Hey, everyone. I have something to talk about that I've not told anyone else (except for my mom, who is a nurse). I'm lactating. And it scares me a little bit.
Here's some history as to what's going on. When I was about 4, my grandma had a benign tumor removed from her breast. It was tiny. My great-grandma, the same grandma's mother, died from ovarian cancer. So I know that such problems run in the family.
I got my first period when I was ten. Ever since then, my breasts always get a bit swollen and sore for about a week before my period. (On the worst day, even with my most supportive bra, a bumpy car ride can be almost agony.) I've heard that's a normal occurence for many women, so I never thought anything of it.
However, since my senior year in high school (I was 16-17 at the time) my breasts have been expressing fluid. At first, like a mother's first milk, it was white, fatty, tinged lightly yellowish, and sticky. It was, for all intents and purposes, breastmilk. It happened the first time while performing a breast self-exam, I depressed lightly, and suddenly there it was, a tiny drop on my nipple.
Terrified, I collected it onto my finger, dressed myself carefully so as not to accidentally soak it up into any of my clothes, and privately showed my mom. She told me she didn't know why it was happening, and that "some women just lactate sometimes." But ever since that night, it's never stopped, though occasionally I'll have one or two dry days. I'm 23 now.
When I was 18 or 19 I had bloodwork done because it concerned me so much. All my hormone and sugar levels were normal, the only thing off was a very slightly elevated cholesterol level. (Which was to be expected, I've always been a little overweight and was taking two baking classes at the time.) I've never taken any form of birth control, and I've never been pregnant... I'd never even had sex or a boyfriend who I allowed to touch me intimately until I was 21. The doctor was stumped and no more tests were performed. But the fluid never stopped.
Over the years it's gone from milky white and thick to being a bit thinner, and more of a clear-white, but still kind of fatty and a bit sticky. And, though I'm embarrassed to admit it, I've tasted it. From the right breast, it's just a little bitter, and from the left, it's a little salty. That seemed odd to me.
Now, it's not a steady flow. It's a drop or two a day at the most, unless I get interested and start, uhm, playing with it. The amount increases during the week before my period, so that every day I'm producing about a quarter of a teaspoon. (I said it wasn't much!) At first, it was just one breast, the smaller of the two, but now they both do it.
I don't have a doctor or insurance anymore, so I'm asking all of you.
Do you have an idea as to what might be going on? Do you or a woman in your life experience something similar? Come muse with me, if you will.
PLEASE DON'T OFFER ANSWERS UNLESS YOU READ THE WHOLE POST
Here's some history as to what's going on. When I was about 4, my grandma had a benign tumor removed from her breast. It was tiny. My great-grandma, the same grandma's mother, died from ovarian cancer. So I know that such problems run in the family.
I got my first period when I was ten. Ever since then, my breasts always get a bit swollen and sore for about a week before my period. (On the worst day, even with my most supportive bra, a bumpy car ride can be almost agony.) I've heard that's a normal occurence for many women, so I never thought anything of it.
However, since my senior year in high school (I was 16-17 at the time) my breasts have been expressing fluid. At first, like a mother's first milk, it was white, fatty, tinged lightly yellowish, and sticky. It was, for all intents and purposes, breastmilk. It happened the first time while performing a breast self-exam, I depressed lightly, and suddenly there it was, a tiny drop on my nipple.
Terrified, I collected it onto my finger, dressed myself carefully so as not to accidentally soak it up into any of my clothes, and privately showed my mom. She told me she didn't know why it was happening, and that "some women just lactate sometimes." But ever since that night, it's never stopped, though occasionally I'll have one or two dry days. I'm 23 now.
When I was 18 or 19 I had bloodwork done because it concerned me so much. All my hormone and sugar levels were normal, the only thing off was a very slightly elevated cholesterol level. (Which was to be expected, I've always been a little overweight and was taking two baking classes at the time.) I've never taken any form of birth control, and I've never been pregnant... I'd never even had sex or a boyfriend who I allowed to touch me intimately until I was 21. The doctor was stumped and no more tests were performed. But the fluid never stopped.
Over the years it's gone from milky white and thick to being a bit thinner, and more of a clear-white, but still kind of fatty and a bit sticky. And, though I'm embarrassed to admit it, I've tasted it. From the right breast, it's just a little bitter, and from the left, it's a little salty. That seemed odd to me.
Now, it's not a steady flow. It's a drop or two a day at the most, unless I get interested and start, uhm, playing with it. The amount increases during the week before my period, so that every day I'm producing about a quarter of a teaspoon. (I said it wasn't much!) At first, it was just one breast, the smaller of the two, but now they both do it.
I don't have a doctor or insurance anymore, so I'm asking all of you.
Do you have an idea as to what might be going on? Do you or a woman in your life experience something similar? Come muse with me, if you will.
PLEASE DON'T OFFER ANSWERS UNLESS YOU READ THE WHOLE POST
