Hi all,
I am 43 and going through perimenopause. I have horrible anxiety attacks, hot flashes, insomnia... the list goes on and on. Lately I have begun lactating again. I had a child 1 1/2 years ago and tried to breast feed, but lost my milk due to a drug I was taking because of swelling and water retention. (I had preeclampsia that was life threatening near the end of the pregnancy so I had no choice but to take the medicine.) Anyway, my milk dried up in about 6 weeks after birth. Now, in the midst of all of the perimenopause stuff I began to lactate. First they checked my thyroid and it was all messed up. They regulated my meds, got it under control and the lactation continued. Then they did some tests fearing a pituitary tumor, but that was not the case. I was, in a way happy that this happened because my doc was not taking the menopausal symptoms seriously. He did not believe that i was menopausal (said I was too young even though my mom went through menopause at 42). I was happy that finally I had a symptom that they had to address and that they could not say was all in my head. But, after the tests for the above came back normal he just said they don't know why I am lactating and we would just let it be...
LET IT BE??????? If it wasn't bad enough that I am strangled by anxiety and I am not sleeping, and I find myself yelling at my kids when I am only reacting to my issues... I have turned into some kind of monster... or at least my body has... now I am having to wear breast sheilds like when I was breast feeding because the milk leaks through my bra. But I should just let it be....
Most days I don't recognize myself. I don't like the person I am right now... and I certainly hate my body for betraying me like this. I know that language is strong... I am just losing it a bit here....
Has anyone experienced this?
I cannot take hormones due to a family history of breast cancer and heart disease.
HELP!
Bridget

((((BIG HUGS))))...sorry you are having such a hard time....
my sister had the same problem with the lactating.....she had every test ran possible and they found nothing and told her deep down she must want another baby(last thing she wanted though)....eventually the milk dried up and all was fine...

Thanks Moonlight... it is nice to know this has happened to someone else and it stopped eventually.
I just don't know how doc's can be so glib about what is happening to someone.
Bridget

Bridget, I began peri in my late 30's early 40's and I remember feeling the "let down reflex" a lot during that time. It was very real, but I didn't have milk. I'm wondering if since your last child is so young, you're just naturally producing milk that's accompanied by the hormonal changes during this time of life?? Surprising that the dr.'s can't give you an answer!! I have heard others on here say they had the same feeling as though when they were breastfeeding.

Don't worry,honey it does happen
When I had my Mammogram,milk poured out of both nipples and I was Post Menopausal,
The nurse asked me if I was breast feeding I told her I am Post Menopausal and not a Wet Nurse.
Further Tests followed.
Everything was fine.
The Gyno.said that sometimes Hormones can do a strange reversal act where this may happen so not to worry!I think he did not know what else to say
This has nothing to do with Breast Cancer,honey that would have been recognized straight away.My guess,and I am not a Doctor,is that the Thyroid Med has you a bit messed up.
If things to continue not to improve I would take a second opinion but honestly I do believe it is fluctuating Hormones causing the havoc!

You will be fine
So calm down
All will be well

Keep us posted
Elizabeth

WHAT??? GAH don't tell me that is ANOTHER symptom!!!!!

It better not happen to me!!!

Wellllll....I was actually happy to see this post myself. Not that I'm happy another is experiencing yet ANOTHER symptom but I was happy to see it wasn't just me. I've not had out and out lactation amounts but just a little. I've noticed my breasts have been feeling fuller than usual and that "sensation" that comes from breast feeding. Not really the let down reflex but close to it. Hell, I don't know what to call it or how to describe it but I'm keenly aware that I have breasts, does that do it? Now, all of a sudden in the last couple of weeks I'm noticing small amounts of milk leakage. WHAT THE ....?????? I did attribute it to hormonal fluctuations because I'm thinking mine have been all over the map lately with the increased stress I've been under but this was a new one for me. I guess it's not so "strange" afterall! Just add it to the list of 34...35?

Super Surgette,
Do tell your doc because at first my doc was concerned. It could be a symptom of thyroid dysfunction or a pituitary tumor (he said that most often with the tumor you can see it in your peripheral vision). They can test for both with a blood test, so check that just in case it is not just hormonal. (The thyroid test will indicate both. If your thyroid is not working right your T3 is low I think and if that is okay but the T4 is high then that would indicate a pituitary issue. I may have confused T3 and T4, one shows how much your thyroid is producing which if low means you need medicine and the other is a measure of how much your pituitary is asking for and if that is high and your thyroid function is fine, then your pituitary isn't functioning properly.) But, as it is with me, it could be nothing (or so they say).
Bridget

I had a boat load of labs drawn in Jan/Feb. and all was fine with my thyroid at that time but things do change. I have an appt. to see my PCP on the 21st so will mention it to him at that time and maybe we'll do some more labs just to see if things are still ok. Thanks for the info.
Jan