less crazy making hormones out there, I want to know about them!

@Peachfuzz

When the dose for your hormones is right, they won't make your crazy. :-)

I'd still go for a second opinion. My original doctor was very, very highly rated and respected, and I adored her, but nothing improved until I went to a doctor who specialized in bio-identical hormones.

It’ll take me 6 months to get a new patient appointment with a different dr with my insurance, but I’ll start looking now. I’m not on the hormones as long term HRT for menopause, just as treatment for the hyperplasia which should be temporary. My bloodwork is completely normal so I don’t really need “real” HRT yet. I’m hoping that once I get the all clear after the biopsy next month, I can switch to a mirena iud and not worry about pills or creams.