Hi guys! I just got back from a Dr.'s appointment and I have elevated prolactin levels. Anyone else have this? It wasn't very high. They were only very slightly elevated, but she started talking about a pituitary tumor, which totally freaked me out. She then proceeded to say she didn't think I have this.
Anyone else diagnosed with this?
__________________ Me: (Devon) 25 DH: (Jason) 27
Married:6/14/03
TTC since: September '03
Dx:2/9/06
Surprise! BFP 3/20/08
No heartbeat found 5/16/08
miscarried on 5/27/08
Currently taking Metformin, Prenatals, Citalopram, Lunesta, Lyrica, and Labetalol
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Strangely enough, it was an elevated prolactin level that led my doc to sending me to the endocrinologist, who eventually diagnosed PCOS from the hormone imbalances and an ultrasound scan. One of my breasts started leaking colostrum, although I wasn't pregnant and never had been (I've since been pregnant and miscarried).
Amanda
First off, did your Dr. order an MRI if she’s concerned about a prolactinoma? What were your levels? Did she order a fasting prolactin? Is she going to run your bloodwork again in a month or two?
I have idiopathic hyperprolactinemia and have dealt with discharge for 5+ years. I was on Bromocriptine but ended up hallucinating from it, so I took myself off of it in October. My new endo put me on Dostinex which I started taking almost a month ago and it is working out wonderfully. I had an MRI almost 2 years ago which was negative. I’m going next Wednesday for another MRI, my endo wants to make sure that there isn’t a growth. Even if there is a prolactinoma, the majority of the time meds will shrink it. I know it is distressing when a Dr. is concerned about a tumor, but don’t stress yourself out about it. I know I did when my Dr. mentioned it. We’re all here to support each other.
PM me if you have any other questions regarding this.
I just went on dostinex this week. (.5 mg) My levels were 29.3 , the fasting was 21.5. Going back for test after 4 weeks of dostinex
I wish my regular doctor would have done something over 5 years ago when my levels were slightly elavated like yours. He said it was nothing to worry about! Yeah right!!
The highest mine has been is in the 120's and last month it was 75.6. I'm getting tested the end of this month to see where my prolactin stands.
I had a pituitary tumor removed in 2004, and we think it was growing for 12 years-but it wasn't until 2004 that my prolactin levels became elevated which prompted my doctor to send me for an MRI. My prolactin at it's highest was 38, the norm for non-pregnant women is under 20. Many types of pituitary tumors mimic the effects of PCOS-which is what I was diagnosed with initially before my doctor sent me for the MRI. Also, some PCOS women have elevated prolactin levels without having a tumor.
All I can say is that many doctors, even good ones, for some reason are quick to dismiss the idea of someone having a pituitary tumor, even though it's thought that 25% of the population has one. If you have good insurance, I would get an MRI-it stinks but I guess after being diagnosed with PCOS and thinking that was my fate and then finding out five years later that I had a tumor instead was quite shocking and I am still realing for all that time lost to that tumor growing in my head and all the problems it caused.
Hi guys! I just got back from a Dr.'s appointment and I have elevated prolactin levels. Anyone else have this? It wasn't very high. They were only very slightly elevated, but she started talking about a pituitary tumor, which totally freaked me out. She then proceeded to say she didn't think I have this.
Anyone else diagnosed with this?
I had this problem last year. My endo had me retested (after fasting) and I had a MRI done and had the tests retaken to rule out a tumor. Thank heavens I didn't have a pituitary tumor.
As other posters have said try not to stress about it. When my endo first mentioned the possiblity of a tumor and then kept going on about all the other abnormal things I was like "ah can we go back to the tumor issue" She then went into more detail about meds shrinking it etc.
__________________
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
I Hiked Mt Fuji in Japan in AUGUST 2006
1000mg - Calcium
50,000IU Vit D twice a week
2000mg fish oil
1 prenatal vitamin
Iron Supplement
B12
Red Yeast
I know not many doctors say this but I think that an elevated prolactin level and PCOS are linked. I have been diagnosed with PCOS and I have had a pituitary adenoma removed which grew back and then I just recently had Gamma Knife Radiation Surgery to shrink the tumor. I just wanted to say to all of you worried about the tumor that as my dr put it, this is the best type of tumor to have. It is non-cancerous and can typically be treated with meds. Mine however did not respond to dostinex or bromocriptine. If anyone has questions about the surgery or gamma knife procedure please let me know!
I have elevated Prolactin levels more then double the highest number in the normal range. How high do your levels have to be to indicate a prolactinoma? Are the results you are saying in Canadian values? I am scheduled for an MRI, but where I live if you are on the emergency list its is about a 6 month wait and if not it is longer then that. So I am waiting.... very impatiently! :|
I have elevated prolactin. Never been pregnant, never will be. I've also had an MRI of my pituitary but no tumour was found.
I've done a bit of research on the subject and found that it may be another one of the effects of being a DES daughter. My mother was given diethyl stilbeosterol (DES) when she was pregnant with me because it was believed that it would prevent miscarriage. It was used in America between 1938 and 1971.
Three subsequent generations of female children have so far shown effects of DES. It is known to cause structural changes to the uterus, an increased risk of cancer of the breasts and cervix, and affect the ability to conceive and carry a baby to term.
An elevated prolactin level is not considered an indicator of DES exposure and so far only one scientific paper that I've found has linked in utero DES exposure to elevated prolactin. However, DES is used to induce prolactinoma pituitary tumours in test animals.
I think that's fairly strong evidence to say that DES exposure and elevated prolactin may be related. So it might be worth asking if your Mother or Grandmother was given DES when they were pregnant. It's worth knowing so that you can be tested for the effects and monitored appropriately if you become pregnant.
When I was first diagnosed with PCOS in 1995 my prolactin was elevated too. the doc put me on this medicine to help with it but just taking the pills made me faint so I had to change the way I took them and instead of swallowing a whole pill I had to shove half a pill up my baby maker. YUCK!!! I had the leaking breasts too and that just freaked me out because I was only 15. Anyways, once it was lowered I was put on BCPs and haven't had problems with prolactin since...that i know of. Now I am TTC and they haven't mentioned abnormal levels so I will just go with the flow.
elevated prolactin levels 
Yeah right!!
