no one has ever been able to answer this

[Qerratsmom]

I have a weird thing happen to me when I go too long without bfing. No one has ever been able to tell me why. When I get engorged my throat starts closing like I am having an allergic reaction! Pumping helps a bit but it doesn't go away until I bfeed. Sometimes I wonder if I'll ever be able to stop! I've been bfing now for 4.5 years (now on dc #2). Doesn't anyone know what this is!!!?

[ArtistMama]

Wow!! That sounds scary, I hope you figure it out.

[jaidymama]

Ok, so I have no immediate knowledge of what you are going through... but have some suggestions for you. Perhaps you've already gone through all the process of searching for answers, maybe not, I didn't get a clear sense from your post. Regardless here's what I would do:

1. Determine if it is an allergic reaction. Because it is LIKE an allergic reaction, it may be a good place to start. Allergic reactions can be life threatening, so if you're able to rule this out... I would choose to do this first, for your safety and for your kids'. The tests are generally covered by insurance (ask for an IgE blood draw test... this tests allergic reactions that are immediate. If that doesn't come up with anything there is also a blood test for IgG response... for delayed reactions).

2. Research, research, research... all over the place like at La Leche League or Kellymom.com... they have extensive resources about breastfeeding. I have found they often have more knowledge than some local lactation consultants. Talk to as many docs as you can; also try some alternative practitioners if you haven't already... they might have another opionion.

3. Play the detective: Keep a written record. Each time this happens, try to notice and record all the details you can think of. Over time, it might become more apparent what other cirumstances are causing this...

Of course, I have no medical training and I would assume that you have consulted medical professionals. But I guess, it would make sense to consider everything since you're not sure why it's happening.

Good Luck!

[*clementine*]

Do you have panic attacks at all? I only ask because I used to, and my throat would feel like it was swelling. I don't have them anymore, but if something is off for me, like if I haven't eaten etc, I sometimes get the closed up throat thing still. It's almost like a chemical is released in my system that triggers it. I know it's a stretch, but let down is a chemical trigger.
Just a long shot.

[MarcyC]

Hmmmm....I wonder if it's a glandular thing. Since milk ducts are glands and when you are weaning they swell and become engorged, then it could be related to that since there are also glands in your throat. Maybe contact an endocrinologist.

[Qerratsmom]

Thanks so much for these suggestions. So far I have talked to two LLL leaders and 4 doctors about it all who didn't know. the closest was one of the LLL leaders raises goats and she said that goats have been known to die if they can't nurse! Interestingly enough I am allergic to dairy and I have the same sort of reaction, but is it possible to be allergic to your OWN breastmilk? It seems like I must be a freak of nature!

[ArtistMama]

Not laughing at you, but that would be totally unexpected.

Can an allergist test for that? I'm totally serious.

[Qerratsmom]

Well I guess if I don't figure anything else out I'll be checking in with an allergie specialist come weaning time. I'd hate to be the first woman in history whose boobs suffocated her But seriously!

[Blu Razzberri]

Originally Posted by Qerratsmom

Thanks so much for these suggestions. So far I have talked to two LLL leaders and 4 doctors about it all who didn't know. the closest was one of the LLL leaders raises goats and she said that goats have been known to die if they can't nurse! Interestingly enough I am allergic to dairy and I have the same sort of reaction, but is it possible to be allergic to your OWN breastmilk? It seems like I must be a freak of nature!

In rare instances, the BABY is allergic to your breastmilk (or perhaps the contents...lactose maybe, I don't know the specifics); so if this is possible, I don't see why it WOULDN'T be possible for you to be allergic to your own. Though this might not be the cause. It was my first thought though.

I spent about a half hour trying different google searches on this and came up with nothing.

I tried to help, sorry I came up emptyhanded.

[Panserbjorne]

You wouldn't be allergic to the milk itself, you are producing it. If you were reacting in that way it would be an autoimmune reaction which is not uncommon, but it would be to the substances in your body, not necessarily the milk. Let me do some digging...I'm guessing that it is a glandular thing as well.

[corimom]

From the Breastfeeding Answer Book, p. 493: When the breast is engorged, the blood and lymph move slowly through the breast tissue, allowing some fluid in the blood to seep into breast tissues, which causes swelling which causes tenderness, warmth, pain, and even fever in some moms.

For engorgement to cause fever, it must be able to make a woman's body *think* it needs to fight off some invader. Another post commented on the possiblity of your response being an auto-immune response - which sounds quite likely to me - your body may be over-reacting to its engorgement. I am not sure if there is anything you could do about this. Sorry, this doesn't help you!

Another idea is that whatever is making the tissues swell with fluid may be making the tissues of your throat swell (with fluid?). Again, not sure if there is anything you could do about it.

When it comes time to wean, you will need to do so slowly - removing one feeding at a time. This can be a natural progression, so you may not even notice any engorgement if your child gradually cuts back on nursing. Another idea is looking into substances (natural or prescription) that reduce your milk supply. But make sure it is safe to take while still breastfeeding!

You may never know exactly WHY this happens to you. But at least you won't be breastfeeding forever, so the problem *should* go away after you wean. If it doesn't, that means it is something more system-wide than just related to your breasts.

[Qerratsmom]

Yes, I'm hoping dd weans slowly. I got pregnant when I was still nursing ds and my milk supply slowly ended because of the pregnancy, by 20 weeks pregnant ds was only getting colustrum which continued until dd was born. Ds eventually weaned at 3 1/2 so I tandomed for almost a year. Now dd is 18 mo and still nursing strong but sometimes, like the last couple of nights, she is nursing more than usual at night due to teething. I'm waiting for the night this week when she goes back to her regular night nursing schedule but my boobs keep producing. Its going to be uncomfortable: I actually take benedryl when it gets really bad and this helps. Which makes me think its an allergic reaction of some kind. I'm intriqued by the glanular comments also.

[Panserbjorne]

Yeah, if it were an allergic reaction it would be there all the time...and it's not. My sense is that it's a swollen lymph node or something that is being pressed against the esophogus as you get full. Still looking and I have someone I contacted that I should be hearing back from...