Prolactinoma Support Group
A prolactinoma is a benign tumor of the pituitary gland that produces a hormone called prolactin. It is the most common type of pituitary tumor. Symptoms of prolactinoma are caused by too much prolactin in the blood or by pressure of the tumor on surrounding tissues. Prolactin stimulates the breast to produce milk during pregnancy. After delivery of the baby, a mother's...
I'm curious: is anyone else here on no medication?? I see a lot of stuff here about various meds, so I'm just curious to see if anyone else is doing this without meds.
When I was diagnosed, the endo said I could go on the pill or on one of those meds that reduce prolactin. I choose the pill, since I was in a relationship, and wanted the birth control. I quit the pill, because it made me cry all the time, etc., and because I don't like to take any meds if I don't have to. I'm not anti-medication.....I'm very happy it's there as an option, if/when I need it. But I won't take it until I do need it.
Also, the pill can actually raise prolactin, which we don't need. This makes sense, since the pill mimics pregnancy, and pregnancy raises prolactin.
Anyway, after I quit the pill, I went back to my GP, and told her I wanted to try no meds. I told her that I thought it would work, since I don't have headaces or anyything. My only symptoms are irregular periods, and fatigue. My tumor isn't big - I don't know the size, they never told me, but they did say it was the smaller kind, the microprolactinoma.
I told her that I knew it wasn't safe to not have my period for a long time, so, if I didn't get it at least every 2 months or something, I'd take provera to induce it. She agreed to let me try, as long as I come in for blood tests, to make sure the tumour isn't growing.
I quit the pill years ago, not sure how long....maybe 3 years ago. The tumor isn't growing, according to regular blood tests. And I haven't once had to take provera...my periods are very irregular, and I never know when they'll happen, but they do happen eventually.
I'm not against people taking medication at all....just wondering if anyone else has tried going without, and how it works for them.
When I was diagnosed, the endo said I could go on the pill or on one of those meds that reduce prolactin. I choose the pill, since I was in a relationship, and wanted the birth control. I quit the pill, because it made me cry all the time, etc., and because I don't like to take any meds if I don't have to. I'm not anti-medication.....I'm very happy it's there as an option, if/when I need it. But I won't take it until I do need it.
Also, the pill can actually raise prolactin, which we don't need. This makes sense, since the pill mimics pregnancy, and pregnancy raises prolactin.
Anyway, after I quit the pill, I went back to my GP, and told her I wanted to try no meds. I told her that I thought it would work, since I don't have headaces or anyything. My only symptoms are irregular periods, and fatigue. My tumor isn't big - I don't know the size, they never told me, but they did say it was the smaller kind, the microprolactinoma.
I told her that I knew it wasn't safe to not have my period for a long time, so, if I didn't get it at least every 2 months or something, I'd take provera to induce it. She agreed to let me try, as long as I come in for blood tests, to make sure the tumour isn't growing.
I quit the pill years ago, not sure how long....maybe 3 years ago. The tumor isn't growing, according to regular blood tests. And I haven't once had to take provera...my periods are very irregular, and I never know when they'll happen, but they do happen eventually.
I'm not against people taking medication at all....just wondering if anyone else has tried going without, and how it works for them.
I know some patients with microprolactinoma who don't take any meds, because they have quite regular period and the tumor isn't growing. They also don't have much symptoms, so basically they are living a normal life with prolactinoma without meds. My endo said if the patient with microprolaktinoma don't want to stay pregnant and the tumor isn't growing, no meds are o.k.
I also tried without meds for a while, but my period became irregular, so I started again with Cabergoline, only 12.5 mg once a week. This dosage is fortunately enough to keep my prolactine level normal and I don't have any side effects anymore. I'm taking also homeopathic remedies, which are probably helping my body to regulate the prolactin level.
Hope this helps you a little bit.