Elevated pituitary level

[janetparis]

With a prolactin level of 235 am I a surgery candidate? I'm feeling very ill, what types of thing does elevated prolatin levels create as a result of? Thanks, Janet.

[rubytuesday55]

I had a pituitary tumor years ago. I was minimally symptomatic with mine except for terrible headaches (but I had a history of migraines, so I dismissed it) and very heavy menstrual periods to the point of hemorrhaging (but I am a bleeder, so I dismissed that too). My GYN recommended a neurology consult as when I was at his office for the heavy bleeding, he noticed that I always seemed to have a headache. Again I dismissed it as I was in my 20's and healthy and people like me 'didn't get brain tumors' (which was my thinking). It was not until my GYN recommended taking hormones to control the bleeding that I felt if I had problem with my hormones, then I needed to get to the cause of the problem, rather than treating symptoms. I sought out an endocrinologist who first did a CT scan and BINGO, the pituitary tumor was found. An extensive  battery of blood tests and a polytomogram (if I recall--it was yet another very specialized type of scan of the brain that was done in the 'big city' hospitals) followed. According to the endocrinologist, some of my hormone levels were so low that I should not have been menstuating at all (so I looked at my bleeding as a blessing). After the testing was completed, I was referred to a neurosurgeon who removed the tumor. I guess what I am trying to say is that if the surgery you are referring to is pituitary, I would say that there are a number of things that cause hormone levels to go up or down. I would suggest discussing the possibilities with your GYN or asking for a referral to an endocrinologist (who specialize in all the body's hormones). I had my pituitary surgery in 1981. I was told the kind I had tends to recur and that as a precaution, I should have the region scanned every 4-5 years. I have had no recurrence to date.

[melissa_c]

Did your doctor do an MRI?  My doctor said that the elevated prolactin is what causes you to lactate and can cause missed periods because it causes you to not ovulate.  My level is elevated too but only to a 27.3.  My doctor said that most people who have these issues have a level that elevated higher than mine but since I don't ovulate or have a menses on my own she is still looking into it.  From what my doctor said though in most cases they can prescribe a medication that will bring your level back down into the normal range.  I believe it is only if they do the MRI and find the tumor (it isn't usually cancerous so don't worry)  and the medication is not helping to shrink it and bring the level back to normal then they may have to do surgery.  But from what I have read the success rate of the meds is extremely high and it is not common to actually need the surgery.  My doctor hasn't given me the medication just yet because she wanted to do an MRI first.  I have one scheduled this evening.

I hope this helps.