I have been interested in reading the posts about galactorrhea.  Read on
for a less common reason for this to happen.
  Milk discharge is one of the main symptoms of a prolactinoma - the most
common of all pituitary tumors.  The tumor is benign (non-cancerous) over 99%
of the time.
  Other symptoms are amenorrhea, reduction in sex drive, vaginal dryness and
resulting painful intercourse, headaches, visual field disturbances, male
hypogonadism/impotence from shrinking testicles and milk discharge, mood
changes and depression.  Now, let's not all go out and diagnose a pituitary
tumor if someone is producing milk - but it is a possiblity.
  Some other reasons for elevated prolactin levels is from breast
stimulation; chest wall injury; taking tranquilizers such as trifluoperazine,
haloperidol, or metoclopramide which act by blocking the effects of dopamine
at the pituitary.
  Hyperprolactinemia is treated by an endocrinologist who specializes in
pituitary disorders (not an endo that specializes in diabetes and who may
have one or two pituitary patients).  An MRI or a CAT scan can pick up
macroadenomas - tumors greater than or equal to 1 cm, or a little smaller.
It will not pick up tumors that are
just 1 mm - those can produce a high prolactin level as well.  The endo
doctor has to be a detective, if it is a microadenoma.
  For more information about pituitary tumors, contact the Pituitary Tumor
Network Association.
                      Web site:  www.pituitary.com
  I learned about pituitary tumors the hard way - my middle daughter was
diagnosed initially at the pediatricians office for a check up (and because
she gained a lot of weight) in 1994.  Now, 5 years later, we can sleep a bit
better after a nightmarish 94-95.  She is 20, in college and doing well.  She
is taking meds for her thyroid.  Her tumor was not a prolactinoma, it was
Cushings Disease which produces different symptoms and requires surgical
treatment.   Most people spend years going from doctor to doctor to finally
get a correct diagnosis for any pituitary disorder.
  E-mail me privately if you want more information.

Laurie Owens, IBCLC
Naples, FL

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