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...
Hey Guys!
Been skimming the forums for a few months now. Thanks for all the insight and anecdotes.
Basically my story is was a social extrovert/slightly addictive personality when cracks started appearing in the seams of my confidence. This got worse and worse and of course eventually I found out I had a prolactinoma. Went to see an endocrinologist, and got on cabergoline. Over the course of a few months I have definitely developed an off the charts impulse control disorder which at times definitely borders on paranoid schizophrenia, which of course has made my anxiety much worse. Initially, when I asked my endocrinologist about surgery, she said the neurosurgeons would laugh at us because I only have a microadenoma. Of course when I found a neurosurgeon 6 months later, he had me scheduled for surgery within a week. lol. Oh, life.
At any rate, what do you guys think - do you think eventually the restoral of hormonal imbalance and getting off this crazy (for me) drug will cause the intense deer in the headlights/can't laugh screech and halt anxiety to dissipate? Any advice? I know I am summarizing here; let me know if you need more info. Also want to clarify that I know cabergoline works like a charm for a lot of people, but for me it has taken me to very dark places - 3 pack a day smoking habit, thousands spent on stuff ostensibly to get me closer to feeling cool and good, and a weird series of interactions with a group of people here in my city that frankly I don't even want to get into, but it was awful.
Wish me luck guys - I appreciate your support and this community, and if there's anything I can do, let me know. I will definitely do my best to follow up, as I think there's a shortage of long term followups to the initial "omg my life is so messed up" introductory messages. I am in it to win it, and provided I do in fact win it, you bet I will let you guys know the scoop. Thanks!
Been skimming the forums for a few months now. Thanks for all the insight and anecdotes.
Basically my story is was a social extrovert/slightly addictive personality when cracks started appearing in the seams of my confidence. This got worse and worse and of course eventually I found out I had a prolactinoma. Went to see an endocrinologist, and got on cabergoline. Over the course of a few months I have definitely developed an off the charts impulse control disorder which at times definitely borders on paranoid schizophrenia, which of course has made my anxiety much worse. Initially, when I asked my endocrinologist about surgery, she said the neurosurgeons would laugh at us because I only have a microadenoma. Of course when I found a neurosurgeon 6 months later, he had me scheduled for surgery within a week. lol. Oh, life.
At any rate, what do you guys think - do you think eventually the restoral of hormonal imbalance and getting off this crazy (for me) drug will cause the intense deer in the headlights/can't laugh screech and halt anxiety to dissipate? Any advice? I know I am summarizing here; let me know if you need more info. Also want to clarify that I know cabergoline works like a charm for a lot of people, but for me it has taken me to very dark places - 3 pack a day smoking habit, thousands spent on stuff ostensibly to get me closer to feeling cool and good, and a weird series of interactions with a group of people here in my city that frankly I don't even want to get into, but it was awful.
Wish me luck guys - I appreciate your support and this community, and if there's anything I can do, let me know. I will definitely do my best to follow up, as I think there's a shortage of long term followups to the initial "omg my life is so messed up" introductory messages. I am in it to win it, and provided I do in fact win it, you bet I will let you guys know the scoop. Thanks!
I've mixed back in some Cabergoline a couple of times and I think I'm going to try to find a blend of these two meds to work for me.
I had hoped my hot flashes would have stopped...but, nope. Of course, hot flashes are worse in the fall/winter. I'm burning up with one right now, even as I type.
What are Bromo's side effects like? Did it keep your prolactin down?
But, for a while, I was able to handle the Psychiatric side effects a lot better. But, of late, I just get these waves and waves of despair that are crushing.
Fortunately, they do pass with time. The Cabergoline made me mad as a hatter.
Stress just builds and builds and there are just times when I'm desperately exhausted and nobody gets it. From there, it's really easy to get angry.
Tiger, word to that, my friend. It can make you feel like a real monster, even if you are a good person. Hang in there, buddy. We will all find real balance! I am sure of it!
My dizziness got worse the longer I was on Cab & I got heavy headed too. I had to back off a bit (skip a dose, cut my dose) because I was having trouble breathing & I almost blacked out one day just sitting on the couch. My prolactin's OK so my dr said I can skip every now & then, just don't do it too often.
Even 1/4 dose twice/week has kept my prolactin at the high end of the normal. I'm very sensitive to it. .5mg was waaaay too much for me. Now looking back, I can't believe I used to pop a whole one of those babies!! You seem to be doing better with it so that's great