Elevated Prolactin Level, Diverticulitis, and, so far, no help to be found

  My friend is a 35 year old female with the following medical condition:
  -recently diagnosed with a prolactin level of 255
  -has suffered from diverticulitis for many years and is unable to find a physician with any solution
  -daily and chronic nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting
  -severe headaches and blurred vision
  Her inability to locate a physician that can help her is not for lack of trying. She has been to several who have prescribed a number of medications, but none of the medications seem to help at all. This has lead her to believe that she has been misdiagnosed. A recent MRI showed no problems and thyroid tests are pending.
  Can any or all of the above conditions be related? What would cause such a high prolactin level? Are there any medications/treatments that will stop the diverticulitis, vomiting, etc? These problems affect her daily and obviously impact her lifestyle in a negative way. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Dear Michael,
I am unaware of any connection between elevated prolactin levels and diverticulitis. As you probably know, diverticula are pouches that form on the outside of the large intestine. The pouches or sacs are felt to be secondary to a defect in the colonic wall where blood vessels enter. Diverticula usually occur in elderly patients, but can also occur in younger individuals. When diverticula are present the condition is referred to as diverticulosis; when the diverticula become infected the condition is referred to as diverticulitis. Diverticulosis can present with constipation, diarrhea or rectal bleeding. If severe, a narrowing of the colon called a stricture can occur. This can cause nausea, vomiting and abdominal distention. If no obstruction is present, a high fiber diet is recommended. On the other hand, diverticulitis is an infection which is usually treated with antibiotics. Sometimes an abscess or sinus tract can develop in areas of diverticulitis. In patients with documented, multiple attacks of diverticulitis;  surgery is usually recommended as treatment.
In my clinical practice, I find that there is a lot of confusion over the terminology of diverticular disease. Some patients are told that they have diverticulosis without clear documentation. Others are told they have diverticulitis when they present to their physician for left sided abdominal pain without clear documentation. They are often treated with antibiotics and improve, but again it remains unclear what the underlying cause was. Some of these patients with presumed diverticulitis, who do undergo evaluation, end up not having any diverticula on exam. It is important to be sure that your friend, in fact, has had attacks of diverticulitis prior to considering a surgical approach.
The symptoms of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea are rather non-specific symptoms with a broad differential diagnosis that may or may not be related to the gastrointestinal tract. I would recommend that your friend see a gastroenterologist for further evaluation and testing to confirm whether a gastrointestinal problem is the major cause for her symptoms. Good luck to you.
This response is being provided for general informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice or consultation. Always check with your personal physician when you have a question pertaining to your health.
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