to be terrified..

[moonmoon123]

I am in my twenty’s..I had my first baby 5 months ago and formula fed her, only produced milk for say 1-2 weeks.. during pregnancy I produced colostrum from 12 weeks. a few days ago I started leaking from my nipples, I have taken two pregnancy tests, come back negative all though I do have early pregnancy symptoms I guess. my doctor wants me to come in for a breast examination, i have bad health anxiety and can’t help but assume I have something seriously wrong- not helped by the fact I keep having dreams about death and cancer.
Help me rationalise plsss

Surely it's better to go as soon as you can just find out whether something i wrong or not. Dragging out the 'I might be dying' anxiety isn't going to help.

Don’t panic. It may be prolactin related. There is medication you can take to reduce the levels if they are high. Have a google of prolactin and prolactinoma - don’t be worried by the idea of a pituitary tumour, they’re often harmless and so small they don’t show up on an mri. I’ve lived with mine for 20 years now and used to take medication to reduce the levels of prolactin.

Highly, highly unlikely to be cancer. You've only had a baby recently and your hormones won't be fully settled.

Do as the doctor says - go for the examination to put your mind at rest.

I had my last baby TWELVE YEARS ago and this happened to me recently. Had a scan. Nothing to worry about

When are you going in for the breast exam? That should reassure you. When my youngest was about 4 I suddenly started producing milk again, it was in the height of lockdown and I was terrified, eventually I was told ‘it’s just one of those things’, hormones do crazy things! Can you ask for help with the anxiety while you are with the GP?

I was still able to produce milk a year after stopping feeding DS. Apparently any woman can re-initiate milk production if they try to. Honestly, I’m surprised your doctor cares enough to do an exam. I’m sure you’re fine.

This isn’t unusual, and I suspect the GP is only doing the breast exam to put your mind at rest. It’s highly, highly unlikely that you have cancer - this wouldn’t be a typical symptom. Go and get checked out as your GP has suggested, and then you’ll be able to have a great big sigh of relief when everything’s fine.