EL LUMPO, AN INTRODUCTION

Sometime at the end of November, maybe early December I found a lump in my breast. I remember where I was. In my closet, changing clothes. I was not looking for it. This shames me to say. I’m not stupid. I go to the OBGYN every year (mostly just to get a refill on birth control pill prescription—that’s a good racket they’ve got). And I just had Liam in May, and a checkup (complete with exam) in July—so the nurse would have caught something? Right? (How could she have missed it? How could I have missed it?) and to top it all off I am (about to be was) breastfeeding. For any of you who have done it know, your boobs are not your own during this time—they become strange enlarged objects that tingle at weird times and are at the complete mercy of this little creature who is entirely dependant on them for their nourishment. They hurt randomly and are unpredictable sizes, and often, full of lumps. But none the less, I told Jim because then I knew I would have to follow up… which in hindsight, seems like somehow I knew, right from the beginning, because I am NOT a dr. person (unlike my dad). You pretty much have to drive me kicking and screaming. But I called a week later when it hadn’t gone away.

The nurse, (like I thought and my friends thought) said it was likely a breastfeeding thing—to try the standard pumping, massaging etc. etc. I remember standing at the counter with the pump and a hot washcloth trying to make it go away. If only it were that easy. Then life took over. Liam got really sick and then the holidays. But still el lumpo persisted. I called and made a dr. appointment for after christmas.