Weaning

[Ipsos]

Hi,

I bf'd ds for four years and really felt like a million dollars myself while it was going on. I felt as though the bf-ing me was the good one, if you know what I mean. I seemed to be stronger and more energetic and less vulnerable to viruses and IBS. Ds had very severe sleep problems and obstructive apnoea so we lot an enormous amount of sleep, but I coped okay while it was going on.

As soon as ds weaned I got really bad IBS which is gradually (very gradually) improving. It's been 18 months now and I'm still on a very restricted diet and really exhausted still.

I wondered if anyone else had experienced this kind of thing? I almost feel as if the bf hormones were like a sports drug that enabled me to keep going long beyond my physical coping threshold, and that when they went away I sort of went splat.

I'd be interested to hear if others have had a similar experience, and most particularly, how long it took to get better. I sort of expect that since it took four years to get into this, it may take four years to get back out of it.

Thanks!

[UnfortunateUsername]

I have crohns and I found that my symptoms pretty much disappeared while I was pregnant and breastfeeding my first child, and only returned a while after I stopped breastfeeding. I always assumed it was something to do with with the hormones that suppress your immune system during pregnancy continuing while still bfing. Not exactly the same I guess as it's a very different illness but I definitely felt much better while still bfing.

[Ipsos]

That's very interesting to know that you had a similar experience though. I've had some tests and it's not entirely clear whether I have very mild crohn's or IBS, so it's possible that I'm in the same situation as you. Glad to hear it's not just me anyway.