Torpedo Tits

I had a nickname in high school. 
Torpedo Tits. 


I was late to mature and have never been well endowed. My nipples, however are another story. My nipples are sizable, nearly always erect, very sensitive (which used to be a great thing), and tend to show thru my clothing regardless of what I am wearing. 


In high school, they earned me the nickname Torpedo Tits. It was true, I couldn't fight it, so I embraced it and we had lots of fun with it. Remember the James Bond scene when the Bond girls open fire from their breasts? I loved to reenact that scene.  


My first serious boyfriend helped me discover just how wonderfully sensitive my nipples were. There is one first glorious encounter that I will never forget, mostly because I had no idea that my breasts and nipples could supply so much pleasure. 


I loved my nipples, thought that they were fantastic, but every so often, usually on colder mornings, I'd be overcome by nipple/breast pain. I'd sequester myself in a warm classroom, hands inside my shirt desperately pulling away the fabric of my bra and clothing from my nipples while simultaneously trying to warm them up. It didn't happen all the time, but I have very clear memories of the intense pain that accompanied the attacks. Crazy stuff is happening with a teenager body, and I just assumed that my boobs were growing or some other normal puberty thing was happening. 


I can't seem to remember any specific episodes of pain as intense as it was in high school, but suspect that there were a few now and again. Until now.


Last month, while were were waiting for our u-Haul truck, I was hit with a very intense very painful episode of breast pain. We were outside and there was a light breeze, it wasn't even that cold, but apparently cold enough to push me right over the edge. It was not tenderness, or discomfort, it was pain. Real, serious, intense PAIN. It lasted until we got into the truck and I started to warm up, maybe 15-20 minutes. 


I had another attack of really intense breast pain yesterday. I was at a big ceremony celebrating the expansion of a local college facility. My boss couldn't be there, so I was presenting a Proclamation on her behalf. It was outside in the garden area, and there was a slight breeze. Despite my three layers of clothing, the episode of pain came on strong. I tried to hug myself, to protect my breasts from the wind with my arms, but it just kept getting worse. Important people were giving speeches, but I had to excuse myself and run to my car to get my jacket. It took me another 10-15 minutes to warm up after which the pain subsided.




I consulted Dr Google when I got home, but my searches kept coming up with descriptions of breast tenderness, pre-menstrual breast discomfort, pain in a single breast as a result of an injury, nothing close to the cool temperature induced episode of severe intense breast pain that I experienced today. I kept searching, finally adding the term Raynauds. Raynauds is a vasospastic disorder that can cause pain within the affected extremities (most often hands and feet), discoloration (paleness) and sensations of cold and/or numbness. Wikepedia also explained that Raynaud's can occur in breastfeeding mothers, causing nipples to turn white and become extremely painful. Emotional stress and cold are classic triggers of the phenomenon.


I first read about Raynauds on another blog, the description sounded so very similar to nipple pain that I used to experience in high school and again more recently. Intense episodes of pain that are brought on by cold. In classic Raynaud's the affected area changes colors from white to blue to purple. I've never been in a position to inspect my nipples while experiencing these episodes of pain, but am feeling pretty confident that this is a fitting explanation. 


I turned up a ton of useful information once I added Raynauds to my search. Apparently nipple pain is an often undiagnosed/misdiagnosed reason that women give up on breastfeeding. I found a really great article written by two lactation consultants in Australia that explains "Raynauds is a common condition affecting women of childbearing age with up to 22% of 21-50 year olds reporting symptoms.  It is likely therefore to be an underdiagnosed condition affecting the nipples of lactating women." Most of the stories I read described women who suffered for weeks and/or months, undergoing multiple treatments for other infections before finally getting an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. The best part is that there are very effective treatment options for Raynauds, unlike the complete lack of treatment options for generic breast pain.


The research confirmed my suspicions that the attacks are brought on my cold, and thus one of the first preventative strategies is to prevent your body, especially your breasts from getting cold. I am desperate enough for relief from this pain that I ordered some breast warmers from Australia! I will also be talking to my new OB about this, especially since it has the potential to interfere with breastfeeding. (I kind of want to test her by not revealing the fruits of my research, but don't know how playing games like that will benefit me. I am really confident that she is a fantastic OB, who will take brilliant good care of me, just as she has taken wonderful care of Bestie.)

My torpedo tits have turned against me! But I am going to take some really good care of them so that they are ready for our little one come December.



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13 comments :

Julie said...

I'm so glad you posted this! Ever since I started breast feeding, the same thing has happened every time I get cold. It hurts like the dickens. I'm reading up on it now.

Miss Mac said...

Didn't know exactly what I was going to read here from your post title! Sounds like you have gotten enough information and are being proactive to prevent this kind of pain... I was having sympathy "ouch" thoughts here! I've never experienced that level of pain but any coldness there makes me uncomfortable so I wear cotton tank tops under everything, even in the summer, for extra warmth. Hope the breast warmers provide the solution!

Cherbear said...

wow I just can't imagine...I hope the warmers help.

Lauren said...

It sounds very unpleasant!! It is great that you are figuring this all out ahead of time, so that you will be prepared with strategies to help you overcome any challenges your Raynauds may present when breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is one of the most rewarding experiences I've had in my life, and I don't know of a single person who worked through their BFing challenges and regretted that decision! It's great to be prepared!

Marianne said...

I'm so sorry the torpedo tits have turned against you! NOT FAIR!!!

I think the breast warmers are a good idea! THANK GOD you don't live in a cold climate!

XOXO

jill said...

Wow that sounds awful. I hope the breast warmers help - it sounds like they will be perfect. I would also have the urge to "test" the OB and am interested to hear if you do. If you really like her already though it's probably not worth it.

Anonymous said...

Wow, that does sound painful. It sounds like the Australian breast warmers are helpful for different types of pain. They may be good to have when you are breast feeding. In the meantime does it help to use a warm wash cloth or hot water bottle?

Lori LeRoy said...

Torpedo Tits has to be one of the most hilarious things I've heard of. Good for you for embracing them, even though they're being stinkers right now.

Keya said...

Glad you found a good explanation for you condition. Keep them warm!!

Anonymous said...

Ouch, haven't heard about this one before. Hope the warmers will help!

Kerrik said...

That does sounds horribly painful, though I have to admit the nickname made me smile.

I have partially inverted nipples, which is a whole different breast feeding issue. My sister has them too, and claims that using nipple shields really helps. Plus, long-term breast feeding might actually correct the inversion. Here's hoping.

Brenda said...

Yowza! I have never had that problem and I hope I never will. Good luck on the warmers! Oh, and I left a gift for you on my blog. :)

Anonymous said...

I laughed so hard when I saw the title Torpedo Tits, not because of your pain. I too was given the nickname Torpedo Tits in school and until today, 25 years later, I had never heard anyone else having that nickname.

 

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