I'm looking for information for a friend of a colleague.  This
woman is 47 years old and has a 6 year old child.  She had trouble in the
beginning establishing a milk supply, but was able to and nursed for
about 18 months.  She noticed that after weaning, which was gradual, she
still was able to express milk for many months.  When her child was about
4, she went througha period where she suddenly became engorged, with very
tender breasts.  She needed to express some milk to be comfortable, but
it was temporary--I am not sure how long it lasted.  She went to her
doctor about it and he didn't know what could cause it, but didn't seem
to think it was serious. What she expressed was black "colostrum" and she
did have it checked, but they found nothing unusual.  This is happening
again two years later.  She is painfully engorged and expresses black
colostrum (she said even after the birth of her child, her colostrum was
black).
        She believes she is perimenopausal.  Could this be caused by
hormonal fluctuations?   In Ruth Lawrence's book it is suggested that the
thyroid and pituitary function be checked.  Has anyone heard of a similar
situation?  I'd be interested in any information that could help her.

Ruth DeRosa, Frederick, Maryland