Told to stop nursing asap!!!

[sharkysmom]

I wont go into a huge backround but basically I have been feeling terrible with more and more symptoms coming on, the main issue is fatigue.
I went to my pcp and she sent me for a bunch of blood work which came back to reflect nothing signifigant (so she says), I just went to a Gyn today who specializes in endocriniology and a few other things and is of the holistic mindset. She is sending me for further bloodwork but told me my prolactin levels are high and I need to wean Ds asap(I can not find prolactin on my blood work, does anyone know if it is called something else/coded somehow that I can't figure out?) Ds is 16mth and I was not planning on even thinking about weaning until 24mth. The more I thought about it today the more I feel like I should wait to see what the blood work says, I mean I'm sure the high levels could be caused by something else right??
This is of course making me doubt this dr all together, who would tell someone to wean when they are exhausted, my son is not even night weaned?? I want somebody to help me and I want to feel better, I am so tired of getting no answers from anyone or people just wanting to put me on more drugs. This dr came highly recommended and is costing me a fortune since my insurance doesnt pay for out of network dr's. I wouldnt know where else to turn if it doesnt work out with this dr. I just dont know what to do, has anyone had this or a similiar experience? Or know anything about high prolactin levels? I want ds to have a happy mama who feels good and if that means giving up nursing I guess I will but the thought of doing it and finding out it was unnecessary would break my heart.....

[PatioGardener]

Of course your prolactin levels are high - they are supposed to be! You are nursing!

Sadly your doc does not sound supportive of breastfeeding. How will weaning help things?

[sharkysmom]

She said that your levels go down after 3-6 months of nursing and that the level mine is at is high for nursing as long as I have and for the amount I do(ds nurses about 3 times in 24 hours)

[PatioGardener]

Originally Posted by sharkysmom

She said that your levels go down after 3-6 months of nursing and that the level mine is at is high for nursing as long as I have and for the amount I do(ds nurses about 3 times in 24 hours)

I'd wait for the other results, then. sorry you are going through this!

[Viola]

According to the 3rd edition of Breastfeeding and Human Lactation Prolactin levels rise during pregnancy from about 10 ng/ml in the nonpregnant state to approximately 200 ng/ml at term. Baseline levels do not drop to normal in a lactating woman, but average about 100 ng/ml at 3 months and 50 ng/ml at 6 months. Prolactin levels can double with the stimulus of suckling. After about 6 months of breastfeeding, the prolactin rise with suckling amounts to only about 5 to 10 ng/ml.

I don't know what high prolactin levels mean, however.

[PatioGardener]

"When drawing blood for a prolactin level, caution should be used so as not to produce an artificial elevation. Since stress can elevate the prolactin level, the patient should rest (but not sleep) before the sample is obtained. Also, the level should not follow a breast examination and should be drawn in a fasting state." Burns & Haddad (1998)

(bolding mine)
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/normal/prolactin-levels.html

eta: nursing before will increase levels too.

[ariatrance]

What's going on with you besides the fatigue? Are there symptoms that might relate to adrenal fatigue, candida overgrowth, food intolerances, thyroid issues, etc.?

Sometimes bloodwork doesn't show what is going on but simple measures at home can make you feel tons better. I have been suffering from adrenal fatigue unknowingly for a few years now and in just three months of drastically reducing my stress levels (internal as well as external) and improving my diet and activity levels, I feel soooooooo much better than I did. I was at the point where I would fall asleep reading a story to my toddler at 10 in the morning.

I definitely wouldn't stop nursing, especially if it's only 3 times a day. My 19 mo. old still nurses 6-8 times a day - I couldn't imagine weaning her even though I felt terrible. I mean, she could still nurse while I rested - that is totally invaluable!

Good luck finding answers!

[tibeca]

Did you have your thyroid tested at that time? What were your levels? Currently, many doctors are not aware of the new recommendations for "normal" levels of TSH. If it was above 2.5, you may want to consider finding a doctor who will work with you to get you back to feeling well.

I had a similar situation happen to me. I actually feel better now (at 8 months pregnant) than I did when DD was a mere 9 mos old. Exhaustion was my main complaint. And I'm not talking tired either. Good luck!

[sharkysmom]

Thank you for the replies, ariatrance the short list of symptoms is fatigue, weight gain, joint and muscle pain, acne, headaches and dizziness those are the main ones.
Tibeca, yes I did have my thyroid checked but apparently only one aspect of it she sent me for more detailed bloodwork. I am also going to do a saliva test for my adrenal glands.

