Nervous About New Lab Result...Anyone Know About This Situation?

[Tracy1980 (imported)]

Hi. Well, the other day I posted my blood work after being on 150 mg of Androcur and 6 mg of Estrogen for the past year. When I went to go see my hormonal doctor to get the results, he said everything came back normal (except to watch my cholesterol).

Well, I went on to tell him that recently I started to lactate from my developing breasts. He realized that he forgot to order a prolactin test, and so I had to go back and get another blood test. The next day, I get a phone call from him saying that I have elevated prolactin levels, and he is sending me now a prescription to get an MRI.

Now I am nervous that I may have a tumor. Has anyone heard of this situation?

Thanks.

[Kiana808 (imported)]

Gosh Tracy,,, I don't know about that, but I will pray for ya in hopes that eveything is just fine. Aloha! Kiana

[joanne-f (imported)]

I hope everything will be ok.

[Tracy1980 (imported)]

Thanks. I will get the MRI next week and let you know how everything goes.

[plix (imported)]

How worried you should be depends on how elevated the levels are. There is really only a need for an MRI if they are extremely elevated. With being on E it is not uncommon and generally not worrisome if they get a little elevated.

When I was on injectable E, my levels were slightly elevated. The doctor said he wasn't worried about it so long as they did not get any higher. And they didn't (of course my injectable dose never got very high either).

Injectable E is definitely the best known for causing prolactin issues. This is probably because because of the sharp spike in E levels at first. It is uncommon to have serious prolactin issues with other methods of E. Since this is happening with you, then you might be extra sensitive to E raising prolactin, and you might need to take a lower dose. If you are lactating on E alone, then that is cause for concern.

It is very possible your doctor is overreacting with you needing an MRI. It depends on just how elevated the levels are. But it is better to be safe than sorry

[Tracy1980 (imported)]

Thanks for the informative response. Unfortunately, my doctor never told me about how high my levels were. Like you said, maybe he is just being on the cautious side. I just wish he would have told me both my levels and whether or not I needed to be worried. I will let you know how it goes after the MRI. Obviously, I need to get it since he has ordered it.

[Tracy1980 (imported)]

Had my pituitary MRI today. It was my first ever MRI. It took 30 minutes and was sort of scary because my full body was enclosed in a coffin-like capsule. Now I am just awaiting the results.

[Tracy1980 (imported)]

Doctor called me today and told me that my MRI pituitary came back perfectly normal. He thinks maybe the Androcur could have caused my elevated prolactin levels. I am very happy about the good news.

[joanne-f (imported)]

Yay! i'm so glad to hear the results came back as normal.

[Tracy1980 (imported)]

Thanks! Now I can focus back on transition and work toward GRS with Dr. Meltzer. I have my in-person consultation with him in mid-June.