Prolactin and Granulomatous Mastitis

[cwall]

Hello All,
I have shared my story through other posts, so I won't repeat.  In my search to find out HOW or WHY I or anyone else can get this puzzling disease, I have come across a new thought, and wondered if any of you are having the same experience.
In May, I begin taking an anti-depressant, Celexa, 30mg daily.  I have been really happy with the results.  In July, I noticed this big mass, in October diagnosed with GM.  I have read that an increase of Prolactin could possibly be a cause of GM.  Does anti-depressant increase Prolactin levels?  Could this be the cause of my GM?  Any thoughts?

[JoJo45]

Hi Tiffany:

No, never had my prolactin tested as I am one of the super rare cases of a woman who has never had children or breastfed, that has IGM.

I have had numerous MRIS - they used it as a screening when I could not tolerate mammograms due to the state of my breast, also extensive ultrasound testing.  Frankly the MRIs never showed anything but 'inflammatory changes in breast' - I think they did mine regularly to try to gain an understanding of how GM might show up in MRI - remember they still know so little.

I am in Canada, so very lucky health care is free here, albeit that is not without its challenges at times as well.

We all know your pain honey, it is awful.  I was close to hysterical when I found out I had this weird disease, I mean what are the chances, at that time there were a few hundred cases in the literature worldwide.

You just need to establish a good care team, realize that lots of people do get these rare orphan diseases, and thank goodness we are in countries with high level health care.

I hate to think what the women in the third world are going through with this.  Although many cases are reported from developing countries.  I would suggest that pathology is much less advanced, and many women are also incorrectly diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer and treated accordingly.

You have a right to be emotional about this and if you ever need a sounding board, there are about 62 women on here who know exactly what you are going through.

Wishing you healing, Jo

[Tiffany328]

Hi jojo, do you remember how high was your prolactin level? Mine was 30.
Sounds like I don't need MRI. It costs a lot too...
Btw, thank you for your prompt reply. It feels better to know someone out there who knows my pain......
Thank you !

[JoJo45]

I have had numerous MRIS, other not directed at pituitary gland

I think tumour on pituitary would also cause other symptoms?

my bloodwork has always been good, as I know is true of other sufferers as well...I think maybe it is caused by some unknown organism or bacteria, that they just don't know about

[Tiffany328]

Tumor in the pituitary gland would cause prolactin level to rise.  Could this be the reason? Anyone had MRI?

[JoJo45]

Hi

I think hormones (imbalance) and prolactin are at the root cause of GM..  I have not taken anti-depressants prior to my developing GM, but I did take sulpha drugs and tI do have an allergy to them, a higher than normal incidence of sulpha drug allergy has been shown in the one study done in the US comparing lifestyle and health backgrounds of GM sufferers.

Something initiates an auto-immune response in the breast...and it develops in to GM.

I really wish we could find a researcher that would review our histories and try to make some progress on cause.  For such a serious disease, no one seems to be looking at the big picture...

Jo

[Miriamkh]

I don't know if anti-depressants increase prolactin, but I do think we still know very little about the side-effects of these types of medications, so it could be possible? You can get your prolactin levels tested through a simple blood test if you are curious.

I am convinced that prolactin is what caused my GM as I got it while 25 weeks pregnant....


Miriam