Here is my biggest issue, I invested a good deal of money in this appt and have a follow up appt in two weeks, I feel like someone who could be so flip and casual about weaning my son especially when I break down crying doesnt have the same mind set as me. How do I trust her opinions from here on out?

My gut says to wait so that's what I will do. Hopefully the tests will point in a definitive direction.

[tibeca]

I think it is really important to remember that doctors are there for medical advice, not parenting advice. Get copies of all of your labs and review them. Know what you are really looking at, and be prepared to get a second/third or even fourth opinion after you have seen what all of your labs say.

Weaning will most likely have nothing to do with your current situation. And, if you ask me, your symptoms all sound VERY thyroid related.

[ariatrance]

Originally Posted by tibeca

I think it is really important to remember that doctors are there for medical advice, not parenting advice. Get copies of all of your labs and review them. Know what you are really looking at, and be prepared to get a second/third or even fourth opinion after you have seen what all of your labs say.

Weaning will most likely have nothing to do with your current situation. And, if you ask me, your symptoms all sound VERY thyroid related.

Agree, agree, agree, agree, agree, oh and agree!

I concur that it is likely a thyroid or possibly adrenal related - the two go almost hand in hand sometimes.

[Sonneva]

I was having similar symptoms and my naturopath suggested B12 injections monthly. OMG what a world of difference it made for me! I can actually make it through the day now without needing to lay down. I have the same energy level now as I did pre- 1st pregnancy. (FYI, I'm tandem nursing and this allowed me to continue). Just a thought.

[kriket]

Originally Posted by tibeca

I think it is really important to remember that doctors are there for medical advice, not parenting advice..

I don't know your situation I can't remember reading any of your threads, but I don't think it has anything to do with nursing.

I have been going to the gym and have sooo much energy! If you are veg*n you should think about b12 shots or pills. It helps a lot! Have you had your iron tested? That is an issue for many women.

[LCBMAX]

The lab report will say "PRL" for prolactin usually.

[sharkysmom]

Thank you all for your help, I am still waiting for my blood work/saliva test. I have an appt. on the 13th.
Here is the thing, no where on my bloodwork that she looked at is there prolactin, PRL or anything else that I havent figured out what it is??? Why would she say that if it isnt even on here? Unless it is hidden somewhere in my LH and FSH results and I just dont understand them?? What should I do?

[PoppyMama]

With your symptoms I wonder about insulin resistance combined with thyroid problems. I know that I have insulin/thyroid issues during nursing that don't resolve until weaning so it's just something where I have to treat symptoms and not expect resolution for a while.

[HonkyTonka]

This may or may not help, but your symptoms made me think of Lyme Disease.
Most people never see the tick or the rash...

[MunchiesMom]

I was thinking fibromalysa (sp)...

[simplykate]

I do know that both my mom and my sister were alway s exhausted while nursing and felt completely different once they weaned their babes. So there may be something to it, although I wish there wasn't.
Your symptoms sound a lot like mine. I did have low thyroid and adrenal fatigue and felt like I was developing fibromyalgia. Natural treatments didn't work until we finally realized that I wasn't absorbing. Now i'm on the GAPS diet which has completely changed everything. Just a thought to get you started unraveling your health mystery.
I also have to say that I just night weaned my 16 month old ( don't know if you're still NN?) and that made a HUGE difference in energy levels.
Ideally, if was super healthy and felt great I would have let her keep nursing through the night. I'd also do CLW as long as she wanted. But we mamas do have to take care of our bodies as well.

[sharkysmom]

Well I got my bloodwork and my saliva test back and from what I can understand of it I am more then likely suffering from Metabolic Syndrome so it says on the paperwork (I dont know if that causes any of my symptoms)which seems crazy since I eat organic whole foods 95% of the time, no dairy other then occasional eggs and cheese, red meat maybe twice a month. no white flour or white products of any kind, no processed foods or trans fats so how my cholestoral and glucose and all that is so off I have no idea.
My cortisol was off on the noon and night reading but within range on the am and evening?
Also my progesterone is low and my estradiol is low and the ratio is off, however my prolactin is low? I have no idea what these levels are supposed to be after nursing for 16mthsand only nursing three time in 24 hours and can not find that info anywhere. I have a call into an LC hoping she can help me with that but if anyone knows I would love the info.
I have my follow up appt. on the 13th and I know the dr is def. going to tell me to wean now, I just dont know what I am going to do.
SimplyKate...thank you for what you said, I would feel terribly guilty if I weaned him, like I failed him but I also need to feel good to be the best mom I can, such a frustrating situation.