On Tuesday 02 April 2002 12:00 pm, Coleman, Joyce wrote:
> I received a call from a 28 year old mom.  She is breastfeeding her 19
> month-old (5-6 times per day) and has been experiencing the folowing
> symptoms:
>
> depression, sad all the time
> extremely tired
> constipated, bloated
> gained 20 pounds in one month
> hot "flashes" 24 hours a day
> no period since '99

If I'm doing my math right.... with the baby being 19 months old, the
baby would have been born probably August 2000.... so she would have
conceived in December 1999 or thereabouts.... so if that ws her last
period, she has not gotten them back since she gave birth.  That's
certainly within the range of normal for a nursing mom.... although most
get periods back sooner.

> other pertinent history:  19 month old is about to have surgery for
> reflux which has caused aspiration pneumonia; other stressors related
> to marriage and home improvement.
>
> Her doctor prescribed Zoloft 6 months ago, but she has not improved.
> He is weaning her down to 25mg and adding Welbutrin.
>
> She recently had a fasting prolactin level, which was elevated--so her
> doctor has told her that she's going through menopause.
>
> I know that it's normal to have an elevated prolactin level while
> breastfeeding.  Can you think of any other reasons for the symptoms?

Did her doctor check her thyorid panel?  A lot of those symptoms sound
like hypothyroidism.  The hot flashes don't.... but the fatigue,
consitpation, and weight gain are symptoms.  Possibly the depression too.

She really needs to get a thyroid panel drawn and find out what the
actual numbers are.  People can be symptomatic with borderline numbers.

But at any rate, I'd say menopause is sort of a zebra for a 28 year old
female.

--
Elisa H. Casey
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