Oh... they're back! Go away please? Breast questions.

[psycho-lola.livejournal.com]

Well I'm pretty sure a lot of you know me by now (I've come here from pregnancy scares to weakness due to IUD bleeding). Now I come with my current issue, breast growth / swelling. 


Keeping it short, I'm (was) a 32DD, 115 lbs, 5' 6". I cannot touch HBC, as it makes me moody and my breasts grow very fast and a LOT (at 15, I went from a 36 C to a 32F at 16, only to go back down to my old size's equivalent, 32DD after quitting the pill I was on). I'm now 18, had been a 32DD for a while, got an IUD inserted as it did not contain hormones and, except for strong periods (which I associate to feeling weak), it seemed bearable. 

I got it inserted in January 2012, and only started having problems in the end of May. My bras were starting to feel tight, breasts were very hard during PMS. I got my IUD removed after my vacations at the end of June, as I had read that in rare cases, breasts can swell due to copper lowering zinc levels, therefore increasing estrogen, therefore increasing breast size. I took no chances and got it removed.

But, my breasts have not gotten better. I had been wearing my old 32E bra that was too big, and (except for it being stretched in the band size) it fits perfectly, in the cup. It seems my breasts swell a bit more during my period, but never go back down to their initial size, only to get bigger again next cycle. I have not experienced this since my HBC experience(s).

I'm wondering. Could this be water retention? Could I be pregnant (although I do have a period, and bleed quite a bit, although I did notice that my last period with my IUD was bad but not as bad as usual, but I can still fill a super tampon on my first post-IUD period, but it still is less than I'm used to in flow, but longer in the amount of days it lasts)? Could my body still have a lot of copper and be affected by it? 

But especially, is there something I can do to get my old self back? My breasts have always been a touchy subject (writing this had brought a few tears) and I have only been comfortable with a 32DD, not more, and especially not with the idea that they could still get bigger... I don't feel this is normal, as the size I was before they started to swell / grow again was the same as when I was 13-14 in the actual breast size, so it is very alarming and bringing my general mood and motivation to do basic everyday things way down.

Any advice, or help? I feel a bit desperate... :(

*Forgot to mention, I feel a bit of swelling in the stomach area, although I can't say I have an actual 'belly', and it does not seem like fat, just a lot of bloating that doesn't seem to go away. I'm so thin that it is only noticeable to me. And I have not gained weight, I've actually reached a point where I should GAIN, (105-110 lbs is underweight for me, and is my actual weight). 

Comments

[knittinggoddess.livejournal.com]

(First of all, I'm terribly jealous that 32Fs existed when you were 16! I didn't even know about the existence of E+ cups until I was 24.)

To clarify, you're not on hormones at all, right? Is your period relatively regular? I'm wondering whether you have thyroid problems or an ovarian cyst. Before lots of blood tests though, look at your water and salt intake. Since you're worried about bloating and water retention, that would be a good first step. The fact that you report to be underweight makes me raise my eyebrow: Do you know why you've lost weight (if you have), and are you interested in troubleshooting that with VP?

If your whole body wasn't feeling so bloated and off, I'd honestly suggest that your breast size is just what your body needs to do now. You're still in puberty--it can last through your mid twenties!--and your breast size is going to fluctuate throughout your life just because. With changes in exercise level, diet, birth control, etc, I've only bounced between a 30F to a 26H, all close to sister sizes. But other people can vary much more widely.

[psycho-lola.livejournal.com]

(Well, it took me some time, after being downright insulted in mall lingerie stores, I just went to a boutique where they imported bras from Europe. Will be wearing bras from them no matter what m size is! Gorgeous and worth the price!)

No, no hormones at all. I had got my copper IUD inserted since I wanted something completely hormone-less. My period is 'regular'. I usually start it every 20th or 21st of the month, no exception. I had my thyroid tested a few month ago although it was in a ER and they were pretty much looking for something extremely alarming, as I went home still feeling bad and it lasted for 3 months (I had went in for very bad headaches and chest pains).

The reason I lost weight is mainly from lack of energy and stress. And with those aside, I'd say also walking to work everyday for a total of 2 hours before I had my car helped. I was always small, and am made small (on the pill I was 125 lbs, and although it's a healthy weight for me, I looked like I needed to lose a few pounds).

I kind of ruled out the idea of it being 'normal growth', since my breasts are the same size they were when I was 13-14 (I was wearing a 36C, just changed band size, but 36C=32DD), and when they had went up to a 32F at 16, and I quit HBC, they just went down to that same size again.

I am planning on getting a breast reduction in two years or so (the time it takes here to know if you're approved or not, and I have time to change idea, although I know I won't. Nothing to lose!) but my breasts going 'nuts' like this is overwhelming. I cannot imagine going back up to an F, or it get even up to a G, H, ect. I dont FEEL good either. I feel like I've gained 50 lbs, although I'm lighter on the scale than before.

*Also I read on a few sites about copper toxicity. If it's the cause of my situation, I wonder if there is a way to 'flush it out'?

[knittinggoddess.livejournal.com]

It might be worth getting your thyroid tested properly: I'm definitely not the thyroid expert here, but if they were only looking for alarming numbers they may have missed more subtle, but still problematic numbers.

Chelation is the technique for flushing heavy metals out of your system. Do a lot of research on that, because it can be pretty dangerous. Maybe there are less drastic ways to decrease your copper levels? It might be time to ask your doc for a specialist recommendation, if that's feasible.

[elbren]

the amount of copper that makes it into the rest of your body from the IUD is generally less than what you get from your food.
i have noticed more breast swelling since i got my iud. for me, i just switched bra types and it's ok, but i can see how your situation is getting pretty severe. i haven't found anything that helps, myself.
so, i don't have any advice to offer, but buckets of good wishes that you find a solution, and loads of sympathy.

[psycho-lola.livejournal.com]

I have always been very sensitive to anything hormonal, or anything that increases estrogen levels. It seems like everyday is worse than the last, and I've noticed an agressive / depressive / self-destructive behavior that I only had the last time I tried a pill (alesse, because it had a lower dosage of hormones, but still was too much).

Thanks for the support! I hope it's just because I didn't get my body to settle after the IUD and all the changes to my body (and really, just in case, I'm taking a pregnancy test! Can't hurt to rule out something that is very unlikely anyway). I really want to be able to get up in the morning, do my things, and feel great doing it.

[mycorrhizoid.livejournal.com]

I wanted to add another voice suggesting it may be natural growth.

Although my breasts remained pretty much the same size throughout the period I was in high school (32B/34Aish), for some reason they started growing again while I was in college (currently busting out of my 32Cs). And I have not gained weight, I've actually lost a bit since then.

[psycho-lola.livejournal.com]

I would have considered it if I didn't feel agressive and emotionally unstable (going from one mood to another) as well as having strange cramps and very hard stomach (since yesterday). It feels like a hormonal thing. I purchased a pregnancy test just in case, we'll see that tomorrow!

Thank you! :)