Question:
Help! Has anyone ever had white, milky discharge from their nipples after surgery?

Two days ago I started having tremendous nipple discharge. It is almost like breast milk. I went to my doctor and she ordered blood work. I have never heard of this happening. Has anyone ever heard of this?    — Tracey G. (posted on September 27, 2002)

September 27, 2002
Your hormones are SO out of whack after surgery, that nipple discharge doesn't even surprise me. So hormones would be my guess. But just a guess.
   — Cheri M.

September 27, 2002
hiya! yes!! i had my annual ob-gyn appt about 5 mos post op and i told my doc about some white, milky discharge coming from my left nipple so she had a mammogram done (she also found a lump)so i was a bit nervous however it turned out to just be hormones (and the lump was due to my breasts being polycystic) which means they are filled with fiberous lumps which is pretty common in women with larger breasts/older women (i'm only 34 but had a hysterectomy so my body thinks it's older sometimes!) so...try not to worry about it, my guess is that it's hormonal. oh, also - estrogen is processed in your fat cells so as you lose weight, you are getting less natural estrogen so if you use hormone replacement therapy or the birth control pill, you may need to change the one you take as your hormone levels change. take care, kate open rny 6-14-01 pre op: 268lbs goal weight: 135lbs current: 126lbs
   — jkb

September 27, 2002
I have heard of two women who had milky discharge from their nipples. One was a woman I heard of who had a tumor in her pituitary [A non WLS person]. The other case I heard of was on another WLS board earlier this year or late last year and it too turned out to be hormonal in nature due to WLS surgery. To be safe, please see your doctor!
   — C. C.

September 28, 2002
There is a hormone called prolactine that causes women to lactate. You may need to get your hormone levels checked. I have a benine tumor on my pittuary gland which causes this hormone to be produced. Being a man this is not a good thing for me. Good Lux
   — Robert L.