How do I stop producing milk?

[CardyMow]

DS3 is 12mo. I have epilepsy, but it has been kept in check by my hormones until this month when my periods restarted.

I was bf'ing and co-sleeping, but because I had a massive seizure on Friday, I have had to stop co-sleeping and BF'ing (he associates BF'ing with co-sleeping).

I stopped BF'ing last night, as my Ex-P is on holiday this week, so can help DS3 by giving him bottles. My norks are like Jeffing cement. They HURT. Obviously,as it unsafe, I cannot continue to BF or co-sleep, hence having to stop in one go.

I have heard that Epsom salts can stop you producing milk, but I don't know what you do with them. I NEED my boobs to stop hurting - I've got red patches and I am concerned about mastitis. I've had that before with DD - 13 years ago - and it was so painful I passed out repeatedly. I NEED my milk to dry up.

I have a problem with overproduction anyway, and I'm on the rather, erm, large size, I can't even get my arms by my sides!

Totally random thought which may or may not be of use. You are not meant to take decongestants when BF as they can really interfere with your supply. Maybe worth some research?

anti-histamines are often contra-indicated too with bfing due to lowering supply risks but I know the AED I take is also contra-indicated with anti-histamines as they can cause CNS depression (stops you breathing/heart beating properly). Do research thoroughly any meds before taking them just in case there is a contra-indication.

Not that I said contra-indication too many times!

Would cetirizine Hydrochloride help (anti-histimine)? I ask because I know ti is OK with my AED's. Because I suffer from BAD allergies.

Decongestants...hmmm...will do some research...

Try Wendy Jones at the BfN's Drugs in BM helpline she's a pharmacist & BFC so will know if it's safe and if it does have a reducing effect.

Hope you had a good night.

Nah, crap night, went to GP and begged him for some help. I am now on Keppra as an adjunct to my Gabapentin, and he has given me bromocriptine to help dry my milk up.

The side effects of having two epilepsy meds are that I feel like I am floating in space, and the side effects from the bromocriptine is that I am SO dried out that I cannot breathe through my nose AT ALL. I think I'm going to look like a shrivelled prune by the time I have finished the two week course!!

On the plus side, hopefully my boobs will not hurt so much soon!

Sorry you have joined NASA but hopefully it will wear off soon and you will feel more human and less astronaut. Glad the GP was able to give you something to help with the engorgement too.

UGH! Another huge seizure last night. I was sat on the loo . And it's laughable - I'm more bothered by the fact that I must have landed on my nice stainless steel bathroom bin headfirst - because the lid of it is so dented that I can't open it.

My head hurts, I have a lump on both the front and the back, after two seizures in 4 days - yet I am more bothered by the fact that I am going to have to try to find the money for a new bin!!

Can you get a neuro referral asap? It sounds like you need a proper assessment to make sure you are on the right drugs and aren't injuring yourself (brainwise that is). Would your GP expiate a referral for you?

Sorry pressed send too soon - Hope you are okay now and you can get some good sleep soon.

Hahaha to getting to see a Neuro. There isn't one AT ALL in my PCT. Hasn't been for 8 years, since the last one got SACKED by the PCT. I used to be 'allowed' to see an 'out-of-PCT area' Neuro once a year. Now, because my PCT is almost bankrupt - they won't even let me do that. Which means that anyone with epilepsy in my PCT area has NO access to a Neurologist OR an Epilepsy nurse.

Epilepsy Action are taking a test case to NICE at the moment - but it is taking a long time to sort!

OMG

Sorry to jump in here, but have been following your thread hunty. This is absurd, completely and utterly absurd. No neuro in the whole PCT? Ridiculous. Any one private you could see? Could epilepsy action or your local authority fund a private visit. This is not safe for you or your family

Nope. Epilepsy Action can't fund it, because if they do it for me,then they have to do it for the other 797 people in my PCT area that have epilepsy that are in contact with EA. (Large PCT).

LA refusing to fund privately, because the only PRIVATE Neuro locally is the very same one that was SACKED from the NHS 8 years ago...

And they PCT don't have the money to send everyone with epilepsy 60 miles away to the next nearest Neuro...

Hence EA fighting the PCT about the lack of Neuro facilities in the area...

I can't afford private, as I am on benefits. As are a large percentage of people with uncontrolled epilepsy...

I am used to it now, and it isn't all that unsafe - there are lots of measures that can be taken to make it safer to look after dc when you have epilepsy. I had to manage when my last dc was just 2 weeks old, when I was first diagnosed. I have managed to get him to be 8yo without anything untowards happening to him, I know it is much easier with a baby of 1yo than it was with a 2wo baby!

Am helping EA fight their case though. Can't be sped up, red tape is AWFUL.

That is terrible,I'm really shocked and horrified for you.Its shameful actually.How can this happen?

Because of te stupid hospital contract hingy's that make the PCT's lose money hand over fist - PFI's or something? Affected my PCT rather badly, as it covers one of the 10 most deprived areas on the country.

That is horrific Hunty - is your GP at least well versed in epilepsy meds? I am very lucky where I am then as I have a choice of 3 hospitals that run Neuro clinics (though 2 of them have the same tactful cons. that was surprised I wasn't brain damaged by my seizures).

It's like the PCT not having a Cardiologist! But obviously heart attacks are 'sexy' and epilepsy is that thing we don't talk about and happens to other people. My grandad had a seizure after his wife, my grandmother, died 10 days after moving countries with 4 small children - everyone was told he had a nervous break down and fell down the stairs rather than admit the shameful truth his brain rebooted under the stress of it all - heaven forbid the new neighbours knew he had 'fits'.

GP NOT well versed in Epilepsy meds - I have to be. Three years ago, he put me on Topamax - which should NEVER have happened given my family history. I ended up having my eyesight permanantly damaged - I have lost all my peripheral vision.

Since then, I have educated myself LOTS!

That is appalling - if the PCT can't be bothered to have a Neuro specialist then the least they could do is pair up their better trained GPs and neuro patients so then they can at least get some what adequate treatment.

I really hope the EA suit goes through successfully. I think the country would be up in arms if it was another speciality.

Hmmmm - I wouldn't be so sure of that - we have no oncolocgists either, all cancer patients have to travel out of area too. We have no enuresis clinic - and we aren't allowed to go out-of-PCT-area for that either.

I suppose at least the patients with cancer are allowed to go out of area.

I hate my PCT!

Good god hunty. Where are you? Roughly speaking if you don't want to be soecific

Bloody hell! That is utterly bonkers - do they think no one gets sick in your PCT? What do they fund?

The thing is if they got people with epilepsy's meds right then there would be less call outs for ambulances, less A&E visits with injuries, less GP visits, more people paying road tax, having jobs, less on benefits (assuming they met the 2 weekly seizure threshold).....