OK - We've tried the usual, now I need your help in figuring out the
unusual...

Mom has a 2 1/2 week old baby.  I first saw her because baby was not
willing to stay at the breast much at day 5.  baby had nursed very well in
the hospital, but the call came because things had "gone wrong" and mom was
now using a pump and feeding the baby her breast milk.  

Mom is usually a size DD, now well into (and overflowing) a EE.  She
doesn't have money for a larger bra.  HOWEVER the problem I saw was a VERY
strong let-down that drowned the baby.  She refused to go near the spouting
nipple - for good reason, she felt she was unable to breathe.  I encouraged
mom to pump only to get the let-down, then offer the breast - this also
didn't work - the strong flow continued.  We tried with a nipple shield to
"catch" the spray - this seemed to work.  So I left, asking her to call me
if any new problems arose.

Well, 5 days later mom called, she still was having strong let-downs, large
milk supply, baby refusing to go to the breast at all.  She is pumping and
giving the baby bottles.  I suggested sage tea, cabbage leaves.  Mom denies
any excessive bleeding (thought of the time in Lactnet that excessive
supply was also linked with retained placenta) and she had seen her own
placenta - her doctor had shown her how intact it was.  I encouraged her
NOT to pump to empty, just pump so that she didn't feel hard as a rock - as
she was pumping much more milk than baby needed.  (This with a very tired
Lactina lent to her through WIC that she mostly "hand expressed" into...). 
I asked her to see her MD.

Today - Mom unable to sleep or go anywhere - she's a waitress and is unable
to work (yes, I know, she shouldn't be back at work - that's what I told
her on DAY FIVE when I first met her as she was going out the door to work
6 hours...)  She pumps every 1 hour, gets 8 ounces per breast and throws it
away as her baby doesn't need all that milk.  She figures at least 3
gallons last 24 hours...
She had gone to the MD who told her "there used to be a shot, but because
of cerebral bleeding in (mom reports 25%, but I doubt that's what she
really said) of the women, they stopped it."  She told her to call a milk
bank!  (Nearest one is 1 1/2 hours away - mom has no transportation to get
the milk there.)  I encouraged her to return to MD who finally agreed to
give her a referral to an Endocrinologist - which is for DECEMBER 11. 
(Only MD who will take MediCal.)

What can I do?  HELP!  I fear all sorts of tumors or hormonal imbalances
(mom has had difficulty getting pregnant and has such bad endometriosis her
MD recommended a hysterectomy at age 15.)

Jeanette Panchula, BSW, RN, IBCLC
Vacaville, CA
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