Periductal mastitis & fistula f24 uk

Just for background I do smoke (cutting down massively and planning to stop due to this) and I did have a nipple piercing in for years.

6 weeks ago I developed a deep pain in my right nipple, within a few days a small abscess showed up right next to my nipple bar on the right side of my right nipple. I was in agony and went to a&e, they took my nipple bar out to alleviate some pain and pressure which I had to have gas and air because the pain was unbearable. Since then I have had 2 courses of antibiotics and another abscess has formed next to it and on the left side of my right nipple. This has refilled and drained 4 times in 6 weeks, which is really concerning and my nipple isn’t looking good.

I went to the breast clinic and they done an ultrasound and diagnosed me with Periductal Mastitis. I was also told I had a fistula but wasn’t explained to me what that meant, once I come home and done my research I’ve now discovered this is something that requires an operation to remove. Due to me smoking I don’t think I was taken seriously and I did get very emotional during the appointment as I have autism, BPD, ADHD and severe anxiety, I find it hard to advocate for myself.

I have told my GP and the breast clinic Dr I am willing to stop smoking, but that means me cutting down first as I have smoked for 7 years and I smoke cannabis and tobacco (joints). On my clinic letter it didn’t mention even potential surgery and didn’t even mention the fistula that was told verbally to me I had and stressed that it won’t go away without surgery?? I found they just focused on the fact it is self inflicted.

I’ve been left feeling extremely anxious, with the pain being unbearable and only managed with strong pain killers such as codeine, in such a short amount of time my quality of life has decreased and I have been feeling suicidal. Has anybody ever experienced this or had a fistula in the breast, what was your outcome?