Hello to all,
I just happen to come across this posting and I am shaking my head. It is obvious to me that none of you is qualified to talk about these problems. PLEASE, do not take blog advice as medical advice!
Lactating is linked to the hormone named "PROLACTIN". Only when that hormone is very high you can lactate. In a normal situation that hormone is high during last months of pregnancy and after the child is born...and continues to be high for the duration of breast feeding.
If the PROLACTIN is high without pregnancy/child breast feeding it means that your hormonal system is unbalanced in a big way! Simple blood tests with your MD (FULL HORMONAL PANNEL blood tests)will bring you closer to a diagnosis. The causes of your hormonal unbalance can be multiple and it is true (somebody mentioned) that pituitary tumor is one of them, also hypothyroidism is another one. In my practice I see a lot of women that have adrenal fatigue (do not ask you MD about it because they do not study in school such thing, only alternative practitioners) and/or hypothyroidism. The most common cause is long term stress.
Untreated, it will eventually get to sterility and very early menopause. If you are talking about a pituitary tumor, there is medication and holistic (natural) way of treating it before surgery.
In fact for all hormonal imbalances there are alternative natural ways of balancing...
Good luck!
When I first started lactating, I saw my regular doctor and the N.P. Both said that since I don't have any tumors, then the main cause is probably a hormone imbalance caused by either medication (I was on anti-depressants) or high levels of stress (again, very true). The doctor reassured me that there is nothing wrong with my breasts, no abnormal lumps, and my annual always checked out as ok. Since then, I've done the depo shot (which, by the way I would recommend against since I gained thirty pounds during the nine months I was on it, and it took me a while to lose it despite being active and eating right, plus the weird bleeding...) and the Patch, and honestly neither seemed to make a difference on lactation.
I did notice that for about a year I didn't lactate, however I didn't have much in the way of breast stimulation either. However, starting my recent relationship about six months ago, I started to lactate again, or produced more than what I was so I became aware of it. I've never been pregnant, and I can't get pregnant with my current partner.
Either way, I would have a full hormone test done to make sure there isn't a large imbalance that is causing this, which can be a result of a tumor, like other posters have said. If you are undergoing stress or depression, it's also suggested that you look into medication that can help in that area as well. I do know that there are teas and herbs out there that can induce or promote lactation, so keep an eye on any herbal foods or drinks that you consume. Otherwise, check with your doctor.
I will say lactating doesn't bother me, especially since my partner doesn't mind it, but some men may find it gross, so it's something you will want to discuss with your partner or potential partner eventually.
Opiates do??? I've been on Lorcet since my accident in 2004, while I dont take it everyday, it has been a steady thing to get me through my herniations when they start to bother me...I'm also on Ritalin.
When I had all these issues with the lactation I had started taking Melatonin and that's when it all went to hell...but my gyn said no to that.